Ladbrokes Tip: The Australia Stakes is a key early lead-up to the Group 1 autumn carnival sprint races!
The latest edition of the Australia Stakes ran on Friday, January 23, 2026 at Southside Pakenham with The Valley currently under redevelopment and was won in a two-length upset by the underrated Gavin Bedggood trained Hedged ($9.50) who set a new track record.
2026 Australia Stakes Results
The official Australia Stakes 2026 and Finishing Order will be available below once the race is run and won on Friday, January 23, 2026.
- #4 Hedged
- #2 Veight
- #1 War Machine
Hedged ($9.50) proved he’s the real deal on Friday night, claiming a dominant victory in the 2026 Australia Stakes results for trainer Gavin Bedggood setting a new Pakenham track record. The talented sprinter showed incredible maturity to hunt down the favourite War Machine – who held for third – and pull away for an authoritative two-length win over Veight at Pakenham. Harry Coffey provided a polished steer, staying patient before clicking the gelding into gear to showcase a sharp turn of foot that left his rivals in the dust. After conquering a seasoned field of sprinters, Hedged leaves Pakenham as a rising star and a major player for the Group 1 targets ahead.
2026 Australia Stakes Odds & Results
The market for the Australia Stakes 2026 complete with the latest odds on the sprinters in the mix for the summer Group 2 sprint race will be published below once released followed by the official Australia Stakes results and finishing order after the event.
| 4. Hedged (1) J: Harry Coffey 58.5kg 62710T: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 2. Veight (3) J: Luke Currie 58.5kg 90x0xT: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy | ||
| 1. War Machine (2) J: Jamie Melham 58.5kg x100xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 5. Nadal (4) J: Ethan Brown 58.5kg x5962T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 3. Maharba (5) J: Jordan Childs 58.5kg 408x9T: Grahame Begg |
Australia Stakes Tips
Top Australia Stakes tips include looking for proven performers at the track, past winners over the distance, good Group 1 performers in similar company, horses that have run in Group 1 company and those that finished in the money last time out whether it was the season before or in an earlier summer start.
Favourites have a solid recent record in the race so sticking with the better fancied runners in betting is also a good Australia Stakes betting tip.
2026 Australia Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Australia Stakes 2026 tips to be published close to the race date.
| 1. War Machine (2) J: Jamie Melham 58.5kg x100xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
| 2. Veight (3) J: Luke Currie 58.5kg 90x0xT: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |
| 3. Maharba (5) J: Jordan Childs 58.5kg 408×9T: Grahame Begg |
The Australia Stakes is the first Group 2 race of the New Year run in late January each summer season. Traditionally held at Moonee Valley Racecourse, with The Valley under redevelopment in 2026 that year’s race will run at Southside Pakenham on a special Friday night racing program.
The sole Group race on Australia Stakes Night, the weight-for-age clash offers $350,000 in total prize money and is contested over a 1200m sprint distance.
Formerly, the Australia Stakes provided a nice early Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival lead-up for gallopers heading into a race like the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) before the Orr was moved from the autumn to the spring in 2025.
The latest horses to complete the Australia Stakes – CF Orr Stakes double in a single season are Black Caviar (2012) and Streets Of Avalon (2021), while Black Heart Bart (2017) improved on a lead-up second in the Australia Stakes to win the CF Orr Stakes – Futurity Stakes double.
The Australia Stakes is also now part of Melbourne’s Summer Sprint Series running as the fourth event in the four-race series. The other races in the series are the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington, Listed Christmas Stakes at Caulfield, and the Group 3 Standish Handicap at Flemington in January.
Australia Stakes Race Info
- Date: Friday, January 23, 2026
- Track: Moonee Valley Racecourse (Southside Pakenham in 2026)
- Distance: 1200m
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Status: Group 2
- Prize Money: $350,000
- First Run: 1989
Australia Stakes Betting
Australia Stakes betting opens the week of the race.
Horses that are resuming and have a good first-up record, proven performers at the circuit and sprinters with a strong record over the distance sit high up the Australia Stakes odds each January.
Upsets are not uncommon however and the last winner to jump at double-figures in the Australia Stakes betting markets was Mourinho ($41 in 2015).
Marabi ($1.80 in 2022), Jigsaw ($3.10 in 2023), and Veight ($2.15 in 2024) are the latest favourites in Australia Stakes markets to salute for the punters.
