Check out our take on the racing action around the traps on Saturday, October 4, highlighted by the four Group Ones across Flemington and Randwick.
Star Performer
Autumn Glow (Epsom Handicap)
In our time, there won’t be too many horses that win their first seven starts with one of those being a major Group 1 – in this case, the Epsom Handicap. That’s what Autumn Glow did. There’s plenty of hype around these four-year-olds but she might just be the best of them and the scary part is, we are yet to see the best of her. Jumped handily and settled outside the lead in a race where they didn’t go super fast and from there, they were never going to catch her. As she normally does, she hit a flat spot at the 500m but when she started to let down, it was all over. A proper horse that could honestly win anything. It just depends on where her trainer and connections decide to go.
SHE WAS BORN A WINNER 🌟
Autumn Glow remains unbeaten with a gutsy win in the Epsom! Seven on the trot and now a Group 1 winner, the world is at her feet 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/xAx8VX1yCU
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 4, 2025 
Front Bar Fodder
RANDWICK
Briasa reigns supreme in Everest hit out
They went along at a red-hot gallop in the Premiere and set it up for the likes of Briasa and Jimmysstar. The grey sat just behind Mazu and Private Harry and had plenty in the tank when they swung for home. Called upon at the 250m mark and as a TJ winner does, he let down with the turn of foot of a proper G1 sprinter and put a margin on them. It was a margin Jimmysstar couldn’t bridge but the runner-up was set a task and certainly lost no admirers.
BRIASA 💛🤍
A brilliant win in the Premiere as Briasa continues his climb up the mountain! Can he knock off Ka Ying Rising in two weeks time? pic.twitter.com/12Tq5XA1Hh
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 4, 2025
Apocalyptic continues winning run in Flight Stakes
She could be anything. Continued the winning run with another dominant performance in the Flight Stakes and it was a pearler from Tommy Berry to get her home. She jumped just fair and with Reflect pushing forward on the outside, he took his time and was able to land just behind the leader. Travelled up deluxe in the straight and Berry had a big look over the shoulder to get her in the centre of the track and from there, nothing was running her down.
APOCALYPTIC 💥
How about the look around the shoulder by Berry at the 350?! The Flight Stakes was never in doubt with this star filly ⭐ pic.twitter.com/XdmM57B9oI
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 4, 2025
Favourite wins the Gimcrack ahead of field outsider
Race favourite Shiki looked in trouble at multiple stages down the straight in the Gimcrack Stakes and plenty of punters wouldn’t of been sure if she got the bob when field outsider Screen Icon came with a surging run late. It looked as though that horse actually had its head in front right at the 5m mark before Shiki bobbed back and got it. Masvingo will no doubt have plenty of fans out of the race. She was well back and held up at the top of the straight but sprouted wings over the final furlong to run third.
Million dollar colt wins the Breeders’ for Freedman
Michael Freedman has the early Golden Slipper favourite with Incognito taking out the Breeders’ Plate. A million dollar purchase, Incognito looked the part in the yard and it translated to the track. Tommy Berry had the Stay Inside colt in a position a little worse than midfield and with plenty of room to work with in the straight, he wooshed home and was able to jag the victory. I’m Ya Huckleberry was game for second but just didn’t have enough to hold off Incognito.
FLEMINGTON
Punters floored by Bart Cummings
Most quaddie tickets went straight in the bin as $61 chance Valiant King zoomed home to win the G3 Bart Cummings (2520m) by a space. It was the Waller import’s first win in Australia and his first since breaking his maiden at Navan in May 2023. More on the beaten brigade, particularly the heavily-backed favourite Gilded Water, below …
VALIANT KING 😱
Well that was something! Valiant King is into another Melbourne Cup, running down the King’s horse Gilded Water who set up a massive lead in the run! pic.twitter.com/sgxtI9tztY
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 4, 2025
Sir Delius roars into Cox Plate favouritism
Sir Delius is the new Cox Plate favourite with Ladbrokes (it’s still Via Sistina with TAB and Sportsbet) following a brilliant win in the G1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m). The Cox Plate/Melbourne Cup double is a genuine possibility for the Waterhouse & Bott-trained import who had no problem overcoming barrier 14. Antino was brave running 2nd after covering additional ground, while Via Sistina’s performance certainly divided opinion. She looked a little plain on face value but once again, it wasn’t her grand final and everything is geared towards the Cox Plate. Half Yours was excellent from a Caulfield Cup perspective, while Aeliana hit a real flat spot before rallying late to be strong through the line.
