Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Queensland · Saturday 12 September 2026
Our top pick won 2 of 8 races at Gold Coast. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
The most reliable galloper in the race: four starts for three placings, all close-up, including a strong-finishing 3rd over 1600m last start after being held up and inconvenienced. The drop to 1400m suits, he gets a 2kg claim and draws nicely in barrier 4, and on an on-speed Gold Coast circuit he should be handy enough to strike.
The query is the rise to 1400m first up on top of limited race exposure, so he sits narrowly behind the more proven Ted Lasso.
Barrier 5 should see him settle handy on a track that rewards on-pace runners.
An honest filly with three placings from seven starts who maps to be handy or leading on a track that favours on-speed runners. She has 1400m and course experience, finishing 4th in a Gold Coast maiden over the trip, and gets in light at 56kg with in-form jockey Cartwright (20% from her last 20 rides).
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Pac Fair | 3 | Matthew Palmer | Richard Laming | 60kg | $2.80 |
| 2nd | 7 | Syrinx | 8 | D Peisley | P L Shailer | 58kg | $9.00 |
| 3rd | 3 | Ted Lasso | 4 | McKenzie Apel | Allan Chau | 58kg | $2.40 |
| 4th | 6 | Radomir | 5 | Frederick Larson | Tony & Maddysen Sears | 58kg | $10.00 |
| 5th | 9 | Miss Informed | 7 | Ms G Cartwright | C H Richardson | 56kg | $26.00 |
| 6th | 8 | Tisani James | 6 | B Lerena | K R Kemp | 57.5kg | $31.00 |
| 7th | 1 | Dark Martian | 9 | Jasper Franklin | Michael Freedman | 60kg | $8.50 |
| 8th | 4 | Echo Zulu | 2 | Anthony Allen | D J Bougoure | 59.5kg | $31.00 |
| 9th | 5 | One More Drink | 1 | Brooke Ainsworth | Jan Pritchard | 58kg | $91.00 |
Cardonette is the clear class/form pick. Barrier 2 suits a sprint where inside gates dominate and she maps midfield/on-pace, ideal for an on-speed track.
Varejao maps perfectly from barrier 1 as an on-pace/midfield type in a race where the bias rewards forward positions. The obvious risk is his inability to win, but for a place play his consistency, gate and recent trial win are strong.
The concern is his get-back style into a moderate-tempo race that favours on-pace runners, plus top weight. Strong closing ability still makes him a genuine top-3 threat.
Poised Tycoon is the value play.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Cardonette | 2 | Ms G Cartwright | T J Gollan | 56.5kg | $1.35 |
| 2nd | 2 | Magic Invader | 4 | M Hellyer | Chris Anderson | 58.5kg | $9.00 |
| 2nd | 8 | Tszinsi | 9 | B Lerena | J W Healy | 56.5kg | $21.00 |
| 4th | 14 | Johnny The Fox | 5 | Bailey Wheeler | Peter Robl | 56.5kg | $81.00 |
| 5th | 7 | Duchess Difficult | 7 | Fiona Sandkuhl | Matthew Hoysted | 54.5kg | $10.00 |
| 6th | 12 | Poised Tycoon | 10 | D Peisley | Tony & Maddysen Sears | 58.5kg | $51.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Chilli Margarita | 3 | Anthony Allen | Brooke Mackie | 56.5kg | $61.00 |
| 8th | 4 | Varejao | 1 | Archie Mc Colm | S W Kendrick | 55.5kg | $7.50 |
| 9th | 3 | Shaque D'amour | 6 | B El-Issa | D J Hansen | 58.5kg | $21.00 |
| 10th | 13 | Krasaki | 8 | J L Taylor | Taryn Churchill | 56.5kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 1 | King Of Valhalla | 10 | Tony & Maddysen Sears | 58.5kg | ||
| Scr | 9 | Another Typhoon | 8 | K M Schweida | 54kg | ||
| Scr | 10 | Belle Ole | 7 | Adam Campton | 54kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Insain Lady | 12 | A & D Simpson | 56.5kg | ||
| Scr | 15 | Exit Strategy | 2 | Ms T Timbery | 56.5kg |
Lone leader in a race that profiles slow, on a Gold Coast circuit that favours on-speed runners (leaders place 58%).
The slow tempo is the knock - she settles last - but she is a reliable placegetter in this grade.
