Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Victoria · Friday 23 October 2026
Our top pick won 2 of 8 races at Cranbourne. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
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She has been competitive in Group 3 company at her last three starts and drops sharply in grade, so her form stands out. Barrier two should allow her to settle handy behind the leaders, and the moderate tempo suits. The queries are her first run at 1000m and an unplaced soft-track record, while the jockey is out of form.
Myhro's Ruler is the main danger. He was a brave second over this trip on soft ground last start, leading until the final 150m, and two runs back he won a heavy-track maiden by a big space. He drops out of a Group 3 and has a strong 1000m record. The wide gate and the step up from a lower grade are negatives, but his tactical speed should have him prominent throughout.
Senza Nome is the improving runner. He won first-up over 1000m at Pakenham, coming from back in the field, and his previous 1000m run on soft ground was a close third at Caulfield Heath when wide. He is second-up, gets Blake Shinn and is a 1000m specialist. The concern is the class rise from maiden company and a get-back map at a tight track, but he appeals as a strong top-three chance.
She drops from Group 3 company, has won two of three and trialled sharply at Cranbourne. The query is fresh at 104 days with 59kg on a Good track, and her only Good run was a lame failure. From gate six she may settle midfield, but the predicted fast tempo can bring her into the race. She is short enough, so keep stakes measured.
The likely pace-setter and a major threat if she can control the tempo. She was brave when leading and finishing second in a stronger race last time, and the drop to 1000m suits. The concern is pressure: Super Wonder and Myhro's Ruler can go forward, and if she over-races she may be vulnerable up the Cranbourne rise.
Super Wonder is the value play. He has the speed to lead from gate one, is fit and has won on heavy ground and placed on soft.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Handee | 3 | Daniel Stackhouse | Jason Warren | 56.5kg | $4.80 |
| 2nd | 2 | Lady Catalina | 2 | Thomas Stockdale | Ciaron Maher | 58kg | $2.25 |
| 3rd | 3 | Myhro's Ruler | 7 | Jamie Mott | John McArdle | 58kg | $3.80 |
| 4th | 5 | Super Wonder | 1 | Harry Coffey | Richard and Chantelle Jolly | 58kg | $9.50 |
| 5th | 4 | Senza Nome | 4 | Blake Shinn | Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr | 58kg | $7.50 |
| Scr | 1 | Angels Fury | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 59kg | ||
| Scr | 6 | Fovea | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 56.5kg |
Pariah Pearl is the one best suited by the Cranbourne conditions. She won here over this trip two starts ago, has the inside draw to settle handy, and drops from a stronger race last start. The track strongly favours forward runners, and she should get the right run. She was a little plain last time but the map and class drop make her the top pick.
He has the inside gate and enough tactical speed to be closer than the map suggests, and the Maher/Coffey combination is strong.
Covert Thinking has claims on her Cranbourne third over this trip and her win at Seymour two starts back. She maps to settle handy from barrier four, which is important here.
Flag Flyer is overpriced on his best form. He drops from stronger races, has a jockey who has won on him four times from six rides, and should be able to use his early speed to settle handy despite the wide gate. His two runs this prep have been plain, but the class drop and map give him a chance to improve sharply.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 10 | Killenaule | 3 | Harry Coffey | Ciaron Maher | 56.5kg | $2.60 |
| 2nd | 7 | Pariah Pearl | 2 | Lachlan Neindorf | Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young | 58kg | $8.50 |
| 3rd | 11 | Superstock | 12 | Jye McNeil | Reece Goodwin | 56.5kg | $10.00 |
| 4th | 12 | Sarapo | 7 | Blake Shinn | Chris Waller | 55.5kg | $5.50 |
| 5th | 2 | Flag Flyer | 9 | Jake Noonan | Greg Eurell | 60kg | $31.00 |
| 6th | 4 | Covert Thinking | 4 | Thomas Stockdale | Ciaron Maher | 58kg | $8.50 |
| 7th | 9 | Icaro | 10 | Michael Dee | Michael Kent | 57kg | $7.50 |
| 8th | 1 | Samuel Langhorne | 1 | Luke Cartwright | Eric Musgrove | 59kg | $31.00 |
| 9th | 3 | Port Philip | 6 | Caitlin Hollowood | Julius Sandhu | 56.5kg | $26.00 |
| 10th | 5 | Eye For An Eye | 8 | Daniel Stackhouse | Andrea Leek | 58kg | $21.00 |
| 11th | 13 | Just Dance | 13 | Jackie Beriman | Ian Pankhurst | 55kg | $151.00 |
| 12th | 8 | Lauding | 11 | Damien Thornton | Reece Goodwin | 57.5kg | $81.00 |
| Scr | 6 | Nothingelsematters | 5 | Nikki Burke | 58kg |
The most talented and least exposed mare in the race, with two wins and a head defeat from three starts and the best single performance of anyone here last time out. She breaks cleanly, leads or sits second, and that is precisely the profile that wins around Cranbourne.