TAKE NOTE, THE REAL DEAL. SIR DELIUS ⭐
An outstanding win against an outstanding field! The Melbourne Cup favourite wins the Turnbull, and he might be Cox Plate favourite before too long 💛🏆 pic.twitter.com/A3BjvEBEUR
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 4, 2025 
Punters Pearler
Adam Hyeronimus on Attica (Randwick R4)
It was a perfect ride from Hippo on Attica in the Dulcify. There was plenty of early pressure and he took his mount to the tail of the field and just switched him off. It was at the business end when Hippo displayed his craft. One of the dangers, Federalist, was travelling and was just inside Attica. He kept that galloper in a pocket and as a result, was able to steer Attica into a spot with plenty of room and it was all over from there.
Lucky Hippo didn’t give up on it, because most punters likely did. Just kept coming and likely strong improvement to come. Very solid betting move landed! #Attica
— John Walter (@J_Walter23) September 3, 2025 
Saturday Slaughter
Jamie Melham on Gilded Water (Flemington R7)
Gilded Water opened up a huge margin on his rivals in the Bart Cummings but sadly for his many backers (he jumped as a $2.20 favourite), he’s no Pride Of Jenni (few are). The Maher import was brave in defeat but the run/ride gassed him and he was a spent force passing the 100m mark. Melham was questioned by stewards over the ride and explained that her mount bolted on her and she couldn’t settle him down. Revving him up from the wide gate clearly backfired and obviously getting a horse to settle is a key trait for any city rider, so she has to take some responsibility for the result.
Doubt the rider gets an OAM nomination but the Saturday slaughter looks in play.
— Glenn Ingram (@theeaglebald) October 4, 2025 
Best Win
FLEMINGTON
Sir Delius (Flemington R8)
He beat genuine A-graders with a leg in the air. Not much more needs to be said.
RANDWICK
Apocalyptic (Flight Stakes)
We have given Autumn Glow star performer honours but Apocalyptic was the best win at Randwick on Epsom day. It was dominant and she’s probably the best three-year-old in the country. Like Autumn Glow, we’re a long way from seeing the best of her and that is scary.
How good Apocalyptic!! At her destructive best.
— Fatz (@fatzgorrie) October 4, 2025
DOOMBEN
So You Are (Doomben R1)
He hadn’t won in seven starts, including some real narrow misses (0.07L, 0.03L) but put any of those concerns to bed with a 2.67L margin as the $1.95F in the 2200m BM78. Very well-rated ride by Cejay Graham out in front, started to click him up from the 600m, sparing use of the whip as the 4YO son of So You Think kept his Melbourne Cup hopes alive. And the decision from trainer Stirling Osland and owner/breeder Stuart Ramsey, whose colours have been donned by many notable horses over the years, to stay in Brisbane and not contest the Bart Cummings at Flemington has been vindicated thus far. They can tick a big box and pass a ballot clause of the Melbourne Cup in next Saturday’s Queensland Cup (2400m).
Doomben 4/10/2025
Change of tactics – Race 1 #6 SO YOU ARE – to be ridden further forward if circumstances permit.
— QRIC Stewards THB (@QRICStewardsTHB) October 4, 2025 
Crystal Ball
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS BLACKBOOKERS
Hold On Honey (Doomben)
Started around $23 here and was bang up on a scorching speed, but was not flattened by the hot early sectionals, still sticking fat to be right in the finish. Very meritorious performance.
Enxuto (Flemington R10)
He did enough first-up over 1200m but relished the rise to 1400m here and was a bit stiff not to finish closer. This was a pretty hot race and he looked a touch outclassed on paper but there is a decent win in him this spring based on this second-up performance.
Saints
Attica (Randwick R4)
Had this won a long way out. Settled at the rear of the field before Hippo swung wide at the top of the straight and from there, he knuckled down with an electric turn of foot. Loved every bit of the mile and he will likely improve over further in races like the Gloaming Stakes.
Perfumist (Randwick R6)
She’s deep into her preparation and they utilised her fitness. Sent straight to the front and she kept kicking when called upon. Race favourite Idle Flyer just ran out of time.
