Australian racing tips for May 9, 2026
This week we have the pinnacle of South Australian racing with the $1 million Group 1 The Goodwood over 1200m, plus the high-quality racing in Queensland ramps up with its traditional Gold Coast meeting.
We struggled last weekend as a string of big-priced winners dashed our hopes at Morphettville and it might be tricky again with a rain-affected track likely and the rail out. Finding a horse that handles the soft going will be key.
The Goodwood lost a quality runner with the scratching of topweight and Quokka runner-up Rey Magnerio, but it still boasts a deep field with plenty of chances and value there if you can jag the winner.
The main race at the Gold Coast is the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes, featuring last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours, to be ridden by Jamie Melham. Melham has won the past two Goodwoods but has elected to head north to stick with the gelding which took her to Cup glory at Flemington.
Interestingly the Hollindale also features the 2024 Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice. There is also a strong support card of quality Australian racing at both venues to keep you entertained.
Read on for our free betting tips and analysis for the best racing in Australia on May 9.
Morphettville Race 5
Group 3 Sportsbet Ken and Helen Smith SA Fillies Classic (2546m)
This is a huge test for the fillies over the long distance on a demanding surface, so it will be survival of the fittest. We have landed on (6)
Cushioned, which is lightly raced but as a daughter of Ghaiyyath is likely to relish the journey. She was not good enough last start in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks but this looks easier. (2) Panda’s Spectrum has won her past couple and deserves a crack at this race. From gate one she will get every chance. Maiden filly (11) Angling Angel has been well tried in the lead-up to this race, while (1) Boomeroo is another with valid credentials.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 6,2,1,11. Best bet: Cushioned each-way at around $6 with Australian betting sites.
Morphettville Race 7
Group 3 Sportsbet Proud Miss Stakes (1200m)
(3) Bossy Nic’s four wins have all come at this distance, she handle the wet and is drawn well in gate five. Her jockey Daniel Stackhouse has also been in a outstanding form the past couple of months and she will get every chance. (13) Naifah is a talented and speedy type though she is a query on wet ground. She looks the likely leader from gate two and could easily lead all the way for rising star jockey Zac Llloyd. Naifah and (1) Aviatress have attracted a lot of early betting support. The latter is a quality mare and she flies first-up.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 1,13,12,3. Best bet: Aviatress to power over the to of them.
Morphettville Race 8
Group 1 The Sportsbet Goodwood (1200m)
We would be very confident about the chances of (7) Tycoon Star but he has drawn the outside gate for Luke Currie. Hopefully that won’t be too much of a disadvantage and the colt is racing in super form. Last start he held off (16) Extragalactic, which many pundits believe is the one to beat in this race. The filly is drawn better and also meets Tycoon Star better at the weights. (15) Talkanco is an interesting runner from Western Australia, while (3) Grand Larceny has returned in great order and should be storming home. This is a seriously competitve Group 1 and it’s hard to rule out the chances of any of the expected 14 runners.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 3,7,16,5. Best bet: Grand Larceny each-way and double figure odds but maybe box it up in a quinella with 7,6,15.
Gold Coast Race 3
Group 3 TAB Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m)
(4) St Gotthard is a real blue blood and is a dual acceptor. If he starts here with James McDonald aboard he will take a power of beating as he looks destined for greater things. This is a strong field of two-year-olds for this event named in honour of the great Queensland jockey Ken Russell. (1) Silken Salute is two from two and hits the line with venom. (10) Boomelli is likely to challenge St Gotthard from the front and has Queensland’s top hoop Ben Thompson aboard.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 4,5,10,1. Best bet: St Gotthard.
Gold Coast Race 7
Group 2 TAB A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m)
The Queensland winter carnival hits full stride with the running of the $500,000 Group 2 Hollindale and this year’s edition is a historic clash featuring two Melbourne Cup heroes: (1) Half Yours and (2) Knights Choice. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained star Half Yours looks primed second-up as he makes the transition to weight-for-age class. The tactical battle will be intriguiing as the front-running marvel (9) Pride Of Jenni is expected to set a blistering tempo. (3) Birdman is a proven import and is still getting better; he also gets the services of ace jockey James McDonald.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 1,9,3,10. Best bet: Half Yours to win.
Gold Coast Race 8
Group 3 Brandons Electrical Gold Coast Guineas (1200m)
McDonald is again on the favourite here, (2) Beadman from the powerful Peter Snowden stable. Beadman is a high-class Snitzel colt which has been racing well in good races in Sydney and could emerge as a star of the carnival. We give another potential star in the filly (14) Sylph a strong chance. She has yet to win from eight stars but has six placings on the board. (12) Motorsports is a promising Melbourne filly and the stable would not bring he north if they did not think she would be competitive here. Topweight (1) Beskar is right in the mix for Ryan Maloney, who rarely makes a mistake. He will be finishing hard..
Rupert McIntosh tips: 1,14,2,12. Best bet: Beskar to upstage the other Snitzel colt.