Australia Stakes Field
The Australia Stakes race field features a strong line-up of sprinters and middle-distance gallopers either rounding out their summer preps or gearing up for some of the early autumn features in Melbourne.
Many of the horses in the Australia Stakes field are running first-up for the season and may have contested a race like the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at the same track the October before on Cox Plate Day, a double last achieved by Holler (2015).
Streets Of Avalon (2021) is the latest Australia Stakes winner to salute first-up.
A more recent lead-up to the Australia Stakes field run on New Year’s Day at Flemington is the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m).
Hedged (10th in 2026) was the last Standish Handicap graduate to go on and win the Australia Stakes.
Earlier, horses that performed well in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes on Zipping Classic Day the November prior often run well in the Australia Stakes field.
Australia Stakes nominations close the Monday of race week followed by the final field and barrier draw released on the Wednesday before the race runs that Saturday.
2026 Australia Stakes Field
The Australia Stakes 2026 field and barrier draw will be published below as soon as released on the Wednesday of race week so bookmark this page to see what Group 1 bound autumn stars make the starting line-up.
The Australia Stakes 2026 final field features a diminutive but exciting line-up of autumn carnival bound sprinters led by Lindsay Park’s resuming Stradbroke Handicap champion War Machine.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. War Machine
J: Jamie Melham
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
1x100x | G | 2 | 58.5kg | |
|
2. Veight
J: Luke Currie
T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |
090x0x | G | 3 | 58.5kg | |
|
3. Maharba
J: Jordan Childs
T: Grahame Begg |
x408x9 | G | 5 | 58.5kg | |
|
4. Hedged
J: Harry Coffey
T: Gavin Bedggood |
262710 | G | 1 | 58.5kg | |
|
5. Nadal
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
7x5962 | G | 4 | 58.5kg | |
| 6. Aztec Ruler (6) Scratched: | |||||
|
7. Cannonball
J: John Allen
T: Patrick Kearney |
7x6702 | G | 6 | 58.5kg | |
| 8. Jimmy Recard (7) Scratched: | |||||
2026 Australia Stakes Nominations
The Australia Stakes 2026 nominations will be listed below once announced the Monday of race week.
2026 Australia Stakes nominations extended until 10:00am (AEDT) – 20/01/2026
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x2111x100x | WAR MACHINE (NZ) | G | 5 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 1 | 58.5kg | 113 | ||
| 2 | 421x090x0x | VEIGHT | G | 5 | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 2 | 58.5kg | 109 | ||
| 3 | x312x408x9 | MAHARBA | G | 5 | Grahame Begg | 3 | 58.5kg | 103 | ||
| 4 | 228x146x85 | A LITTLE DEEP | M | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 4 | 56.5kg | 101 | ||
| 5 | 535×262710 | HEDGED | G | 5 | Gavin Bedggood | 5 | 58.5kg | 99 | ||
| 6 | 41417×5962 | NADAL | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 6 | 58.5kg | 98 | ||
| 7 | 85377×6702 | CANNONBALL | G | 6 | Patrick Kearney | 7 | 58.5kg | 95 | ||
| 8 | 8x111367x | JIMMY RECARD | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 8 | 55kg | 85 | ||
| 9 | 14x1740x | SPACE RIDER | C | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 9 | 55kg | 72 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Australia Stakes Form Guide
The Australia Stakes form guide details for punters all the must know information like the jockeys, trainers, barriers and lead-up runs of the horses in the field.
In recent years the Australia Stakes form has held up in tougher autumn races during the Melbourne Festival of Racing like the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington in March which the 2016 Australia Stakes runner-up Churchill Dancer ran fourth in next start.
The previous year upset Australia Stakes winner Mourinho (2015) ran third to Dissident in that year’s Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield the next month. The CF Orr winner Dissident (2015) came off a third in the Australia Stakes and went on to run third in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and win the Group 1 All aged Stakes (1400m) in Sydney over the autumn.
The 2014 Australia Stakes runner-up Moment Of Change went on to complete the CF Orr – Futurity Stakes double at his two next runs.
Streets Of Avalon franked the Australia Stakes form in 2021 winning the CF Orr Stakes next-up, the first horse to do so since Black Caviar in 2012.
The 2022 Australia Stakes form was also franked with the winning favourite Marabi going on to win the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) next-up.
The 2024 Australia Stakes form was franked with the winner, Veight, running fourth next-up in the C.F. Orr before a Group 1 Australian Guineas second and victory in Sydney’s Group 1 George Ryder Stakes. The form was further franked with the runner-up, Southport Tycoon, winning the Australian Guineas over the Flemington mile when turning the tables on Veight.
