How to read the ratings
Throughout Weekend at Bot’s, you’ll see Form King data used to break down how each race was run and the level of performance produced.
Here’s a quick guide to the key metrics:
- LD-S-8: Leader from the start to the 800m.
- LD-8-4: Leader from the 800m to the 400m.
- LD-4-F: Leader from the 400m to the finish.
- WNR-4-F: Winner from the 400m to the finish.
- WFA: Overall performance rating on a Weight-For-Age scale.
- WTS: The winner’s final rating at the weights carried.
Dave Pfundt’s assessment of how the track played:
25-30kmh Northerly and NNE winds. The Heath track was officially a Slow 6. Times agreed, and the Chute races (6.2) came out a full grade slower than the Circle (5.2), presumably at least in part due to the wind. It was a fence-off day, but not in the way that Caulfield Proper has been playing. Rather – only lane 1 seemed to be inferior to lanes 2+. Down the middle was probably the best ground, but there was nothing wrong with lane 2.
Interestingly, only 7 of the 27 top-3 finishers raced on the fence, and only 1 of the 9 winners (Davida, after crossing from a wide gate and staying wide for a while before leading) raced on the fence at any stage. I’m calling it the fairer side of a fence off meeting, and will be looking closely at those 7 place-getters who raced on the fence at their next starts.
I do think running line horses were a bit flattered and certainly won’t be able to give them any bonus on top of what they did today. A good spread of positions in run amongst the winners also suggests the track raced quite fairly.
How the races were run and won:
Race 1
LD-S-8: +4.6L | LD-8-4: -1.5L | LD-4-F: -4.1L | WNR-4-F: -3L | WTS: 81.6 | WFA: 84.3
Travis Harrison Cup Day began with a sprint for three-year-olds, won by Stakes, who did not need to improve to get the job done. The margins illustrate the modest strength of the form, with only a length and a half separating the first six across the line.
Stakes was quite easy to back, having opened favourite on Wednesday before being ousted at the top of the market by the support for Commit, who finished second. Stakes eventually started $5.30 on the exchange.
There was plenty of early speed, with Dustee crossing to lead at a pace more than four lengths faster than typical for this grade over 1200 meters. The pace then deteriorated markedly over the next four furlongs, as none of these runners were capable of sustaining that early pressure.
There isn’t much strength to this form, so I’m cautious about it as a form reference. I don’t have particularly high hopes for this group.
Put To The Sword may have won with an uninterrupted passage, and remains a maiden who can drop back in class and rise to 1400 metres.
Race 2
LD-S-8: -4.8L | LD-8-4: +2.3L | LD-4-F: -1.3L | WNR-4-F: -1.3L | WTS: 86.5 | WFA: 86.9
Stay Silent perhaps won race two opportunistically, with Jabez Johnstone producing an immaculate ride to steal the race from Celtics, who was unlucky not to win.
The instructions to Johnstone appeared to be to find the lead, as he and Tom Madden aboard Stonecoat were both intent on taking up the running. They went quickly through the early stages before slowing dramatically approaching the 1000-metre mark, essentially coming to a halt between the 1000 and 800 metres with a split of 13.36 seconds.
Johnstone then set Stay Silent alight at approximately the 800-metre mark, increasing his mount’s speed by around seven lengths. By that point, the race was effectively over, leaving Celtics with too much ground to make up.
Stay Silent wins again for Jabez Johnstone and Ciaron Maher 🥇🥇@cmaherracing @RacingBennett pic.twitter.com/XqfiuoV8Nr
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 8, 2026
The race did not rate particularly well, but Celtics remains interesting in this grade. Accounting for a sectional upgrade, he has essentially run to the same figure in three successive starts. There is no indication that a mile will trouble him either.
Race 3
LD-S-8: -1.7L | LD-8-4: -2L | LD-4-F: +4.5L | WNR-4-F: +4.5L | WTS: 103.3 | WFA: 101
Cavalry Girl blew this field apart, controlling the race from the outset before accelerating impressively through the concluding stages.
The race promised to be run at a frantic early pace, but that did not eventuate. It made little difference to Cavalry Girl, who still won by three and three-quarter lengths and displayed another dimension to her ability. Her win in the Lightning Stakes was achieved through sustained speed; this time, she produced a sharp turn of foot.
This figure places her in the conversation for the Moir Stakes. The level she reached on Saturday could not have been predicted before her Lightning Stakes performance, so she is clearly continuing to improve.
This campaign, she has run figures of 94.3, 95.2, 92.1, 97.4 and now 101. If she can consistently hold a level around 100, she is more than capable of competing in Group 2 and Group 1 races for the foreseeable future.
The Moir may seem optimistic, but I’d point to Extragalactic, who is the shortest likely runner in the all-in market. I think Cavalry Girl is a far better chance in the race than Extragalactic. While Extragalactic is Group 1-placed, that performance came in a particularly weak Group 1 by rating, with her peak figure standing at 96.4. Cavalry Girl has already reached a considerably higher level and will have the advantage of race fitness.
Race 4
LD-S-8: +0.5L | LD-8-4: +1.6L | LD-4-F: -1.3L | WNR-4-F: -1.3L | WTS: 89.3 | WFA: 92.5
After a series of races in which she had either been unlucky or better than the bare result suggested, it took Blake Shinn to recapture Davida’s best with a brilliant front-running ride.
Shinn was determined to lead, racing two lengths faster than standard to the 1000-metre mark. The pace increased again from the 800 metres, allowing Davida to establish just enough of a margin entering the straight.
Davida all the way…just 📸
Blake Shinn on the board at Caulfield 👑@blake_shinn @dobrienracing pic.twitter.com/1KN4mJlStG
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 8, 2026
This was a new career-best performance from Davida, who carried 60.5kg and won in good time over a mile. I feel there is still further improvement to come. While she has proven capable over 1600 metres, I suspect her best performances may ultimately come over seven furlongs.
