Ladbrokes Tip: The Caulfield Autumn Classic has proved a nice form guide for the Australian Cup in recent years
This season’s edition of the Caulfield Autumn Classic took place on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Caulfield Racecourse on Blue Diamond Day and was won by Matt Cumani’s progressive Derby hopeful Single Choice ($4.20F).
2026 Caulfield Autumn Classic Results
The complete Caulfield Autumn Classic 2026 results and finishing order will be known on Saturday, February 21, 2026 and announced below.
- #4 Single Choice
- #1 Arcora
- #8 Itazura
Single Choice ($4.20F) shot into Group 1 Australian Derby contention with a barnstorming victory for the punters in the 2026 Caulfield Autumn Classic results on Saturday. Matt Cumani’s progressive gelding was given a peach of a ride by Damian Lane, settling back as the front runners went hard out before storming home down the outside late to salute by a quarter-length. He has now firmed in from $101 to $26 to win the Australian Derby in Sydney on April 4.
2026 Caulfield Autumn Classic Odds & Results
The season’s latest Caulfield Autumn Classic 2026 betting odds will be available below the week of the race so bookmark this page to back your favourite staying three-year-olds at the right price followed by the official Autumn Classic results after the event.
| 4. Single Choice (11) J: Damian Lane 57kg 153×2T: Matt Cumani | ||
| 1. Arcora (10) J: John Allen 57kg 052×9T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | ||
| 8. Itazura (9) J: Zac Spain 57kg x3183T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 9. Kaye Jay (7) J: Jamie Mott 57kg 21T: Clayton Douglas | ||
| 2. Deal Done Fast (8) J: Daniel Stackhouse 57kg 2443xT: Matt Cumani | ||
| 11. Mr Epozino (1) J: Thomas Stockdale 57kg 13T: Simon Zahra | ||
| 3. Our Chief (6) J: Michael Dee 57kg x3213T: Danny O’brien | ||
| 10. Lucky Lucky Boom (12) J: Lachlan Neindorf 57kg x5711T: Danny O’brien | ||
| 7. Crocodile (3) J: Ben Allen 57kg 19×17T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 12. The Better Husband (4) J: Linda Meech 57kg x44x1T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | ||
| 6. Master Of The Air (5) J: Ethan Brown 57kg 116×8T: Chris Waller | ||
| 15. Miss Maranda (13) J: Luke Cartwright 55kg 44211T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 13. Abrafo (2) J: Ben Melham 57kg 4x9x1T: Mark Walker |
Caulfield Autumn Classic Tips
Looking for the season’s top staying three-year-olds often proves a popular Caulfield Autumn Classic tip, although many of the best contest stronger races around this time of the season.
Proven Melbourne form isn’t essential when doing the Autumn Classic tips as a number of winners came off interstate lead-ups, although the Autumn Stakes over 400m shorter a fortnight before has been a good guide to the race. Adelaide Ace (2020) improved on a third in the Autumn Stakes ahead of his all-the-way win in the Autumn Classic.
2026 Caulfield Autumn Classic Tips
Our exclusive Ladbrokes’ Caulfield Autumn Classic 2026 tips will be published below leading up to the Group 2 so stay tuned for the three-year-old staying types to back and sack this autumn.
| 4. Single Choice (11) J: Damian Lane 57kg 153×2T: Matt Cumani |
| 3. Our Chief (6) J: Michael Dee 57kg x3213T: Danny O’brien |
| 2. Deal Done Fast (8) J: Daniel Stackhouse 57kg 2443xT: Matt Cumani |
The Caulfield Autumn Classic is a key support race run on Blue Diamond Stakes Day at Caulfield Racecourse on a Saturday in late February during the annual Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.
Held on the same day as three Group 1 races including the coveted Blue Diamond Stakes, the event is a Group 2 race run over 1800m for young staying types. There are no sex or class restrictions, but the Autumn Classic is run under set weights conditions and is open only to three-year-olds.
Offering $300,000 in total prize money the Caulfield Autumn Classic winner receives $120,000 in stakes for connections.
Over the years the race has proved a nice form guide heading into bigger Melbourne features including the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in March with Super Cool (2013) the last to do the double.
Caulfield Autumn Classic Race Facts
- Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Distance: 1800m
- Conditions: 3YO – Set Weights
- Status: Group 2
- Prize Money: $300,000
- First Run: 1957
Caulfield Autumn Classic Betting
Caulfield Autumn Classic odds favour gallopers with proven form over at least a mile showing the potential to stay further.
Upsets are not uncommon in the race, including the 2018 win by Valiant Spirit ($16) over race favourite Astoria ($3.40), so looking at in-form three-year-olds further down the Autumn Classic betting markets can prove favourable.
Adelaide Ace ($2.50 in 2020), Pericles ($3.50 in 2023) and Single Choice ($4.20 in 2026) are the latest favourites in Autumn Classic betting to salute.
