Australian racing tips for September 12, 2026

Rupert McIntosh

Horse racing previews, form & tips

September 11, 2026

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Spring is really in the air with the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington the cherry on top of a superb day of Australian racing.

The Makybe Diva Stakes, named for the legendary mare which won a hat-trick of Melbourne Cups, pits a couple of rising stars up against a star veteran which has won this race for the previous three years, Mr Brightside.

Bookies have made the rising superstar Sheza Alibi an odds-on favourite, though strong chances are also given to hot Cox Plate favourite Sir Delius, Mr Brightside and front-running type Treasurethe Moment. It is a pivotal race for the rest of the spring carnival and is just one of many highlights on a great day of Australian racing; there are five other Group races at Flemington, as well as a strong card at Rosehill which features four Group races.

For those who like to bet elsewhere, there are other Australian metropolitan meetings at Doomben in Brisbane, Morphettville in Adelaide and Belmont in Perth. For our followers we have focused on the Group racing in Melbourne and Sydney.

Read on for our best bets of the day for Saturday, September 12, 2026.

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Group 3 Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m)

This race for three-year-old fillies is a traditional spring kick-off point for some of the best juveniles from the previous season and none here is better performed than (1) Streisand. This filly won the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and was second in the Golden Slipper, so it’s not a surprise she must concede weight to all rivals here. Early money has arrived for (14) Over Excited, which was impressive on debut and has drawn wide here which usually suits down the straight track but his is a massive step up in class. Sydney training team John O’shea and Tom Charlton have brought two runners for this: (2) Satono Glow, which is extremely smart and has drawn the extreme outside barrier, and stylish filly (7) Scintillation. (10) I Am Aria is a better chance than her $21-plus odds suggest in what is a tricky race to line up.

Rupert McIntosh tips: 1,7,10,14. Best bet: Streisand has the class but maybe anchor her in quinellas or trifectas. It’s a tough race.

Group 3 Schweppes Poseidon Stakes (1100m)

This is the race for many of the promising male three-year-olds to launch their spring campaigns and they should really fly down the straight track. (1) Paradoxium performed well in good company in Sydney during his first campaign and likes to get forward but his race may well be decided by how well he settles if he can’t lead. He is sharing early favouritism with the smart Rubick colt (6) Mbube, which looks to be the one which will settle off the pace and be charging home. (3) Big Sky has won both his starts convincingly and is still untapped, while (5) Steel Will has won both starts since resuming in good style and is ready to tackle this strong class. He is bred to be outstanding and is from the powerful Chris Waller stable..

Rupert McIntosh tips: 5,1,6,3. Best bet: Steel Will each-way.

Group 3  Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m)

This is a taxing staying contest with a big prize up for grabs: a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 3.
The imported stayer (3) Nearco Frod has surprised even his stable and is aiming for a fifth win on the trot. This is his toughest task yet but it’s hard to knock the winning form. He’s drawn ideally and has champion Victorian jockey Craig Williams in the saddle. (2) Litzdeel loves this track and is ready for the distance at his third run back from a spell. (6) Shockletz is another which will relish getting out to this trip while (9) Think Giant looms as one that is still on the way up. As always these staying contests are tough for punters and there are probably at least four others with a live hope.

Rupert McIntosh tips: 3,9,2,10. Best bet: Nearco Frod to win again.

Group 2 HKJC World Pool Bobbie Lewis Qlty (1200m)

Exciting sprinter (5) Oliveanotherday has a stranglehold on betting for this straight contest and with six wins from only eight starts it’s easy to see why. If the gelding adapts to the straight course at Flemington he should win again. (15) Royal Insignia is racing in close to career-best form and with the light weight could run into a place. The biggest dangers to the favourite loom as (13) Losesomewinmore, (3) Hedged, and (4) King Of Roseau.

Rupert McIntosh tips: 5,15,4,3. Best bet: Quinella Oliveanotherday with 3,4,15.

Group 1 Crown Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m)

This should be the highlight of a magnificent day of racing as we see if (12) Sheza Alibi adds another Group 1 race to her impressive career to date. She lost few admirers with her second behind another superstar in Autumn Glow at her first-up run in Sydney, when the latter had all the favours and was not for catching. In this race Sheza Alibi should settle midfield and then unleash her devastating sprint to overhaul the likes of (1) Mr Brightside, which has won the past three editions of this race and was excellent when resuming last start despite now being a nine-year-old. (10) Treasurethe Moment has a good record and looms as the likely leader. She disappointed slightly last start behind the ultra impressive Beiwacht but will strip fitter. (4) Sir Delius is a top-class stallion and will not be easy to get past but might be better suited over a slightly longer trip. The best of the best gallopers are back in action now and even if Sheza Alibi’s restrictive quote will be too short for a lot of punters, this is a great watch for the racing purists.

