Australian racing tips for August 1, 2026
Welcome to the new Australian racing season in Australia and New Zealand. Today we will run the rule over the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington, a race with a rich history and which traditionally kicks off the new season.
Of course, August 1 is the day in Australia when racehorses get a year older, and it also means it’s not long now until we turn to the focus on the revered Melbourne Spring Carnival, including the Melbourne Cup.
But to today’s racing. Along with the feature meeting at Flemington, elsewhere in Australian racing there are metropolitan meetings at Doomben, Rosehill, Morphettville and Belmont, as well as the Group 3 Winning Edge Presentations 129th Winter Cup at Riccarton in New Zealand.
Read on for our best bets of the day for Saturday, August 1, 2026.
Flemington Race 7
Group 3 Aurie’s Star Hcp (1200m)
To be fair is not a vintage edition of this sprint with only nine acceptors, but it is highly competitive. (1) War Machine is the class horse in the race and has seven wins from just 18 starts. Importantly, War Machine has won down the famed Flemington “straight six” and has the services of comeback jockey Blake Shinn, who shattered his leg in a horror fall at the same track on Melbourne Cup day last year. (5) Ndola arguably more upside than his rivals, and also gets a six-kilo pull in the weights from War Machine. The Justify gelding relishes the straight with two wins from two starts at 1200m at Flemington. Ndola is likely to be racing alongide War Machine in run, in behind the leaders, and the result could depend on which of them gets clear running at the right time, and also whether up the inside is a viable course to plot. Of course, they are not the only chances in this race. (3) Star Patrol relishes this track and looks the likely leader. He will take some running down for speciallist front-running rider Craig Newitt. (2) Arkansaw Kid will also be on the speed and has raced well fresh in the past, while (8) Royal Insignia has his best racing ahead.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 5,3,1,2. Best bet: Try Ndola each-way.
Riccarton Park Race 9
Group 3 Winning Edge Presentations 129th Winter Cup (1600m)
The favourite in a wide-open betting race is (13) Undisputed, which is drawn wide in 16 but has enough tactical speed to put himself into the race. He is a lightly raced Contributer gelding and is a swimmer, which is a great help on the heavy track. With four wins from only nine starts, Undisputed is without doubt on an upswing whereas many of his rivals are well exposed. The well-named Bradman (Pins-Baggy Green) is a tough galloper in a purple patch of form and he will be thereabouts. (3) Sir Sterling loves the sting out of the ground and has the services of Sam Collett, while there has been good support for (17) Platinum Diamond despite just ordinary efforts of late..
Rupert McIntosh tips: 13,1,17,3. Best bet: Undisputed at each-way odds.