Caulfield Autumn Classic Field
The Caulfield Autumn Classic race field attracts a strong line-up of milers – stayers each year that often come via a host of different lead-ups.
The race has a capacity 16 starter field limit and many runners coming out of the Autumn Classic field back-up at Moonee Valley in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m). Global Exchange (2019) and Shanwah (2025) are the latest three-year-olds to complete the Autumn Classic – Alister Clark Stakes double.
The race is also a nice lead-up to Flemington’s Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) and the last Autumn Classic – Australian Cup double winner was Super Cool (2013).
Caulfield Autumn Classic nominations close the Monday before the race with the final field of acceptances and barrier draw out on the Wednesday.
2026 Caulfield Autumn Classic Field
The official Caulfield Autumn Classic 2026 field and barriers will be announced below once released on the Wednesday leading up to Blue Diamond Stakes Day.
The Autumn Classic 2026 final field features a bumper line-up of young stayers including the spring’s VRC Derby runner-up Arcora and the Danny O’Brien-trained Spirit Of Boom gelding Lucky Lucky Boom chasing a hat-trick.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Arcora
J: John Allen
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
0052x9 | C | 10 | 57kg | |
|
2. Deal Done Fast
J: Daniel Stackhouse
T: Matt Cumani |
2443x | C | 8 | 57kg | |
|
3. Our Chief
J: Michael Dee
T: Danny O'brien |
5x3213 | G | 6 | 57kg | |
|
4. Single Choice
J: Damian Lane
T: Matt Cumani |
1153x2 | G | 11 | 57kg | |
| 5. Bayou Music (8) Scratched: | |||||
|
6. Master Of The Air
J: Ethan Brown
T: Chris Waller |
x116x8 | C | 5 | 57kg | |
|
7. Crocodile
J: Ben Allen
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
519x17 | G | 3 | 57kg | |
|
8. Itazura
J: Zac Spain
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
3x3183 | G | 9 | 57kg | |
|
9. Kaye Jay
J: Jamie Mott
T: Clayton Douglas |
21 | G | 7 | 57kg | |
|
10. Lucky Lucky Boom
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Danny O'brien |
0x5711 | G | 12 | 57kg | |
|
11. Mr Epozino
J: Thomas Stockdale
T: Simon Zahra |
13 | G | 1 | 57kg | |
|
12. The Better Husband
J: Linda Meech
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
4x44x1 | G | 4 | 57kg | |
|
13. Abrafo
J: Ben Melham
T: Mark Walker |
4x9x1 | G | 2 | 57kg | |
| 14. Sixty Grand (3) Scratched: | |||||
|
15. Miss Maranda
J: Luke Cartwright
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
44211 | F | 13 | 55kg | |
2026 Caulfield Autumn Classic Nominations
The official Caulfield Autumn Classic 2026 nominations are open until the Monday of race week and the full list of early entries will be available below once released.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4x9x1 | ABRAFO (NZ) | G | 3 | Mark Walker | 62 |
| 2 | 2214 | ADMIRE FLUKE | G | 3 | Matt Laurie | 61 |
| 3 | x2310052x9 | ARCORA | C | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 90 |
| 4 | 23142×44 | BAYOU MUSIC | G | 3 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 66 |
| 5 | 1 | BERLEMONT | G | 3 | Michael Kent | 64 |
| 6 | 519×17 | CROCODILE | G | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 66 |
| 7 | 2443x | DEAL DONE FAST | C | 3 | Matt Cumani | 84 |
| 8 | 536 | FLYING KHAN | G | 3 | Andrew Bobbin | |
| 9 | 7×5 | HE’S ON SONG | G | 3 | Andrew Bobbin | |
| 10 | 1 | HOTEI SENSHI | G | 3 | Luke Oliver | 63 |
| 11 | 3×3183 | ITAZURA | G | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 61 |
| 12 | 21 | KAYE JAY | G | 3 | Clayton Douglas | 64 |
| 13 | 0x5711 | LUCKY LUCKY BOOM | G | 3 | Danny O’Brien | 65 |
| 14 | 5x8x116x8 | MASTER OF THE AIR | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 67 |
| 15 | 44211 | MISS MARANDA | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 69 |
| 16 | 13 | MR EPOZINO (NZ) | G | 3 | Simon Zahra | 63 |
| 17 | 215×3213 | OUR CHIEF | G | 3 | Danny O’Brien | 69 |
| 18 | 221 | OUR PIERRO | F | 3 | Mitchell Freedman | 62 |
| 19 | 6×482 | PRINCESS OF SOL | F | 3 | Mark & Levi Kavanagh | 59 |
| 20 | 7 | SHOTARO | G | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |
| 21 | 2x51153x2 | SINGLE CHOICE | G | 3 | Matt Cumani | 72 |
| 22 | 71 | SIXTY GRAND (NZ) | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 62 |
| 23 | 64x44x1 | THE BETTER HUSBAND | G | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 61 |
| 24 | 13×5 | TOP REWARD | C | 3 | Clayton Douglas | 68 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Autumn Classic Form Guide
The Caulfield Autumn Classic form guide shows punters the trainers, jockeys, barriers and lead-up runs of all the three-year-olds in the field.
