How the races were run and won:
This table provides a race-by-race snapshot of how each event at The Valley on Saturday was run and won. Using sectional time data benchmarked against historical standards, it delivers an easy-to-digest breakdown of early speed, late speed, and an overall race rating – giving you a clear picture of tempo and performance at a glance.
| R | Winner | Early | Late | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miewa | Slow | Slow | Poor |
| 2 | Jazz Affair | Fast | Slow | Average |
| 3 | Farhh Flung (GB) | Fast | Even | Above Average |
| 4 | Rise To It | V.Fast | V.Fast | Above Average |
| 5 | Angel Capital | Even | Fast | Elite |
| 6 | Rosberg | Slow | Slow | Below Average |
| 7 | Alpha Sofie | Even | Fast | Below Average |
| 8 | Desert Lightning (NZ) | V.Slow | Even | Average |
| 9 | Baraqiel | Slow | Even | Above Average |
| 10 | La Fracas (IRE) | Slow | Fast | Average |
Turf Talk:
- Credit to The Valley staff, they are managing a track that has been on its last legs for a decade, and it played perfectly on Saturday.
- Horses could make ground with the right runs.
- The early upgrade was right; they ran slick times.
Moment of the Day – Moir Magic
How can you go past Baraqiel.
It’s the ultimate fairytale.
A gelding who overcame significant tendon issues just to make it to the track, debuting as a late-season five-year-old in a Sale maiden, before going on to claim Group 1 glory as a 12-start seven-year-old.
There was the drama of his late scratching at Caulfield when vets weren’t satisfied with his action first-up this campaign.
There’s his huge group of loyal owners, syndicated through the Geelong-based Bennett Racing, who welcome their horse back with unbridled joy and celebration every time.
Then there’s the rockstar jockey, Ben Allen – not only mixing race riding with DJing, but also connecting racing to the next generation of fans in a way few others can.
It’s a story that resonates beyond racing’s rusted-on fans. A story brought to life by the passion of co-trainer Troy Corstens, whose emotion makes it clear what this horse means to him, to co-trainer Will Larkin, and to the entire Malua team.
Maybe the ‘new Valley’ is actually a good thing.
Social media told me half the field were “unlucky” in the Moir. I’ll give you at least one horse who definitely was: Skybird.
Bad luck is inevitable in racing. Whether it’s the wide-open spaces of Flemington or the tight-turning Valley, it happens everywhere. But when you’ve only got a 173m home straight – like The Valley – those hard-luck stories are always going to be more common.
I’m a lifelong racing fan. I want the sport to innovate, but I’ve also spent four decades following it fanatically because I love it just the way it is, and I do love The Valley; the quirks of the track and the cauldron-like atmosphere when 30,000 people are crammed in for the WFA Championship of Australasia.
Like many punters, I’m sentimental about the current layout. It conjures memories of Cox Plate fields taking off “by the school” and champions fanning seven, eight, nine wide around the home bend.
Sentiment aside, maybe the change The Valley is about to undertake is actually a positive for punters. A 317m home straight will mean fewer flukey results and fewer “should’ve won” excuses. The challenge, of course, is keeping that unique, furnace-like atmosphere. The administrators insist it will be maintained – and if they’re right, maybe the new Valley is exactly what racing needs.
Steer of the Day – Benny Allen on Baraqiel
There’s no other option but the obvious this week. Ben Allen’s ride on Baraiqel was sublime. He zigged and zagged at just the right moments, and given Baraqiel’s racing style and likely preference for 1200m (over the 1000m of Saturday’s Moir) Allen had to get it inch perfect around the tight Valley circuit – and he did just that.
BARAQIEL 💥
He’s a Group 1 Star now! Ben Allen pulls off one of the great rides at The Valley to win the Moir 😮 pic.twitter.com/O07hlMonbY
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 6, 2025
A shooting star:
Clint McDonald had to watch on as his former stable star Angel Capital – who is destined for Group 1 targets – took out the Chautauqua Stakes in devastating fashion under the care of new trainer Chris Waller.
ANGEL CAPITAL 😇
A demolition job first up for this rising star! What heights can he reach this spring?@LaneDamian @cwallerracing pic.twitter.com/pT0hmodp1P
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 6, 2025
However, McDonald wasn’t to be outdone. He spruiked unraced colt Rosberg for weeks, and in the lead-up to Saturday’s McKenzie Stakes he told Betsy, “we get to rip the band-aid off on Saturday and see if we’re geniuses or mugs”.