The safest horse in the race: placed eight times in twelve starts and never further back than fourth this preparation. She finished hard for third at Seymour last time, gets the prized inside gate with a senior jockey, and should sit in the first handful — the zone this track rewards. She has been narrowly beaten at 1400m and looks ready for it; the knock is that she wins less often than she places.
The class runner of the placed chances. She was only beaten a length and a half over this trip in a strong class 70 at Caulfield last start and had an excuse here two runs back when stranded wide without cover. The problem is the draw: from gate eleven she will settle near the back, and Cranbourne is unforgiving to horses giving away that much start.
She is two from five over 1400m, was only beaten a length last start when she copped the worst going at Seymour, and she sits in the midfield pack rather than giving away a hopeless start.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 10 | Bajaria | 1 | Blake Shinn | Peter Gelagotis | 57.5kg | $4.80 |
| 2nd | 2 | Autumn Slide | 2 | Jamie Mott | Simon Zahra | 60.5kg | $14.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Escarpa | 11 | Daniel Stackhouse | Greg Eurell | 59kg | $21.00 |
| 4th | 5 | Karren | 6 | Ethan Brown | Lloyd Kennewell | 59kg | $1.80 |
| 5th | 11 | Bon Fete | 4 | Jye McNeil | Jason Warren | 57kg | $151.00 |
| 6th | 6 | Carriedo | 3 | Jordan Childs | Grahame Begg | 58.5kg | $4.40 |
| 7th | 9 | Shystar | 8 | Lachlan Neindorf | Phillip and Tommy Stokes | 58kg | $19.00 |
| 8th | 7 | Tango Jewel | 7 | Damien Thornton | Jamie Edwards | 58.5kg | $101.00 |
| 9th | 3 | Lathlain | 9 | Michael Dee | Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young | 60kg | $26.00 |
| Scr | 1 | All Business | 5 | Leon, Troy Corstens and Will Larkin | 60.5kg | ||
| Scr | 8 | She's Pretty Rich | 10 | Matthew Brown | 58kg |
Won with something in hand at Pakenham last start after sitting outside the lead and drawing away, and he was brave when second at Sandown to a smart one before that. Three wins from four tries at 1400m, a 50 per cent strike rate and an ideal draw to settle second or third.
Draws to sit third or fourth, which suits this track. The knock is that he has won only once in nine and is yet to score on good ground, and he tends to find one better.
Races on the pace and has a real affinity for Cranbourne with two wins and three placings from five starts here, plus a strong record under lights. Led and was collared late over this trip last start when third, and she has been placed in five of six at 1400 without breaking through. Drawn to hold a forward spot, but other speedsters engaged could leave her exposed late.
Genuine on-pace type with three wins from eight at 1400m who was competitive at this grade in the winter, winning at Sandown before a fighting fourth. Drawn perfectly in gate three with a claim to carry him light, and he has trialled for this return.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Cashout | 2 | Blake Shinn | Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr | 58kg | $1.55 |
| 2nd | 1 | Didn't Miss Many | 3 | Holly Durnan | Archie Alexander | 58.5kg | $26.00 |
| 3rd | 2 | Romantic Encounter | 4 | Ethan Brown | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 60kg | $5.00 |
| 4th | 5 | Mount Bona | 5 | Jordan Childs | Grahame Begg | 59.5kg | $26.00 |
| 5th | 3 | Dark Journey | 9 | Bailey Kinninmont | Jason Warren | 56.5kg | $101.00 |
| 6th | 9 | Jewel Bay | 1 | Michael Dee | Andrea Leek | 55kg | $71.00 |
| Scr | 4 | Itazura | 8 | Luke Nolen | Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman | 59.5kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Regal Tycoon | 6 | Jamie Mott | John McArdle | 58.5kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Shaalute | 7 | Matt Laurie | 58kg |
The most reliable on-pacer in the race. The one to beat.
