Caulfield Racing Tips 9 May — can Maher win early?
Ararat Racing Tips 9 May 2026 — can Yendall and the Hayes boys do it again?
Ararat Racing Tips 9 May 2026 — can Yendall and the Hayes boys do it again?
There are meetings where the story writes itself. Ararat today is one of them, because the Ben, Will and JD Hayes stable turns up with a familiar pattern: progressive maidens, set up to get the right run, and a jockey booking that usually means business. Declan Yendall has ridden 13 times at this track for six placings, and when he teams up with the Hayes trio at Ararat it has been a one-from-one result (small sample, but it tells you they do not come here for the scenery).
It is a compact program and a clean read: two maidens, both with plenty of exposed runners and a couple of lightly raced types who look ready to take the money off them. These Ararat racing tips lean into race shape and intent more than “track specialist” talk, because most of these horses have little or no history here. You will still get clear bets, not fence-sitting.
Ararat — the setup
Turf circuit, and the data tells the same simple thing it usually does at Ararat: jockeys who ride it often tend to be the ones you want beside you. For today’s riders, Tom Madden is the standout on strike rate and consistency, with six rides here for one win and three placings. Yendall (13 rides) and W Gordon (13 rides) also rack up plenty of top-four finishes at this course, which matters when you are trying to win maidens where positioning beats raw brilliance.
Most horses across today’s fields have only one or two Ararat runs, so there is not enough genuine course form to hang a table on. Treat any “won here once” profiles as a note, not a blueprint.
Ladbrokes Review [Updated March 2026] | Ladbrokes.com.au Pros & Cons
- Info Hub
- Mates Mode
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Madden | 6 | 1 | 3 | 16.67 | 50.00 |
| D Yendall | 13 | 1 | 6 | 7.69 | 46.15 |
| W Gordon | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7.69 | 38.46 |
| R J Hurdle | 8 | 1 | 4 | 12.50 | 50.00 |
Race-by-race Ararat predictions
Race 1: Harvey Norman Ararat Mdn Plate — 12:21, 1750
Gracconi gets my early vote because the profile screams “ready”. One start, one second (form: 2), and they have not mucked around with the set-up: Lachlan King sticks, gate 3 gives options, and 1750m at Ararat is the sort of trip where a horse with even a touch of upside can put the seasoned plodders away. This is also the kind of maiden where you want a runner who can take a spot and finish, rather than one relying on luck from the back.
On the recent evidence we have, Gracconi has been doing enough to win a maiden: in the last 90 days they have run once for a placing (second), and that is a clean sign of competitiveness rather than a horse needing ten goes to learn the caper.
The danger is High Altitude. The formline (0-3062) suggests he is finally finding his level and he draws to get a cosy run again from gate 7. If this turns into a sit and sprint from the 500m, the fitter older horse can pinch it while the three year olds look at each other.
Others I would include if you are playing multiples: Play Bouzouki (draw 1 helps in a race without an obvious star) and Brighthill (inside gate, light weight, could improve sharply).
Staking: Win bet Gracconi. Small saver exacta Gracconi and High Altitude if you want a safety net.
Race 2: Russ Studio Jewellers Mdn Plate — 12:56, 1422
This race is the meeting’s best betting look because the market, when it forms, usually has to make a choice between exposed “always there” types and the ones who are about to land the punch. I want to be with the horse that has been living in the finish.
Playful As is that horse. Form: 833, drawn 3, and Declan Yendall rides. The Hayes stable brings a strong Ararat profile even without a massive sample: they have had four runners here for one winner and four placings, and if they get one to Ararat in a maiden they generally have it tuned to run right up to its rating. Playful As has also been solid recently: three runs in the last 90 days for two placings, which is the classic “knocking on the door” pattern.
The other angle I like is the race shape. There are a few drawn awkwardly (Mapleton Hill 16, Majestic Choice 17, Saraya 18) who can get stuck doing work or giving a start. Playful As should be able to park in the first half with cover and avoid the traffic.
Warrego is the danger and the obvious one. The Maher yard does not have a brilliant overall Ararat record across ten runners (one placing), but Warrego’s own form (55-63) says he is around the mark. He draws 2 which helps, and he only needs a small step forward to win a maiden like this.
If you want something at bigger odds to run a race, Cool Bee Bee (330-72) has been more consistent than most. Two runs in the last 90 days for a placing and a decent cheque suggests he is holding form. The wide draw (10) is the tax you pay.
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18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Staking: Win bet Playful As. If the price gets too short, go each-way and save on Warrego in the win market.
The plays
There is a straightforward way to attack Ararat today: back the in-form maiden that looks set up to get the run of the race, and keep the rest simple.
NAP: Playful As (Race 2, 12:56). The Hayes camp brings a “turn up and perform” profile at Ararat, Yendall knows the track, and the horse has been living in the placings (two from three this last 90 days).
Value: High Altitude (Race 1, 12:21) as a saver or each-way play if the market dismisses him. That 0-3062 progression reads like a horse finally putting it together.
Banker for multis: Playful As to place. It is not glamorous, but it matches his recent consistency.
Each-way: Cool Bee Bee (Race 2) if you get a price. He does not win often, but he keeps showing up.
Course angle: Yendall at Ararat keeps landing runners in the money (six placings from 13 rides). It is not a “follow blindly” stat, but it is the kind of edge that matters in maidens where the ride decides more than the pedigree.
Keep an eye on how Yendall plays barrier 3 in Race 2; if he is positive early and holds a spot without burning petrol, that riding pattern is worth following next time this stable and jockey combo pop up at the provincials.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Ararat today?
Ararat gets underway at 12:21 with the Harvey Norman Ararat Maiden Plate over 1750m.
Who are the top jockeys at Ararat on today’s numbers?
From the riders booked today, Tom Madden has the strongest Ararat profile for consistency: six rides here for one win and three placings. D Yendall also stacks up for reliable top-four results with 13 rides for six placings at the track.
Which trainers bring a strong Ararat profile into this meeting?
Ben, Will & JD Hayes have been very effective with limited runners at Ararat: four starters for one win and four placings. Andrew Bobbin brings volume (11 runners) and has found the placings three times, though he is still chasing a winner here from that sample.
What are the Ararat best bets today?
The clearest play is Playful As in Race 2 (12:56). He comes off three straight top-three finishes (833) and his last 90 days reads well: three runs for two placings. In Race 1, Gracconi looks the right win bet type off a second on debut.
Where can I find the best odds for Ararat races?
Check the major bookies’ win markets close to jump. Odds feeds were not available at publish time for these races, so use your bookie’s live screens and focus on whether Playful As (Race 2) holds firm or drifts late. If you are shopping around, start with bet365 and Betfair for quick market moves.
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