Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Victoria · Friday 9 October 2026
Our top pick won 4 of 9 races at Cranbourne. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
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He ran to a winning standard when leading and fighting on for second on debut at this track, and Cranbourne strongly favours his on-pace style. The wide gate is the main knock, but he has the speed to overcome it. The step to 1400m is the query.
Lightly raced and improving, he ran to a winning standard on debut and has since won a trial. Drawn ideally in two. The concern is that he does his best work settling back, and Cranbourne rewards runners up on the speed; he will need the leaders to come back to him. The Hayes stable and Stackhouse combine well. Respectable each-way claims.
The most seasoned and consistent of these, placed six times from ten starts including a good third over this track and trip last start. He handles good ground and looks suited by the 1400m. Drawn wide in 12, which is a negative at Cranbourne, and he is still a maiden after ten tries, so he looks more a place than win prospect.
Drawn nicely in four and Patrick Moloney rides this track well, with the Moloney stable strong here.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 10 | Kotahitanga | 13 | Ethan Brown | Richard Laming | 57kg | $2.15 |
| 2nd | 13 | Stoneflight | 2 | Daniel Stackhouse | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 57kg | $5.50 |
| 3rd | 8 | Cab Franc | 1 | Jabez Johnstone | Ciaron Maher | 55.5kg | $3.30 |
| 4th | 14 | Via Theresa | 6 | Jordan Childs | Grahame Begg | 55kg | $10.00 |
| 5th | 6 | Table Twentyeight | 7 | Jamie Mott | Bill Papazaharoudakis | 59.5kg | $41.00 |
| 6th | 5 | Sirvaldane | 4 | Patrick Moloney | John Moloney | 59.5kg | $20.00 |
| 7th | 7 | Jupiter's Girl | 8 | Michael Dee | Nick Harnett | 57.5kg | $101.00 |
| 8th | 12 | Your It | 9 | Damien Thornton | Ken and Kasey Keys | 57kg | $21.00 |
| 9th | 2 | Guthrie | 3 | Jake Noonan | Nevin Eades | 59.5kg | $151.00 |
| 10th | 1 | Dempsey | 10 | Valentin Le Boeuf | Ernie Francese | 59.5kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 3 | Handsome Missile | 12 | Reece Goodwin | 59.5kg | ||
| Scr | 4 | Numbersneverseen | 11 | Steven Noble | 59.5kg | ||
| Scr | 9 | Canticle | 14 | Ciaron Maher | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Pinazaki | 5 | Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman | 57kg |
The clear standout. Her Sydney form (second at Rosehill, third at Hawkesbury) is the strongest in the race, and she only just missed at Canterbury. She won a Cranbourne jump-out in September, draws the inside gate, and has the speed to be right on the pace, which is exactly what this track rewards.
A model of consistency, placing at her last three starts and beaten less than a length at Kilmore last time. The draw is a major plus at Cranbourne, where leaders and handy runners dominate, and her on-pace style fits perfectly. She lacks a killer turn of foot but should be in the finish again and is a solid each-way play.
The concern is the wide gate, which makes his task harder at a track that heavily favours inside, forward-racing runners. If he can cross or slot in without spending too much, he is a genuine threat.
She appeals as the value runner, having placed regularly and shown a liking for Cranbourne with two minor placings from as many visits. The inside draw should see her land a handy spot and she stripped fitter for one run back.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 10 | In A Tizzy | 1 | Ethan Brown | Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr | 57.5kg | $1.50 |
| 2nd | 12 | She's Loaded | 2 | Jye McNeil | Mitchell Freedman | 57.5kg | $9.00 |
| 3rd | 11 | La Velocita | 5 | Bailey Kinninmont | Michael Kent | 54.5kg | $101.00 |
| 4th | 3 | Moz | 7 | Beau Mertens | Wendy Kelly | 59.5kg | $11.00 |
| 5th | 1 | Big Kapow | 12 | Jake Noonan | Rory Hunter | 59.5kg | $6.00 |
| 6th | 9 | Expanding Power | 3 | Patrick Moloney | Enver Jusufovic | 57.5kg | $13.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Silver Lightning | 6 | Ruby Lamont | Peter Foster | 56.5kg | $81.00 |
| 8th | 2 | Flamingo Flyer | 9 | Daniel Stackhouse | Clayton Douglas | 59.5kg | $41.00 |
| 9th | 14 | Neville Bartos | 14 | Jackson Radley | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 58kg | $101.00 |
| 10th | 7 | Somethingintheair | 11 | Michael Dee | Allan and Jason Williams | 59.5kg | $26.00 |
| Scr | 4 | Mr Spendedoe | 10 | Julius Sandhu | 59.5kg | ||
| Scr | 5 | Sheer Panic | 8 | Colin Scott | 59.5kg | ||
| Scr | 8 | Dama Royale | 4 | Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 13 | Shields | 13 | Caitlin Hollowood | Clinton McDonald | 54.5kg |
The one to beat. A genuine 1200m horse with four wins at the trip, she closed hard from near last to win at Pakenham and again ran on strongly for third at Wodonga. Drawn perfectly in barrier 2 and a fast tempo up front sets it up for her late charge. Jockey has four wins from five rides on her and the combination is in form. Steps up in class but the trip and race shape suit.