A genuine leader who won the Listed Testa Rossa in front and then fought on for third at Caulfield when headed. At Cranbourne, where front-runners from the inside half of the field win far more often than the get-back horses, he should be able to cross and dictate. The query is 61.5kg, the top weight, and he will not get as soft a lead this time. Strong winning chance, but the weight makes him a place play.
Drops sharply in class after Group 1 and Group 3 mares' races and gets in with only 55kg. She settles in the leading trio, has three wins from six at 1400m and handles good ground better than most of these. She is the safer place play.
Trained on the track and a two-time winner from three Cranbourne starts, including over this trip. She was too far back first-up over 1200m but strips fitter second-up, where she has won before, and the inside alley should see her settle closer than she did a fortnight ago.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Run Harry Run | 4 | Harry Coffey | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 58.5kg | $3.50 |
| 2nd | 5 | Miss Playlounge | 1 | Fred W Kersley | Clinton McDonald | 55kg | $13.00 |
| 3rd | 6 | Moby Dick | 3 | Logan Bates | Gavin Bedggood | 55kg | $7.50 |
| 4th | 4 | Bossy Benita | 5 | Daniel Stackhouse | Michael Mehegan | 55kg | $2.15 |
| 5th | 8 | Racey Casey | 6 | Damien Thornton | Jamie Edwards | 55kg | $81.00 |
| 6th | 1 | Regal Zeus | 8 | Jamie Mott | John McArdle | 61.5kg | $4.80 |
| Scr | 3 | Ten Commandments | 2 | Ciaron Maher | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 7 | Umgawa | 7 | Logan McGill | 55kg |
The one to beat. She has won two of three at Cranbourne, including over this trip, leading both times. Last start she led and kicked clear at Pakenham, and she improved off an excusable first-up run to win second-up. Gate three lets Shinn hold the forward position, which is exactly where you want to be over 955m here on a Friday night.
A progressive Adelaide mare who has won two of her last three and gets the gun draw in gate one with only 53.5kg after the claim. She can hold a position in the first three, which is the place to be around this circuit.
Her record at 955-1000m is excellent and she rarely runs a bad race. The knock is the surface, as nearly all her best form is on soft or heavy ground, and she tends to settle back, which is not where you want to be around Cranbourne. She should still be charging late for a place.
A genuine front-runner who won here over this trip, unbeaten second-up, and down to just 51.5kg after the claim. His first-up run at Pakenham was a fitness builder and he should be sharper.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 9 | Tennessee Spirit | 1 | Luke Cartwright | Toby Lake | 53.5kg | $7.00 |
| 2nd | 4 | Speir | 4 | Sam Kennedy | Nathan McPherson | 54.5kg | $11.00 |
| 3rd | 1 | You're Two Vain | 8 | Cory Parish | Alicia Macpherson | 59kg | $3.00 |
| 4th | 7 | Headbanger | 3 | Blake Shinn | Grahame Begg | 55.5kg | $2.70 |
| 5th | 5 | Magnabelle Royale | 12 | Patrick Moloney | Matt Laurie | 57kg | $16.00 |
| 6th | 11 | Dragon Scroll | 7 | Lachlan Neindorf | Clayton Douglas | 55kg | $6.50 |
| 7th | 12 | Just Bolts | 10 | Nadia Daniels | Jamie Edwards | 52kg | $71.00 |
| 8th | 10 | Fileeta | 2 | Daniel Stackhouse | Paul Koumis | 55kg | $41.00 |
| 9th | 6 | Arisphere | 6 | Jett Stanley | Indianna Weinert | 55.5kg | $61.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Castellar | 9 | Gavin Bedggood | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 3 | Saluted | 5 | Logan Bates | Robbie Griffiths | 56kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Room For Bingo | 11 | Rebecca Waymouth | 55.5kg |
Insain Harry is the form horse on the improve. He won well last start at Geelong, settling close to the speed, and his recent runs suggest he is ready for this grade. From barrier four he should lob into the first four, and at Cranbourne that forward position is worth plenty. The weight relief from the claim is a real edge.
He has been competitive in stronger class, has a good 1200m record and gets weight relief. The concern is the map: he is likely to settle worse than midfield at Cranbourne, where leaders and on-pacers dominate.
