Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Queensland · Saturday 27 September 2025
Our top pick won 3 of 6 races at Mackay. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
Penseur Positif is well-positioned to break through for a maiden win after placing third last start at this track and distance. Drawn to get the perfect run from barrier 4 on this leader-friendly circuit, he should be able to utilize his early speed to take up a forward position. The Good track suits, and despite carrying top weight, he appears to have the class edge in this field.
Miss Comaneci brings the strongest overall form to this race with 7 placings from 13 starts. Coming off a good second placing last start, she should be ready to fire, though barrier 6 may force her to settle midfield on this tight-turning track.
Whatta Whitt brings solid form credentials after a close second last start. The significant class drop from his previous racing is a major positive, and he's well-weighted with 55kg. While this is his first attempt at both this track and distance, his consistent placing record (6 from 18 starts) suggests he'll be competitive. Barrier 5 gives him options in the run.
The inside barrier draw is crucial at Mackay, and the lightweight of 54.5kg is ideal for this tight-turning track. Second-up from a spell suggests natural improvement, while the gear change (lugging bit first time) could help his steering around the turns. Jason Taylor is a significant jockey booking.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Penseur Positif | 4 | Ashley Butler | Adam Briskey | 59kg | $2.15 |
| 2nd | 6 | John''s Road | 3 | Jason Taylor | P J Duncan | 54.5kg | $6.00 |
| 3rd | 7 | Lady De Vega | 1 | Nathan Thomas | J H Manzelmann | 54kg | $20.00 |
| 4th | 5 | Whatta Whitt | 5 | Sean Cormack | J H Manzelmann | 55kg | $3.80 |
| 5th | 2 | Debbie Baby | 2 | Jackson Murphy | Lachie Manzelmann | 58kg | $9.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Miss Comaneci | 6 | Adam Sewell | Lachie Manzelmann | 58kg | $8.50 |
| 7th | 4 | Spieth Impediment | 7 | Tahlia Fenlon | T Button | 56.5kg | $21.00 |
The Penske File brings the strongest recent form into this race with a win and two seconds in his last three starts. His track record at Mackay (1-2-0 from 4) is solid, and he's drawn perfectly in barrier 3 to utilize his tactical speed on this tight-turning track. Coming off a win over 1800m just 15 days ago, he's proven his fitness and should appreciate the slight drop back in distance.
Pepperdine brings the strongest class credentials to this race, dropping significantly from metropolitan company. His second-up record (1-0-1 from 5) suggests improvement from his last start 4th, and he's a previous winner at Mackay.
He's drawn perfectly in barrier 1 which is crucial at Mackay, and has Sean Cormack aboard. The main concerns are his last-start failure as favorite and lack of experience at both the track and distance, but his raw ability makes him a genuine chance.
His record at this distance range (2-1-2 from 8) is strong, and he has the tactical speed to utilize barrier 4 on this tight-turning track.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Pepperdine | 6 | Ryan Wiggins | Alisha Taylor | 62.5kg | $2.50 |
| 2nd | 6 | The Penske File | 3 | Nikki Olzard | Jennifer Hatfield | 58kg | $2.80 |
| 3rd | 5 | Spellmaster | 1 | Sean Cormack | Clinton Taylor | 58kg | $4.60 |
| 4th | 3 | All Business | 4 | W G Satherley | Alan Joseph Jones | 58.5kg | $8.00 |
| 5th | 4 | Diasonic | 2 | Adam Sewell | Lachie Manzelmann | 58kg | $17.00 |
| 6th | 7 | Just Frank | 7 | Jackson Murphy | Joshua Manzelmann | 54kg | $19.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Aidenabet | 5 | Joshua Manzelmann | 59.5kg |
Has drawn the ideal barrier 1 which is crucial at Mackay's tight turning track. His good track record of 6:2-1-2 suits today's conditions perfectly. While he's yet to race at Mackay, his tactical speed and consistent form at similar class levels make him the standout selection.