She should lead from barrier 4, and Cranbourne heavily rewards forward runners. Her regular jockey has an outstanding record on her and she has held her own at Open level. The concerns are real, though: a 10-year-old carrying top weight, no wins from 10 tries at 1200m and none from five at this track.
The class runner on exposed form — his placing in an Open Handicap at Pakenham off a slow start is the strongest single performance in this line-up. Drawn inside in barrier 1 and second up, he is fitter and can be handier. The knock is his run style: he gets well back and backmarkers rarely salute at Cranbourne, and his stable is out of form.
Overpriced for what she is: a genuine 1200m specialist with eight wins at the trip and nine on Good ground, and her best form includes a nose second in an Open Handicap. Her last two runs were at longer trips on soft ground and can be forgiven. The jockey rides her well. The wide draw and her age are the risks, so she is best played each-way rather than to win.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Diamanda | 4 | Shaun Cooper | Michael Binney | 79.5kg | $2.70 |
| 2nd | 4 | Epicus | 1 | Ben Moffat | Troy Kilgower | 71kg | $3.80 |
| 3rd | 2 | Qubella | 2 | Maddison Morris | Barry Goodwin | 76kg | $3.30 |
| 4th | 7 | Italian Informant | 8 | Angela Bence | Troy Kilgower | 69kg | $14.00 |
| 5th | 6 | Rebillyous | 5 | Charlie Brooks | Troy Kilgower | 69.5kg | $81.00 |
| 6th | 9 | Midivani | 12 | Natz Blacker | Brooke Verwey-Mitchell | 66kg | $41.00 |
| 7th | 8 | Downtown Man | 7 | Melinda McDonald | Ian Pankhurst | 66kg | $21.00 |
| 8th | 3 | Besson | 9 | Jack Virgona | Ashleigh Smith | 71kg | $31.00 |
| 9th | 5 | Lika Mosh | 11 | Leigh Taylor | Peter Foster | 71kg | $21.00 |
| 10th | 10 | Nic Says No | 6 | Raymond Douglas | Troy Kilgower | 66kg | $19.00 |
| Scr | 11 | Disclevaboy | 10 | Dennis Julius | 64.5kg | ||
| Scr | 12 | Anything But | 3 | Reg Manning | 64.5kg |
The class runner of the field. She has been competitive in black-type races and drops sharply to maiden grade, and her latest run can be excused after she was ridden for cover from a wide draw. She gets barrier three here at a track that rewards forward running and should prove too strong for this lot.
A promising filly who led and refused to lie down when second on debut, running to a good standard. She draws ideally in barrier two at a track that heavily favours on-pace runners, and her stable boasts a fine record here. The concern is a likely hot speed battle, but she is clearly the main danger.
Ran a bold race to finish second at Caulfield Heath last start, settling handy and rattling home. A hot predicted tempo should help him settle and run on strongly, and he has trialled well at this course. The knock is that deep closers struggle at Cranbourne, but the race shape may just offset that.
