2026 Chairman’s Stakes Day Tips & Preview

JENNI’S MEADOW (6) gets the blinkers on again looking to finally breakthrough for a much-deserved win. 

She’s been a punish for punters over the last month or so, flirting with the winner’s circle on back-to-back occasions at Cranbourne and Flemington over the same trip. 

Patrick Moloney has a bit of a feel for the mare now after stalking the speed four-wide a couple of weeks ago on his way to finishing within half a length of the talented Saint George. 

Drawn well again in a small field, she only needs to hold that form to go one better. 

CASTELLAR (2) gets Craig Williams on board following a pleasing effort off a long spell at Flemington last time out. 

The four-year-old son to Astern had been off the scene for close to a year, trialing twice and then laying in around the 300m mark to hold on late for third in a similar BM70 race. 

He’s had a few issues off the track in recent times, but everything indicates he’s bounced back well, and his best is yet to come. 

Don’t love the gate, but this is a very interesting race for the unbeaten TARZING (11) third-up for Chris Waller. 

The son to Tarzino has dominated the midweeks over the last four weeks, winning by over a length on debut at Seymour, before another impressive win at Geelong a fortnight ago where he was forced to shift out wide at the top of the straight. 

This is tougher again up in class, but he finds a fairly thin race with a few of these out form and potentially looking for further. There’s no jockey booked as I write, but he possesses a serious turn of foot, which should be on display if he can offset the wide alley. 

STYLISH SECRET (7) checks a few important boxes here up to 2400m. 

Mick Nolan’s four-year-old gelding doesn’t win out of turn, but he should be rock-hard fit for this assignment coming off two solid runs over 2000m – the latest being a gallant effort for third where he stuck on well along the rail all the way through the line. 

He’s a previous winner over this distance, claiming the chocolates here at Caulfield last July where there was a good bit of market support for him before the jump. 

Deep into his prep now and in nicely with the claim, he looks well-placed to replicate that effort on Saturday. 

FALSET STAR (4) can mix his form, but his recent efforts do suggest he might be wanting 1800m now.  

The Payne-trained three-year-old by Group 2 winner Valentia has had his runs spaced since December, going around two weeks ago third-up at Headquarters where the inside gate almost went against him when finishing four lengths off. 

He was closer the run prior at Cranbourne when he ran on well down the outside for fourth, and we should see him arriving late to have his say with the wide gate likely offering him clearer running room this time. 

BIG SKY (1) has gone up short odds after storming 2.75 lengths clear on debut at Flemington a fortnight ago. 

Jordan Childs gave him a peach of a steer early on to find a stalking position, quickly pushing the button at the top of the straight to race clear and win with plenty left in hand. 

This is tougher again, but he’s a colt with real ability and his eyes on much bigger prizes than this. 

Bit of value about SAMANGU (5) third-up now for Grahame Begg. 

This mare by Written By was enormous this time last year winning two on the bounce at Caulfield, then given a lengthy 40-week spell before resuming on the Heath track in late December. 

She clearly needed that run that day and looked to be wanting further, but I thought we saw good improvement second-up at Flemington in the Group 3 Standish Handicap where she got up along the rail, finishing sixth with a bit still to give through the line.  

The fitness benefit is key to her chances now and if she’s closer in the run this time, she’s a definite chance at running top three. 

Very keen on GALLANT SON (3) with three weeks between runs. 

His fresh win at Flemington over 100m shorter was excellent, biding his time nicely just off the pace in the early stages before apprentice Emily Pozman asked something of him approaching the furlong. 

The Written Tycoon entire has incredibly fast changeup speed and maps to get a nice run up on the speed again with the weight and the inside gate working to his advantage. 

MIDNITE STORM (7) has the tricky gate to contend with but there was enough to like about his fresh win over the mile to suggest he’ll handle racing over longer. 

Ciaron Maher’s talented Irish import got out three-wide and was two lengths off the leaders approaching the straight, making up the margin over the final 50m or so to savage the line for a tidy win. 

That was just his first run down under, so there’s scope for further improvement as he acclimatizes to the conditions with some decent second-up form on his resume. 

Not a race that fills me with confidence to wrap up the day, but there’s still some value about ZOUPER FUND (6), who returns from a four-week let-up for Ciaron Maher. 

The Zoustar prodigy was extended his winning to streak to four when he resumed a winner at Ballarat in early December, then heading to Cranbourne out over 1200m where he got a little wide but still charged home very well for third. 

He’s been given a soft trial between runs to keep him fit and I dare say he’ll see out 1400m for the first time based on his win over a touch shorter at Sandown to wrap up his winter prep last year.