Horse racing tips: Caulfield best bets for Saturday, August 16, 2025
News Corp form analyst Chris Vernuccio takes a look at the PB Lawrence Stakes meeting at Caulfield on Saturday.
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BEST BET
EVAPORATE (R8 No.6 – $3.90)
Evaporate has trialled with intent heading into his first-up run in the PB Lawrence Stakes. Last prep he didn't have much luck in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes and The Kiwi before a soft win in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes to end the prep.
NEXT BEST
FEDERER (R2 No.12 – $3.80)
Federer was held up in the straight last start at Flemington after drawing barrier two. Has now drawn out wide but will trust Blake Shinn to find a spot forward of midfield.
VALUE BET
HAY STREET (R5 No.8 – $7.50)
There has been good support for Hay Street who was as much as $12 when markets came out on Wednesday. The Annabel and Rob Archibald three-year-old may be the only maiden in the Vain Stakes but is coming out of some strong NSW 2YO races that have had subsequent Group 1 form.
LAY OF THE DAY
JIMMY RECARD (R5 No.5)
Jimmy Recard has been backed into favouritism since final field but this is a big step up from winning the 2YO Series Final, and he's also dropping back in trip.
THE JOCKEY
BLAKE SHINN
VERDOUX (R1 No.11 – $3.30), FEDERER (R2 No.12 – $3.80), GALA QUEEN (R3 No.7 – $3.30), STYLISH (R4 No.7 – $4.40), THE PLAYWRIGHT (R6 No.1 – $8.50), ARKANSAW KID (R7 No.1 – $5), EVAPORATE (R8 No.6 – $3.90), FORGOT YOU (R9 No.4 – $9.50).
Originally published as On The Punt: Caulfield best bets for Saturday, August 16, 2025
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Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. News Corp form analyst Chris Vernuccio takes a look at the PB Lawrence Stakes meeting at Caulfield on Saturday. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ BEST BET EVAPORATE (R8 No.6 – $3.90) Evaporate has trialled with intent heading into his first-up run in the PB Lawrence Stakes. Last prep he didn't have much luck in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes and The Kiwi before a soft win in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes to end the prep. NEXT BEST FEDERER (R2 No.12 – $3.80) Federer was held up in the straight last start at Flemington after drawing barrier two. Has now drawn out wide but will trust Blake Shinn to find a spot forward of midfield. VALUE BET HAY STREET (R5 No.8 – $7.50) There has been good support for Hay Street who was as much as $12 when markets came out on Wednesday. The Annabel and Rob Archibald three-year-old may be the only maiden in the Vain Stakes but is coming out of some strong NSW 2YO races that have had subsequent Group 1 form. LAY OF THE DAY JIMMY RECARD (R5 No.5) Jimmy Recard has been backed into favouritism since final field but this is a big step up from winning the 2YO Series Final, and he's also dropping back in trip. THE JOCKEY BLAKE SHINN VERDOUX (R1 No.11 – $3.30), FEDERER (R2 No.12 – $3.80), GALA QUEEN (R3 No.7 – $3.30), STYLISH (R4 No.7 – $4.40), THE PLAYWRIGHT (R6 No.1 – $8.50), ARKANSAW KID (R7 No.1 – $5), EVAPORATE (R8 No.6 – $3.90), FORGOT YOU (R9 No.4 – $9.50). Originally published as On The Punt: Caulfield best bets for Saturday, August 16, 2025
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Shayne O'Cass's Kembla Grange tips: Saturday August 16, 2025
