Australian racing tips for August 22, 2026
Australian Group 1 racing is back for the 2026-27 season, and if there has ever been a more anticipated clash to kick things off than the Autumn Glow v Sheza Alibi stoush in the Winx Stakes, we can not recall it.
The two mares start their season with massive campaigns ahead, likely including the Cox Plate, and either could end the year rated the best horse in the country.
The five-year-old Autumn Glow has won 11 of her 12 starts, with her only defeat coming at her most recent start behind another star galloper Sir Delius in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. The four-year-old Sheza Alibi has won seven of her 10 starts and donkey-licked the field by 4.5 lengths with a light weight in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap at her most recent outing.
Of course, they face a quality field in the Winx Stakes, but such is their status it would be a major surprise if anything else were to win. Autumn Glow is rated around a $1.75 chance, with Sheza Alibi at $3.50. The next pick in early markets is classy stallion Beiwacht at $17.
The Group 1 is the highlight of an enticing card at Randwick also featuring the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes and three Group 3 races.
Elsewhere in Australian racing there are metropolitan meetings at Sandown in Melbourne, Doomben, Morphettville and Belmont.
Read on for our best bets of the day for Saturday, August 22, 2026.
Randwick Race 5
Group 3 Gold Coast Turf Club Premier’s Cup (2000m)
This 2000m race brings together a couple of promising staying types in the well-named (2) Thebudgiesmugla and (5) Boniface, which is a Make Believe gelding having only its 10th start. Boniface has won three of its nine starts and has not had much luck of late. Meanwhile, Thebudgiesmugla (out of mare called Hot Pants) is real winner with seven wins from only 13 starts. The latter needs to step up again but he is showing great promise. Bookies also rate (9) So You Are as a strong contender and she has the services of ace jockey Rachel King.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 2,5,1,9. Best bet: Thebudgiesmugla to win again.
Randwick Race 6
Group 3 Schweppes Toy Show Qlty (1100m)
Five of the seven remaning runners are first-up from a spell so (9) Gatwick will have a clear fitness edge and be hard to run down as the mare is likely to lead from the inside gate. (2) Apocalyptic is the bookies’ elect and has raced well fresh in the past. The topweight (1) Savvy Hallie is an honest type from the in-form Brad Widdup stable, and you just know she will be in the finish. (6) Prima Bella is racing in great form and also won’t be far away.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 1,9,2,6. Best bet: Savvy Hallie each-way.
Randwick Race 7
Group 2 HKJC World Pool Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m)
The Silver Shadow Stakes is a Group 2 for the new season-three-year-old fillies and invariably it unearths a few stars of the future. It’s hard to line up the form and know which fillies are fully wound up but if you can work it out you can profit on the day and later in the spring. The bookies have settled on Queensland-trained (2) Pembrey as the favourite and she does tick all the boxes, especially the one involving having James McDonald in the saddle. Pembrey is drawn wide but has tactical speed. (7) Global Goal is a well-related filly by the Irish side Pinatubo and bolted in at her only start at Wagga when not fancied in the betting. She could be a surprise packet and has attracted early interest. (1) Cherry Bomshell is well in betting and bring Qld ace Ben Thompson south for the ride. But this is a tough, open affair and may be a good one for small quinellas and trifectas.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 2,7,1,5. Best bet: Pembrey was good enough to tackle the Slipper.
Randwick Race 8
Group 3 Hyland Race Colours Show County Qlty (1200m)
This is an interesting contest with star two-year-old (8) Campione D’Italia resuming as a three-year-old against the older, more season horses. This colt by Snitzel is already a Group 1 winner of the ATC Sires’ Produce at this track and has trialled well leading into this. He looks to be a colt going places and if he is close to his top he should give this a real shake. (1) Midnight In Tokyo is just shy of top class but can sprint well fresh and has been well tried in early betting. The gelding will likely get a soft run up on the speed. (3) Enriched is a lightly raced five-year-old who seems to save his best for this track, while (9) Soothsayer boasts an impressive strike rate and won the Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich at his most recent start.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 8,3,1,9. Best bet: Campione D’Italia to win and maybe try the quinella with Enriched.
Randwick Race 9
Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m)
All eyes are on this showdown between the two elite mares. But there is a school of thought that if either is to be vulnerable, especially the younger (14) Sheza Alibi, it could be first-up from a spell. Both mares have taxing campaigns ahead. (8) Autumn Glow, the Chris Waller-trained triple Group 1 powerhouse, returns fresh as a heavily backed favourite with James McDonald in the saddle. And of course, it is a big test for Peter Moody’s explosive Doncaster Mile winner Sheza Alibi, who steps up to weight-for-age conditions. (5) Beiwacht seems likely to dictate the tempo from the front, while (12) Lady Shenandoah is very smart and has a lot of upside. But it’s hard to go against the potential champions and we would love to see them clear out and settle down to fight out the finish. There is something special about the two of them and it should be the first of a long line of battles between the pair.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 14,8,12,5. Best bet: Sheza Alibi to win.
Sandown Hillside Race 7
Group 3 Paramount Liquor Carlyon Stakes (1000m)
They will go quicker than last week’s pay in this Group 3 sprint. The likely leader is the favourite (7) Cavalry Girl, which is racing in career-best form and deserves to top the market. She has the inside draw and is likely to be tested by (5) Beast Mode, which is drawn alongside Cavalry Girl in barrier two. With the speed seemingly guaranteed, the likes of (11) Signature Scent and (1) Hedged should get a perfect trail just in behind the speed and get their chance to run down the favourite. This is a track though where you can put the throttle down for the full 1000m and just prove too slippery. That might be the case with Cavalry Girl.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 7,1,11,4. Best bet: Cavalry Girl to win. She is flying.