Well, Clint, in this instance you are certainly a genius. Rosberg turned in one of the best debuts you are ever likely to see. Ben Melham had been due to ride Rosberg on debut, his dad a shareholder in the horse, but after an untimely suspension the reins were handed to his very capable wife, Jamie.
ROSBERG 🏎️
What a debut! Rosberg motors home to win the McKenzie Stakes and Clinton McDonald has another smart one on his hands👏@cmcdonaldracing @jamieleemelham pic.twitter.com/gJNDAAtYV8
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 6, 2025
Post race the performance compelled Jamie to quip: “He’s a weapon…but he doesn’t know what he’s doing”.
He’s still so raw and untapped, which is a bloody scary proposition for his rivals over the next twelve months. We could’ve unearthed a future superstar in Rosberg.
The Flashing Light – Zardozi (r8)
Zardozi’s race was well and truly over well before the home bend; she simply drifted too far back and wasn’t in the race at the 400m mark. However, she breezed up beautifully once in clean air in the straight, charging to the line in the 3rd best last 200m split of the meeting, signaling she’s back in great order.
DESERT LIGHTNING ⚡⚡
The best bet of the day for many salutes in the So You Think Stakes! pic.twitter.com/j08rjdR5p9
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 6, 2025
Punters identified this was a pipe-opener pretty early on in the week. She opened as short as $3 on Wednesday but was friendless in betting, starting $7+ once the gates crashed back.
The Forgive File:
- Planet Red (r6): Was off the bit a long way out but got going again late. Clearly looking for 1400m already and probably not suited to The Valley. Live Caulfield Guineas hope.
- Zany Girl (r7): The Taswegian visitor spent much of her time at The Valley ‘looking for a run’. She looked to have plenty to offer and may improve at odds next start.
- Skybird (r9): Having backed her, it pains me to keep watching the replay! Well documented and obvious to all she would’ve either won, or gone very close, with even luck. But hey, that’s racing.
- King Zephyr (r10): To the chagrin of punters, he never looked like winning, but the slow tempo coupled with the fact he’s probably a 1400m horse that may not have handled The Valley combine to make this a forgivable effort.
Punters got the cash:
- Angel Capital (r5) was backed like his number was in the frame before they jumped, and given the dominance of his win, it’s very easy to see why.
- Rosberg (r6): As mentioned above, he was heavily spruiked by the stable and punters jumped on Clint’s coattails, backing the colt from an opening price of $6 on Wednesday into $3.60 at the jump.
- Desert Lightning (r8): Another favourite that was backed from the moment markets went up right up until the gates opened. Mind you, Moira had plenty of support as well and she only just missed for Damian Lane.
They Left It In The Bag:
There were a few this week…
- Skybird (r9): She was backed from $10 into $5, ultimately jumping favourite, or near favourite, at most outlets.
- King Zephyr (r10) – He was smashed in betting the moments markets went up on Wednesday, shortening from well north of $3 into an SP of $2.30.
- Marilyn’s Edge (r5 Mildura) – See below!
Time For A Stiff Drink And A Lie Down…
Shawn Mathrick and Liam Riordan could do little wrong at Mildura, landing a four-timer.
However, the duo were momentarily the punters’ enemy when the heavily-backed Marilyn’s Edge was nabbed right on the line in race five.
The resuming mare was smashed across the day, tumbling in from $2.30 to a starting price of $1.60, and when she skipped clear at the top of the straight it seemed the plunge was destined for success, but like so many Hollywood movies, there was a twist, and unfortunately Marilyn’s Edge was nosed out by Hollywoodboulevard right on the line. For many punters – me included – ecstasy quickly turn to despair.
Adding insult to punters’ injury: the horse didn’t race in the set of blinkers she wore in lead-up trials.
Social Media Gold:
Malua Racing have swept the awards this week. I loved the collation of opinions they sent out on Friday having a lighthearted crack at all us media tipsters who potted Baraqiel in the lead-up to his return win in the Carlyon Stakes.
Lots said NO……Baraqiel said watch this! Bring on the @TheValley Gr 1 Moir Stakes! pic.twitter.com/cPtTiui7wE
— Malua Racing (@MaluaRacing) September 4, 2025
Racing can take itself too seriously at times. It’s a bloody fun sport and banter is good for the game.
The Sin Bin:
When you’re cold, you’ve got to own it – and right now I deserve a spell in the sin bin. I’d struggle to tip over a glass of water at the moment. After a promising enough start at Sandown last Wednesday, it’s been slim pickings. I’ve managed to find horses that are running well, but more often than not they’ve run second… and usually by agonisingly narrow margins.
It’s been a frustrating kick-off to my analysis for Betsy, but stick fat – the tide will turn.
