The 2025 Spring Carnival is officially underway, with Group 1 racing making its much-anticipated return to Melbourne this Saturday.
Caulfield will play host to a blockbuster ten race card, headlined by the prestigious Memsie Stakes and it’s one of the strongest fields we’ve seen in recent years.
I’ve broken down my top Memsie Stakes Day betting selections for each event below.
GILDED WATER returns to the races.
Prepared by Ciaron Maher for His Majesty The King, the son of Fastnet Rock wasted no time in stamping himself one to follow last preparation, in what was his first on Australian soil.
The UK import made it back-to-back victories in good style before a solid effort to finish a second over 2400m at Rosehill, carrying the 61.5kg impost.
Adding further merit to his performance, was the fact he was found to be suffering mild heat stress post-race.
Lightly raced, with just the seven career starts, he looks a very progressive stayer, and I think he’s in for a big campaign.
He lines up here off two recent jump outs and with a touch of luck off the wide gate, I think he’ll prove too classy for them in the first on Memsie Stakes Day.
GALA QUEEN hasn’t had a lot go her way in two runs back this campaign and she’s certainly due for a change of luck.
Held up for the much of the straight when resuming over 1100m here, she was still strong to the line in restricted room.
Out to 1400m last time, she covered plenty of ground and just looked to peak on her run late.
A daughter of Deep Field, she presents at peak fitness and if she can find cover early off the wide gate, she’ll be right in this.
KEEP YOUR COOL is on the quick up after racing last Saturday and I think she’ll relish stepping out to 1400m again.
The Ciaron Maher trained mare is in top form this preparation and her only unplaced run being two starts back, when she was found to be lame post-race.
Over 1200m last weekend around the Valley, she was held up approaching the turn but powered home strongly late into third.
She’s hard fit, she gets in nicely with Logan Bates’ 2kg claim and the low draw is a big plus.
NEWLOOK found the line well when kicking off over the mile here late last month and he looks well placed stepping out to this trip.
It was the first Australian start for the French import, and he will have taken plenty of improvement from it.
The son of New Bay had made it three straight wins before making the journey down under and he looks very progressive.
Placed in both starts over 2000m and with the added fitness, I think he’ll make his presence felt and Jamie Melham stays in the saddle for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
RIVER OF STARS will kick off her preparation.
Prepared by Chris Waller, the daughter of Sea The Stars has just had the two starts in Australia, one of which was the Sydney Cup where she produced a terrific effort to finish third.
Sent to the paddock following that run, she has been given plenty of time to adapt and her two recent trials show that she’s come back in top order.
With three stakes wins and two Group 1 placings to her name, she’s not short of talent and she boasts a strong first up record.
Whilst she will continue to improve as she steps out over more group, the 1700m kick off looks ideal.
Craig Williams takes the mount and from barrier six, she’ll put herself up there and be in it for a long way.
SONOFKIRK closed off strongly last start in the Vain Stakes and he’s sure to relish the rise to 1200m for the 2025 McNeil Stakes.
Settling back last off the outside gate, he was close to heels and just had the wait for his chance.
A very progressive youngster, he did plenty wrong when making his debut down the Flemington straight but finished off strongly to claim third and he was simply brilliant at his following start when saluting over 1000m here.
Slow away, he had the task ahead when turning for home but powered through late to score comfortably.
The inside draw can he settle within striking distance and the extra 1000m will certainly suit.
SHE’S BULLETPROOF resumes in The Heath 1100.
The five-year-old mare has always sown plenty of talent and she took to a new level last campaign as she recorded her first stakes win in the Bellmaine Stakes, before a gallant effort to finish second in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.
The daughter of Shooting To Win settled back in the field and when brought in clear galloping room, she launched late and looked to have the race in her grasp 100m out, before Jimmysstar swept past.
She just struggled on the soft conditions at her following outing in the William Reid and was subsequently spelled.
Placed in all three first up appearances, along with three runs over this trip, she looks well suited, and Craig Williams knows how to get the best out of her.
MANAAL returns to the races.
Trained at Randwick by Michael Freedman, the daughter of Tassort comes to Melbourne for the first time to kick off her Spring preparation.
A Group 1 winner having taken out the Sires’ Produce Stakes as a two-year-old, she’s proven herself a class galloper and the form around her is hard to go past.
All twelve of her runs have been at group level and she’s put together a very handy record.
She lines up here off two recent trials and there was a lot to like about the way she worked through the line at her latest.
Damian Lane goes aboard, and the low draw should see her afforded every chance in a stacked Cockram Stakes field.
FANGIRL was scratched from last week’s Winx Stakes in heavy conditions in favour of coming here.
A star mare, the daughter of Sebring is a four-time Group 1 winner and she excels when fresh.
She went to the paddock on a high after taking out the Queen of The Turf in the Autumn and she’s returned in fine order with two strong trials under her belt.
She draws to get the right run and with James McDonald staying in Sydney, Mark Zahra will take over the steering for Chris Waller.
SHOCK ‘EM OVA returns to the races off a lengthy lay off.
The seven year old son of Shocking has worked through is grades with relative ease having recorded five wins and three placings from just his eleven career starts.
He won well when resuming here back in May of last year before heading to Brisbane, where he seemingly went amiss.
Unbeaten in three appearances here at Caulfield, it’s safe to say this is his favourite track and he does hold an impressive first up record.
Given two jump outs, the most recent over 1350m, I don’t think fitness will be an issue and Craig Williams knows him well.