He maps to settle around third on-pace, which suits a slow-tempo, on-speed track, and his claiming rider lessens the 57kg.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Weekend Artist | 6 | Archie Mc Colm | Chris & Corey Munce | 57kg | $4.60 |
| 2nd | 6 | California Grass | 9 | Bailey Wheeler | Christos Zintilis | 57.5kg | $19.00 |
| 3rd | 12 | He Is The Kiss | 5 | N Tomizawa | Allan Chau | 58kg | $20.00 |
| 4th | 7 | Monte Carlo Miss | 1 | McKenzie Apel | Jonny Field | 55kg | $4.20 |
| 5th | 9 | Tartan Tiger | 3 | Aidan Keeley | E J Hayes | 56.5kg | $15.00 |
| 6th | 14 | Whisky Train | 7 | Adin Thompson | G Heinrich & B Rodgers | 56kg | $8.00 |
| 7th | 4 | Spot The Aussie | 8 | Ms G Cartwright | David Vandyke | 59.5kg | $11.00 |
| 8th | 2 | All About Artie | 4 | Jasper Franklin | J C Smerdon | 59.5kg | $3.00 |
| 9th | 3 | Chayse 'n' Penny | 2 | L J Miller | Jay Bellamy | 59.5kg | $21.00 |
| Scr | 5 | Solidude | 12 | Allan Chau | 58.5kg | ||
| Scr | 8 | Ready To Drink | 10 | M T Eggleston | 56.5kg | ||
| Scr | 10 | Birmingham | 8 | M A Palmer | 58.5kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Cheerful Cat | 7 | James Moore | 58.5kg | ||
| Scr | 13 | He's A Saint | 10 | S J Morrisey | 57.5kg |
Clear class runner.
Improving, versatile across conditions and proven at Gold Coast 1400m (2:1-0-0). The concern is race shape: he settles near the tail and the predicted slow tempo will make it hard to reel in the leaders. Still, his turn of foot is the strongest credential in this field.
Profiles as the likely leader in a slowly run race on an on-speed track, which is a significant tactical edge.
Value runner. Draws barrier one, carries just 52.5kg with a 1.5kg claim and settles third in a slow tempo.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Cape Crusader | 4 | Jade Hampson | Tony & Maddysen Sears | 54kg | $6.50 |
| 2nd | 3 | Deep Respect | 6 | D Peisley | Jeff Dunn | 57kg | $3.20 |
| 3rd | 5 | Flying Bat | 2 | McKenzie Apel | Allan Chau | 53kg | $8.00 |
| 4th | 2 | Atmosphere | 5 | B Lerena | Jack Bruce | 58.5kg | $8.00 |
| 5th | 1 | Slippin' Jimmy | 3 | Archie Mc Colm | David Vandyke | 57kg | $2.15 |
| 6th | 6 | Fort William | 1 | Stacey Callow | K R Kemp | 52.5kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 8 | Going To The Sun | 7 | Colleen Krahnen | W L King | 53kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 7 | The Catch | 4 | Jeff Dunn | 54kg |
Today he drops to provincial grade, maps perfectly from gate 3 settling third in a moderate-tempo 1200m, and is trained by leading Queensland stable Gollan with an in-form rider.
Owns the best win profile in the race: 3 wins from 14, all on Good ground (10:3-0-0), and a 1200m record of 2:1-1-0. He leads from barrier 1 on a Gold Coast track where sprint inside gates and on-speed runners have a clear edge, and he drops 2kg to 57.0kg.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 10 | Show Me The Stars | 7 | Rob Thorburn | Brendan Jones | 56kg | $10.00 |
| 2nd | 4 | Excessor | 8 | Ron Stewart | K A Lees | 59.5kg | $17.00 |
| 3rd | 5 | La Profecia | 3 | Ms G Cartwright | T J Gollan | 59.5kg | $3.70 |
| 4th | 7 | Homeric | 5 | B El-Issa | Chris & Corey Munce | 59kg | $5.50 |
| 5th | 11 | Champagne Problems | 9 | Adin Thompson | G Heinrich & B Rodgers | 55kg | $4.40 |
| 6th | 1 | Purosangue | 1 | Archie Mc Colm | Kristie Clark-Peoples | 57kg | $11.00 |
| 7th | 9 | Wildspitze | 2 | Jasper Franklin | Tony & Maddysen Sears | 58.5kg | $7.50 |
| 8th | 3 | Chiba | 4 | Matthew Palmer | G Heinrich & B Rodgers | 59.5kg | $18.00 |
| 9th | 8 | The Opportunist | 6 | Dan Mc Gillivray | Phil Bobic | 58.5kg | $10.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Siglo De Oro | Marcus Wilson | 60kg | |||
| Scr | 6 | Torque So Hot | 8 | M J Dunn | 59.5kg |
Maps as the lone leader in a race projected slow on a Gold Coast circuit with a strong on-pace lean, the single clearest contextual edge in the race. Gollan/Cartwright combination and 56.5kg are positives. Main risk is her one 1800m attempt when she led and faded, so she needs to control the tempo.
