Newcastle Betting Tips for September 18, 2026 - Aethelwulf Hunts Gold

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Wed 16 Sep 2026 17:29

Alex Marsh 2 hours ago

Share this article

Three Group 3 features headline Newcastle's Friday card: Gold Cup, Tibbie Stakes, Cameron Handicap
Top tips: Aethelwulf (Gold Cup), Churchill's Choice (Tibbie Stakes), Mr Miller (Cameron Handicap)
Value play Off The Scale appeals as a roughie in the last

Newcastle takes centre stage on Friday with three Group 3 contests. (Getty)

Friday feature racing heads to Newcastle on September 18, where three Group 3 races will be contested, including the Newcastle Gold Cup.

Newcastle Tips September 18
NZB Tibbie Stakes Tips (Race 5)
Sharp Office Newcastle Gold Cup Tips (Race 6)
Newcastle Car And Truck Rental Cameron Handicap Tips (Race 7)
Lees Racing 5YO & Up Benchmark 64 Handicap Tips (Race 8)

Supporting the staying feature are the Tibbie Stakes, a $250,000 mares event, and the Cameron Handicap, which carries the same prizemoney along with Epsom Handicap and Big Dance eligibility.

For the latest odds on the major spring features, explore the Group 1 Futures markets.

Newcastle Tips September 18

NZB Tibbie Stakes Tips (Race 5)

Newcastle Value Bet - Race 5 No. 2 Churchill's Choice

Churchill's Choice resumed over this track-and-trip in the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes on March 6, where the local mare rattled home for second and recorded the second-fastest closing sectionals of the entire meeting.

She was a touch plain second-up before improving sharply third-up following a short freshen, landing the cash for us at a big price in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup.

There were some excellent form references through that race, with Middle Earth winning at Group 3 level at his next start, while third placegetter War Eternal went on to complete a hat-trick of Listed victories during the Queensland Winter Carnival.

Churchill's Choice then produced another two competitive performances, including an unlucky second in the Scone Cup before recording the fastest closing sectionals of the race in the Magic Millions National Classic at Eagle Farm prior to a spell.

She has completed two August trials and was only fair in the latest without the blinkers, but that key gear is reapplied for Friday's return and, against her own sex under set weights and penalties, the local appeals at an each-way price.

Sharp Office Newcastle Gold Cup Tips (Race 6)

Newcastle Feature Bet - Race 6 No. 6 Aethelwulf

The Matthew Smith stable continues to fire and Aethelwulf has emerged as one of its most exciting prospects, winning four of five starts this campaign.

Each victory has been convincing, including his latest when stepping up to Saturday Benchmark 78 company and appearing to have plenty in hand when defeating Anthracite by more than two lengths.

That form was strongly franked when Anthracite produced a dominant all-the-way Benchmark 88 victory at Rosehill last Saturday.

This is clearly another rise in grade to Group 3 company, but the field is small and many of his rivals are well exposed, while Aethelwulf gives every indication he can cope with the extra distance despite having never raced beyond 2000m.

He gets the opportunity to prove that with four kilograms less in the saddle and an in-form Zac Lloyd retaining the ride, and although the early quote is short, the upside is obvious as he attempts to extend his winning run in the Newcastle Gold Cup.

Newcastle Car And Truck Rental Cameron Handicap Tips (Race 7)

Newcastle Best Bet - Race 7 No. 12 Mr Miller

Connections of Mr Miller have accepted for both Friday's Cameron Handicap and Saturday's Bill Ritchie Handicap at Randwick, with both races offering a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Epsom Handicap.

The Newcastle option appears the softer of the two assignments, although in-form stablemate Althoff is also engaged here and has drawn favourably, while this Group 3 feature also carries Big Dance eligibility for the Randwick feature on Melbourne Cup Day.

Mr Miller could hardly have been more impressive in two August victories, and although they came in much weaker company, he did everything asked of him and appears to have taken another step forward this campaign.

There had already been plenty of promise across three autumn starts, when he was unlucky not to add at least one more victory during April and May.

The Chris Waller-trained galloper gets in on the 54kg minimum with Tommy Berry aboard, and with the jockey chasing a third Cameron Handicap success, Mr Miller can continue to progress.

Lees Racing 5YO & Up Benchmark 64 Handicap Tips (Race 8)

Newcastle Roughie - Race 8 No. 13 Off The Scale

A $50,000 Benchmark 64 for five-year-olds and older is a somewhat unique way to finish Newcastle Gold Cup Day, and Off The Scale is capable of running a cheeky race at a big price.

Her form was mixed through the previous campaign, but the daughter of Zousain still managed to collect two victories and signed off with a confidence-boosting win at Moree.

While tactically versatile, that latest performance may have shown the best way to ride the mare, allowing her to settle a little colder before producing one run down the outside.

That approach could suit from the wide draw on Newcastle's spacious circuit, with Off The Scale arriving here after finishing third-of-six in a 1100m Scone trial on September 9 won by the handy Bird Whistle.

She gets in well after the claim at just 55kg for Deon Le Roux, who rode a winner for the Lou Mary stable at Taree last month, and Off The Scale shouldn't be dismissed despite the bolter's quote.