Tim's Tips for Manfred 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 JANUARY 24, 2026, rail true, track good 4
RACE 1: TAKEN 1, Merrigold 2, Smokin' Princess 3, Verdad 4
RACE 2: ALIBABA 1, Invicto 2, Eurocanto 3, Our Brave Boy 4
RACE 3: ANGELS FURY 1, Queen's English 2, Jaziba 3, Striesand 4
RACE 4: CONCHIERO 1, Supercilious 2, Everain 3, Quiseen 4
RACE 5: SALSA FELLOW 1, Along The River 2, Declared 3, Expulsion 4
RACE 6: ACTIVE DUTY 1, Dublin Journal 2, Steel Run 3, Suntora 4
RACE 7: OAK HILL 1, Geegees Mistruth 2, Insurrection 3, Way To The Stars 4
Loads of pace here will set this race up for swoopers Oak Hill and Geegees Mistruth, both good fresh.
RACE 8: CUSTOM 1, Space Rider 2, Romantic Encounter 3, Salty Pearl 4
Custom is a filly taking on the boys but was terrific running on in two runs joining the Maher yard in the spring and has trialled well. Space Rider is undefeated fresh, Romantic Encounter won on debut and has trialled well, Salty Pearl will be closing late.
RACE 9: CAFE MILLENIUM 1, Zou Sensation 2, Steparty 3, Aztec Ruler 4
Iron horse Zou Sensation, which has been racing since last May, is the one to beat but if Regal Zeus holds the rails it could set the race up for 1400m specialist Cafe Millenium which was outstanding at his first run for the Hayes boys first-up last time over 1200m here.
RACE 10: TOUCHDOWN 1, Yes I Know 3, Enchanted Jenni 4
Touchdown has won his past three, starts all at the Caulfield Heath, some key scratchings and looks the winner again. Yes I Know the only possible danger, beaten favourite at his past three, back to 1600m, blinkers off and be ridden cold might be the trick.
BEST BETS: Salsa Fellow, Touchdown. VALUE: Custom
THE $20 FLEXI QUADDIE
1st leg: 4, 6
2nd leg: 1, 3, 6, 9
3rd leg: 2, 4
4th leg: 5, 12
For a $20 outlay you would receive 62 per cent of a $1 dividend.