Saturday Horse Racing Tips & Best Bets for October 3, 2026

Kalgoorlie Betting Tips for October 3, 2026 - Dirty Habits Worth Sticking With

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Fri 02 Oct 2026 06:05

Alex Marsh 1 hour ago

Share this article

Nine races headline Kalgoorlie's biggest day, led by the Swan Draught Kalgoorlie Cup
Key betting tips: Dirty Habits, Rally The Troops, Marcos to win; Royal Law each-way in the Cup
Form and conditions strongly favour these selections for success

Saturday’s Kalgoorlie card features the Cup, Golden Saddle and Ron Sayers Sprint. (Getty)

A feature-packed nine-race program is set for Kalgoorlie on Saturday, headlined by the Listed Swan Draught Kalgoorlie Cup over 2300m.

Kalgoorlie Tips October 3
Argonaut Handicap Tips (Race 2)
Goldfields Industrial Solutions Handicap Tips (Race 3)
Coastal Midwest Handicap Tips (Race 5)
Swan Draught Kalgoorlie Cup Tips (Race 8)

The $947,500 Develop Golden Saddle and $100,000 Yarradale Stud Ron Sayers Sprint provide further depth to the biggest day of the Kalgoorlie Carnival, with strong supporting races spread across the card.

For the latest analysis, previews and betting coverage from all codes, visit Live Racing & Sports Updates.

Kalgoorlie Tips October 3

Argonaut Handicap Tips (Race 2)

Kalgoorlie Favourite - Race 2 No. 2 Dirty Habits

It has been a strong start to the season for Mitchell Pateman, with 16 winners since the beginning of August at a strike rate better than 27%, and lightly raced four-year-old Dirty Habits looks another with considerable raw potential.

The penny has not quite dropped for the gelding yet, but getting out in distance in an easier assignment could be the making of him, particularly given his half-brother Filthy Habits developed into a useful staying type and Dirty Habits appears to possess every bit as much natural ability.

After catching the eye first-up at Northam on June 25, he had excuses when beaten as a short-priced favourite before still doing plenty wrong and breaking through over 1700m at Pinjarra, where he showed what he could do once getting beyond a mile.

He was then tested in stronger company when returning from a freshen-up over 1300m at Belmont on August 29 and doing his best work late, while both September outings over the mile in Perth have been sound for a galloper who is still learning his craft.

There is considerably less depth in this No Metro Wins Last Year contest over 2200m, and Holly Watson stays aboard having combined with the Pateman stable for 22 winners over the past 12 months, making this a suitable opportunity for Dirty Habits to take another step forward.

Goldfields Industrial Solutions Handicap Tips (Race 3)

Kalgoorlie Best Bet - Race 3 No. 2 Rally The Troops

Very little went right for Rally The Troops when resuming in a 72+ over 1200m at Belmont on September 9, where he was taken back from a wide draw and ridden for luck before being badly held up on straightening and again finding heels near the 200m.

Considering the circumstances, he did well to recover and work through the line only just over two lengths from the winner, particularly given he went into the race without a strong first-up profile.

His August 24 Lark Hill trial had also been encouraging when he went to the line with handy a Correct Choice, while his second-up record includes a win and a second from three attempts, with that victory coming over Saturday’s 1400m journey.

That runner-up finish came behind a useful Redback Flyer at Ascot, while the back end of his previous campaign featured consecutive 1400m wins at Belmont and Ascot, including a BM66+ success that carried more depth than what he meets here.

The 1400m is clearly Rally The Troops’ sweet spot with all six career wins coming at the distance, and although he rises in weight, this 72+ looks a more suitable assignment than his first-up contest and gives him an excellent opportunity to return to winning form.

Coastal Midwest Handicap Tips (Race 5)

Kalgoorlie Next Best Bet - Race 5 No. 5 Marcos

The biggest obstacle for Marcos has often been himself, with the Luke Fernie-trained three-year-old possessing above-average ability but proving costly on several occasions because of his racing manners.

After three frustrating appearances through August and early September, he bounced back strongly at Belmont on September 19 to win a competitive 1200m 1MW contest that contained several progressive gallopers.

Runner-up Pistone went into that race as the beaten favourite after a slick debut victory, while third-placed So Si God caught the eye late and subsequently franked the form with a comfortable Belmont win on September 26.

Lucy Fiore retains the ride from that latest success, and connections have found Marcos an even easier assignment as he steps into this 1300m 1MW contest against the older horses.

It is never straightforward for an early-season three-year-old taking on more seasoned opposition, but Marcos has already shown enough to suggest he can measure up in stronger races and, with the confidence of that Belmont victory behind him, he looks very well placed to go on with it.

Swan Draught Kalgoorlie Cup Tips (Race 8)

Kalgoorlie Feature Bet - Race 8 No. 9 Royal Law

This looks to have been an early-campaign target for Royal Law, with the Ashley Maley-trained gelding resuming in the Listed Farnley Stakes over 1400m on September 5 when he was taken back from a wide draw and effectively allowed to use the race as a fitness-building exercise.

He was still short of his best second-up over 1600m at Belmont a fortnight later, but the effort was much more encouraging as he rolled forward to lead before fitness told late, eventually finishing less than three lengths from Correct Choice.

Saturday’s rise to a staying trip is far more suitable for a horse who has repeatedly produced his best racing over these distances, highlighted by his dominant Geraldton Cup victory over 2106m on April 19 after finishing third in the Albany Cup during a consistently strong summer campaign.

Royal Law also finished runner-up in last year’s Kalgoorlie Cup behind Sentimental Hero, who subsequently placed in the Group 1 Railway Stakes and Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes, suggesting he may simply have bumped into a particularly strong winner in the corresponding race 12 months ago.

Natasha Faithfull should get every opportunity to control his position from barrier five and Royal Law can give a strong sight at an each-way price, while double-figure chance All Grunt is another worth including after his September 26 runner-up over 2200m gave him a valuable staying run and leaves him hard fit with less weight on Saturday.