Race 1: Channel 9 Carbine Club Stakes
🏆 Our Pick Unhinged
Chris Waller’s colt is chasing a hat-trick after giving his Rosehill rivals a start and still putting them away by two lengths. The step to a mile at Flemington looks ideal for a horse finishing his races this strongly, and James McDonald is a handy bloke to have steering.
💰 Value Play Star Of Macedon
Star Of Macedon got too far back in the Gothic Stakes but made up plenty of ground late to finish sixth. The bigger Flemington track and extra 200m should give him a much better chance to launch his run.
🎲 The Smokey Mister Whiskers
Two starts, two wins, and he’s shown he isn’t afraid of a scrap. He fought off the challengers over 1600m at Caulfield last start and draws barrier one here, so he could take some running down if allowed to dictate.
Race 2: TAB One Pool Vanity
🏆 Our Pick Regal Ambition
Regal Ambition was outstanding finishing third in the Thousand Guineas, especially considering how difficult it was to make ground at Caulfield that day. Dropping back to 1400m and Group 3 company looks a lovely setup for the Hayes filly.
💰 Value Play I Am Aria
She was caught right on the line in the Gothic Stakes after looking the winner for most of the straight. Back against the fillies with Blake Shinn aboard, she’s a genuine threat if she gets across cleanly from the wider draw.
🎲 The Smokey Autumn Lover
Her fifth in the Gothic was better than it reads after she spent far too long looking for daylight. William Pike takes over at Flemington, and a clear run could see this outsider make a few better-fancied fillies nervous.
Race 3: HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes
🏆 Our Pick De Armas
De Armas chased home Global Goal in the Group 1 Flight Stakes before getting around Caulfield awkwardly in the Thousand Guineas. She looks ready to relish 2000m on the spacious Flemington circuit, and this is a good chance to put that last run behind her.
💰 Value Play Autumn In Grinzing
She kept finding the line in the Ethereal Stakes over this trip and now gets another crack at 2000m. The inside barrier should help her save ground, making her a solid alternative to the shorter-priced Sydney raiders.
🎲 The Smokey Sumac
Sumac dug deep to win her maiden over 1900m at Newcastle and looks like the extra distance will be no bother. This is a serious rise in class, but a tough filly who keeps finding under pressure has some roughie appeal.
Race 4: G.H. Mumm Rising Fast Stakes
🏆 Our Pick Napoleonic
Napoleonic held his own in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes after running second to Ninja in the Missile Stakes first-up. He drops in grade, draws barrier five and gets James McDonald, which is a pretty enticing combination.
💰 Value Play Sweynesday
The Caulfield Sprint looked a shade sharp at 1000m, but Sweynesday kept chasing all the way to the line. Second-up over 1200m is much more his go, and David Gately also flagged him as a value chance.
🎲 The Smokey The Cosmic One
Six wins from eight starts is no joke, even if this is a big jump in grade. He’s been kept fresh since another win in Adelaide and has the speed to make things awkward for the more established sprinters.
Race 5: The ABC Bullion Damien Oliver
🏆 Our Pick Warnie
Warnie won this race last year, loves the big Flemington track and gets Mark Zahra from barrier one. Ciaron Maher has him targeted at the same 1400m assignment, so there’s plenty of reason to expect another strong performance.
💰 Value Play Hughes
Hughes flew home from the back to finish just a length behind War Machine in the Moonga Stakes at Caulfield first-up. He drops to 54.5kg and has the finishing burst to make this interesting, provided he doesn’t give away too much ground at the jump.
🎲 The Smokey Here To Shock
The old campaigner has won at the top level and was better than his finishing position suggests in the Harry White Stakes. If he lands near the speed and finds his best form, he’s capable of giving this field a proper shake.
Race 6: Coolmore Stud Stakes
🏆 Our Pick The Next Episode
The Next Episode was enormous winning the Danehill Stakes down the Flemington straight, powering over the top after giving the leaders a start. He’s proven at the track and distance, and another performance like that could make him very hard to stop.
💰 Value Play St Gotthard
He’s twice chased home Warwoven this spring, including a Group 1 Golden Rose placing, so the class is certainly there. Chris Waller has freshened him for this, the blinkers go on and James McDonald takes the ride from barrier six.
🎲 The Smokey Under Focus
Under Focus stuck on gamely in the Golden Rose before the 1400m found him out late. Dropping back to 1200m could be just what he needs, making him an interesting outsider in a seriously strong sprinting field.
Race 7: Howden Victoria Derby
🏆 Our Pick Cormier
Cormier was third in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes after setting the pace and now draws barrier three for Jamie Mott. The 2500m is a genuine test for a colt with only one career win, but the inside draw and strong Sydney form give him every chance.
💰 Value Play Skua
Skua fought on bravely for second behind True Rebel in the Vase after doing plenty of work in front. He looks like a colt who will keep finding as the distances increase, and there’s enough fight in his recent runs to give him a real chance at a better price.
🎲 The Smokey King Winston
King Winston was only fifth in the Vase, but he was still finding the line late after the race had slipped away. He needs a massive lift to win a Group 1, yet the move to 2500m could suit this genuine outsider better than most expect.
Race 8: TAB Empire Rose Stakes
🏆 Our Pick Lady Shenandoah
Four Group 1 wins tell you everything about this mare’s class, and she added the Toorak Handicap to the collection last start despite carrying a big weight. Back against the mares at weight-for-age with James McDonald aboard, she’s the obvious one to beat.
💰 Value Play Concord Connie
Concord Connie charged home for third in the Tristarc after the race unfolded against her and is now third-up. She’s unbeaten in two Flemington starts and looks ready to relish the mile if Craig Williams gets her into clear air.
🎲 The Smokey Unleeshing
Unleeshing pulled off a remarkable late win in the Angst Stakes at Randwick and arrives in career-best form. She’s making her Flemington debut in deeper company, but that finishing burst gives her a puncher’s chance if they go hard up front.
Race 9: Asahi Super Dry Sprint
🏆 Our Pick Flying For Fun
Flying For Fun closed strongly behind the flying Jigsaw in the Schillaci Stakes and should strip fitter again third-up. She’s well suited down the Flemington straight and has the form to finish over the top of them.
💰 Value Play Silver Wedding
Silver Wedding made a mess of the start first-up, but her recent Cranbourne jumpout suggested she’s much better than that result. If she leaves the gates cleanly this time, the upside is there for a big performance.
🎲 The Smokey Eagle Express
Eagle Express never got a proper crack at them in the Alinghi Stakes when the gaps refused to appear. A clearer passage down the straight could see her run a much better race than the market expects.
Tips prepared 29 October 2026. Check final scratchings, track conditions and prices before betting. Racing predictions are opinions, not guarantees.