2026 Lord Mayors Cup Day Tips & Preview (Rosehill) | Saturday 30 May

Nations League returned to action with a fine performance to fill the minors in maiden company at Warwick Farm before only just missing in the Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury most recently. He’s been kept up to the mark with a trial since then, and this looks a great opportunity for him to go one better.

Moon Sweeper has improved noticeably with each of four runs back and was only just denied in BM70 company at Eagle Farm two back before going down a head at Scone on Dark Jewel Day. In peak order this week and slightly back in trip, I think he’ll get his chance.

Having only been denied by Tides Turning and Gorgeous in Class 1 company when resuming last month, All The Way Mae kicked away to record a dominant win at the same grade at her only other start this time. She’s been charged with carrying just 52.5kg in this contest and has options in the run from the rails draw.

Shangri La Impact has won two of three runs back this time, bouncing back from a near miss with a sharp effort to salute in BM72 company on the Kensington course at Randwick. She’s hard fit this week, another recent trial performance adds further confidence, and her heavy track form is excellent.

I Am Carrot was a strong and consistent performer last time in, and he returned to action with a sharp effort to get up over 1300m at the midweeks earlier this month. He’s yet to miss placing at this point of his preparation and I’m only expecting big improvement with fitness and getting further out in trip here.

Mawjood stripped fitter with a couple of fair performances first and second up this time, while he has been tough to fill the minors at each of his last two, highlighted by a strong effort behind an impressive Invader Zim at Randwick last week. I like that he’s on the quick back up, and a repeat of that performance in this race would see him difficult to beat.

Big Papa hasn’t been seen at the races since January, but he’s turned in several fine performances in just four appearances, winning twice; both times at this point of his preparation, while he wasn’t disgraced in featured company up in Brisbane last time out. He’s had the benefit of a couple of nice trials ahead of this suitable campaign launchpad.

This is arguably the most open race on the program, and I am going to have two small each way bets on Gary Portelli’s pair, Thames and Mother Goose. Thames returned from a freshen up with a fine performance to strike in BM72 company at Randwick-Kensington last time and is open to good improvement. She’s drawn wide and will need luck, but she should get conditions to suit, and we’ll be watching for her late. Mother Goose hasn’t been seen at the races since January, but she was a model of consistency last time in, winning in BM72 company at Canterbury before striking again here at Rosehill most notably. She’s trialled up nicely and both horses look a touch of overs for mine at double-figure quotes.

He’s yet to place in two runs back this time, but we know how good Zambardo is at his best, and that second placing behind Via Sistina on a heavy track at Flemington in November is hard to unsee. Getting out to 2000m and on a heavy deck this week are the keys, he’s drawn nice and low and placed perfectly here, in my opinion.

Hay Street hasn’t missed placing in five runs back this time, winning races here and at Randwick-Kensington most notably, while he was only just denied a head again at Scone a fortnight ago. In peak order, he need only hold that condition to be in the finish again.