Australian racing tips for November 7, 2026
The Melbourne Cup carnival closes out in style at Flemington on Saturday with Champion Stakes Day featuring Group 1s for the sprinters, milers and middle-distance gallopers.
It’s been a profitable carnival for followers of WGL, and we aim to finish on a high with arguably the best day’s racing of the four this year.
The VRC Champions Sprint is a real highlight, with Tempted the odds-on favourite after taking down the world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising in The Everest at Randwick last time out.
As if that were not enough for the aficionados, we have another champion mare in Autumn Glow running as a prohibitive $1.20 favourite in the VRC Champions Mile. Then there is Cox Plate hero Cosmic Crusader clashing with the placegetters Birdman and Aeliana in the Tab Champions Stakes to round out the Group 1 contests for the week.
Elsewhere there is Group 1 racing at Riccarton Park in New Zealand for the New Zealand 1000 Guineas, along with Group 2 action at Rosehill in Sydney and Ascot in Western Australia.
We have cast an eye over the Group 1 and Group 2 contests on the day to hopefully give you an insight and find some value to end the Melbourne Cup Carnival on a high.
Read on for our best bets of the day for Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Flemington Race 5
Group 2 TAB One Pool Matriarch Stakes (2000m)
Market favourite (8) Vivy Air ($3.70) gets the gun run from barrier one and brings strong Group-level form. (5) Too Darn Discreet drops sharply in weight to 56kg and looks primed to bounce back after being costly the past couple. Last-start winner (4) Soverato remains a major threat in what is an open contest for the mares. We have been with Too Darn Discreet the past couple and she just got too far back last time, but should hopefully be closer over 2000m.
Brad McGrath tips: 5,8,4,12. Best bet: Too Darn Discreet to win.
Flemington Race 6
Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint (1200m)
(6) Tempted took down a giant in The Everest last start and she did it fair and square. She has reached a new level this campaign and it’s world-class. This is her first run down the straight at Flemington and two horses that finished just behind her in The Everest, (7) Joliestar and (3) Headwall, loom as her biggest challengers here. Both those sprinters are top class and they both have run well already at Flemington so they really could give Tempted a scare. (4) Caballus may not be in the class of the others but he loves the straight six.
Brad McGrath tips: 6,7,3,4. Best bet: Tempted too good.
Flemington Race 7
Group 1 VRC Champions Mile (1600m)
(8) Autumn Glow has a chokehold on this mile contest, rated around $1.20 by bookmakers, though one of only two horses to finish in front of the champion mare in a race takes her on here. Autumn Glow has won 14 of her 15 starts with one third: behind Sir Delius and Lindermann in the 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2000m at Randwick. (2) Lindermann is equal second favourite though better than 10-1 is available about the seven-year-old which is racing in super form. Sir Delius goes around at Flemington in the 2000m Group 1. Lindermann will get every chance out in front for Damian Lane though it’s doubtful he will be able to withstand the withering finish of Autumn Glow, who many rate the best horse in the country. (3) Buckaroo ran well last start but this is a massive step up.
Brad McGrath tips: 8,2,3,6. Best bet: Go a trifecta 8, 2, 3-6.
Flemington Race 8
Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes (2000m)
(1) Cosmic Crusader has had an incredible spring and no reason he can’t add another Group 1 victory here. The son of Maurice joined the Andrea Leek stable from WA and has been a revelation. (9) Omni Man is a an import whose third in the Geelong Cup looks a lot better now that the winner of that race Point Of Law is a Melbourne Cup winner in dominant fashion. Not sure he is up to this class at 2000m though. (5) Birdman and (10) Aeliana were second and third to Cosmic Crusader in the Cox Plate and could turn the tables. (3) Sir Delius has been bitterly disappointing at his past couple but his best is good enough to win this. His mantle as arguably the best horse in Australia is gone but he could go some way to claim it back here.
Brad McGrath tips: 3,1,5,10. Best bet: Sir Delius each-way. He’s too good not to return to form.
Rosehill Race 7
Group 2 Toyota Forklifts Hot Danish Stakes (1400m)
Chris Waller’s classy mare (1) Lazzura has this race at her mercy given her recent outstanding form. She is coming off consecutive black-type victories – including a dominant Golden Pendant win at this track and distance – and from barrier two under Tommy Berry, she maps to enjoy an economical on-speed run. (8) Chains Of Love is a real blueblood and has been steadily improving. She might not be ready to roll the favourite but will give a sight out in front. (3) Gerringong is smart and loves this track but has not won at 1400m in seven attempts.
Brad McGrath tips: 1,8,3,4. Best bet: Lazzura-Chains Of Love quinella.
Riccarton Park Race 10
Group 1 Barneswood Farm 54th New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m)
This mile for three-year-old fillies looks at the mercy of electric filly (1) Asturia, which justified short odds with a dominant Ellerslie victory last start and has a perfect barrier three for top hoop Michael McNab. (7) Fiamma was third behind Asturia last start and could get the jump on the favourite in the run for the NZ champion rider Craig Grylls. (9) Miss Magnetica was fourth in that same race and will get every chance from the rails draw. Outside the form from that race, expect (6) Sweetest Thing to be running on strongly..
Brad McGrath tips: 7,1,6,9. Best bet: Fiamma each-way. Can improve again.
Ascot Race 9
Group 2 Afgri Equipment – Lee Steere Stakes (1400m)
The Lee Steere Stakes is a quality Group 2 and usually attracts the best horses in Western Australia, many of which are headed to the Group 1s in the upcoming WA carnival. (6) King Of Light has won seven of his eight starts and has come up a short-priced favourite for this. It’s impossible to knock his form and the gelding certainly has claims to be the best horse in the state, at least with Cosmic Crusader know trained and racing in Victoria. (8) London’s Image is a well-performed mare and she will be fitter for this and loves the track and distance. (1) Western Empire and (3) Watch Me Rock are quality gallopers with 25 wins between them. They will expose any chinks in the favourite’s armour. (4) Let’s Galahvant should be in front for a long way.
Brad McGrath tips: 6,1,4,8. Best bet: King Of Light too classy.
