Tips, suggested bets and feature race preview for the Coongy Handicap at Caulfield 14/10/2026.
Fine weather mid-week with just a few showers and this track raced sensationally for the Caulfield Guineas meeting last Saturday, you could win on-speed or running on and it was extremely fair. Rail goes OUT 13M for the mid-week meeting and no doubt that ground will be worse as it is the section of the track they were using over winter. Normally rail out would favour those on-speed, but last few meetings this year with the rail out, he inside chopped up quickly and they came off the fence, so assume that will be the pattern today as well even on a dry track.
Fascinating to see racing social media suddenly discover the poor record of short priced favourites in the Might and Power Stakes AFTER Sheza Alibi was beaten last weekend. Much more useful to pass on this information beforehand in our opinion…
It has been a pretty skinny spring on the punt so far, and the suggested bets and tips are running well below normal rates (but the Lays of the Day are going gangbusters). However, we have to say we are loving the fields for this meeting today- there were a few years where we got small fields for this day and there was little punting interest. This meeting is like a Turf Deli All Star Line Up, with a long list of our favourite horses going around – WUDDZZ, HE’LL RIP, BEST TIME, and of course the mighty mare PER SEMPRE who is going to go around at long odds once again. Now we just need a bit more rain. Keen to have a bet today and there is plenty to bet on and the roughies today are bought to you by the letter P.
For Spring Campaign 2026 we won’t be posting tips till Saturday morning (earlier if time allows). Feature race preview at the bottom of this post.
BEST WIN: Race 2: 2-HIERARCHY $5 WIN
QUINELLA Race 2: 2-HIERARCHY#6,9,10 x $3 = 100%
Pretty even field of 3YOs and a few showing potential here but like the turn of foot this one showed last start to dash clear. Drawn well, will get a good run and just needs to burst through the pack again and should be right in the finish here. Back straight out at around $4 and anchor in a quinella with the main dangers the 6-TRUE REBEL and 10-SO ROYAL both coming off good maiden wins and the 9-NIKITRIA as a roughie who is back in class from a heavy track Group 2 race.
BEST EACH WAY: Race 6: 6-POLITELY DUN $4 EW
QUINELLA: Race 6: 6-POLITELY DUN#1,10,12 x $3 = 100%
This one has been absolutely flying this time in, flew past them to win here second up, got too far back behind a tear-away leader and hit the line well here two starts back and then made a long run wide from well back to be finishing on strongly at Mornington. Will need the speed on and a track where they can run on and he is going to need a good ride here from jockey Shinn out the back from barrier 1 – but those last two runs have been seriously good. Back each way at around $8 and anchor in a quinella in case he is running on to late again with the consistent on-speed and in-form 1-EMPEROR TZU, the improving 10-BEST TIME as the roughie and the 12-JOHNICH who is ready to win now.
BEST EACH WAY: Race 7: 10-AUTUMN MYSTERY $5 EW
Form doesn’t look that crash hot on paper, but we think his one is ready to do something today. Was running into the race on the rails two starts back at Flemington where the slow speed didn’t suit and did his best to loop into the race out wide in a leader dominated race here last start. Fitter for the 3 runs in, and will get a solid tempo today so look for him making a long grinding run out wide. Confident each-way bet at around $16.
BEST ROUGH: Race 3: 9-PUGLIA $3 EW
Underrated mare who strung together three wins in a row this preparation at $8, $18 and $15 and last run was actually pretty good where she was caught up in a pack before working through late. Punters are going to send her around at $14 again today, and are setting her up for yet another double figure victory. Well drawn, can race handy and will get a perfect run here. Rough at $14.
BEST ROUGH: Race 5: 14-PRESSER $3 EW
This one was right in the finish here last start at $50, and he is meeting the others from that race 2-3kgs better off on the weights today. Loves a dry track, can race handy, has drawn barrier 1 and whilst there is a bit of depth to this field he is likely to be around the finish at $21. Rough.
BEST ROUGH: Race 8: 5-PER SEMPRE $2 EW
This mighty sprinting mare continues to be under-rated and she has been most kind to us over the last year, winning at Mornington last start at $31 and Flemington last year at $21, both times when we had tipped her. Plenty of good runs in between too. Ride last start was super smart to go forward against normal racing pattern and her main issue is that she can drop back and lose contact with those on-speed, so she does have a few hard luck stories to tell. Jockey Bates stays on board and there is plenty of speed here, so she just needs to settle midfield and keep touch with the leading bunch and use her strong finish down the middle of the track. Would have definitely preferred some rain, but not going to let her go around at $35 without having something on today. Rough.
