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THE LAST SAY: Tips, market movers for today’s racing at Rosehill, Caulfield, Doomben, Morphettville, Ascot

Ray Thomas brings you all the key information you need to back a winner as Caulfield hosts the Blue Diamond and Futurity Stakes, while Rosehill Gardens features the Hobartville and Silver Slipper.

Ray Thomas
7 min read
February 22, 2025 - 8:42AM
Punters – Hold All Tickets Ep 24 – $31 Group 1 tip

Mr Brightside is aiming for a ninth Group 1 win, I Am Me is racing for history and Field Of Play is attempting to maintain his unbeaten record at Caulfield on Saturday.

There star trio chases Group 1 glory on an outstanding Caulfield program that includes the $750,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) in which the Team Hayes-trained Mr Brightside is into $1.95 favouritism with TAB Fixed Odds.

If rising eight-year-old Mr Brightside goes back-to-back in the Futurity, he will become just the 16th horse to win at least nine Group 1 races since the Pattern race classification system was introduced in 1978.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Mr Brightside excels over the Caulfield 1400m course where he has had seven starts for five wins and two seconds, including his narrow first-up loss to the fast finishing Another Wil in the Orr Stakes two weeks ago.

I Am Me has topweight of 57kg, an impost no mare has carried to win the Group 1 $750,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) this century – and she is out to $10. But she has drawn perfectly in barrier two and gets the dry track she needs to produce her brilliant best.

Field Of Play monstered his rivals in the Prelude and is the $5 favourite to win Victoria’s premier two-year-old race, the $2 million Blue Diamond (1200m).

• Tips from the big bookies: Blue Diamond Stakes Day

There are no Group 1 races at Rosehill Gardens but it’s also an excellent program featuring the Group 2 $300,000 Silver Slipper (1100m) for two-year-olds and the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) for this season’s classic crop.

Wodeton, the unbeaten Chris Waller-trained colt, is a dominant $3 favourite for the Golden Slipper next month so all eyes will be on him in the Silver Slipper.

If Wodeton is beaten today, then it will turn Golden Slipper betting on its head.

Godolphin’s outstanding three-year-old colt Broadsiding resumes in the Hobartville over the same course and distance he won the Golden Rose first-up last spring.

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ROSEHILL GARDENS
Weather: Warm, partly cloudy day with the slight chance of a shower or two, mainly in the morning, and a forecast top temperature of 28c.
Track: Good (4).
Rail: 5m out.

CAULFIELD
Weather: Hot, sunny day with strong gusty winds and a forecast top temperature of 37c.
Track: Good (4).
Rail: 4m out.

DOOMBEN
Weather: Warm, partly cloudy day with the chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 29c.
Track: Good (4).
Rail: 4m out.

MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Hot, partly cloudy day with the chance of showers, mainly in the evening and a forecast top temperature of 38c.
Track: Good (4).
Rail: 9m out 1200m to winning post, 5m out remainder.

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BE WARY: Rosehill’s course proper is in the good range with the rail out 5m after being 3m out at the last meeting three weeks ago, With a warm day forecast, those racing on-pace will be advantaged, particularly in sprint races. Caulfield’s inside section in the straight was a no-go zone when racing returned there two weeks ago. The rail was in the true position that day but has been shifted out 4m for the Blue Diamond meeting. With hot, windy weather forecast, there is a likelihood those racing on speed and near the inside will be in the best position. Watch the early races at Caulfield to get a sense of how strong the wind is and what impact it is having, and to determine if there is any track bias.

• EXPERT TIPS: Blue Diamond, Futurity, Oakleigh Plate

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ROSEHILL TIPS

THE BEST BET: Race 5 No.1 MAKARENA is returning after a very good spring preparation that included her win in the Group 2 Golden Pendant, a third placing in The Invitation and an unlucky fourth in the Golden Eagle. She is very well-placed under the set weights and penalties conditions of this mares race and looked in super order winning a recent Randwick barrier trial. Makarena hasn’t won first-up previously but has run some very good races at the start of a preparation and she did not have long off after the Golden Eagle. She could set up a big day for Team Hawkes.

THE NEXT BEST: Race 4 No.12 THEBLADE showed promise in a two-start winter campaign last year, winning on debut at Kensington then running fourth to boom young sprinter Private Harry at Rosehill. Theblade resumes over the Rosehill 1100m course and was very impressive in a recent 1050m Randwick trial where he settled off speed, showed good acceleration to seize control of the heat before easing down on the line. Promising three-year-old drawn to suit and gets in with a light weight.

VALUE BET: Race 7 No.5 PALMETTO has been improved by three runs from a spell and indicated a return to winning form is imminent with a close third at Randwick last start. He has to prove he can run a strong 1900m but has had the right preparation for this race. Palmetto, who drops 4kg from his last start, is great each-way value around $13.

THE WHISPER: Race 6 No.10 BEL MERCI won the Gimcrack brilliantly last spring and she has been prominent in early Golden Slipper betting ever since. Crack filly resuming the Silver Slipper but, significantly, she has had three barrier trials to prepare for her return. Bel Merci’s second trial at Rosehill was indifferent so she went to Kembla a week later and was her old self, ripping around the track to 800m heat by more than eight lengths. Bel Merci is drawn to find the rail and race on speed. The race shape and the track conditions mean Bel Merci might take a lot of running down.