A filly who showed promise on debut with a solid fourth at Caulfield Heath, beaten three lengths.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 12 | Youmzaa | 2 | Patrick Moloney | Matt Laurie | 56kg | $2.60 |
| 2nd | 9 | Ghana's Akan | 3 | Ethan Brown | Ciaron Maher | 56kg | $1.85 |
| 3rd | 3 | Julius Maximus | 4 | Thomas Stockdale | Ciaron Maher | 58kg | $10.00 |
| 4th | 16 | Boy From Zadar | 8 | Craig Newitt | Paul Koumis | 58kg | $91.00 |
| 5th | 10 | Sisterly | 6 | Jordan Childs | Grahame Begg | 56kg | $21.00 |
| 6th | 15 | Optimus | 1 | Daniel Stackhouse | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 58kg | $26.00 |
| 7th | 7 | Sound System | 12 | Zac Spain | Jason Warren | 58kg | $26.00 |
| 8th | 6 | See Three Pee Oh | 9 | Lachlan Neindorf | Phillip and Tommy Stokes | 58kg | $31.00 |
| 9th | 5 | Run Run Win | 14 | Jamie Mott | Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr | 58kg | $41.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Blue And Gold | 16 | Cindy Alderson | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 2 | Chip In | 11 | Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 4 | Lavancher | 5 | Julius Sandhu | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 8 | Valaroso | 7 | Cindy Alderson | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Tagabella | 15 | Ken and Kasey Keys | 56kg | ||
| Scr | 13 | Diamonds For Her | 13 | Leon, Troy Corstens and Will Larkin | 56kg | ||
| Scr | 14 | Little Gangster | 10 | Shawn Mathrick | 58kg |
Presscode brings the strongest recent form into this. The forecast genuine tempo should set it up for his finishing surge and he is drawn to get a soft run. The knock is that he settles well back and Cranbourne is a difficult track to make ground on, so he needs the race to fall his way.
But both his runs came on heavy ground and he is untested on a good surface, plus he is drawn wide and settles back in a race where forward positions dominate at Cranbourne. That mix makes him hard to take at the shorts, so a place looks the safer play.
Fehmarn ticks the map boxes at Cranbourne: drawn in gate two, he races handily and should settle in the first few, exactly where winners come from at this track. He is consistent, has won twice at the trip, and was only beaten a length and a half in a tougher grade last start. The query is the surface, as every win has come on rain-affected ground, so a good track is a genuine unknown.
Egerton is the value.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Fehmarn | 2 | Nadia Daniels | Rebecca Waymouth | 59kg | $3.40 |
| 2nd | 3 | Presscode | 3 | Bailey Kinninmont | Alexander Rae | 58.5kg | $3.40 |
| 3rd | 7 | Street Conqueror | 4 | Lachlan Neindorf | Enver Jusufovic | 60.5kg | $7.00 |
| 4th | 8 | Egerton | 8 | Ethan Brown | Clifford Brown | 59.5kg | $12.00 |
| 5th | 6 | Don't Russia | 7 | Jackson Radley | Nick Ryan | 59kg | $6.50 |
| 6th | 9 | Divine Vicky | 1 | Jett Stanley | Nelson Smyth | 58.5kg | $51.00 |
| 7th | 12 | Pacific Glamour | 5 | Zac Spain | Nelson Smyth | 55.5kg | $26.00 |
| 8th | 5 | Blue Humma | 10 | Jamie Mott | John McArdle | 60.5kg | $5.50 |
| Scr | 1 | Inside Man | 6 | Ricardo Meunier | 63kg | ||
| Scr | 4 | Abovethefrostline | 11 | John Sadler | 60.5kg | ||
| Scr | 10 | Le Notre | 12 | Richard Laming | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Upinthecity | 9 | Steven Noble | 56kg |
Progressive three-year-old who has run to a winning standard in his last two starts and shapes as the one still on the up. The knocks are the rise out of a one-win race and the query at a true mile, but he maps to settle handy - exactly where you need to be at Cranbourne - and his rider is in form.
Progressive mare who won her maiden over 1700m last start after running to a strong standard at her two previous starts. She sits handy, which is where Cranbourne winners come from. The two knocks are the rise out of maiden grade and the fact that all her form is on wet tracks while today is a firm surface - but the upside is clear.
Improving mare who won over 1600m on a good track at her latest start - the exact conditions she meets again. Settling midfield, she should get the right run into the straight and does not have to improve much to be in the finish. The rise in grade is the main query, but her profile fits this track's on-pace lean.
