2026 Bletchingly Stakes Day Tips & Preview (Caulfield) | Saturday 25 July

She has won just one of her ten career starts so far, but Custom has rarely turned in a poor performance, and she overcame a slow start to only just at her first run back here last month. With natural improvement, this is a great opportunity for her to go one better.

We haven’t seen Milsons Point at the races since March, but he turned in some fine performances during his debut prep, winning his first career start at Pakenham before turning in some competitive efforts in stronger company. Having trialled up well, he will need some luck in the run from the wide alley but certainly has the class to win something like this.

Tennessee Bound has only made five appearances at the races since debuting but hasn’t put a hoof wrong, winning all five times and producing some dominant performances in the process. Having taken up the running at Sandown last time out, she can employ similar tacts from the rails draw this week under in-form apprentice Jabez Johnstone, who also claims.

Having recorded consecutive victories two and three runs back, including an impressive performance over 1200m here late last month, Afterberna was tough from a forward position at Flemington last time out, ultimately finishing fifth. In peak order this week, a return to a track with a bend should prove beneficial, and she is drawn to receive the run of the race this week under looming Melbourne Premiership winner, Craig Williams.

Jimmy The Bear has been a standout for Patrick Payne’s yard for several season now and added his to his CV with smart effort to get up at this track and trip second up in May. That increased his Caulfield 1600m record to 7:4-1-0, clearly underlining this as his pet trip and conditions. In peak order this week, drawn well and with some relief in the weights, he looks to be one of the better each way chances on the card, in my opinion.

Having been sent off a popular pick in the market here a fortnight ago, Decalogue was a little slowly away before ultimately finishing out of the placings, but his form prior to that was outstanding, and included three-consecutive victories. I thought his latest effort suggested the mile and a half would suit at this point of his preparation, and he’s another that gets more favourable conditions with Jabez Johnstone’s claim.

Having won the Blazer Stakes at Group 2 level most notably during her spring preparation last year, Miraval Rose sat midfield in the Sir John Monash Stakes here first up a fortnight ago, working home well and through the line to finish fourth. She’s a horse that tends to enjoy good second up improvement and the small rise in trip suits, and she’s drawn a peach in a low barrier.

Former Brit Aeolian turned in several strong performances abroad prior to landing in Australia this year, and she was fair without threatening over at mile at Sandown at her first run for Ciaron Maher. With natural improvement, she’s a horse that will be far better out to the 2000m, and she’s treated very well under handicap conditions.

Having won on debut in France last year before comfortably winning at Swan Hill at his Australian debut, Cruiserweight went to another level with what was the performance of the day here at Caulfield a fortnight ago. With further improvement and over the same trip, he’s my best bet on the program again.