Eurocanto (Flemington R2)
The Hayes colt ended up in an awkward spot back on the fence from barrier three but was always travelling nicely in the run and sprinted quickly once Zahra got him to the outside and into the clear.
Options (Flemington R3)
Options deserved this one after finding all sorts of trouble last start, none of which was his own doing. The blinkers came off and he was ridden cold from the wide gate but the McEvoy colt was strong when it counted, outgunning Miewa over the concluding stages. The Derby now looms large for the son of Impending.
Getta Good Feeling (Flemington R4)
She was a sinner for most punters given she knocked off the $4.20 favourite, Just A Journey, but you have to give credit where it’s due. The O’Brien-trained filly, a maiden before today’s Group 2 success, would have been a good thing beaten after being badly held-up in the straight. Thankfully for her connections, Egan eventually drove her through a gap and she was good enough to run down the leader who really enjoyed a picnic out in front.
Miraval Rose (Flemington R5)
The Begg stable made it an early double when Miraval Rose ($4.80) ran her Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m) rivals ragged from the front. The mare, who is well and truly back to her best, never really looked like being run down as race favourite On Display ($2.35F) straightened for home a mile off the leader.
McGaw (Flemington R6)
He’s been a sinner this prep, doing things wrong in his races that have stunted his finishes. Today, Lane let him run freely down the stand-side and while he wasn’t exactly the ultimate professional, the Browne-trained gelding fought bravely to keep gun filly My Gladiola at bay. It was a race that tossed up more questions than answers.
War Machine (Flemington R9)
He should get an Everest slot this horse. He could have easily won his last five starts and is just improving with every start. The wide gate helped and he had the right run in transit – following straight-course specialist Star Patrol – but it was still a big effort to sprint as quickly as he did with 60kg.
Chris and Corey Munce (Doomben)
Nailed a treble with the wins of Freeland ($10), Heman ($5.50) & Navyonthehighway ($4.60), the former overcoming a wide draw to win over 1350m.
Daniel Moor (Doomben)
Ticking along a treat in Qld is the Victorian hoop. Kickuphigh ($18) and Cosmo Centaurus ($3.60) made for a fruitful day, and a few minor placings too, including on Rock Hard Love ($31).
Daniel Moor has just pulled their pants down again at Doomben on Kickuphigh. Hes going good up there
— Tiger_Seth (@TigerSeth2) October 4, 2025
Rhuvaal (Doomben R5)
Excellent quotes post-race from trainer John Dann, who was less than enthused with the ride of Cobi Vitler despite the victory! “We’ve had some wild rides” among his words offered.
Facundo (Doomben R7)
Motored down the hotpot Synergy In Motion ($2.05), who was nabbed out of the placings in the end after leading and tiring late.
Sinners
Eviction Notice (Randwick R2)
There was quite a bit of hype surround this debutant out of the Waterhouse/Bott yard but he quickly folded under pressure when called upon in the straight.
She’s An Artist (Flemington R1)
She wasn’t beaten far – just 0.5L – but it was another defeat at short odds for this Maher-trained mare. Since her scintillating win at Flemington back in June, She’s An Artist has been rolled at $1.30, $1.90 and $2.60 in three runs since.
Rosberg (Flemington R6)
He goes in the Sinners, but with an asterisk. The performance was deadset awful but a post-race vet examination told the story, with the boom colt pulling up shin sore and lame in the left fore. Coolmore plans have now been shelved.
Flemington quaddie dividend
$6k seems a seriously skinny dividend for a quaddie that started with a $61 winner in a race where two horses dominated betting. Sir Delius was fancied but certainly not favourite, while War Machine and Media World but jumped favourite in their respected races but around the $3 mark. You wouldn’t be complaining if you landed it, but still.
Boom Shot (Doomben R4)
Boom ‘didn’t fire a’ Shot. Went back and stayed there. He was the $3.90 second-elect despite some lukewarm form, and he’s now won just two of his 19 starts.
Profoundly (Doomben R5)
Just should’ve won really. Jace McMurray couldn’t get clear air on him until it was too late, as Kickuphigh careered down the outside under Moor. The pair jumped from neighbouring barriers, but had vastly different fortunes.
The Winners