Rupert McIntosh tips: 12,1,10,4. Best bet: Sheza Alibi to win.

Group 2 Asahi Super Dry Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m)

This is another race in which the betting by a highly promising type in (4) Gold Coast Belle, which has won five of her seven starts with two seconds. She tackles her fellow mares in the Group 2 and there is no reason she can’t continue the winning streak. (1) Salty Pearl is a smart and consistent type with a touch of class and she should be running on strongly. (6) Sea What I See probably is better over further but can run a race fresh. (9) Butternut Princess and (10) Gold Medallist are both capable of pulling out big runs.

Rupert McIntosh tips: 4,9,1,10. Best bet: Gold Coast Belle should sit on the speed and be too good.

Group 3 myPlates Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m)

This Group 3 has attracted a high-class field of three-year-old colts and geldings and one that offers plenty of value is (3) Hidrix, a stunning grey colt which has not won since his debut effort in a Group 3 race for juveniles. The $1.7 million colt was only fifth first-up but never gained clear running and should be suited out to 1400m in a race that looks to contain plenty of pace. (9) Genesis Runner should also sit in behind the pace from the good draw and he has been well tried in early betting, while (2) Stormy Marco is resuming after a good first campaign and shouldbe hitting the line hard, though may be better suited over longer. (6) I’m Ya Huckleberry looms as the likely leader, while (5) Tenenbaum is right in the mix..

Rupert McIntosh tips: 3,9,11,5. Best bet: Hydrix each-way to cause a boilover.

Group 2 Irresistible Pools Sheraco Stakes (1200m)

(1) Lady Shenandoah is a quality mare which and she has form around arguably the best gallopers in the country. We would tip her with confidence against this smart field of mares except for the wide draw, which will likely force jockey Kerrin MvEvoy to get well back in the field. Check the pattern of the day in the earlier races but and if the swoopers are winning she is a great chance to power over the top of them. It’s a classy field. (2) Lazzura, a stablemate to Lady Shenandoah, should be able to settle much closer to the lead for James McDonald and the bookies have made her a solid top pick. (3) Apocalyptic is beautifully bred (incidently a full-sister to Hydrix which runs a race earlier) and should get all the favours from gate one. (8) Weeping Woman has an outstanding strike rate and should lead, while (10) Plaintiff has won four of only five starts and is all upside.

Rupert McIntosh tips: 3,1,10,2. Best bet: Apocalyptic each-way can make it a family double.

Group 2 Yulong Run To The Rose (1200m)

This is the main lead-up race to the Golden Rose and features the return of exciting colt (7) St Gotthard, which destroyed rivals to win a Group 3 at the Gold Coast. He is one of four runners in the race for Chris Waller and the stablemates may present his biggest challenge. (11) Central Europe is the second pick in the market and has the services of Zac Lloyd, who is riding in rare form. Another stablemate in (2) Tron Bolt has something of a boom on him and looks well over the odds at $18 after winning the Group 1 J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm at his most recent start. (12) Under Focus from the Kris Lees stable has been well tried in the lead-up to the race while (9)
Cormier was second to Tron Bolt in the J.J. Atkins and could surprise.

Rupert McIntosh tips: 7,2,1,11. Best bet: St Gotthard looks a potential star.

Group 2 Toyota Forklifts Theo Marks Stakes  (1300m)

The rounds out the quartet of Group races on the Rosehill card and is a tricky contest for the older horses. (6) Skyhook is a short-priced favourite but he has to come from the extreme outside gate of 13. He generally races midfield so is in danger of being caught three wide, unless the field is broken up somewhat be early tempo. (4) Sandpaper and (8) Magnatear are speedy types drawn well which should share the lead. (5) Midnight In Tokyo is a smart mare which should get a good trail and no surprise to see her in front with 100m to go. It may be just whether she can hold off the likes of Skyhook and (7) Verona Rose.

Rupert McIntosh tips: 6,5,4,7. Best bet: Bet on the class of Skyhook.