The Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes runs this Saturday at Caulfield, and we have our best Bletchingly Stakes tips, predictions and best bets.
It’s the final group race of the season, and for everything you need to know about the race, check out our Bletchingly Stakes betting guide.
Our Bletchingly Stakes predictions and best bets include three runners that should give Betcha punters a sight on Saturday afternoon.
Early money has come for Winnasedge, who took out the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield last start. That’s always a good guide for this race, and the 4YO gelding loves racing at Caulfield.
He owns four wins and a second placing from five attempts at the track, making him a course specialist, and he’s forward enough to win at this level. His most recent win came at Group 3 level, and although he faces a Group 1 winner in Cosmic Crusader, he has the benefit of race experience this campaign.
The son of Cliff’s Edge opened on the third line of betting at $4.50, but those odds didn’t last long at Betcha. Punters climbed in early, and he could keep firming throughout the week.
We recommend having a bet on Winnasedge, who should get every chance to make it three consecutive wins on Saturday.
| 7. Winnasedge (5) J: Luke Currie 58.5kg x6311 T: Nick Ryan |
It’s near-on impossible to leave Cosmic Crusader out of Bletchingly Stakes tips. The Perth-based gelding won a Group 1 just two starts ago when taking out the Northerly Stakes at Ascot, which is a tremendous form guide for this race.
The obvious worry is running fresh up having contested an 1800m race last start. However, he is a three-time winner fresh, and he owns two wins from three starts over 1200m. That indicates sprinting first-up won’t be an issue, and he’s drawn to get all favours from the inside.
Late betting moves at Betcha could be telling for Cosmic Crusader, but based on his record and his ability, we can’t see him finishing out of the first three home.
| 1. Cosmic Crusader (1) J: Daniel Stackhouse 58.5kg 3112x T: Andrea Leek |
Recommendation is a former winner of the Bletchingly Stakes, and he could rediscover his best form on Saturday. He won the race in 2024 when he was stringing wins together, but he has been close at times this season, including a placing at Flemington behind De Bergerac in June.
He finished sixth behind Winnasedge last start in the John Monash, but he was only a length behind the winner. There wasn’t much covering the entire field, so his run was better than it looked.
Being a past winner of this race and a three-time winner at Caulfield bodes well. We would love to see him ridden more positively, where he has had a lot of success, and that could result in an upset win at double-figure odds.
| 2. Recommendation (9) J: Thomas Stockdale 58.5kg 36426 T: Ciaron Maher |
All three of our runners are included in our Bletchingly Stakes SRM, which pays $8.50 at Betcha.
We have Winnasedge Top 2, Cosmic Crusader Top 3, and Recommendation Top 4, in what should be another tight affair at Caulfield.
The odds are boosted by Recommendation, who has finished in the first three home in 20 of his 35 starts, which doesn’t include running fourth. That’s a value bet to include in same-race multis to boost payouts.
Winnasedge and Cosmic Crusader could quinella the race. The danger is Miraval Rose, but Winnasedge should run first or second, and current favourite Cosmic Crusader is a strong top-three chance.