The 2025 Australia Stakes winner Schwarz franked the form that autumn winning the Group 1 William Reid Stakes back at Moonee Valley.
2026 Australia Stakes Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Australia Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be available below the week of the race.
CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE 2026 AUSTRALIA STAKES FORM GUIDE
Past Australia Stakes Results
The Australia Stakes race results have been dominated by single-figure fancies in the past decade and runners that go on to win in Group 1 company during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.
Notable recent Australia Stakes winners include Veight (2024), Streets Of Avalon (2021), Scales Of Justice (2019), Mourinho (2015), Black Caviar (2012 and 2010), El Segundo (2007), and Super Elegant (2005).
Marabi (2022) was the last Australia Stakes winning mare.
Veight (2024) was the last three-year-old Australia Stakes winner.
Hedged (2026) won the Australia Stakes at Pakenham in a new track record time of 1:07.58.
Past Australia Stakes Winners
Recent Australia Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hedged | Veight | War Machine | 1:07.58 (R) |
| 2025 | Schwarz | Steparty | Apache Song | 1:10.46 |
| 2024 | Veight | Southport Tycoon | Recommendation | 1:09.64 |
| 2023 | Jigsaw | Turaath | Calypso Reign | 1:09.7 |
| 2022 | Marabi | Sinawann | Turaath | 1:11.4 |
| 2021 | Streets Of Avalon | Viridine | Tavisan | 1:10.0 |
| 2020 | Scales Of Justice | Hey Doc | Embrace Me | 1:09.7 |
| 2019 | Whispering Brook | Fell Swoop | Land of Plenty | 1:09.8 |
| 2018 | Thronum | Mr Sneaky | Stellar Conclusion | 1:10.4 |
| 2017 | Malaguerra | Black Heart Bart | Sirbible | 1:09.2 |
| 2016 | Holler | Churchill Dancer | Rebel Dane | 1:10.9 |
| 2015 | Mourinho | It is Written | Dissident | 1:09.9 |
| 2014 | Richie’s Vibe | Moment Of Change | It Is Written | 1:10.9 |
| 2013 | Sea Lord | Pinwheel | Outlandish Lad | 1:10.5 |
| 2012 | Black Caviar | Zedi Knight | Doubtful Jack | 1:09.4 |
| 2011 | Whitefriars | Undeniably | Typhoon Tracy | 1.09.6 |
| 2010 | Black Caviar | Here De Angels | La Rocket | 1:10.1 |
| 2009 | Lucky Secret | Light Fantastic | Von Costa De Hero | 1:11.2 |
| 2008 | Let Go Thommo | Maldivian | Casino Prince | 1:10.8 |
| 2007 | El Segundo | Cocinero | Super Elegant | 1:11.2 |
| 2006 | California Dane | Virage De Fortune | Casual Pass | 1:09.8 |
| 2005 | Super Elegant | Strikeline | Ruben | 1:10.5 |
| 2004 | Vocabulary | Super Elegant | Confederate Kid | 1:11.5 |
| 2003 | Yell | Libidinious | Pernod | 1:10.3 |
| 2002 | Royal Code | Intelligent Star | Ustinov | 1:11.0 |
| 2001 | Piavonic | Ateates | Le Zagaletta | 1:11.8 |
| 2000 | Slavonic | Sports | Le Zagaletta | 1:12.1 |
FAQ
Who won the 2026 Australia Stakes?
The 2026 Australia Stakes was won by five-year-old Capitalist gelding Hedged who jumped at $9.50 for trainer Gavin Bedggood with jockey Harry Coffey aboard on 58.5kg from barrier 1 to win by two lengths on a Good (4) track in a new record time of 1:07.58.
Who won the 2025 Australia Stakes?
The 2025 Australia Stakes was won by the Jonn O’Shea & Tom Charlton trained Schwarz who started at odds of $4.20 and won by two lengths with Blake Shinn in the saddle.
When is the Australia Stakes 2026?
Friday, January 23, 2026What is the prize money for the Australia Stakes 2026?
$350,000
Where is the Australia Stakes 2026?
Southside Pakenham Racecourse, 420 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road Tynong, VIC 3813.
How do I bet on the 2026 Australia Stakes?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.
Which horse will win the 2026 Australia Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Australia Stakes is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.