What futures bets do I want to place right now?
Tempted – Coolmore $9.00/ Everest $26.00
Skyhook – Golden Rose $11
We have the two-year-olds turning three and the new season’s four-year-olds now trying to mix it with the older horses. It shapes as one of the more intriguing questions in racing – and if we do get it right, hopefully it’s a profitable outcome.
- Tempted (3yo filly) – Ciaron Maher
We kick off with this progressive 3yo filly, Tempted. With James Cummings off to Hong Kong, she now finds herself under the guidance of the elite Ciaron Maher camp. As you’d expect, her pedigree page is deep. By Street Boss, it suggests she could stretch her legs to that 1400m–1600m range as a 3yo too.
She started $7 in a Blue Diamond before winning the Group 2 Reisling Stakes and beating the eventual Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, as well as running 3rd in the Slipper herself. She rounded out the prep with a dominant 1.76L win in the Percy Sykes.
What Group 1s could Tempted potentially win?
There’s a range. At 1200m, she has the option to do the Everest ($26) into the Coolmore ($9). If she stretches beyond 1200m, she has the Golden Rose ($13), Flight Stakes ($5.00) and the Thousand Guineas ($9.00).
Of those, I’d be most interested in the Coolmore Stud Stakes ($9), with the elite profile 3yo fillies possess.
Tempted is your Group 2 @TheStarSydney Percy Sykes winner…..and breaks the race record in doing so 🔥🔥🔥@godolphin @mcacajamez #thestarchampionships Day 2 pic.twitter.com/BKhH1Bn0XF
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) April 12, 2025
- Agarwood (3yo filly) – Waterhouse & Bott
Is this 3yo Wootton Bassett filly the Waterhouse & Bott stable’s In The Congo 2.0? Once again, exceptionally well bred with relations to Lilac and, through her second dam, Foxwedge. She is unbeaten in her 2 career starts, showing dynamic speed at both ends of her races.
Like In The Congo, she won both of her 2yo races at the back end of the season before a slight freshen leading into the 3yo Spring Carnival, kicking off in the Rosebud, as will Agarwood this weekend. From there In The Congo was able to work through to a Group 1 win in the Golden Rose.
Agarwood certainly has the pedigree to reach 1400m. Although a filly, I’d say she will have a near identical prep to In The Congo, just swapping out the San Domenico for the Furious Stakes.
Yes, she was plain first up, but there had to be an issue, look for some gear changes this week to explain the last start effort.
What Group 1s could Agarwood potentially win?
There are two main ones: the Golden Rose ($67) and the Flight Stakes ($26). Another option would be the Manikato/Moir if they wanted to send her down to Melbourne and attack races with her on-speed pattern.
A very nice win to Agarwood at Warwick Farm! 💥@clarkyhk | @GaiWaterhouse1 | @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/FyBp2m8DAG
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 7, 2025
- Sepals (4yo gelding) – Cliff Brown
This lightly raced 4yo gelding is the definition of progressive. He rose from a 3yo maiden in mid-December 2024 to a Group 3 win in the CS Hayes in February before running 4th in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at the start of March – a phenomenal first preparation.
He has an abundance of upside to come this prep with another spell under his belt. He has been back to the trials now as a 4yo looking very sharp. He was down to run in the PB Lawrence before an issue at the gates. His ideal distance range looks that 1400m–1600m.
What Group 1s could Sepals potentially win?
I’m thinking along the lines of both the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes ($4.00) and the Toorak Handicap ($6.00), both between 1400m–1600m. Of the two, I’d be more inclined to back Sepals in the Sir Rupert Clarke on race day.
SEPALS DESTROYS THEM IN THE LAST ‼️
The punters roar as the last favourite bolts in at Caulfield! Another huge talent steps up to the plate to finish Memsie Stakes Day 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/lBgFh6DnDi
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 30, 2025
- Rise At Dawn (5yo horse) – Ben, Will & JD Hayes
His progression may be a touch slower than the horses mentioned above, but he keeps improving with each prep. Have I gone one spring too early? Maybe. But with the right set-up he looks a potential candidate to knock off the Group 1 status this season.
He rose to Group 1 level last prep with a 4th in the Doncaster Mile behind Stefi Magnetica and Royal Patronage, before a Brisbane winter campaign which saw him run 5th in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup over 1300m. With further progression now as a 5yo, he is right in the mix to break his Group 1 tag this spring.
What Group 1s could Rise At Dawn potentially win?
The Toorak Handicap ($21) or the C F Orr Stakes ($26) are the two I think he would have his best chance in.
$50 in-play! What a win for Rise at Dawn. pic.twitter.com/PkyKiO4CwC
— Betfair Australia (@Betfair_Aus) August 31, 2024
- Skyhook (3yo Colt) – Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
This colt made a sharp impression in the autumn when quickly rising from maiden 2yo grade straight to a dominant, eye-catching Group 2 Pago Pago win – before not quite handling the quick back-up in the Group 1 Golden Slipper when starting $7.50.
He returned for his second career preparation, winning the Listed Rosebud Stakes first-up off the back of one 900m trial and having to lug 60.5kg. The win was dominant and rated exceptionally well. Off that victory I can only see him coming on in leaps and bounds this prep.
What Group 1s could Skyhook potentially win?
His pedigree suggests the 1400m Golden Rose will be the target this prep ($11), with the option of backing up in the Coolmore Stakes ($26) at the back end of the spring.
Skyhook wins the Rosebud for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle! 👏@RARacing_ @KPMcEvoy pic.twitter.com/BBce98g2RO
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 16, 2025
- Spirit Of Wealth (4yo Mare) – Michael Freedman
I may be going off a preparation early, but with the hot form of our new season 4yos, I have to put this talented mare, Spirit Of Wealth, in the mix.
She won her first two career starts with ease (albeit being disqualified in her second race), before starting as a $3.40 favourite in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes over 1200m. She pulled up with an issue and has been off the scene for 46 weeks. She’s had 2 dynamic trials back this prep and looks like a mare who can rise quickly to G1 level.
What Group 1s could Spirit Of Wealth potentially win?
This is the hard part, there is no hiding at the Group 1 level, a handicap 1200-1600m race would be right up her alley. Maybe a Newmarket winner in 2026? A throw at the stumps would be the Golden Eagle for her this spring.
A very good win at Warwick Farm to Spirit Of Wealth who makes it two starts for two wins!@MFreedmanRacing | @TommyBerry21 pic.twitter.com/aAYt8iDo9v
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 25, 2024
Anna Roper – Jockey
Not only are horses looking to get their first Group 1 this Spring, there is a range of trainers, syndications and – somewhat forgotten – jockeys.
Anna Roper has burst onto the scene in Sydney metro racing over the past 12 months. She has always been touted as something special but has copped the wrath of injuries and falls. She has strung an outstanding past 12 months together, not just visually but backed up with some eye-catching stats.
Anna has had 317 rides over the past 365 days up to $10 in the market for a phenomenal 22.7% winning strike rate and +19% POT – stats that I’m sure every punter’s eyes would light up looking at. The cherry on top is her ability to still claim 2kg in the metros, as well as being able to ride right down in the weights.
Now the tricky part – what Group 1 races could Anna win?
With that very light weight my mind goes straight towards Group 1 handicaps – the Epsom, the Metropolitan and even potentially a Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup.
