Host Matt Stewart is joined by racing experts Adam McGrath & Chris Roots to talk all things Horse Racing this Spring Carnival, from the hottest talking points to their Best Bets and expert tips for every Feature Race. Tune in every week to get your weekly dose of ‘Bolting In’.
Matty Stewart is back alongside Adam McGrath and Chris Roots for another huge edition of Bolting In, with two of the biggest meetings of the spring taking centre stage on Saturday. Epsom Handicap Day at Randwick and Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington bring together some of the country’s leading milers and middle-distance horses, with plenty on the line as the carnival begins to hit top gear.
The boys dive into the Group 1 Epsom Handicap, where Autumn Boy and unbeaten Kiwi mare Well Written head an extremely competitive field. Autumn Boy comes off an excellent second behind Sheza Alibi in the Makybe Diva Stakes and draws barrier one with James McDonald aboard, while Well Written arrives in winning form and gets barrier three. Ceolwulf carries the 59kg top weight, with Attica, Tom Kitten and Lady Shenandoah among the other major names in a deep Randwick mile.
Attention also turns to the Group 1 Flight Stakes, where seven three-year-old fillies step out over the Randwick mile. Bangkok Hottie comes in chasing a third straight stakes victory after winning the Tea Rose, while Striking Alibi and Global Goal both come through that same race after finishing second and third. The boys also assess Queen’s Gamble and De Armas as they look to cause an upset in the key three-year-old race on Epsom Day.
Down at Flemington, the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes shapes as a major spring test over 2000 metres. Defending champion Sir Delius returns second-up after finishing fourth in the Makybe Diva Stakes, while Aeliana steps up in trip after running second to Autumn Glow at Randwick. Cosmic Crusader arrives off his Underwood Stakes second, with Zahrann coming through a Naturalism Stakes win and Buckaroo, Half Yours and Middle Earth adding further depth to a strong field.
Beyond the two Group 1 features, the boys work through the key races across Randwick and Flemington, including the supporting features and the Bart Cummings, where the winner earns a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup.
To finish the show, the boys lock in their Best Bets and value selections across both meetings. If you’re having a bet on Epsom Handicap Day or Turnbull Stakes Day, Bolting In has everything you need for a massive Saturday of spring racing.