Punting Form is Australia’s leading provider of horse racing form incorporating proprietary incremental sectional times, performance benchmarks and ratings. We power bettors and commercial partners with the benchmark in horse racing data, so they win more. For more information CLICK HERE.
What makes Zahra top dog?
Mark Zahra was the king of Flemington. He’s ruled the jockey ranks all year, when not holidaying, and the Champion Sprint showed exactly why he’s #1. From barrier three he landed just off them and grandstand side, perfectly positioned to dodge the significant southwesterly winds that punished anything on pace or stuck to the rail. Compare Zahra from barrier three finding the sweet spot to Grahame Begg and Michael Dee drawn beside him in four and ending up rails side, case closed on who’s the best in the business.
The Champions Sprint was a walk early, significant southwesterly winds often force them to go slow down the straight, and this year was no different. Outside and off them was the place to be all day, avoiding the wind on a heavy track. Giga Kick’s last 600m was 10.3 lengths above average, compared to Magic Time’s 11.3 above average, which perfectly highlights the value of Mark Zahra. Sweet spot riding. Tiny margins. Game of inches.
The Pride of Jenni Effect
On Derby Day in the Empire Rose, Pride Of Jenni went 12.5 lengths faster than average to the 600m, a rare level of early speed. But in the Champions Mile on Saturday, she somehow went even quicker, 17 lengths faster than average, on a very heavy track. It was pure suicide. Damian Lane on Treasurethe Moment was dragged into it too, forced to go far quicker early than that mare ever had before. Exposed to a brutal headwind and testing ground, again, it was suicide tempo.
Via’s Champion Stakes
The Champion Stakes was run at a very slow tempo on extremely heavy ground. Despite that crawl early, not one horse managed to break 13 seconds for the final furlong, which shows you how heavy the track was. Overall, the race rated well below par, but given the conditions they faced, it’d be silly to be too harsh on them.
PuntingForm’s Top 5 performances of the week
1) TENTYRIS (Coolmore)
Delivered a new PB on grand final day. 13.5 lengths above average. Third-up and still with scope to improve, all three runs this prep have been elite. His acceleration is top-shelf, every time he’s raced, he’s clocked a sub-12-second final furlong. Different gravy.
HALF YOURS WINS THE MELBOURNE CUP! 🇦🇺🏆 pic.twitter.com/dZtNSO9Z4x
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 4, 2025
2) CEOLWULF (Champions Mile)
The figure out of the Champions Mile is elite. 17.2 All Average Benchmark (AllAveBM). He’d start favourite in a Cox Plate if they ran it tomorrow. Absorbed a brutal tempo, took all the wind off Pericles, and still powered through the line. A freakish effort from a beast who’s produced elite numbers at 2000m before & in a race with a suicidal tempo (thanks to Jenni) it was a genuine staying test.
A thrilling finish 😮💨
A measured ride sees CEOLWULF surge late to capture the Lexus Champions Mile by a nose.
🎥 @wwos | #StakesDay | #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/ytu48XaklG
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 8, 2025
3) SABAJ (BM84 on Stakes Day)
On a slightly better track, he was only 1.8 lengths off Ceolwulf and Pericles in a Benchmark 84, wow. His closing splits (11.64, 11.96, 11.72, 11.68, 12.06, 13.06) were elite, returning a 15.4 AllAveBm. He’s a serious horse on the rise.
Never in doubt 🙅♂️
SABAJ storms home from the back to give jockey Mark Zahra his seventh win of the #MelbCupCarnival.
🎥 @wwos | #StakesDay pic.twitter.com/VEqdw56hQo
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 8, 2025
4) HALF YOURS (Melbourne Cup)
Yet to post a monster figure with WFA weight, but what he’s done is enormous. Backed up a dominant Caulfield Cup win (13.7 above AllAveBm) with another strong 14 above AllAveBm. He stays all day, thrives on tempo, and when the gaps appear, he takes them. He’s got something you can’t measure, a thirst for the line.
HALF YOURS WINS THE MELBOURNE CUP! 🇦🇺🏆 pic.twitter.com/dZtNSO9Z4x
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 4, 2025
5) AL RIFFA (Melbourne Cup)
Given the race shape, he simply couldn’t win, yet his run was enormous. Strip away the bias and compare his work from the 1200m home, apart from Half Yours (who was blessed, saving ground), he was next best everywhere. Carried top weight in a race where the handicap has many victims. He’s been brutally strong.
Horse to Follow – TREASURETHE MOMENT (Champions Mile)
Rode a suicidal speed coming straight out of a Cox Plate and after a colic scare. She was the run of the race in what looks a proper form reference. Come autumn, with a clean slate and no setbacks, she might be anything.