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 5: 2-BUCCLEUCH at around $3.50
Opened up his spring campaign with two dominant wet track wins, and then he got too far back on a leaders track here last start. Thing is, good chance that is going to happen again, and there a quite a few here that go OK, so not sure we want to get on him out the back and needing luck. Risking.
TURF DELI WONDER BET: Here we try and turn $5 into our very own Caulfield Buggy.
EARLY QUAD: Races 1,2,3,4: 2,4,5 / 2,6,9,10 / 1,5,9,16 / 5 x $5 = 10.41%
We need to negotiate the early 2YO race and hope for a result away from the main chances in the next two legs and then come home in the last leg on the 5-LEONCHROI who had no luck held up for runs last start and has a fair bit of staying ability and really should win today.
SUGGESTED QUADDIE:
Races 5,6,7,8: 6,7,14,16 / 1,6,10,12 / 8,9,10 / 2,5,9,10,12 x $20 = 8.33%
Some pretty even fields today and decent chance a nice quaddie dividend. Go wide in the last leg which looks quite open.
Feature Race Preview: RACE 7: COONGY HANDICAP 2000M GROUP 3
For the time-honoured Coongy Handicap, we have an interesting field, and a good betting race, including those who didn’t quite make it to their Caulfield Cup dreams. We would tend towards those who are lightly raced and on the way up in this race. There is actually a stack of speed in this race and it should be a very genuine tempo, the 9-SUNSET PARK will jump and lead, the 3-SMOKIN’ ROMANS will sit outside them, the 4-AMBASSADORIAL will go forward and the 8-ZIRYAB probably takes a sit just behind the speed to get a perfect run and the 2-AIR ASSAULT who normally leads may have to push up to hold a position. Genuine tempo means plenty of speed for those who drop back to run on out wide here.
Runner by Runner comments:
1-POUNDING has turned into one of the most genuine horses in Australia and he is competitive pretty much every time he steps out. There was a time when we thought he was suspect over further than a mile, and then there he was in the finish again and again of 2400M and 2800M races – he is a bit of an iron horse. Firm tracks are definitely his go. We had a little sneaky bet on him last start at long odds to place, with PRIDE OF JENNI destroying them all he had to do was sit out the back and work home and he did that really well. Yet to win at Caulfield in 14 starts, but been in the finish plenty of times. Last preparation he had ten starts and placed five times, but he hasn’t won in two years now. Drawn wide and may end up at the back of the field here. Has to give 4-5kgs to nearly all of these but he is super genuine and some of these are not. Chance.
2-AIR ASSAULT is an honest Adelaide middle distance horse who normally leads or races handy and he should do just that today from an inside barrier. Not far off them with a big weight two starts back. First time he has tried 2000M for a while now and his best form has been over the 1600M to 1800M range. He hasn’t shown his best form in Melbourne for some time now. Definitely elevate if the track is favouring those on-speed as he is fit and in form. Prefer place.
3-SMOKIN' ROMANS is a tough front running stayer who can surprise and win out of turn at long odds and he is a bit hard to catch these days. Best recent form has been on wet tracks, but he did contest the Herbert Power, MV Cup and Melbourne Cup last year so he has been racing right at the top level. Was racing OK earlier this spring, but form has tapered off a bit. Quite capable at this level, but simply can’t catch him so only if the track ends up racing on-speed – and there is a fair bit of pressure up front in this race. Passing.
4-AMBASSADORIAL is really tough to run down when he gets to roll in the lead by himself, but we can see quite a few other potential leaders in this. Definitely prefers dry tracks and that is a big plus. Won the Easter Cup this track and distance earlier this year. He has been scratched a few times this spring and just wonder where he is at with his preparation, coming into this race second-up and off a four week break. He is right in this on his best form, so watch the market, but suspect he may need this run as well. Prefer place.
5-NEWFOUNDLAND is am import stayer who has been around the finish in a lot of feature staying races in a few preparations in Australia. Transferred to a jumping stable this time in. Wasn’t too bad at his only run this time in, but his best form has been over genuine staying trips and not sure Caulfield 2000M with the rail out suits his racing style. $100 in a Coongy isn’t peak staying form. No.
