The build-up to the 2026 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival rolls on at Caulfield this Saturday, and there’s plenty for punters to sink their teeth into with four black-type races across the card.
The Group 3 Vain Stakes and Quezette Stakes both look set to deliver some serious heat down the straight for the three-year-olds, before a few familiar faces step out in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes over 1400m.
Wet-track form is going to be absolutely vital with rain hanging around Melbourne, and at time of writing, Caulfield is rated a Heavy 8.
For our race-by-race analysis, tips, key runners and betting strategy, check out our full 2026 P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day Preview below.
FUNDAMENTAL NATURE (10) kicks off her prep for Ciaron Maher and there’s plenty to like about her fresh.
She started her career in perfect style earlier in the year, winning her first two starts before being thrown into deeper water at Group 3 level over 1200m at Caulfield.
That run can be forgiven after she was posted five-wide throughout, and her effort the start prior in the Inglis Sprint reads particularly well for this. She finished within a length of the smart Getta Good Feeling, and if she gets through the wet for the first time, she can be right in the finish.
| 10. Fundamental Nature (6) J: John Allen 57.5kg 1138xT: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Resuming after a five months break. Finished off last preparation second last of 9 at this track in the G3 Don Casboult March 21 over 1200m, 4 len behind Point Barrow with 56kg at $9. At her first start won by head Pakenham Mdn-Sw January 23 over 1100m defeating Afterberna with 57kg at $3.60. | |||
SIMURGH (4) has to overcome an awkward draw, but he still looks a major player in a tricky race.
The Hayes team has kept him on the fresh side since his Sandown run in mid-June, where he went forward, travelled on speed and stuck on strongly for second.
He’s had a couple of tick-over trials to keep him ready, and the wet track is no issue given his proven form in the conditions. If Craig Williams can slide across without burning too much early, he’ll take plenty of catching.
| 4. Simurgh (11) J: Craig Williams 60.5kg 2112xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Dual acceptor. Resumes after a break of nine weeks and has been in the money when fresh before. Finished off last campaign second of 9 at Sandown-Hillside Bm84 June 13 over 2400m, soft track; a head behind Straand Deal with 57kg at $3.20. When resuming last campaign second of 11 at Pakenham Bm70 April 23 over 1600m, 1.0 len behind Factcheck carrying 58kg at $6. | |||
GLASGOW LASS (5) looks a big winning chance second-up for Matt Laurie.
She had no favours at Caulfield over 1200m last start, posted wide and settling a long way back before charging late into third behind Custom.
The extra trip looks right up her alley, and a more positive ride from Logan Bates could make all the difference. She handles wet ground, gets weight relief with the claim, and looks ready to give this a proper shake.
| 5. Glasgow Lass (2) J: Logan Bates 59kg 9x0x3T: Matt Laurie | |||
| Second-up today. Last run 3rd of 10 at this track on July 25 over 1200m, on a slow track; 4 len behind Custom carrying 58kg at $26. At only start last preparation 10th of 14 at this track on May 9 over 1100m, slow going 9 len behind Swift Force with 59kg at $7.50. | |||
HE’LL RIP (8) has been threatening to win one for a while, and this looks another suitable set-up.
The seven-year-old son of Hellbent was runner-up in a similar race over this track and distance in early June, and he has backed that up by placing again at Caulfield and Sandown.
He comes in close to a month between runs, but a recent straight trial here should have kept him ticking over nicely. He loves wet ground, and with Blake Shinn going on and 3kg less in the saddle, he gets his chance to finally knock one off.
| 8. He’ll Rip (1) J: Blake Shinn 55kg 74233T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin | |||
| Racing well recently. Comes off a 31 day let-up. At the latest run made ground from midfield; 3rd of 14 at Sandown-Hillside on July 15 over 1400m, on rain affected going; 2.25 len behind Kahhof carrying 58kg at $7. The run before that 3rd of 14 at this track on June 27 over 1400m, slow going 1.5 len behind Coeur Volante with 54kg at $11. | |||
CLOSER TO FREE (2) looks ready to fire fresh off what he’s shown at the jump outs.
