Australian racing tips for July 25, 2026
Caulfield hosts the feature event in Australian racing today, the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes, the final group race of the racing year in Melbourne.
While we are deep into winter racing and tracks Australia-wide are mostly rain-affected, the weight-for-age Bletchingly Stakes has attracted a decent field of sprinters and there are plenty of other deep races to punt on at Caulfield and elsewhere.
We have cast an eye over the best black-type racing in the country to hopefully help guide you towards a winner. And while the Bletchingly, named for the champion former sire, signals an end to the group racing in Melbourne, it also means we are closing in on the Melbourne spring.
Of course, the new season kicks off in August with all horses adding a year. We get to see how the star two-year-olds fare as more mature three-year-olds and so on.
Elsewhere in Australian racing there are metro meetings at Eagle Farm, Randwick, Morphettville and Belmont.
Read on for our best bets of the day for Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Caulfield Race 7
Group 3 The Big Screen Company Bletchingly Stakes (1200m)
(1) Cosmic Crusader is a fascinating watch, as he has top-notch West Australian form with eight wins from only 17 starts and has drawn perfectly in gate one. The gelding, now in the Victorian stable of Andrea Leek, is a Group 1 winner of the Northerly Stakes in Perth but is arguably better suited over further than the 1200m here. The Northerly was over 1800m, but this gelding should be able to slot in just behind the speed and if the breaks come for Dan Stackhouse, he should be simply too good. We were on (8) Miraval Rose first-up when she ran on stoutly to be beaten less than length in fourth place over 1100m. She is better drawn today so may not get as far back, and she loves this track. Also, jockey Jordan Child has steered her to three of her five wins, so she ticks plenty of boxes. (7) Winnasedge is racng in career-best form and should race on the speed in a race without a clear front-runner. (2) Recommendation has been arond the mark lately and hails from the dominant Ciaron Maher stable.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 1,8,3,7. Best bet: Cosmic Crusader to win.
Morphettville Race 6
Listed Sportsbet Lightning Stakes (1050m)
Blink and you will miss this sprint. There is a lot of speed engaged and the start will be crucual. All the money has been for the favourite (4) Cavalry Girl, and from the awkward gate seven if she can cross and lead or slot in one-off the fence behind the leaders she certainly has a great chance. But she runs into a couple of untapped still two-year-olds (for a few days at least) who could be headed for better things. (9) Never Ordinary was outstanding in her firm campaign and is a great chance for apprentice Brooke King to chalk up a listed win. (11) Jacaranda is another lightly raced filly from the powerful Hayes stable and if she has improved from her opening campaign, she could easily round up the leaders under the 52kg for start SA jockey Kayla Crowther. (6) Yuuki is rock-hard fit and is another who could be storming home in the last 50m if the leaders overdo it.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 11,4,6,9. Best bet: Bet on the promise of Jacaranda each-way.
Belmont Park Race 7
Listed Race 7 H.G. Bolton Sprint (1200m)
A lot of runners here backing up from the Listed Beaufine Stakes a fortnight ago won by (7) Immortal Bliss from (12) Twisted Steel. The latters is two kilos better off at the weights this time, and they are both at the top of the market. (11) Madhi Girl was the disappontment of the race in the Beaufine, but the Wizard of the West William Pike sticks solid and she could turn it around quickly, especially as from the one barrier she will get all the favours. (10) Luana Miss, paying around $6 each-way with Australian betting sites, ran on well for fourth in that same race and is better suited over 1200m. Be wary of any market support for the well-travelled (1) Spacewalk at big odds. His best would be good enough to give this a shake and he’s in the sharp Grant and Alana Williams stable.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 10,12,1,11. Best bet: Luana Miss each-way at around $6.
