2025 ANZAC Day Stakes Day Tips & Preview

Open race to kick things off with a few key chances. 

PREFERENTIAL (6) was racing off a four-week break at Caulfield earlier this month, where she got right back in the run before tracking into the race out wide to finish runner-up to My Brothers Keeper. 

That horse has since gone on to run a place in the Albury Cup, so the form stacks up well for this with only 54kg on her back. Potentially looking for further now with a win over 2400m to her name, this looks a winnable assignment from a much better gate.  

ROCKIN’ AT MIDNITE (8) presents fitter second-up for Chris Waller in her first look at Headquarters. 

This filly by Extreme Choice gave a nice sight on return at Caulfield a few weeks ago, settling in the front half nice and early before her condition gave way over the final 200m once the pace quickened. 

Super honest during her seven-start career, she should take plenty of improvement away form that effort, while it helps knowing she handled the 1400m trip in her stride when runner-up over this distance at Pakenham last time in work. 

NO FUSS (1) is a talented stayer who has really impressed since arriving on Australian shores in late February. 

The Kiwi-bred gelding overcame a slow start to knuckle down well and win on debut at Sandown, before giving nothing else a chance second-up over 1500m where he was fast into stride on his way to a comfortable 2.3 length win.  

The four-week gap between runs should have him nice and fresh for this, and providing he handles the 61.5kg, he maps to receive every chance coming off the speed. 

Keen to see I AM VELVET (4) back out to 1400m after getting up to win fresh at Sandown a few weeks earlier.  

Phillip Stokes’ filly let down with a nice turn of foot to score over her final few strides, an effort she can improve on after tackling tougher races last time in work. 

She’s no stranger to putting a couple of wins together on the trot, and with front-running tactics expected again from Thomas Stockdale, I think she’ll be one of the hardest to run down. 

DANCINGONMYOWN (12) shouldn’t be a maiden for much longer based on her most recent effort at Geelong. 

The filly to Group 3 winner Jukebox settled midfield one off the fence in the early stages, before winding up with a nice run to grab third in a blanket finish thanks to a well-timed steer by Jett Stanley. 

This is tougher again, but her late sectionals stack up nicely for this rise to 1400m with a good three-week break between starts. 

TSITSIPAS (1) should find this a touch easier coming back to compete at Listed level after tackling the ATC Derby a few weeks ago at Randwick. 

The wide gate was against him that day, spending some energy in the early stages caught three-wide before shifting across heels at the top of the straight where he was eventually beaten over 14 lengths. 

His previous form here in Melbourne reads nicely for a bounce back effort though, while I also fancy him with the experienced Craig Newitt returning to the saddle from a good gate. 

All eyes will be on the talented NEW YORK LUSTRE (3) in her return from a brief layoff. 

Enver Jusufovic’s mare made it four on the trot when she put paid to her rivals by the narrowest of margins at Sandown on the first day of February, then being sent straight to the paddock where she’s since impressed in two recent jump-outs. 

Her fresh form (two wins from three starts) speaks for itself, and with some serious change up speed under the hood, she’s arguably the best horse in this field, providing she heads here instead of Saturday’s meeting at The Valley. 

OTAGO (12) is a good fresh horse who mixed it with some good horses in the CS Hayes and the Australian Guineas only a year ago. 

Now a four-year-old, the son of Ocean Park has been off the scene for just over 12 months but has appeared sharp in a pair of recent jump outs, running second at Cranbourne in his latest a couple of weeks ago. 

Racing over 1400m off a layoff shouldn’t pose too much of a problem, and although the wide gate is against him, I think he’s well worth an each-way shout here.