The Street Boss colt made a real statement in the autumn when winning the Blue Diamond Prelude by a length over subsequent Golden Slipper winner Guest House.
His grand final didn’t pan out from a wide gate, but he looks to have come back bigger and better as a three-year-old. If he brings that fresh form to Caulfield, he’s going to be very hard to hold out.
| 2. Closer To Free (9) J: Mark Zahra 58kg 120xT: Danny O’brien | |||
| Racing first-up today. Finished off last preparation second last of 16 at Rosehill in the G1 G Slipper March 21 over 1200m, soft track; 8 len behind Guest House with 56.5kg at $8. At his first start won by 1.0 len this track G3 Bd/Prel Cg February 7 over 1100m defeating Guest House carrying 57kg at $13. | |||
RIVERINA LULU (10) looks over the odds for a filly with serious upside.
Graheme Begg’s sprinter was very good on debut over 100m shorter down the straight at Headquarters, where she had to lift between runners before putting 1.5 lengths on Leopard Shark.
She’s had nearly a month to come on from that, and her recent jump out win suggested she’s in terrific order. The wide draw makes things interesting, but she’s got a sharp turn of foot and looks a strong each-way play at the current price.
| 10. Riverina Lulu (12) J: Jordan Childs 56kg 1T: Grahame Begg | |||
| At debut, won tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 1.5 len at Flemington on July 18 over 1000m in soft going defeating Leopard Shark carrying 54kg at $8. | |||
William Pike heading across the country for the Peters-owned COSMIC CRUSADER (7) is hard to ignore.
The six-year-old gelding by Maurice was excellent first-up in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield, settling back before peeling into the race around the turn and putting them away by 2.5 lengths.
He looked like a horse crying out for further off that win, and he gets that now second-up. With only 0.5kg more to carry and the option to settle closer from the wider draw, he looks very hard to knock.
| 7. Cosmic Crusader (8) J: William Pike 59kg 112×1T: Andrea Leek | |||
| Second-up. First-up after eight months favourite; won by 2.5 len in the G3 Bletchingly Stakes at this track on July 25 over 1200m on a soft track defeating Winnasedge carrying 58.5kg at $3.60. Previously second-up favourite; scored a big 8 len win at Belmont Park on September 20 over 1650m on a soft track defeating Sensessional with 54.5kg at $1.24. The one to beat based on that latest effort. | |||
PERSIAN SPIRIT (6) resumes after tackling much stronger races in the autumn and looks well placed in this.
Symon Wilde’s six-year-old didn’t win last prep, but he was far from disgraced, especially when finishing just outside the money in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, beaten 4.5 lengths.
His fresh record is the big tick, with two wins and three placings from five first-up runs. Add in his strong 1200m profile, where he’s missed the cash only twice from six starts, and he shapes as a very appealing each-way bet.
| 6. Persian Spirit (3) J: Harry Coffey 55.5kg 3648xT: Symon Wilde | |||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation eighth of 15 at this track in the G3 Vic Hcp April 4 over 1400m, 4.5 len behind Hughes with 54.5kg at $4.20. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by 1.5 len Flemington Bm78 September 13 over 1100m defeating Tonkin with 57kg at $51. | |||
LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (3) brings the class factor and looks the one they all have to measure up to.
Ciaron Maher’s gelding resumes for the first time since the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April, where he finished midfield from the inside barrier at Randwick in a solid enough effort.
The mile fresh looks ideal, and he should be fine with cut in the ground as long as Caulfield hasn’t slipped into the heavy range by this point of the day. He’s had two soft trials, draws to roll forward, and his class could take him a long way against this field.
| 3. Light Infantry Man (5) J: Jabez Johnstone 62kg 1415xT: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation fifth of 7 at Randwick in the G1 Queen Eliz April 11 over 2000m, 9 len behind Sir Delius carrying 59kg at $26. Previous preparation first-up won by head this track G3 Carlyon Cup February 7 over 1600m defeating Immediacy carrying 60kg at $4.20. | |||