Tim's Tips for Bletchingly Stakes Day
TIM HABEL was a racing journalist with the Sun, then Herald-Sun for 36 years and now works as a contributor for The Age. His selections are published mid-week and each Saturday.
CAULFIELD Saturday, July 24, 2026, rail 10m, track soft 6
RACE 1: CUSTOM 1, Recuperato 2, Takeko 3, Vain Champagne 4
RACE 2: GHANA'S KHAN 1, Resolutely 2, Brazen Dechambeau 3, Rebel Tuesday 4
RACE 3: TENNESSEE BOUND 1, Salsa Fellow 2, Luna Cat 3, Butternut Princess 4
RACE 4: SIGNATURE SCENT 1, Afterberna 2, Express Class 3, Prince Tycoon 4
RACE 5: FIRST CHORUS 1, Jimmy The Bear 2, St Lawrence 3, Magnaspin 4
RACE 6: KINGS REFLECTION 1, Brillantezza 2, Decalogue 3, Dirnaseer 4
Good contest for emerging three year-old stayers. Kings Reflection was unlucky behind Brillantezza at Flemington and can turn the tables with winkers added, Decalogue and Dirnaseer were victims of a farcically slowly run race here last time.
RACE 7: COSMIC CRUSADER 1, Winnasedge 2, Miraval Rose 3, Zou Sensation 4
Key runner is clearly WA owned Cosmic Crusader now in the hands of Andrea Leek. He's no doubt the best horse in the race, has won three from three on the soft, but 1200m is not his preferred distance. Winnasedge and Miraval Rose are the specialist sprinters.
RACE 8: STOP THE ROCK 1, Aelonian 2, Amleto 3, Beach Pad 4
Stop The Rock showed his $81 win here two starts back was no fluke with a luckless third last time. He loves soft ground and is the safe way to go, the King's mare Aeolian caught the eye late on Australian debut over 1600m at Sandown and will relish 2000m.
RACE 9: CRUISERWEIGHT 1, Celtics 2, Mahershala 3, Falset Star 4
Undefeated Cruiserweight had every reason to be beaten last time, dragged back through the field to second last on the home turn yet won eased down. Meets similar three year-old opposition, the 4.kg weight rise won't stop him.
BEST BETS. Cruiserweight, Custom. VALUE: Stop The Rock
THE $20 FLEXI QUADDIE
1st leg: 1, 2, 3, 7
2nd leg: 1, 3, 7, 8
3rd leg: 6, 11, 15
4th leg: 2
For a $20 outlay you would receive 41 per cent of a $1 dividend.