6-DARKBONEE looked to have a big spring ahead and was potentially going to be aimed at a Caulfield Cup, but he hasn’t quite measured up last few starts and he is aiming to take out the consolation prize here. Dominant win with no weight here 2nd up and then he was too keen when a well beaten short priced favourite here two starts back. Fair effort here last start when wide all the way and battled on well. He ticks the box of the up and coming stayer and think the solid tempo here is going to be a big plus today. Not so sure about barrier 1 though with the rail out with a horse that is likely to drop back – would much prefer him swooping around the field. He is going well enough to win this, but not sure we would want to back him at $3.50 as he might need some luck. Strong chance.
7-STATUARIO is one we have a bit of time for, but he doesn’t have the best win strike rate and he tends to drop back in the field and need the racing pattern and tempo to suit – he is often running on late but not winning. Blinkers on and rise in distance are a plus, and totally forgot he had run second in an Adelaide Cup. Ok first up, but probably still needs this run second-up and on his way to longer distances. Pace on does suit though. Rough place.
8-ZIRYAB is a tough on-speed stayer who gives himself every chance and just keeps rolling into the finish. Nice 5kgs weight drop from last win for the rise in class. Fair bit of speed in this race, but he does like to position handy and wide and just off the leaders and he should get exactly that run today. He is going pretty well at the moment and right in this on his current form. Excellent distance stats and think that this is his best trip. Strong chance.
9-SUNSET PARK is a really tough front-runner and just a shame there are so many other leaders in this race. Kicked in the Mornington Cup and she was only run down late and totally dominated in the lead to win the Matriarch last spring. Looks like she didn’t come up last preparation. Drawn well and will go forward and she is fit and in form. Scratched from the Herbert Power Saturday to be kept for this race. Strong chance.
10-AUTUMN MYSTERY has actually been going along OK this spring and he is one we are keeping an eye on. Fitter for the 3 runs in, poked up nicely on the rails at Flemington 2nd up when he tried to sprint with them and stuck on well, and then he had to try and run into the race early and wide last start off a slow tempo on a leaders track – it was actually a pretty good run. He likes a solid tempo and a toughly run race coming down the outside and he may get the race run to suit today. Going better than his form suggests and think he is a genuine rough chance here. Like that he is drawn wide and can make a long sustained run at them in clear going. Rough chance, but we are pretty keen on his chances here.
11-MILITARY ACADEMY is an international kicking off spring staying campaign in the Coongy Handicap, so it can only get better from here in. Absolutely impossible to line up, so watch the betting market. The speed on here will suit, but doubt a Caulfield track OUT 13M does. Passing.
12-PRINCE ERIC is pretty good on his day but he doesn’t win out of turn. Fought the finish out well first-up over 1600M and suited with the rise in distance. Strong finishing type who may prefer a wet track. Speed on here is going to suit and 2000M stats are pretty good too. Well drawn and will get a good run into the race – the one win from 16 good track starts is a worry. Probably needs one more but a rough chance here. Rough.
Summary:
This looks a pretty good betting race and the genuine speed is going to be the key. We are keen to push for one at odds here in the 10-AUTUMN MYSTERY, ready to win now with three runs in and has been going along OK, he just needs to get into a genuinely run race and grind away down the middle of the track and that looks likely today. Quite keen. The 8-ZIRYAB will get the perfect on-speed sit here and he is fit and in form and not underestimating the 9-SUNSET PARK leading, but will need to get some breaks. Keen to have an each-way bet on the top pick at around $16.
Race 1: EARLY 2YO. PRETEND TO BE AT WORK.
Race 2: 2-HIERARCHY, 6-TRUE REBEL, 10-SO ROYAL
Race 3: 5-STEATH OF NIGHT, 1-PORTER, 9-PUGLIA
Race 4: 5-LEONCHROI, 2-FERNAO, 10-SAVISANTA
Race 5: 7-JETT SMASH, 14-PRESSER, 6-HE’LL RIP
Race 6: 6-POLITELY DUN, 1-EMPERIOR TZU, 10-BEST TIME
Race 7: 10-AUTUMN MYSTERY, 8-ZIRYAB, 9-SUNSET PARK
Race 8: 10-TRES MAGNFIQUE, 2-VERDOUX, 5-PER SEMPRE