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday

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CAULFIELD TIPS

BEST BET: Race 4 No.2 TROPICUS is a highly-regarded three-year-old from the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable and he needed the run first-up at Sandown when ambushed late by Royal Insignia. Tropicus will take benefit from that run and he’s had a jump-out since. Talented colt suited by the small field. He is ready to start fulfilling his obvious potential.

NEXT BEST: Race 9 No.1 I AM ME will set a modern weight-carrying record for a mare if she wins the Oakleigh Plate. She’s been burdened with topweight of 57kg, which no mare has carried to win the feature sprint this century. In fact, no Oakleigh Plate winner has carried more than her impost for more than three decades. But I Am Me has a few things in her favour – she’s brilliant fresh, 1100m is her best distance, drawn perfectly in barrier two and she is an outstanding sprinting mare.

VALUE BET: Race 5 No.6 QATARS CHOICE was the value bet last week at Flemington only for her to be a late scratching when the track deteriorated with rain. The Ciaron Maher-trained filly goes to Caulfield for the Angus Armanasco Stakes and there is no reason to drop off her. Promising filly who resumed at the Canterbury midweeks and unleashed an impressive burst of speed to beat Scintilla easily. The runner-up has won three times since to underline the merit of the form. Qatars Choice then went to Randwick and was held up at a vital stage when second to a rampant Point And Shoot. He has won again since to frank the form. Qatars Choice is under the radar at Caulfield and is good each way value around $8.

THE WHISPER: Race 8 No.1 FIELD OF PLAY has won both his races impressively including a Prelude last start with a powerful finishing burst. Drawn to get the gun run in the Blue Diamond, he’s got a champion jockey in Blake Shinn to guide him and the firm track suits. Field Of Play might be too good again.

• EXPERT TIPS: Brad Waters’ best bets, quaddie picks, race-by-tips and analysis for Caulfield on Saturday

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TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

ROSEHILL GARDENS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: It’s A Wonder $6-$5.50, Mogwai $8-$7, Noble Soldier $15-$13
Race 2: Kreon $11-$7.50, Ballinderry Sal $26-$10
Race 3: Lady Boss $4.60-$3.70, Cadetship $15-$14
Race 4: Theblade $5-$2.90, Bonita Queen $6.50-$4.60 with a bet of $2000 at $7.50, Piastri $9-$7.50, Wallenda $12-$8.50
Race 5: Makarena $3.50-$1.95, Firestorm $11-$7.50, Watch My Girl $11-$10
Race 6: Wodeton $2 including bets of $10,000 a $2.10, $2000 at $2, Bel Merci $5-$3, West Of Swindon $8-$5.50
Race 7: Our Anchorage $2.90-$2.50, Redstone Well $11-$9
Race 8: Public Attention $4.60-$4.20, Aeliana $8-$6.50, Mayfair $15-$10
Race 9: Headley Grange $4.80-$4.20, Wategos $11-$5, Ducasse $8.50-$5.50, West Of Africa $8.50-$6
Race 10: Shezanalister $5-$3.60, Time To Boogie $6-$4.60, Cosmonova $8-$7, Brudenell $11-$9

• EXPERT TIPS: Cameron Happ’s best bets for Caulfield on Saturday

CAULFIELD BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Samangu $4.80-$4
Race 2: Winnasedge $5.50-$3.90, Chinqui $5.50-$5, Don’t Hope Do $7-$6
Race 3: Emphasize $2.60-$2.50, Shanwah $4-$3.70, Entrusting $5-$4.40 with a $4000 bet at $4.20
Race 4: Lofty Arch $5-$3.80, Polyglot $6-$5.50
Race 5: Treasure the Moment $3.50-$3.40, Too Darn Lizzie $4.60-$3.20, Perfect Picture $9.50-$8.50, Qatar’s Choice $8.50-$8
Race 6: Semana $4-$3.70, So Glamorous $5.50-$5
Race 7: Mr Brightside $1.80-$2 with a bet of $2000 at $2.10, Evaporate $18-$15, Light Infantry Man $26-$19, Private Life $26-$14, Evaporate $18-$14
Race 8: Field Of Play $5 with bets of $2000 at $5 and $2000 at $4, Cherish Me $7-$6, Tempted $9-$7, Extractor $17-$15 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $26/$7.25
Race 9: She’s Bulletproof $8.50-$5.50, Rey Magnerio $13-$10 including a bet of $1000 each way at $11/$3.50, Jimmysstar $13-$10 Arabian Summer $13-$10
Race 10: Shaiyhar $5-$4.20, Dashing Duchess $7.50-$7, Smokin Romans $11-$10

• LAURIE’S LONGSHOTS: Best value bets for Caulfield on Saturday

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INTERSTATE MAIL
Doomben Race 6 No.6 MINTAKA LAD
Doomben Race 10 No.8 DEVASTATE
Morphettville Race 3 No.2 HOLMES
Morphettville Race 5 No.4 SABAJ

• EXPERT TIPS: Graeme Carey’s race-by-race tips, analysis and quaddie picks for Doomben on Saturday

• $81 TIP: Aaron Mills’ best bets for Ascot, Heath Pope’s top picks for Morphettville

PROVINCIAL MAIL
Gosford Race 3 No.3 WAR RIBBON
Gosford Race 6 No.5 CANNY QUEEN

• EXPERT TIPS: Greg Polson’s tips and exclusive rated prices for Rosehill Gardens, Gosford and Lismore on Saturday

#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners

Originally published as THE LAST SAY: Tips, market movers for today’s racing at Rosehill, Caulfield, Doomben, Morphettville, Ascot

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