The feature race at Caulfield this Saturday is the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m), where the market says it will be an open contest.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for 2026 Sir John Monash Stakes.
2026 Sir John Monash Stakes Runner Preview:
1. Recommendation: Recommendation is generally hard to beat in these Winter Sprint races and commands respect after a good effort down the Flemington straight three weeks ago, trying hard from off speed but just missed behind De Bergerac. Good racing style, can settle on speed, hard to beat.
2. Bustling: I think he’ll be much better back in Melbourne vs Sydney…but the end of a hard 1100m, I think, is going to really test him.
3. Klabel: Tough nut for Team Jolly that resumes and will park off this hot speed. Just a matter of whether he can keep up and whether he’s fit enough.
4. Beast Mode: He’ll go out hard but I suspect will finish just as quickly and hard. He’ll look the winner but I dare say will very much get the staggers.
5. Title Fighter: Looks well and truly tested.
6. Watchme Win: Race shape looks ideal for him and has residual fitness. He’ll park off this hot tempo and be one of the strongest late.
7. Sir Now: Sir Now…boy he’s a beauty. He was incredible in defeat two weeks back at Morphettville Parks, doing work to land on speed and with 63kg, he tried his absolute guts out but just missed. Gets good weight relief, hard fit, lands on speed and is tough. He’s a great gamble each way.
8. Winnasedge: Impressive win here two weeks ago but I just question whether he’s up to WFA.
9. Bellatrix Star: Bellatrix Star…is she back? Time will tell, but off her jumpouts, I think she’s going really well. Moved well to win a Cranbourne jumpout last week and with her absolute best, she would do a number on these, so I say watch betting.
10. Miraval Rose: Three pieces of work under the belt so there is clear intent here and the stable is flying. Watch the market.
11. Bazaball Rewarded: Flying but she’s 1000m only IMO.
2026 Sir John Monash Stakes $100 Betting Strategy:
$20 Win/$80 Place Sir Now
2026 Sir John Monash Stakes Speed Map
They are going to go flat out hard here. Host of speed runners, the main one seemingly being Beast Mode. He’ll cop pressure inside and out, with Sir Now, Bazaball Rewarded and Recommendation will all look to push up and hold a forward spot.
Sir John Monash Stakes Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RECOMMENDATION | Ciaron Maher | Thomas Stockdale | 11 | 58.5kg |
| 2 | BUSTLING | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Logan Bates (a) | 5 | 58.5kg |
| 3 | KLABEL (NZ) | Richard & Chantelle Jolly | Zac Spain | 1 | 58.5kg |
| 4 | BEAST MODE | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Damien Thornton | 7 | 58.5kg |
| 5 | TITLE FIGHTER | Clayton Douglas | Luke Cartwright (a) | 2 | 58.5kg |
| 6 | WATCHME WIN | Andrew Gluyas | Lachlan Neindorf | 6 | 58.5kg |
| 7 | SIR NOW | Darryl Hewitt | Connor Murtagh | 3 | 58.5kg |
| 8 | WINNASEDGE | Nick Ryan | Luke Currie | 9 | 58.5kg |
| 9 | BELLATRIX STAR | Mark Walker | Craig Williams | 10 | 56.5kg |
| 10 | MIRAVAL ROSE | Grahame Begg | Harry Coffey | 8 | 56.5kg |
| 11 | BAZABALL REWARDED | Kelvin Southey | Jamie Mott | 4 | 56.5kg |