She maps well again from a good draw and has a win in her recent form.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | Savannah Chill | 5 | Nadia Daniels | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 57.5kg | $8.00 |
| 2nd | 2 | Island Boy | 1 | Jamie Mott | Julius Sandhu | 60.5kg | $6.50 |
| 3rd | 6 | Two Sigma | 4 | Zac Spain | Reece Goodwin | 58kg | $26.00 |
| 4th | 5 | Cushioned | 3 | Daniel Stackhouse | Anthony and Sam Freedman | 58kg | $4.60 |
| 5th | 1 | Calypso King | 10 | Chelsea Thompson | Paul Koumis | 59.5kg | $12.00 |
| 6th | 8 | Rockzino | 7 | Jordan Childs | Grahame Begg | 57.5kg | $4.40 |
| 7th | 4 | Art 'n' Soul | 9 | Jye McNeil | Ken and Kasey Keys | 58kg | $18.00 |
| 8th | 9 | The Maggstar | 12 | Jett Stanley | Tetyana Furdetska | 57kg | $151.00 |
| 9th | 10 | Left Hook | 2 | Logan Bates | Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr | 56.5kg | $20.00 |
| 10th | 12 | Understated | 8 | Bailey Kinninmont | Peter Foster | 52kg | $151.00 |
| 11th | 11 | Toronova | 11 | Jackie Beriman | Ian Pankhurst | 55kg | $151.00 |
| 7 | Hydrothermal | 6 | Ethan Brown | Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young | 57.5kg |
He settles in the ideal spot just off what shapes as a genuinely run 1200m, and that is where Cranbourne sprinters win from. He has three wins and a placing from five on good ground, including a Group 3 minor, and two recent Cranbourne trial wins say he is primed.
Rates the best recent form in the race, closing hard for a close fourth in a stronger sprint handicap last start after a dominant win before that. He has already won at Cranbourne over this trip, so the track holds no fears, and a fast early tempo should set it up for him. The knock is that he is a deep closer who wins rarely, so a place is the percentage play.
The class runner of the field, a Listed winner who ran to a winning standard when second in a strong sprint handicap last start. He is a five-time winner at this trip. The concerns are the top weight of 61.5kg and a map that has him settling a long way back from a wide gate, and Cranbourne is notoriously hard on backmarkers. Place claims look stronger than his win chance.
The value play. A genuine 1200m specialist with six wins and five seconds from 20 starts, he produced the best overall performance of anyone in this field last start in Listed company despite racing keenly. He settles handier than most of the closers, which suits this track, and he is drawn to get the run of the race.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Ndola | 8 | Jye McNeil | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 61.5kg | $7.50 |
| 2nd | 8 | Celsius Star | 3 | Zac Spain | Shawn Mathrick | 55.5kg | $9.00 |
| 3rd | 12 | Behaviour | 1 | Jett Stanley | Gavin Bedggood | 55kg | $6.00 |
| 4th | 2 | Scheelite | 12 | Craig Newitt | Ken and Kasey Keys | 60.5kg | $41.00 |
| 5th | 10 | Piastri | 2 | Michael Dee | Gavin Bedggood | 55kg | $9.50 |
| 6th | 3 | Klabel | 4 | Lachlan Neindorf | Richard and Chantelle Jolly | 60kg | $17.00 |
| 7th | 9 | Miss Playlounge | 5 | Beau Mertens | Clinton McDonald | 55kg | $61.00 |
| 8th | 11 | Charcoals | 9 | Daniel Stackhouse | Anthony and Sam Freedman | 55kg | $14.00 |
| 9th | 6 | La Fracas | 7 | Logan Bates | Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr | 58kg | $19.00 |
| 10th | 7 | Bustling | 6 | Ethan Brown | Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr | 57kg | $2.35 |
| 11th | 5 | El Rocko | 11 | Jamie Mott | John McArdle | 58kg | $41.00 |
| 12th | 4 | Power Beau | 10 | Jordan Childs | Wayne Brown | 58.5kg | $61.00 |
The form pick. She has won four of her last six and her jockey gets a great tune out of her. All her wins have come on softer ground, but she handles this track and trip well.
She has won three of five and her last two, and strikes a hot streak with her rider. The knocks are that she has never raced this far, steps up in grade, and has drawn the outside, historically the weakest gate for staying races here. A genuine winning chance if she handles the trip.
