Memsie Stakes Tips - Cosmic Crusader to measure up as the big guns step out at Caulfield
- Cosmic Crusader is the top pick for the 2026 Memsie Stakes due to fitness and track form.
- Buckaroo and Birdman offer strong value for place bets based on past performances.
- A strong, pressure-filled field promises one of the best Memsie Stakes in recent memory.
2026 Memsie Stakes Preview
- 2026 Memsie Stakes Preview
- 2026 Memsie Stakes Speed Map
- 2026 Memsie Stakes Best Bet: Cosmic Crusader
- 2026 Memsie Stakes Value Bet: Buckaroo
- 2026 Memsie Stakes Value Bet: Birdman
The first Victorian Group 1 of the season has produced one of the strongest Memsie Stakes fields in recent memory and the emerging Cosmic Crusader gets his opportunity to prove he belongs among the country's best weight-for-age horses.
Ten of the 12 runners are resuming, with Cosmic Crusader and Angel Capital the only two to have raced this campaign. That creates an intriguing clash between two race-fit contenders and a host of established Group 1 performers kicking off their spring campaigns.
Jimmysstar is one of the headline acts and looks ideally placed resuming at 1400m. The three-time Group 1 winner has an excellent record at Caulfield and Ciaron Maher deliberately bypassed the Stradbroke Handicap to give him a proper break ahead of the spring. Maher has been delighted with his two jumpouts and recent work and believes 1400m is arguably his best distance.
Defending champion Treasurethe Moment returns to the scene of her brilliant victory 12 months ago. The mare went on to finish third in the Cox Plate during an interrupted spring before returning in the autumn for a win and two Group 1 placings. She has been specifically aimed at another first-up tilt at the Memsie.
The evergreen Mr Brightside is back after missing the entire autumn and has an extraordinary record in this race, winning in 2023 before finishing runner-up in each of the past two editions. Lindsay Park reports that the extended break has allowed them to have the 10-time Group 1 winner more forward for his return than in previous campaigns.
Beiwacht brings another fascinating form line. The four-year-old has already won the Golden Rose and All Aged Stakes over 1400m and was originally set to resume in last week's Winx Stakes before a minor temperature forced his scratching. He has since galloped well and his blood profile returned to normal, clearing the way for a crack at the Memsie.
Stablemate Angel Capital has the benefit of race fitness after finishing third in the Missile Stakes over 1200m at Randwick. He was slow away and encountered trouble before working home strongly, and the rise to 1400m should be much more suitable. Chris Waller has also been pleased with how he has come through that first-up assignment.
Waller has further depth through Autumn Boy and Birdman. Autumn Boy returns as last season's Caulfield Guineas winner, while Birdman developed into a genuine weight-for-age performer last campaign and capped his preparation by winning the Group 1 Doomben Cup. Waller reported that Birdman felt great in his Caulfield gallop on Tuesday.
Tom Kitten is another proven Group 1 performer with a strong fresh record, while Planet Red and Sabaj face a significant class test first-up. Planet Red was placed in both the Caulfield Guineas and Australian Guineas last season and the Price and Kent Jnr pair have been confirmed for the Memsie as the starting point for their spring campaigns.
The Memsie Stakes is Race 8 on the Caulfield program and is set to be run and won at 4:10pm AEST.
2026 Memsie Stakes Speed Map
Treasurethe Moment looks the likely leader from barrier 6, with Mr Brightside and Beiwacht among those capable of settling prominently.
Cosmic Crusader draws barrier 11 and should find a position around midfield, while Birdman can settle in a similar area. Tom Kitten and Autumn Boy have drawn barriers 1 and 3 respectively and should be able to conserve ground just behind the speed.
Angel Capital and Buckaroo are likely to settle midfield or worse, while Jimmysstar and Sabaj should be among those getting back.
There should be enough pressure to make this a genuine 1400m test and that may play into Cosmic Crusader's hands. He was able to sprint off a more moderate tempo in the PB Lawrence, while his career-best performance came in the Northerly Stakes when the pressure was much stronger.
2026 Memsie Stakes Best Bet: Cosmic Crusader
Cosmic Crusader faces his toughest test since arriving in Melbourne but the race sets up nicely for the WA Group 1 winner.
He has won both starts this preparation and went 6.2 lengths faster than standard benchmark when taking out the PB Lawrence Stakes over this track and trip last time. He should still have improvement to come third-up and holds a significant fitness advantage over most of his major rivals.
Importantly, there is evidence he can lift again when the pressure increases. Cosmic Crusader produced a personal-best figure of around 15 lengths faster than standard when winning the Group 1 Northerly Stakes over 1800m last December, with that performance coming in a strongly run race.
There will be considerably more pressure here than he faced in the PB Lawrence, but that should not be a negative. Recent Caulfield form, race fitness and his ability to perform in a high-pressure Group 1 make him the one to beat.
2026 Memsie Stakes Value Bet: Buckaroo
Buckaroo looks capable of running a much better race than his price suggests, particularly if Caulfield remains in the Soft range.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding has produced double-digit benchmark figures in each of his past two first-up runs over the track and trip, including when finishing third in this race last year behind Treasurethe Moment and Mr Brightside.
He subsequently developed into one of the better weight-for-age horses of the spring, culminating in a runner-up finish in the Cox Plate, and his best performances certainly measure up against this field.
Buckaroo also comes into his return after winning a recent Flemington trial, suggesting he is forward enough to run well fresh.
The wide draw means he will likely concede ground, but if the tempo is genuine and the track retains some give, he should get his chance to finish strongly at a big price.
2026 Memsie Stakes Value Bet: Birdman
Birdman appeals as another at around $7 the place. He took a little while to find his feet after arriving in Australia, but his autumn and winter campaigns showed he has developed into a genuine weight-for-age performer.
He won three of six during his autumn preparation and produced figures of more than 11 lengths faster than standard in each of his first four runs, including victories in the Blamey Stakes and Peter Young Stakes after an unlucky first-up run over 1400m at Flemington. He later headed north and added the Group 1 Doomben Cup to his record, defeating Pride Of Jenni, and should have some residual fitness from that winter campaign.
I don’t mind him coming back to 1400m fresh and, from barrier four, he should enjoy an economical run without having to do too much work early. At around $7 the place, he looks a solid each-way option.
Verdict
Cosmic Crusader can reign supreme with some value selections for the place.
Cosmic Crusader
Win
@4/1 - 1 Unit
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Buckaroo
Place
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Birdman
Place
@11/2 - 1 Unit
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