Jenni Multabella has raced only six times and has battled injury for much of her short career. If Kennewell can keep her sound, there is no reason she cannot continue to improve over 2000 metres. She was only third-up on Saturday, so she can be followed if appropriately placed and priced.
Race 5
LD-S-8: +3.2L | LD-8-4: -3.7L | LD-4-F: -0.9L | WNR-4-F: +2.6L | WTS: 90.5 | WFA: 90.5
The pace was on from the outset, with Mainmankash, who possesses only one speed (fast) crossing to lead comfortably.
The first 300 metres was run three lengths faster than standard, stringing the field out. The pace then slowed markedly between the 800 and 400 metres, allowing the runners off the pace to make their moves without expending too much energy.
Behaviour, the winner, and High On The Hill, who finished second, drew away from the field over the final furlong.
Behaviour produced a marginal new career peak, improving from 89.7 last start to 90.5 on Saturday. High On The Hill also ran a new best, improving from 88.6 to 89.8. He had 63 days between runs and gives the impression that 1200 metres will be his ideal distance, so he can be followed in the coming weeks.
Race 6
LD-S-8: -5.1L | LD-8-4: -2.2L | LD-4-F: -0.5L | WNR-4-F: +3.2L | WTS: 91.3 | WFA: 90.2
Punters were left disappointed as the odds-on favourite, Custom, a horse to follow from a few weeks ago, failed to recapture the form of her previous start, finishing third.
Flyer capitalised, overhauling the field from last at the 300-metre mark before finishing over the top to win decisively. She is massively inconsistent and often relies entirely on the pace and shape of the race to produce her best. She wins sparingly for a reason, and I don’t believe she is improving.
Welcometotheshow was better than expected, holding a prominent position before sprinting well enough to finish second. He raced over a mile last campaign and is on track to reach his mark third- or fourth-up this preparation.
Flyer flies over the top at $26 ✈️
A double for Jye McNeil!@JyeMcNeil @WarrenRacing @RosemontStud pic.twitter.com/lXrzd7VKLk
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 8, 2026
Custom was plain, and there were no obvious excuses. She may have been marginally held up at stages, but had plenty of time in the straight to win if she were capable. Perhaps the slow pace was against her, although she finished faster last start in a race that was clearly run at a quicker early pace.
She may simply have had a bad day, and that’s okay. The market expected her to run to the form of her previous start, so it would be unfair to judge her too harshly on this performance.
Race 7
LD-S-8: +16.6L | LD-8-4: -8.2L | LD-4-F: -3.3L | WNR-4-F: -1.9L | WTS: 92.9 | WFA: 93.3
The pace was absolutely frantic, with Station One and Madero running just shy of 14 lengths faster than typical to the 1000-metre mark. The pace deteriorated from there, leaving Perfect Ten to race clear of her opposition and establish herself as a contender for significantly better races over 2000 metres.
Based on this rating, targeting a Tesio or Matriarch Stakes should not be out of the question. Can she win one? Probably not, but it may be worth trying. This was also her sixth run of the campaign, so the question is how long Nikki Burke can keep her at this level.
Shiny New Deel was only second-up for the preparation, copped a few bumps at the top of the straight and still finished well relative to the race. He is primed to run to his mark third- or fourth-up and can win. There is a 1800-metre BM78 that I’m sure Bedggood has circled.
The race rated well, so there should be strong form to come from it. I would be cautious, however, with runners returning in fewer than 21 days, as this was a brutal test.
Race 8
LD-S-8: -6.3L | LD-8-4: +0.2L | LD-4-F: +1.2L | WNR-4-F: +3.3L | WTS: 96.2 | WFA: 93.5
The day’s feature was won by First Chorus, who has now amassed five victories this campaign. Once again, she ran to her peak. She is extremely consistent at this level and has been placed exceptionally well by Lindsay Smith and his team.
There was very little speed through the early stages before Jackson Radley recognised that he needed to make the race a test for Bankers Choice. He began increasing the tempo at around the 800-metre mark.
The race then unfolded as Luke Cartwright would have hoped, with First Chorus blending into it at the top of the straight and holding off Detonator Jack, who came off her back.
I don’t think there is much progression left in First Chorus this campaign. She has run to something like her peak figure five times this preparation, which is a testament to her consistency.
Detonator Jack continues to race well, and this was his best performance of the campaign. He may now be looking for 2000 metres, although the Heatherlie Stakes could be the best option for him at this stage.
Jennivamoose returned surprisingly well after 329 days away from the races and can reach her mark third- or fourth-up.
Litzdeel showed pace and ran well for fourth. Perhaps her spring campaign will be targeted towards the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Stakes Day during the Flemington carnival.
Race 9
LD-S-8: -5.6L | LD-8-4: +0.7L | LD-4-F: +1L | WNR-4-F: +4.4L | WTS: 93.8 | WFA: 93.4
Changing Colours was backed as if unbeatable and, much to the delight of favourite punters, she and Blake Shinn sailed past Lovelycut in the straight.
The early pace was slow before increasing through the middle stages and turning into a procession over the final 400 metres, with the first two putting a space between themselves and the rest.
Changing Colours has regressed slightly from run to run, but that is circumstantial, and there is still plenty of improvement to come. She is genuinely Group-class and can win a stakes race this spring.
Caulfield Heath Race 9 | Changing Colours@blake_shinn picks up a well-earned double with a perfectly timed run on @LYeomansRacing‘s in-form 6YO mare 💪
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/XnRUDy42ps— Racing.com (@Racing) August 8, 2026
