Coongy Handicap Day takes place at Caulfield on Wednesday, bringing another midweek highlight to the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The middle-distance staying contest offers ballot exemption into Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, and a field of 12 is set to chase the prize. Among the leading contenders are favourite Darkbonee and Ziryab, fresh from a win at Mornington.
The Listed Debutant Stakes kicks off the card, with the two-year-olds racing over 1000m. The rail will be positioned 13m out around the track.
Want a closer look at the main chances on 2026 Coongy Handicap Day? Read on for our selections for Wednesday’s Caulfield meeting.
ROYAL PRESS (2) made it look easy winning a recent trial here on the Heath track by two lengths.
Jye McNeil found the box seat and made his presence felt at the top of the straight, pressing the button early to race clear for a dominant win.
The inside barrier will likely see the pair settle close to the speed and with a good turn of foot, this son to Alabama Express looks ready to run a big race on debut.
| 2. Royal Press (1) J: Jye Mcneil 58kg T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy | |||
| Colt by Alabama Express on debut. Won a Caulfield Heath trial over 800m on October 1. Looks smart, go close. | |||
HIEARARCHY (2) was impressive when shedding the maiden tag by 1.5 lengths at Cranbourne last start over 1400m.
The Godolphin colt was third the fence and held up briefly in a pocket at the top of the straight, eventually angling through a gap to burst clear and really charge the line hard.
He looked to have another gear left to go over the final 50m, so the rise to the mile looks ideal now with Ethan Brown sticking.
With the third place-getter of his recent start going on to win at Seymour on Sunday, the form also stacks up nicely.
| 2. Hierarchy (4) J: Ethan Brown 59kg 31 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | |||
| Raced twice to date. When well in the market at debut, 3rd of 10 in a Mdn-Sw at Mornington on September 4 over 1200m, on a slow track; 2.5 len behind Mykindakandy carrying 57kg at $2.90. Second-up favourite; came from midfield and won by 1.5 len in a Mdn-Sw at Cranbourne on September 25 over 1400m defeating Sneaky Russian carrying 57kg at $2.45. Very progressive and looks capable of measuring up. | |||
STEALTH OF NIGHT (5) can roll forward early and contest the speed.
The mare to Night Of Thunder was run down two back here over the track and distance by Pugila, before heading to Randwick a few weeks later where she overraced but still finished off okay to just miss out on a place.
Third-up now, the blinkers come off and the winkers go on, while she also gets in nicely at the weights thanks to Dakotah Keane’s 3kg claim.
| 5. Stealth Of Night (4) J: Dakotah Keane 59kg 3×824 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Form hard to fault. Last start tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 11 in a Bm78 at Randwick on September 19 over 1400m, 3 len behind Night Agent with 58.5kg at $19. The race before that set the pace for much of the race 2nd of 12 in a F&M Bm78 at this track on August 29 over 1400m, slow going 0.5 len behind Puglia with 58.5kg at $4.80. Sets up well and can figure. | |||
BEACH PAD (3) is worth a look each-way.
Stephen Jackson’s gelding ran a nice race in the Listed Ansett Classic at Mornington a few weeks ago, landing up on the speed before being shuffled back to sixth approaching the home turn.
Declan Bates was forced to angle wide to find some clear running room, and once he did the pair charged home strongly for an eye-catching third.
The pair combine again here from a much softer gate and if they can settle closer to the speed this time when it counts, they’ll be very hard to hold out.
| 3. Beach Pad (4) J: Declan Bates 58kg 33943 T: Shane Jackson | |||
| Racing well recently. At the latest run 3rd of 11 in the LR RM Ansett Classic at Mornington on September 26 over 2400m, slow going 0.8 len behind Hurry Curry carrying 54kg at $7.50. The start before that 4th of 11 in the G3 Archer Stakes at Flemington on September 12 over 2500m, 4 len behind Shockletz carrying 54kg at $101. Should be thereabouts again. | |||
BUCCLEUCH (2) looks much better suited coming back a level after finishing 2.6 lengths off in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes.
He’s yet to run a place in two runs here at Caulfield, but you only have to go back and watch his back to back wins at Sandown to open his prep to get a good feel for what he’s all about.
Deep into his prep now and fitter, he maps to get back around midfield from a soft gate and really save his best for the finish this time.
| 2. Buccleuch (4) J: Billy Egan 61kg 6×117 T: Patrick Payne | |||
| At the latest run 7th of 9 in the LR Testa Rossa Stakes at this track on September 27 over 1440m, 2.5 len behind Regal Zeus with 57kg at $2.30. The run before that favourite; came from midfield and won by 1.75 len in a Bm78 at Sandown-Hillside on September 9 over 1400m in soft going defeating Prestige Forever with 61kg at $1.50. Way back in grade now and looks nicely placed. | |||
POLITELY DUN (6) has the inside draw and Blake Shinn working in his favour.
The five-year-old son to Dundeel won here over 1800m three back by a length, and was recently stiff to miss out on the money at Mornington when he wound up from near last to run fourth, finishing within two lengths of the winner Ziryab.
Deep into his prep, he’ll benefit from a more positive ride under Shinn in a race that sees a few of the top chances drawn awkwardly.
| 6. Politely Dun (1) J: Blake Shinn 59kg x4164 T: Danny O’brien | |||
| Last start 4th of 13 in a Bm84 at Mornington on September 26 over 2000m, on a slow track; 1.75 len behind Ziryab carrying 56kg at $14. Before that 6th of 13 in a Bm74 at this track on September 19 over 1800m, 4.5 len behind Emperor Tzu carrying 61kg at $14. Going okay but always needs luck. | |||
ZIRYAB (8) has found winning form and rates a big chance in this year’s Group 3 Coongy Handicap.
Ciaron Maher’s seven-year-old was a smart winner over the same trip at Mornington a few weeks prior, stoking up along the outside of Mr O’Reilly to win by a length after settling in behind the speed.
He’s got the wide gate to contend with here but has enough early speed to shuffle across early and settle close to the front.
Having run some nice races here at Caulfield, he looks to have big upside and plenty left in the tank to win a race like this.
| 8. Ziryab (10) J: Jabez Johnstone 54.5kg 0x521 T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Form hard to fault. Last start tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 1.3 len in a Bm84 at Mornington on September 26 over 2000m on a rain affected track defeating Mr O’reilly carrying 59kg at $7.50. The race before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 2nd of 15 in a Hcp at Flemington on September 12 over 1700m, 2 len behind St Lawrence carrying 54kg at $8. Drops in weight and looks a key hope. | |||
The lightly-raced SWIFT FORCE (8) figures to garner plenty of attention on return as the favourite.
The mare to Magnus bolted in to win at Launceston over 1200m in late February, then resuming off a spell for her first look at Melbourne where she put away a good field over the track and distance by more than two lengths.
She overraced badly in her next start on a very wet day out over 1200m, but looks to have returned a treat based on her recent trial win.
The experienced Craig Newitt in the saddle strengthens her claims and she should be very hard to catch with fresh legs.
| 8. Swift Force (8) J: Craig Newitt 58kg 1x14x T: John Keys | |||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation fourth of 9 at this track F&M Bm78 May 30 over 1200m, on heavy track; 1.4 len behind Flyer carrying 56.5kg at $1.50. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by 2.25 len this track F&M Bm78 May 9 over 1100m slow track defeating Actuality carrying 56.5kg at $4.60. Looks forward enough after a recent trial win. Speedy mare who will be very hard to run down. | |||