The form horse of the field with consecutive wins, the latest over 2000m which answers the stamina question for 1800m.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Brain Wave | 1 | Adin Thompson | Ms M Brosnan | 58kg | $3.40 |
| 2nd | 2 | Mishani Witness | 8 | Fiona Sandkuhl | Donna Stanbridge | 58kg | $4.00 |
| 3rd | 10 | He's A Saint | 4 | Frederick Larson | S J Morrisey | 57kg | $41.00 |
| 4th | 12 | Decarbonise | 7 | Aidan Keeley | J A Gilmore | 60kg | $101.00 |
| 5th | 11 | Power Reece | 9 | Ms G Cartwright | T J Gollan | 56.5kg | $2.70 |
| 6th | 1 | Contreras | 6 | Noriyuki Masuda | David & Marcus Scanes | 60kg | $151.00 |
| 7th | 9 | Naughty Nurse | 10 | Ron Stewart | K A Lees | 58kg | $8.50 |
| 8th | 8 | Deemee | 11 | Jasper Franklin | Emma Fouchard | 58kg | $21.00 |
| 9th | 6 | Big Hitter | 3 | M Hellyer | David & Marcus Scanes | 58kg | $101.00 |
| 10th | 13 | Stormstout | 2 | Colleen Krahnen | R G Howard | 53kg | $26.00 |
| 11th | 4 | Solidude | 5 | McKenzie Apel | Allan Chau | 56.5kg | $21.00 |
| Scr | 3 | He Is The Kiss | 10 | Allan Chau | 58.5kg | ||
| Scr | 5 | Whisky Train | 7 | G Heinrich & B Rodgers | 58.5kg | ||
| Scr | 14 | Jacks And Soda | 12 | Andrew Rogers | 58.5kg |
The class/form runner.
The main query is she has no Good-track win and was beaten fair-and-square by the top pick here last start, but her positional edge keeps her firmly in the finish.
Steps up decidedly in grade and is second-up, but has shown good-track form and upside from only three career starts.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Artistic Endeavour | 6 | Jasper Franklin | K M Schweida | 60kg | $3.30 |
| 2nd | 10 | Mythology | 1 | Ms G Cartwright | T J Gollan | 58kg | $3.30 |
| 3rd | 5 | Divine Justice | 9 | Anthony Allen | Jack Bruce | 58kg | $6.50 |
| 4th | 14 | Welcome Advice | 5 | M Hellyer | Jack Bruce | 58kg | $5.00 |
| 5th | 13 | Social Pariah | 8 | D Peisley | Jeff Dunn | 58kg | $51.00 |
| 6th | 12 | Ready To Drink | 4 | Bailey Wheeler | M T Eggleston | 58kg | $16.00 |
| 7th | 3 | Smashing Nova | 2 | Ron Stewart | K A Lees | 60kg | $8.00 |
| 8th | 7 | Love To Torque | 7 | Archie Mc Colm | S W Kendrick | 55kg | $26.00 |
| 9th | 11 | Percolate | 3 | J L Taylor | Ms L Powell | 58kg | $91.00 |
| 10th | 16 | Caesar Cake | 10 | Aidan Keeley | Grant Forge | 58kg | $151.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Chief Of Staff | 10 | M J Dunn | 60kg | ||
| Scr | 4 | The Opportunist | Phil Bobic | 60kg | |||
| Scr | 6 | French Melody | 12 | M J Dunn | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 8 | Madame Cody | C H Richardson | 58kg | |||
| Scr | 9 | Monte Carlo Miss | 11 | Jonny Field | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 15 | I'm Not Here | 13 | Chris & Corey Munce | 55.5kg |
Resumes with the strongest profile in the race. Barrier 1, an on-pace style and a predicted settle of around second suit the expected slow, lone-leader tempo at an on-speed track, and he drops in class.
However, he is 0 from 5 at this track and 0 from 3 at this trip, and his habit of leading then folding in the straight is a recurring, expensive pattern.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Lumens Lenny | 2 | Aidan Keeley | S J Morrisey | 59kg | $5.50 |
| 2nd | 10 | Impact Zone | 1 | Ron Stewart | Natalie McCall | 58.5kg | $3.70 |
| 3rd | 6 | Chilliwack | 3 | Matthew Palmer | G Heinrich & B Rodgers | 58.5kg | $21.00 |
| 4th | 14 | Sum Invictus | 4 | Archie Mc Colm | Kurt Goldman | 54kg | $2.45 |
| 5th | 13 | River Ribble | 5 | Adin Thompson | G Heinrich & B Rodgers | 58kg | $13.00 |
| 6th | 9 | Flying Vento | 6 | K H Zechner | Adam Campton | 58.5kg | $5.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Outakandy | 8 | Ben Hull | 62.5kg | ||
| Scr | 2 | Italian Dancer | 11 | S W Kendrick | 62kg | ||
| Scr | 3 | Cool Panels | 5 | L J Gough | 60kg | ||
| Scr | 4 | Jimmyinthejungle | 7 | Adam Campton | 60kg | ||
| Scr | 7 | Custo | 5 | Ruby Chatterton | 58.5kg | ||
| Scr | 8 | Esprit Du Jour | 11 | T J Gollan | 58.5kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Another Cashie | 7 | M J Dunn | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 12 | Quickzou | 12 | T J Gollan | 58kg |
Before the races, not after
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