Rich Again comes off a last-start win at Mackay over 1050m and has an excellent record at this track with 5:1-2-1. His distance record shows consistency with 5:0-3-0. Expect him to be prominent from the outset.
His second-up record of 2:1-0-0 suggests improvement today, and he's shown consistency with 4 wins and 4 placings from 19 starts. The removal of ear muffs and nasal strip is interesting and could sharpen him up. Barrier 3 is advantageous at this track.
Coming back from stronger BM65/70 company to a BM60, he's placed in his last three starts and carries a manageable 59.5kg. While his overall win rate is modest, his track-specific performance and significant class drop make him a genuine value chance.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | Rideau | 1 | Ryan Wiggins | Alisha Taylor | 61kg | $2.10 |
| 2nd | 5 | No Love Lost | 6 | Adam Sewell | Bonnie Thomson | 59.5kg | $13.00 |
| 3rd | 2 | Rich Again | 5 | Ashley Butler | Joao Campeao | 61.5kg | $6.50 |
| 4th | 7 | Chiaro Di Luna | 8 | Jason Taylor | L A Wright | 54kg | $31.00 |
| 5th | 1 | Northernontap | 3 | Tahlia Fenlon | T Button | 61.5kg | $4.20 |
| 6th | 6 | Irish Rocket | 4 | Jackson Murphy | Dane McKinnon | 57kg | $4.40 |
| 7th | 8 | Madame Moth | 2 | Nathan Thomas | J H Manzelmann | 54kg | $81.00 |
| Scr | 4 | Cinderella Man | 7 | W G Satherley | Alan Joseph Jones | 59.5kg |
Better Be Ready brings strong recent form with a win and close second in his last two starts. The inside barrier is a significant advantage at Mackay's tight-turning track, and his forward racing pattern suits this course perfectly. The Manzelmann-Cormack combination is firing, and this gelding appears well-placed to capitalize on the track dynamics.
Her recent form is impressive with 3 wins from her last 5 starts. The mare has shown versatility in running style and handles good tracks well (4 wins from 11 starts). The main concerns are the top weight of 60kg and stepping up to 1800m for the first time, but her class may overcome these challenges.
Cryptology is an improving type who impressed with a strong maiden win over 1609m last start. The gelding carries a light weight of 55.5kg and has Ryan Wiggins aboard, which are positives. While he's rising significantly in class and has limited experience, his upward form trajectory suggests he could be ready to take the next step.
Her recent form has been consistent with two 3rd placings, and she drops slightly in class here. While her get-back racing style isn't ideal for Mackay's tight-turning track, the light weight of 54kg and the longer 1800m distance give her time to find position.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Better Be Ready | 1 | Sean Cormack | Joshua Manzelmann | 59kg | $2.15 |
| 2nd | 1 | Thormendous Miss | 3 | Jason Taylor | L A Wright | 60kg | $4.00 |
| 3rd | 3 | Cryptology | 6 | Ryan Wiggins | Alisha Taylor | 55.5kg | $3.40 |
| 4th | 4 | Caracristi | 7 | Nathan Thomas | J E McConachy | 54kg | $7.50 |
| 5th | 6 | Supeedo Gonzales | 4 | Jackson Murphy | Joshua Manzelmann | 54kg | $26.00 |
| 6th | 7 | The Kobay Train | 2 | Nikki Olzard | Joshua Manzelmann | 54kg | $71.00 |
| 7th | 5 | Pretty Profit | 5 | Tahlia Fenlon | Kris Thomas | 54kg | $81.00 |
Zaya brings excellent recent form with consecutive seconds and has a perfect inside draw that suits Mackay's leader-friendly configuration. While rising in class is a concern, she appears progressive and should get the perfect run from barrier 2 in a race likely to have strong early tempo.
Ravenite draws the perfect inside gate at this leader-friendly track and brings consistent recent form. While his overall win strike rate is modest at 8%, he should get every chance from the inside barrier and has proven ability on Good tracks. The 15-day spacing between runs is ideal and he appears ready to run a peak performance.
