Racing and Sports Menangle Mail - July 25

24 July 2026

 

Last-start Group 1 placegetter Lux Aeterna (pictured) will have to overcome an outside draw if she is to win another Menangle feature in the Stylish Memphis Stakes on Saturday night.


Race-by-race preview of Menangle, Saturday July 25

Race 1: THE CORDINA GROUP PACE

The winning run of NO NOTTHEBUTTONS (1) came to an end last week but there was still plenty of merit in his effort to lead from wider and fight well to go under narrowly. Won his lone try at this longer distance and has the speed to take advantage of the ace draw. JORGE STREET (4) has been racing well against stronger company and put the writing on the wall when beaten 3m into second in the Vic Frost at Listed level here last start. Goes well at this longer distance and looks suited in this line-up. BETTER ECLIPSE (3) has been solid from wide barriers of late so will enjoy the lower draw. RAVISHING SLOY (5) is hard to knock having come from wider to win his last two outings here. Go well again along with DESSIE GEE (6) who draws wider but deserves respect off the last-start win.

Race 2: BESTINBEDS.COM.AU PACE

VITE MONET (4) looks close to a win after a series of good efforts from wide barriers, beaten only 1.3m here on Tuesday. Owns a good record at this longer distance and a better draw could see him back in the winners' list. MIKE ROSS (2) has come from wider barriers at his last couple and hasn't been far away. Goes well at the longer trip and a low draw brings him into contention. DOM TORETTO (1) backs up from Tuesday where he came from much deeper to be beaten 5m. That continued a run of wide barriers and he did manage to place prior. Much better served by the inside draw. MICHAYWEY (6) draws wider and goes up in distance but is hard to knock having placed in four of his last five outings. KANENA PROVLIMA (8) will enjoy a class drop off the Inter Dominion series where he was fifth in the consolation last week.

Race 3: ULTRA AIR PACE

RIPP (10) is a reliable gelding who continues to race well having added to a string of top-four results when coming from a similar barrier to finish 4.5m behind race rival Glitter Aint Gold last week. Starts inside that rival tonight and that gives him the chance to turn the tables. GLITTER AINT GOLD (11) draws much wider than when he won the Vic Frost FFA last time out but that was his second Listed success in his last three outings here so is clearly in good form. If things go his way he could deliver again. SMOKEN ACE (9) draws wider than in his resuming fifth behind Glitter Aint Gold but owns a good second-up record so can progress. PICCADILLY PETE (3) looks an each way hope having clocked in fourth from this barrier last week after coming from wider to place in the Vic Frost. HUTA (7) draws better than last start and has claims off a win from a similar barrier to this here prior.

Race 4: GARRARDS HORSE AND HOUND PACE

The latest outing of LOU WILL (1) was a write off when he locked wheels, copped a flat tyre and raced wide. Was going well prior, missing narrowly in a Winter Gift heat here two back to follow a Newcastle win. Should get every chance from the inside draw. RIVERA LOU (3) could be close to a win having come from wide barriers to place in his last three outings here. The longer distance is some query but he is well served by a better barrier as is SNAP SHOT (4) who has performed well to finish fourth from wide barriers in her last two outings here. TITIAN RAIDER (7) missed narrowly after racing parked last week and came from this barrier to win here three back. IM ROCKIN IT (2) could be close to a win and should get his chance from a low draw.

Race 5: ULE HOOF OIL PACE

Victorian mare SWEET IDEAL (1) was far from disgraced in her Menangle debut last week when she started favourite but had to work from a wide barrier and finished midfield. Had strong Melton form prior and can show her best from the ace draw. BETTORLIGHTEM UP (2) continued his consistent form when beaten 1.8m into third at this circuit and distance last time out. Draws to be competitive again. PARTY CENTRAL (9) missed a place as a hot favourite last time but came from a similar barrier to win at this circuit and distance prior so is worth another chance. SAINT CRUSADER (4) draws better than last week and was racing well with a string of top-two results prior. MAGIC JOE (5) is worth including after placing from this barrier last week.

Race 6: CLUB MENANGLE STYLISH MEMPHIS STAKES (LISTED CLASSIC)

LUX AETERNA (8) returns to Sydney after a Group 1 second in Brisbane last week, finishing by 2.4m off glamour mare Eye Keep Smiling in the Golden Girl. Draws much wider but will enjoy the class drop and owns a strong strike rate at this circuit and distance. With even luck she is up to winning this. CAN BE A RUEBE (5) could be a big danger in her first outing since May. She won twice at this circuit and distance last campaign along with a third in the Sibelia Stakes and a fifth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile, beating Lux Aeterna home both times. Yet to miss the first-three when fresh and will be ready to go off a trial win. JILLIBY ILLUMINATE (4) couldn't match the boys last week but was runner-up in her four previous attempts against the mares at this venue and distance so is better placed. SWEET DREAMS (2) draws lower than last week and had won her other three outings in Australia. ULTIMATE DIVA (3) came from wider when runner-up here last week and draws to be competitive.

Race 7: BIOWORMA 2YO STAKES

TINY PRANCER (4) broke but still managed to finish second on debut before racing parked and digging deep to get home narrowly at this circuit and distance last week. Draws lower and has upside so could take the next step. BLISSFUL LOVER (3) was impressive when she led and drew away to cruise home on debut at Bathurst. Draws to push forward again and could measure up. LUCIENDO BIEN (1) has come from tougher barriers to place in his last two outings. Should get his chance from the ace draw. SOHO CRUZA (2) draws well and is open to improvement off a resuming placing from the back row. GORDONS GHOST (8) draws wide but deserves respect off back-to-back Newcastle wins.

Race 8: LLOWALONG FARMS 3YO STAKES

SOHO PIASTRI (1) had enough speed to lead from a wide barrier and win easily two back at this circuit and distance before a midfield finish in a stronger line-up last time. This suits better and he should get his chance from the ace draw. Stablemate SOHO WASHINGTON (4) returns to the city in fine form having put three wins together at Penrith. He looks up to a race like this so could extend the winning streak. PURE GRUNT (2) is back in winning form having led throughout at Newcastle last time. Can take advantage of a low draw and owns a good record at the mile. LEWIE KELLY (3) steps up in grade but is in fine form, putting two wins together at Newcastle. Led in both of those so can push forward from a favourable draw. LOCHINVAR MARCELLO (8) draws wide but his consistency is hard to knock having assembles a string of wins and placings.

Race 9: IRT TROTTERS MOBILE

CORMORAN STRIKE (1) has been good in two outings since crossing from NZ, coming from a very wide barrier to miss narrowly last month before racing parked and bowing on okay last time. Looks better off back to the mile and should get his chance from the inside draw. SPEEDY LOVER (8) has been tackling the topliners in Brisbane, beaten less than 6m when fifth in a G3 last week after going around in the Inter Dominion series prior. He'll enjoy the class drop. TITAN STRIDE (3) has won two of four starts here this time in, coming from wider barriers each time. Draws to play a role. MALIBUU (5) has been good in recording a win and a placing in her two starts here since a spell. Go well again. COURAGE STRIDE (7) has been quite consistent of late so is worth including.

BEST BETS:

Race 5 #1 Sweet Ideal – Much better drawn so should get her chance.

Race 9 #1 Cormoran Strike – The ace draw can see him deliver.