Saturday Roughies for August 1, 2026 - Value Picks Across Australia

Bets.com.au Staff

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Last updated: Fri 31 Jul 2026 04:32

Bets.com.au Staff 31 Jul 2026

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New racing season begins Saturday; roughie tips offer value across five metro tracks
Starwalker, Proportrait, Ten Good Reasons, Stage 'N' Screen, The Cosmic One, & Nimble Star are top each-way picks
Selections based on favorable draws, strong prep runs, & proven ability for upset results

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The search for Saturday value starts here. (Getty)

The new racing season begins on Saturday, with several overlooked runners presenting value across the five major metropolitan cards.

Belmont Roughie Tip
Doomben Roughie Tip
Flemington Roughie Tip
Morphettville Roughie Tip
Rosehill Roughie Tip

For our top selections on August 1, head to Saturday’s Best Bets.

Belmont Roughie Tip

Belmont Roughies - Race 8 No. 2 Starwalker & No. 12 Proportrait

In a weak finale, double-figure chances Starwalker and Proportrait both have claims.

Getting to the mile third-up suits Starwalker, who drops sharply in grade after beginning his campaign with two winter assignments and receives some weight relief through Chanelle Cooper’s 2kg claim.

The July 4 return was quite good, while his 60+ form around this distance range last spring reads well enough for a race of this quality.

Proportrait has raced well this preparation, placing without luck first-up before narrowly going under on inferior ground, and his latest third behind Western Miss reads solidly enough for this.

Doomben Roughie Tip

Doomben Roughie - Race 5 No. 10 Ten Good Reasons

A slow recovery after his second-up run prevented Ten Good Reasons from building on a sound November return, and his campaign ended with an unplaced effort in a strong Class 3 at Eagle Farm on January 3.

Saturday’s return follows an encouraging Sunshine Coast trial on July 21, where he settled at the rear for Rob Thorburn before closing strongly to narrowly miss over 1000m.

The Gary Duncan-trained gelding displayed good ability as a late three-year-old, highlighted by a Saturday victory over this course 12 months ago.

Barrier one could prove awkward if he is ridden too conservatively, but a neutral steer should leave him close enough to unleash his turn-of-foot in an open contest.

Flemington Roughie Tip

Flemington Roughie - Race 5 No. 8 Stage 'N' Screen

Despite winning only once last season, Stage 'N' Screen was remarkably consistent and missed the placings in just one appearance.

That defeat came at Sandown on July 8 when she was ridden cold from a wide barrier and finished off strongly behind Tennessee Bound, who franked the form at Caulfield last Saturday.

The fastest final 400m of that race suggests she is ready for the rise to 1400m third-up, the same distance and stage of the preparation at which she recorded her latest victory.

This Saturday BM78 is not significantly harder, and a kinder draw combined with Logan Bates’ 1.5kg claim gives her an each-way chance at a big price.

Morphettville Roughie Tip

Morphettville Roughie - Race 9 No. 5 The Cosmic One

A notable late drift preceded The Cosmic One’s disappointing July 11 performance, with the gelding failing to let down after travelling comfortably on a testing Heavy 9.

His previous three appearances were much more encouraging, beginning with a heavily backed debut in which a wide draw and limited luck arguably cost him victory over 1050m.

The Travis Doudle-trained galloper then won on the Parks circuit before a break and returned with an easy six-furlong Class 1 success at Balaklava despite still racing greenly.

Conditions should be far less testing this time, and although he may ultimately prove better over further, another soft map makes him worth another chance at an each-way price.

Rosehill Roughie Tip

Rosehill Roughie - Race 2 No. 6 Nimble Star

Saturday’s Highway has plenty of depth, with the field led by unbeaten galloper Sobek and Oh Arthur, who saluted for us first-up at a big price.

Long odds are available for Nimble Star, who won three consecutive starts after losing his rider on debut and has remained largely competitive despite going a year without another victory.

Little has gone right across four Highway attempts, with wide barriers, tough runs and an end-of-preparation seven-day turnaround repeatedly working against him.

After covering ground and fighting on bravely when resuming at Rosehill on July 4, a favourable draw should finally provide the soft trail required for Nimble Star to make his presence felt.