Roebourne Racing Tips 25 July — can Jason Li stay hot?
Mackay Racing Tips 25 July 2026 — can Bonewood go back-to-back here?
There are meetings where you’re doing advanced calculus with half-baked maidens, and then there are cards like this: two races, two clear storylines, and one question that matters for your wallet. Can Bonewood repeat the trick at Mackay and turn a tidy Class 3 into a one-horse operation?
That’s the lens for these Mackay racing tips on 25 July. We’re on turf, and while the race-by-race data is thin in places (plenty of runners with only one course visit), the card still gives us a couple of solid anchors: a 3yo with upside and proven track manners, and a lightweight mare who keeps turning up in the finish.
I’ll keep it practical. You’ll get a read on how the races are likely to be run, which connections actually matter at this circuit, and where I’d put my money (and where I’d keep it in my pocket).
Mackay — the setup
Limited course depth across today’s fields. Most runners have one or two Mackay starts, so I’m leaning harder on current form patterns, barriers, and the rider and trainer profiles that have real volume here.
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| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Sewell | 43 | 13 | 23 | 30.23% | 53.49% |
| R Wiggins | 45 | 9 | 23 | 20.00% | 51.11% |
| Aidan Holt | 26 | 6 | 11 | 23.08% | 42.31% |
| Raul Silvera Olivera | 34 | 3 | 15 | 8.82% | 44.12% |
| C McIver | 42 | 3 | 11 | 7.14% | 26.19% |
Trainer-wise, it’s hard to ignore the Mackay regulars. Lachie Manzelmann has the volume edge here (90 runners at the track with 21 wins), while MS R Binder hits harder on strike-rate from a smaller sample (10 runners for 4 wins, 7 placings). That matters in Race 2 with Zaya turning up again.
Race-by-race
Race 1: All Seasons Poolside Gold Cup (Bm58) — 12:19, 2187m
The market will probably try to make this a “who stays?” contest, but I’m reading it more as “who’s in the right patch of form and doesn’t get dragged into a slog too early?”. Over this trip, you want something that relaxes and can build from the 600m, not a horse that needs everything to go perfectly.
Shiny Love is the one I want on side. The recent form line is the giveaway: 8-1312. That’s a horse who’s improved sharply since being given the chance to find a rhythm, and she comes in carrying 54kg (119.0). In a handicap at this trip, that’s the lever you can actually pull. She’s also already placed on her only Mackay start, so we know she handles the surroundings.
I’m happy enough with the draw too (gate 4). It gives Nikki Olzard options to either land handy if it’s a dawdle, or slide into a soft stalking spot if a couple of them want to roll forward and make it a staying test. Olzard’s Mackay numbers aren’t flashy, but she does land a placing often enough here to trust her to give the favourite run.
The danger is Chayse ‘N’ Leisa. That 437331 form says confidence is up, and barrier 3 is the kind of map that wins races at provincial level. The knock for me is the weight and profile: 58.5kg (128.9) on a horse who’s been busy. If this turns into a genuine staying grind, the higher weights can feel it late.
Others with claims: Beta Better (gate 1, gets every chance to be economical) and Eclipsion (R Wiggins is always a plus at this course), but both feel like “needs the race to fall apart” types rather than horses you can build a bet around.
Staking: Win bet Shiny Love. If you’re playing a quinella, keep it tight with Chayse ‘N’ Leisa and Beta Better.
Race 2: Ma’s Pizza Hcp (C3) — 12:54, 1422m
This is the race I’m most comfortable hanging a proper opinion on because the profile is clean and the map makes sense. Bonewood looks like a 3yo who’s still on the way up, and the conditions let him run to that upside.
First: he’s already won on his only start at Mackay. One run isn’t a trend, but it does tell you he handles the track and the day doesn’t overwhelm him. Second: he’s lightly weighted at 54kg (119.0) and drawn to get the kind of run that wins these races (gate 4). Third: his recent form reads like a horse who’s figured it out: 76-12, and that “12” at the end usually means the stable has him right where they want him.
There’s also a sneaky little “today’s card” angle: B Kennedy has a solid record at this course, and when you’re siding with a 3yo in a race with seasoned older horses, I want a rider who rides Mackay well. Kennedy has 9 rides here for 2 wins, and that’s enough volume to respect.
Zaya is the clear danger and the obvious saver if you’re the cautious type. She’s been around the Mackay circuit enough to call it emerging pattern territory: 4 runs here for 2 wins and 3 placings. Her recent form 211543 says she’s holding her level, and the stable knows how to place them at this track. The issue is the map. Barrier 8 can be a tax over 1422m if she gets stuck working early, and that’s the sort of thing that makes a good horse look plain at the finish.
Spirit Of Mac has the class and the rider. Wiggins rides this course as well as anyone, and Spirit Of Mac has 4 Mackay runs for a win and three placings, so he’s not guessing here. But he’s lumping 60kg (132.2). In a race where Bonewood gets in with 54kg, you’re asking Spirit Of Mac to concede a real start in the handicap.
El Fortress comes off a win (1-65441), and Supid Date gets the rails draw, but I’m not taking shorts about either from a wide-open Class 3 when there’s a cleaner, lighter, progressive option.
Staking: Win bet Bonewood. Saver win on Zaya if the price lets you. If you’re building a multi, Bonewood is the anchor leg.
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Where the money goes
I’m treating this meeting as a two-bet card, not a “try to be clever in everything” card. The best bet is Bonewood in the 12:54. He’s a progressive 3yo, he gets the weight relief that wins Class 3s, and he’s already proven he can deliver at Mackay. Over the last 90 days he’s run twice for a win and a second, which is exactly the short, sharp profile you want from a horse still learning how to win.
The value play is Shiny Love in the 12:19. She’s the only one in that staying handicap who ticks both boxes I care about: current form that says she’s thriving, and a weight that gives her permission to be brave late. In her last 90 days she’s gone four starts for two wins and hasn’t missed the frame, and that’s strong enough to bet around.
If you’re looking for the safe multi leg, it’s still Bonewood. If you want the each-way shape on the card, Shiny Love gives you that “in the finish again” feel without needing a perfect storm.
Keep an eye on how the wide gates play in Race 2. If Zaya crosses without spending petrol, you’ll want to upgrade that pattern next Mackay meeting.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Mackay today?
Mackay kicks off at 12:19 with the All Seasons Poolside Gold Cup (Bm58) over 2187m.
Who are the top jockeys at Mackay on today’s card?
On historical Mackay volume, Adam Sewell leads this riding group with 13 wins from 43 rides here and he hits the frame 23 times. R Wiggins is another track regular: 9 wins from 45 at Mackay and 23 placings.
Which trainers are worth following at Mackay?
Lachie Manzelmann is the big-volume yard at this course with 21 wins from 90 runners. For a sharper strike from fewer runners, MS R Binder has 4 wins from 10 at Mackay, and she saddles Zaya in the 12:54.
What are the best bets at Mackay today?
My Mackay best bets are Bonewood (Race 2, 12:54) as the main play, and Shiny Love (Race 1, 12:19) as the value runner with the lightweight and the right recent form line (8-1312).
Where can I find the best odds for Mackay races?
Prices can shift quickly on small fields like this, so shop around with the major bookmakers and the tote for Mackay odds close to jump time. If you’re using an odds comparison site, make sure it’s pulling the “Winner” market for each race.
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