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KEMBLA GRANGE INSIDE MAIL RACE 1: Maiden Plate (1000m) DEEP AFFECTION (6)'s form reads '0000' but hang on; she did run in the Inglis Nursery, a 2YO Open at HQ, the Inglis Millennium and the Sweet Embrace. And what's more, they were actually pretty decent runs up (until the Sweet Embrace, anyway). Trialling well. Could be back in the city again before too long. MILITARY LEGEND (7), the Les Bridge/Bon Ho galloper, made a very creditable debut at Canterbury on July 23. Locals CHOCECLAIR (5) and MOVER AND SHAKER (4) have claims. BET: DEEP AFFECTION (6) to win. RACE 2: Class 1 Handicap (1500m) OMNIC (1) is a son of Proisir who has a win, four seconds and a third on his resume and mostly in much better calibre races than what he might line-up against in today bearing in mind he is nominated for the Farm next Wednesday. TESSY TEE (4) likewise has been a consistent and reliable horse with a win, four seconds and a third from her eight starts. 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Pour Benn was $5.50 into $4.40 when he made his debut here on a Heavy 9 in a mile Super Maiden and battled on as best he could in the conditions to finish fourth. Fitter and smarter perhaps for the experience. HAMMOON HEROINE (4) got to within a half-length of the potentially above-average Patissier and Hurry Miss when she ran third on debut here over 1400m. BET: POUR BENN (1) to win. RACE 5: Benchmark 68 (1600m) TIP TOP TIMING (6) is a Clarry Conners trained gelding who fronts up today for his 76th start but he's not the first iron-horse, ageless warrior to wear these colours. Anyway, what is more important is that despite the fact he just turned eight and has been around the block, he is actually racing in great form. This is the ideal race for him. Rosehill Midway acceptor IRISH BLISS (2) has some good numbers across the board. CASH ME (1) has to be respected as a last start provincial winner. BET: TIP TOP TIMING (6) to win. RACE 6: Maiden Handicap (1200m) They don't come much better bred than RUINATION (5). This recently turned 3YO colt is by Wootton Bassett out of Ron Quinton's Coolmore Classic winner Daysee Doom. Ruination is trained at HQ by Michael Freedman who has booked Jeff Penza for the debut and was dealt a winning draw too (3). Speaking of well-bred 3YOs, shout out RIVENDELL (4), a Vinery gelding, by Ole Kirk out of Wayupinsthesky trained by Peter Snowden (of course). Nice trials, nice horse. MISS PEONY (12) is the best long shot of the day IMHO. Top debut here at $61 last month. BET: RUINATION (5) to win, MISS PEONY (12) each-way. RACE 7: Benchmark 64 (1200m) NOBLE SOLDIER (1) racked up his 50th career start on June 21 when clocking in five lengths behind Lulumon, Storm The Ramparts et al in a Rosehill Benchmark 78. He is back at home at Kembla on Saturday on more or less his preferred surface and given what he has done in the past, he is very well weighted on 60kg. PRETTY SASSY (9) is ready to go but where she goes is anyone's guess; she's accepted for 3 races in 3 venues. KING CHARLES (11) is on a hat-trick. On top of that, he is a local and was a last start t/d winner. BET: NOBLE SOLDIER (1) each-way. RACE 8: Benchmark 64 (1000m) CES SOIREES LA (6) has accepted for the Mona Lisa Prelude at Wyong on Sunday which says a lot about how she is going right now. Long story short; she is (my) best bet if she comes here and a decent place chance at odds in the small field if she goes to Wyong. If she is out, it would open the door for the flashy mare CAN'T TOUCH THIS (9) who led and won by a pretty comfortable margin in the end in that 1000m Class 1 here on August 1. For the record, she drew barrier 3 and had Jeff Penza on, it's Penza again and box 2 today. BET: CES SOIREES LA (6) to win (best bet) or if scratched CAN'T TOUCH THIS (9) to win. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ NARRANDERA BEST BET Race 5 No.10 SUPER RIFF: Infrequent winner but hasn't always had the best of luck. GILGANDRA BEST BET Race 1 No.4 ZOUGA BOSS: Drawn well, has done enough to warrant top billing. Originally published as Shayne O'Cass's best bets and inside mail for Kembla Grange on Saturday