Ladhar is a lightly raced filly on the up. She won nicely last start at Geelong, has a good turn of foot and gets in with a light weight. The Freedman stable and Michael Dee have a strong record here.
Nation State is the value play. He is two from two at Cranbourne, has a good fresh record and draws the inside gate, so he should be able to use his early speed. At Cranbourne over 1200m, that forward position is a big plus. He has a strong 1200m win on good ground in his form.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Esmahli | 3 | Nadia Daniels | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 58.5kg | $2.70 |
| 2nd | 4 | Nation State | 1 | Jordan Childs | John Moloney | 60kg | $5.50 |
| 3rd | 11 | Sumo Sandy | 10 | Jett Stanley | Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young | 58kg | $6.50 |
| 4th | 9 | Onavuitton | 9 | Jye McNeil | Simon Zahra | 58.5kg | $9.00 |
| 5th | 8 | Insain Harry | 4 | Holly Durnan | Leon, Troy Corstens and Will Larkin | 56kg | $8.50 |
| 6th | 7 | Shaime | 5 | Daniel Stackhouse | Clifford Brown | 59.5kg | $31.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Santa Ana Moon | 13 | Jamie Mott | Leon, Troy Corstens and Will Larkin | 59.5kg | $41.00 |
| 8th | 2 | Charming Nic | 2 | Logan Bates | Tony and Calvin McEvoy | 59.5kg | $5.50 |
| 9th | 10 | Warrior Within | 6 | Jake Noonan | Julius Sandhu | 58.5kg | $26.00 |
| Scr | 3 | Imperial Award | 12 | Matt Laurie | 60.5kg | ||
| Scr | 5 | Interest Point | 11 | Matt Laurie | 59.5kg | ||
| Scr | 12 | Ladhar | 8 | Anthony and Sam Freedman | 55kg | ||
| Scr | 13 | Street Conqueror | 7 | Enver Jusufovic | 56.5kg |
Oceana Dream is the one to beat if the long break has not dulled him. He has won both first-up runs, two of three at the mile and his only good-track start, and from barrier one he should settle in the first half. His recent placings were behind stronger company than this.
Nation's Call is an on-pacer with a strong mile record and a liking for night racing. He was a close second in a stronger race last start after being held up, and he drops in class here with a handy claim. The concern is his modest good-track record and a wide-ish gate, but he should be in the right spot to be dangerous.
Makdane is a reliable on-pacer who draws to sit close to the pace from barrier two. He has three wins and a placing from seven starts at the mile and has been competitive in stronger races at his last few starts. The main query is his lack of a win on good ground and top weight. Still, his forward position should give him every chance on a track that rewards leaders and on-pacers.
Lim's Bighorn is the likely leader in a race with little early pressure, and that is a valuable asset at Cranbourne. He won last start over the mile, has a win at this track and a solid good-track record. The knock is that he is up in grade from Darwin and was plain at his two recent Victorian soft-track runs.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | Nation's Call | 8 | Luke Cartwright | Robbie Griffiths | 58.5kg | $11.00 |
| 2nd | 9 | Geneva | 11 | Blake Shinn | Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr | 58kg | $6.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Flying Valley | 9 | Celine Gaudray | Ciaron Maher | 59.5kg | $7.50 |
| 4th | 5 | Oceana Dream | 1 | Luke Nolen | Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman | 59.5kg | $3.40 |
| 5th | 11 | Houdini | 6 | Jett Stanley | Gavin Bedggood | 56kg | $8.50 |
| 6th | 7 | Two Wolves | 3 | Jamie Mott | Anthony and Sam Freedman | 58.5kg | $5.00 |
| 7th | 10 | Stage 'n' Screen | 5 | Logan Bates | Mark W Walker | 56.5kg | $9.50 |
| 8th | 8 | Wealdstone | 10 | Daniel Stackhouse | Clifford Brown | 58.5kg | $61.00 |
| 9th | 12 | Glenfinnan | 4 | Jye McNeil | Lyn Tolson and Leonie Proctor | 55kg | $21.00 |
| 10th | 6 | Lim's Bighorn | 7 | Holly Durnan | Patrick Johnston | 55.5kg | $26.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Virtuous Circle | 12 | Liam Howley | 61.5kg | ||
| Scr | 2 | Makdane | 2 | Michael Kent | 60.5kg |
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