Last-start winner over this course and distance, where she led and was never headed in a race run at a crawl. She is improving and her forward style fits this track perfectly. The concern is that she had everything her own way that day and now faces more early pressure, and she meets the horse she beat on considerably worse weight terms.
A last-start winner at this track who is trending the right way and will relish a staying test, with her regular rider aboard. She has shown she can mix it at a decent level on her day. The negatives are the sharp rise in grade and her habit of settling a long way back on a circuit that strongly favours those up on the speed.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Ocean Bay | 8 | Daniel Stackhouse | Gavin Bedggood | 55kg | $4.20 |
| 2nd | 1 | Sun Gift | 2 | Michael Dee | Danny O'Brien | 59kg | $5.50 |
| 3rd | 5 | Rick's Cafe | 5 | Jackie Beriman | Rhiannon Schiffer | 55kg | $21.00 |
| 4th | 4 | Pariah Pearl | 6 | Lachlan Neindorf | Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young | 55kg | $7.00 |
| 5th | 10 | Eye Tracker | 9 | Craig Newitt | Shane Jackson | 55kg | $101.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Sapphire Siren | 11 | Teodore Nugent | Bill Papazaharoudakis | 55kg | $2.50 |
| 7th | 6 | She's A Con | 3 | Damien Thornton | Reece Goodwin | 55kg | $15.00 |
| 8th | 7 | Wolfess | 4 | Jackson Radley | Greg Eurell | 53.5kg | $13.00 |
| 9th | 11 | New York Scandal | 7 | Ruby Lamont | Aaron Laing | 52kg | $101.00 |
| 10th | 8 | Realika | 1 | Beau Mertens | Greg Eurell | 55kg | $31.00 |
| 11th | 9 | Cool Star | 10 | Jett Stanley | Tetyana Furdetska | 55kg | $151.00 |
Clearly the form pick. She closed hard to be beaten narrowly at Geelong last start — the strongest run in this line-up — and she won her maiden with something in hand. Drawn perfectly in barrier three, carries a light weight and has in-form Ethan Brown aboard. The only query is that she settles back in a race that can favour on-pace runners, but the expected fast tempo plays into her hands.
Improving seven-year-old dropping out of stronger company who is the quickest horse out of the gates and looks the natural leader. Cranbourne rewards forward runners, and Noonan has a strong record on him. The concern is the outside draw, which forces him to work early to find the front.
She settles midfield, saves ground and should appreciate the fast tempo. She rarely puts races away, so she's a place play rather than a win, but she is rarely far from the finish at this circuit and shapes as a solid place-only option.
The Zahra yard is going well at this track and he looks to be improving with racing.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 9 | Aradeo | 3 | Ethan Brown | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 58kg | $2.20 |
| 2nd | 6 | Illuminance | 9 | Beau Mertens | Julius Sandhu | 59kg | $9.50 |
| 3rd | 1 | Master Of The Air | 8 | Nadia Daniels | Gavin Bedggood | 58.5kg | $6.50 |
| 4th | 3 | Small Town Hero | 14 | Jake Noonan | Brett Conlon | 61.5kg | $16.00 |
| 5th | 2 | Shidan | 1 | Luke Cartwright | Adele Garraway | 61.5kg | $16.00 |
| 6th | 8 | Vaderlee | 6 | Jye McNeil | Simon Zahra | 58.5kg | $8.50 |
| 7th | 10 | Jenni Poppins | 12 | Jett Stanley | Lloyd Kennewell | 58kg | $10.00 |
| 8th | 11 | Knurl | 4 | Dylan Dunn | Rory Hunter | 56.5kg | $31.00 |
| 9th | 4 | Ti Tree Lad | 10 | Melea Castle | Tori Madigan | 60.5kg | $151.00 |
| 10th | 5 | Too Tough | 11 | Logan Bates | Cindy Alderson | 60kg | $11.00 |
| 11th | 12 | Regal Visions | 5 | Jackson Radley | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 53.5kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 7 | Chip'n'dale | 7 | Brooke Verwey-Mitchell | 58.5kg | ||
| Scr | 13 | Cosmic Charger | 2 | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 14 | Hellberg | 13 | Ben Brisbourne | 59kg |
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