He's The One brings excellent course experience with a strong Mackay record (1-3-4 from 12 starts) and solid track/distance stats (1-1-0 from 3). While his overall win strike rate is modest, he's dropping in class and has shown good recent form with a 3rd last start. The middle barrier is a slight concern at this track, but his proven ability at Mackay and the class drop make him a genuine contender.
She's dropping significantly in class and has proven ability at this track with a win from 3 starts.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 8 | The Hairdresser | 9 | Adam Sewell | T Button | 57kg | $8.50 |
| 2nd | 6 | He''s The One | 7 | Jason Taylor | S S Quigley | 58kg | $7.50 |
| 3rd | 7 | Zaya | 2 | Jackson Murphy | Ms R Binder | 58kg | $4.00 |
| 4th | 2 | Underrated | 11 | Ryan Wiggins | Clinton Taylor | 59.5kg | $2.45 |
| 5th | 5 | Santorini Summer | 3 | W G Satherley | Alan Joseph Jones | 58.5kg | $14.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Ravenite | 1 | Tahlia Fenlon | W N Pomfrett | 59kg | $6.00 |
| 7th | 4 | Belle''s Boy | 10 | Ashley Butler | Ms L Horstman | 58.5kg | $81.00 |
| 8th | 11 | Fancy Legend | 5 | Nathan Thomas | Ms L Horstman | 54kg | $151.00 |
| 9th | 1 | Aidenabet | 6 | Sean Cormack | Joshua Manzelmann | 62kg | $21.00 |
| 10th | 9 | Torque Of Dreams | 8 | Nikki Olzard | Lachie Manzelmann | 54.5kg | $91.00 |
| Scr | 10 | Cailin Alainn | 4 | L A Wright | 54kg |
Divine Purpose brings solid form into this race with a close 3rd last start at this track over 1300m. The mare has a strong record on good tracks and gets weight relief here with 54kg. Perfectly drawn in barrier 5 for Mackay's tight turning track, she should get an ideal run in midfield with the expected fast tempo. Sean Cormack knows her well and can position her to strike in the straight.
Acrophobic brings excellent track credentials with 3 wins from 8 starts at Mackay and a particularly strong record at this track and distance (2-0-1 from 3). The 8yo gelding is well-drawn in barrier 4 and should be able to utilize his early speed on this leader-friendly circuit. While carrying top weight is a concern, his proven ability at this venue makes him a genuine winning chance.
Dillinger comes into this race with improving form, having run 2nd last start at Bowen over 1200m. The 6yo gelding is perfectly drawn in barrier 1, which is a significant advantage at Mackay's tight-turning track. With a good record on Good tracks and carrying just 54kg, he should get every chance from the inside gate.
The 6yo gelding has a good place record at Mackay (0-2-1 from 9 starts) and is well-drawn in barrier 3.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Acrophobic | 4 | Ashley Butler | Jennifer Hatfield | 60.5kg | $3.40 |
| 2nd | 3 | Divine Purpose | 5 | Sean Cormack | Clinton Taylor | 54kg | $1.50 |
| 3rd | 8 | Brasco | 3 | Adam Sewell | Lachie Manzelmann | 54kg | $7.00 |
| 4th | 2 | Farooq | 7 | Tahlia Fenlon | J H Manzelmann | 54.5kg | $31.00 |
| 5th | 6 | Fortified | 9 | Nathan Thomas | Joshua Manzelmann | 54kg | $31.00 |
| Scr | 4 | The Driller | 2 | Jackson Murphy | J H Manzelmann | 54kg | |
| Scr | 5 | Dillinger | 1 | T Button | 54kg | ||
| Scr | 7 | Moktaffy | 8 | W G Satherley | Mark Cochrane | 54kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Poet''s Day | 6 | Nikki Olzard | Jennifer Hatfield | 54kg |
Before the races, not after
Our top three picks and a value pick for every race, with assessed prices, speed maps and the analysis behind them. Free for 7 days.