The entrée to spring has been happening for the past couple of weeks with barrier trials, but finally we were able to bet on the better horses on Saturday, and best came to the fore. It was also a day when looking into the crystal ball is part of the fun, so here are the hits and misses, including a protest that could be in either category, depending on your opinion.
Hits
Cosmic Crusader
He came from Perth with a big reputation as a Group 1 weight-for-age winner and continues to live up to it. He outclassed his rivals in the Bletchingly Stakes a couple of weeks ago, and disposed of better quality opposition in the Lawrence Stakes. Private Eye and Evaporate filled the placing and had better set-ups than the winner. Cosmic Crusader again showed a change of gear and Willie Pike was kind to him at the end. He needs to step up again in the Memsie Stakes, but race fitness and talent make him a major player.
HERE COMES THE CRUSADER‼️
Cosmic Crusader is brilliant again to win the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence! Private Eye and Evaporate as tough as ever after setting a strong tempo 💪 pic.twitter.com/dbSPRLqcz0
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 15, 2026
The Next Episode
He was at home after an easy barrier trial on Friday, but Quezette winner Natural Fling, who he dominated in the Sunlight, and Rosebud runner-up Blue Door made his form look good. The Next Episode is targeting the Coolmore Stud Stakes, where he is equal favourite with Golden Slipper winner Guest House and Natural Fling. He isn’t going to be a big price when he returns, but he has a lot going for him from the $2.8 million price tag as a yearling to sensational form. He is one of the most interesting horses in the country.
NATURAL FLING MAKES A MESS OF THEM ⭐
A brilliant first up win in the Group 3 Quezette!@LaneDamian @McevoyRacing pic.twitter.com/3x6wo3MfaH
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 15, 2026
Mind Ya Bizz Protest
Zac Lloyd might have gone a little over the top with the claim he was nearly knocked off his horse when Transcend banged into Mind Ya Bizz near the post, but I felt the bump changed the result. In driving finishes, you get a feeling which horse is going to prevail a couple of strides out, and to my mind, Mind Ya Bizz held that advantage with the duelling pair’s heads out of sync on Saturday. The collision, which was caused by Transcend coming in, changed the drive to the line and gave Transcend a margin at the post. Stewards ruled as such, but I can fully understand those who feel that it should have been dismissed. Usually in tight protests the benefit of the doubt goes to the winner, but not this time.
Misses
Melbourne fillies
Natural Fling was sensational winning by a big space in the Quezette Stakes, but Sydney girls Scintillation and Oh Yes She Did filled the minors with the rest of the Melbourne fillies more than five lengths from the winner. Without Scintillation, who went with the flying filly until the 300m mark, Natural Fling wouldn’t have been tested at all. Fillies were one-two in the Rosebud in Sydney, Chilly Girl and Blue Door, so we might more Sydney girls heading down the highway for the black type on offer in Melbourne.
Lara Antipova
She is a Group 1 winner and an unbeaten two-year-old in New Zealand last season, but the betting said no before the Quezette Stakes and her performance matched the drift from $6.50 to $8.50. The Mark Walker stable suggested to stewards she will be better up in trip and that they will tinker with some gear. But she looks a long way off the best fillies over here.
Hawker Hall
On a day where most horses performed to market expectations, Hawker Hall got the lead, like he did first-up, but found the 1200m a bit beyond him as even-money favourite. He is probably a short-course sprinter as of six wins, four have been at 1100m and another was over 900m. He races best on the fresh side as well. So he might find a good races in about a month.
