The Last Say: Tips, inside mail for racing on Saturday, November 22, 2025

The Railway Stakes (1600m), which jumps at Ascot at 7.58pm AEDT, has attracted a capacity field of 16 runners plus four emergencies.

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The race features a splash of east coast talent through the likes of Bjorn Baker’s Iowna Merc ($16) and the Chris Waller-trained Osipenko ($8), but it’s the Grant and Alana Williams-trained local Western Empire who tops the betting at $6.

Each-way punters could do worse than have a flutter on the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Depth Of Character ($12), who ran a bottler when fourth in the $10 million Golden Eagle, beaten only 2.3-lengths by unbeaten superstar Autumn Glow. If jockey Reece Jones can produce the ride of his life from the outside barrier, he has a horse who can be right in the finish with just 53.5kg on his back.

At Kembla Grange, Group 1 winner and Big Dance champ Gringotts is a $1.95 favourite to defend his $1 million Group 3 The Gong (1600m) title. There’s also a terrific support program which includes the $300,000 Group 3 The Warra (1000m), which features another short-priced favourite in the Peter Snowden-trained Zealously ($2).

We’ve also got a capacity field for the Listed $500,000 Cranbourne Cup (1600m), for which the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained gelding Sabaj is a $3.20 favourite despite drawing wide.

In Queensland, it’s the Sunshine Coast’s turn to take centre stage, with Walsh Bay ($3.70) Victory Win ($4.60) and Keitel ($5) battling it out for favouritism in the $160,000 Mooloolaba Cup (1600m).

• Laurie’s Longshots: $23 tip in The Meteorite at Cranbourne

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ASCOT TIPS – CHRIS VERNUCCIO

KING OF LIGHT (Race 8 No.1)

Exciting Perth three-year-old who has remained unbeaten this prep with two blistering finishes over 1200m and 1400m. Stepping up to 1600m for the first time shouldn’t be an issue – he will get the perfect run from barrier four and will be hard to hold out again.

SMOOTH CHINO (Race 10 No.2)

Smooth Chino resumed with a dominant win and looks well placed in another 66+ 1200m handicap to stretch his unbeaten streak to five. The second horse from his first-up win, Jaz Session, won stylishly last week. He’ll need a gap to open up from barrier one but he has the fitness and map edge over his main rival Schmoov Moova.

• Aaron Mills’ best bets for Railway Stakes day at Ascot plus Heath Pope’s Morphettville tips

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KEMBLA GRANGE TIPS – JETT HATTON

HURSTVILLE ZAGREB (Race 5 No.1)

Thought there was plenty of merit in the run in defeat last start. Drew out and was forced to work early, eventually working across to sit outside the lead. Ran out of puff late but kept trying.

AMOR VICTORIOUS (Race 8 No.14)

Was out of his depth last time out in the Russell Balding Stakes but didn’t disgrace himself. Looks like he’ll lead this from barrier one and he’ll come on significantly from that fresh run.

• James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Kembla Grange on Saturday

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CRANBOURNE TIPS – CHRIS VERNUCCIO

GUMDROPS (Race 4 No.5)

Comes back in grade after racing in Group 3 company. She finished a close second behind She’s Bulletproof in the Northwood Plume at Caulfield, and was an unlucky fourth at Flemington last time out. She is unplaced in two starts at 1400m but can change that here.

SABAJ (15) (Race 8 No.15)

Will be conceding a big start again but he has an explosive finish and class to finish over the top of his rivals. He handled the heavy track last start for a big win at Flemington over 1600m, and you could argue the 1¾-length margin would have been greater on a firm surface.

• Gilbert Gardiner’s best bets, race-by-race tips for Cranbourne on Saturday

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SUNSHINE COAST TIPS – GRAEME CAREY

VICTORY WIN (Race 7 No.7)

Has won his past two at Doomben over this trip and is unbeaten in three previous Sunshine Coast outings, one at this journey. The gate tests but with only 54.5kg he is well-placed and Ben Thompson knows what to do.

FORGOTTEN SPIRIT (Race 9 No.5)

Has come back in good order and despite doing things wrong and having subsequent heat stress was impressive winning last start.

• Graeme Carey’s race-by-race tips, quaddie picks for Sunshine Coast on Saturday

Originally published as The Last Say: Tips, inside mail for racing on Saturday, November 22, 2025