Daniel Pryor Saturday Horse Racing Tips 15/8/26

The Spring Carnival is starting to warm up, with Caulfield and Rosehill serving up an entree of Group and Listed racing this Saturday before the first Group 1 of the season, the Winx Stakes, arrives next week.

Last Saturday it was the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Randwick that grabbed the punters' attention. In a compact but quality field, Michael Freedman's Ninja ($4.80), ridden by Tommy Berry, proved too strong in the run to the line, defeating Napoleonic, Angel Capital and Midnite Dynamite.

 

 

This weekend the headline act is the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield, where Cosmic Crusader heads the market after an impressive first-up victory.

The former Perth galloper takes another step up in grade and faces a much deeper field this time.

Last year's winner Private Eye returns as a nine-year-old for Joe Pride and Nash Rawiller, boasting an unbeaten two-from-two record over the Caulfield track and distance.

There are also plenty of quality horses kicking off their preparations, including Evaporate, Attrition, Desert Lightning, Feroce, Wotton Verni, Soul Of Spain and ATC Oaks winner Ohope Wins.

Couer Volante brings race fitness into the contest, while veteran Pinstriped should improve after a solid fourth first-up.

 

The three-year-olds also get their opportunity to make an early spring statement.

Caulfield hosts the Group 3 Vain Stakes and Quezette Stakes, while Rosehill has the Listed Rosebud.

All three races are loaded with promising horses and should provide important form references heading deeper into the carnival.

The Listed Regal Roller Stakes adds another intriguing sprint to the Caulfield card, with the open market showing just how competitive the race is.

Plenty happening across both meetings, so let's find some winners.

 

 

Daniel Pryor's Around The Grounds – Caulfield & Rosehill 14/8/26

Caulfield

Race 1 – #8 Princess Que – $21

Princess Que is huge odds to kick off the day.

She has a solid enough first-up record and comes into this off two encouraging trials.

Damien Lane takes the ride for Simon Zahra, a combination worth respecting.

The distance is slightly short of her best, but at $21 she's simply too big a price to dismiss.

She can run a huge race fresh and hopefully get the day started in style.

 

Race 2 – #4 Simurgh – $3.70

Simurgh put together a very positive campaign last preparation and should have retained some residual fitness after racing through until mid-June.

She's had a slight freshen-up and two trials leading into this return, while her unbeaten record over the track and distance is another major tick.

She's also engaged in Race 4 at Rosehill, so keep an eye on where connections elect to run.

 

Race 6 – #1 Lady Antipova – $6.50

Former New Zealand filly Lady Antipova has joined Mark Walker's Victorian stable with an unbeaten record of four wins from four starts.

She's shown the versatility to perform across different track conditions and arrives with plenty of upside.

There are a couple of gear changes to consider, but at $6.50 I'm sticking with an undefeated filly until she gives us a reason not to.

She represents good value.

 

Race 7 – #7 Cosmic Crusader – $2.50

Cosmic Crusader announced himself in Victoria with an excellent first-up performance and now gets the chance to prove himself against stronger opposition in the P.B. Lawrence.

The former Perth galloper is now with Andrea Leek for Peters Investments and couldn't have been more impressive winning fresh.

He's short enough at $2.50, but a repeat of that first-up performance puts him right in the finish.

This will also tell us plenty about where he sits heading towards the bigger spring features.

 

Rosehill

Race 2 – #3 Steel Will – $1.65

Steel Will is short in the market but looks a very promising type.

The well-bred youngster demolished his maiden rivals by more than six lengths and now takes the next step through the grades.

James McDonald stays aboard for Chris Waller and while this presents a tougher challenge, he's shown more than enough ability to handle the rise.

 

Race 4 – #11 Leovanni – $5.00

Leovanni backs up quickly from last Saturday and arrives here rock-hard fit after an excellent preparation.

The favourable barrier should allow her to roll forward and establish a prominent position without doing too much work.

If she's able to control proceedings from the front, she'll take plenty of running down.

 

Race 5 – #14 Transcend – $4.00

Transcend should take plenty of improvement from his first-up fourth, where he came from tenth on the turn and worked home strongly.

He now gets to his second run of the preparation and looks ideally placed to produce another step forward.

The trainer and jockey combination teamed up for a Group 2 victory last weekend and Transcend is right in the market to give them another big result.

 

Race 10 – #4 Mr Verse – $10

Mr Verse is also engaged in Race 4 at Caulfield, but if he takes his place here, the double-figure quote appeals.

He returned with an encouraging performance when finishing off nicely and has previously shown good improvement second-up.

The big weight is the obvious challenge, but a genuine tempo gives him the chance to settle before winding up late. At $10, he's a good value play.

 

Last Week's Winners

Seven winners landed from last week's tips and selections:

• Ready To Rush – $12

• Stakes – $4.70 | Exacta $14.20

• Cavalry Girl – $2.80

• Behaviour – $5 | Exacta $19

• First Chorus – $1.90

• Exit Fee – $8.50

• Changing Colours – $1.70

 

Another big Saturday awaits as the quality continues to build towards the heart of the Spring Carnival.

Good luck and giddy up, Punters!

Get around the Form Guide of Winners for this Saturday and throughout the spring at The Great Tip Off.

 

Saturday Daily Subscription Package – $15

4-Day Subscription Package – $45

Or simply HOT BET the Tips and Selections.

Good luck and giddy up, Punters!

 

There are loads of tips for today's racing in our Horse Racing Tips market at theGreatTipOff.com.