The form out of the race has stacked up in tougher autumn follow-ups including the 2015 winner Alpine Eagle who went on to run second in the Australian Guineas when dropped back to a mile next start.
In 2022 the Caulfield Autumn Classic third placegetter El Patroness franked the form heading to Sydney to win the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m).
The Autumn Classic 2023 form was franked with the winner Pericles going on to perform well in a host more races that year including seconds in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and $10 million Golden Eagle in the spring.
In 2025 Shanwah won the Autumn Classic and Alister Clark Stakes before further franking the form with a third in that year’s Australian Derby in Sydney.
2026 Caulfield Autumn Classic Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Caulfield Autumn Classic 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 AUTUMN CLASSIC FORM GUIDE
Past Caulfield Autumn Classic Results
The Caulfield Autumn Classic race results favour promising staying types that could be heading towards an Australian Cup run over more distance.
Notable recent Caulfield Autumn Classic winners include Pericles (2023), Super Cool (2013), Extra Zero (2010), and Elvstorem (2004).
Caulfield Autumn Classic Winners
Past Caulfield Autumn Classic winners and placegetters going back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Third | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Single Choice | Arcora | Itazura | 1:50.22 |
| 2025 | Shanwah | Confetti Garden | Imperialist | 1:49.79 |
| 2024 | Immediacy | Caracas | Our Couver | 1:49.61 |
| 2023 | Pericles | Mr Maestro | Ausbred Rising Sun | 1:49.42 |
| 2022 | Castlereagh Kid | Lucky Decision | El Patroness | 1:50.55 |
| 2021 | Parure | Butter Chicken | Khoekhoe | 1:49.42 |
| 2020 | Adelaide Ace | Nonconformist | Legion Of Merit | 1:48.96 |
| 2019 | Global Exchange | Cosstetot | Aramayo | 1:48.75 |
| 2018 | Valiant Spirit | Astoria | Mr So And So | 1:49.43 |
| 2017 | Farson | Cliff Hanger | Captain Rhett | 1:49.49 |
| 2016 | Tally | Flying Light | Top Ravine | 1:49.1 |
| 2015 | Alpine Eagle | Minnesinger | Firehouse Rock | 1:48.4 |
| 2014 | Vilanova | Countersnip | Alpha Beat | 1:51.0 |
| 2013 | Super Cool | Fiveandahalfstar | Subiaso | 1:49.8 |
| 2012 | Upbeat | Flashy Fella | Ethiopia | 1:50.0 |
| 2011 | Folding Gear | Elusive King | Almindoro | 1:48.1 |
| 2010 | Extra Zero | Absolute Faith | Money Rocks | 1:50.6 |
| 2009 | Stokehouse | Excelltastic | Zapurple | 1:49.7 |
| 2008 | Brom Brom | Allanthus | Buca Di Bacco | 1:51.4 |
| 2007 | Ambitious General | Danever | Furio | 1:48.9 |
| 2006 | Spinney | Silver Ninja | Cinderella Man | 1:48.1 |
| 2005 | Renewable | Stella Grande | Dizelle | 1:50.1 |
| 2004 | Elvstroem | Delzao | Strafed | 1:49.1 |
| 2003 | Natural Blitz | Glefti | Gallic | 1:49.4 |
| 2002 | Don Eduardo | Royal Code | All Courage | 1:49.4 |
| 2001 | Fubu | Neptunes Journey | Inspire | 1:47.5 |
| 2000 | Pins | Oval Office | Crawl | 1:50.6 |
FAQ
Who won the 2026 Autumn Classic?
The 2026 Autumn Classic was won by three-year-old Anders gelding Single Choice at $4.20 favouritism for trainer Matt Cumani with jockey Damian Lane aboard on 57kg from barrier 11 to win by 0.25 lengths on a Good (4) track in a time of 1:50.22.
Who won the 2025 Autumn Classic?
The 2025 Autumn Classic was won by Shanwah at $3.10 for trainer Ciaron Maher with jockey Blake Shinn aboard on 57kg from barrier 6 to win by 1.5 lengths in a time of 1:49.79.
When is the Autumn Classic 2026?
Saturday, February 21, 2026What is the prize money for the Autumn Classic 2026?
$300,000
Where is the Autumn Classic 2026?
Caulfield Racecourse, Gate 22, Station St, Caulfield East VIC
How do I bet on the 2026 Autumn Classic?
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 Autumn Classic?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Autumn Classic 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.