The latest edition of the Caulfield Classic ran on Saturday, October 17, 2026 as part of the Caulfield Cup Day race card as a VRC Derby lead-up and was won in a narrow upset by the progressive Shane Jackson-trained King Snitz ($16).
The Caulfield Classic 2026 is a race that often identifies the next wave of staying talent during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, making it a must-watch event for punters and racing fans alike. Run over 2000m on Caulfield Cup Day, the Group 3 feature is restricted to three-year-olds and regularly attracts progressive youngsters on the rise through the staying ranks. With future Derby contenders and emerging spring stars frequently using the race as a launching pad to bigger targets, the Caulfield Classic has earned a reputation as a key form race for the season. Follow the latest Caulfield Classic odds 2026, market movers, field updates, and expert Caulfield Classic betting 2026 predictions at Ladbrokes as the next generation of staying prospects battle for valuable black-type success at Caulfield.
2026 Caulfield Classic Results
The full Caulfield Classic 2026 Results & Finishing Order will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
- #8 King Snitz
- #2 Vallice
- #3 Cignetti
The 2026 Caulfield Classic results produced one of the biggest upsets of Caulfield Cup Day when Warrnambool-trained colt King Snitz ($16) announced himself as a genuine staying prospect with a gritty victory in the Group 3 feature over 2000m. Ridden expertly by Damian Lane, the son of Snitzel edged out fellow Victoria Derby hopefuls Vallice and Cignetti in a thrilling three-way finish, giving trainer Shane Jackson a maiden stakes success and the lightly raced colt just his second win from four starts. Jackson revealed the stable had initially planned a softer lead-up towards the Derby before owner Tony Ottobre encouraged them to take their chance, a decision that paid immediate dividends. The trainer believes King Snitz, out of Australian Oaks winner Princess Jenni, will only improve over longer distances, while Lane was equally impressed by the colt’s ability to sustain a strong run from the 600m and suggested the step up to 2500m could suit. The performance saw King Snitz rocket into Victoria Derby 2026 calculations, with Ladbrokes slashing his futures odds from $26 into $9, alongside Caulfield Classic placegetters Vallice ($7) and Cignetti ($9), ahead of Flemington’s Group 1 classic later this month.
2026 Caulfield Classic Race Replay
2026 Caulfield Classic Odds & Finishing Order
The season’s latest Caulfield Classic 2026 odds and links to our Caulfield Classic betting markets will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned for the best prices on the VRC Derby-bound three-year-olds this Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival followed by the official finishing order after the event.
| 8. King Snitz (4) 57kg931 | |||
| 2. Vallice (7) 57kgx4452 | |||
| 3. Cignetti (1) 57kg5×123 | |||
| 6. Russian Rock (2) 57kg3×15 | |||
| 1. Lepolo (5) 57kg110 | |||
| 5. Skua (8) 57kg2×316 | |||
| 4. Aragog (3) 57kg14×25 | |||
| 7. Vantaa (6) 57kg21 | |||
| 9. Aerostatique (7)SCRATCHED: | |||
Caulfield Classic Tips
Good Caulfield Classic tips include looking for a three-year-old coming off a top three run in Group company, runners with winning form over the distance and the colts who have a better record over any fillies taking on the boys in the race with Sacred Eye (2015) the last filly to win.
Looking for the best in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington earlier in the spring is another key Caulfield Classic betting tip with that race producing the past four winners most recently Sunsets (4th in 2023).
Ladbrokes Tip: The Caulfield Classic is a key Victoria Derby lead-up each spring
2026 Caulfield Classic Predictions & Best Bets
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Caulfield Classic 2026 betting tips will be detailed below the week of the race so bookmark this page for the three-year-olds to back and sack in the Caulfield Cup Day support act this season.
| 2. Vallice (7) 57kgx4452 |
| 3. Cignetti (1) 57kg5×123 |
| 8. King Snitz (4) 57kg931 |
The Caulfield Classic is an important Group 3 race run and won at Caulfield Racecourse each October over the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. The 2000m event currently offers $240,000 in stakes and is a set weights race open only to three-year-olds.
The Caulfield Classic takes place on Caulfield Cup Day with racing at the meeting headlined by the Melbourne Cup hopefuls facing off in the Group 1 $6.55 million Caulfield Cup (2400m).
The Caulfield Classic was first run in 1971 as the Wallace Stakes and is officially registered as the Norman Robinson Stakes.
Up until 1990 it was a handicap event before changing to its current set weights conditions. The race has held its current Group 3 status since 2005.
The Caulfield Classic remains a key lead-up into Flemington’s Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) run at headquarters on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup.
To date five horses have completed the Caulfield Classic – Victoria Derby double: Omnicorp (1987), Nothin’ Leica Dane (1995), Blackfriars (1999), Amalfi (2001), and most recently Polanski (2013).
The last Victoria Derby winner to come out of the Caulfield Classic was the ill-fated Riff Rocket (2nd in 2023).
Caulfield Classic Race Info
- Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Distance: 2000m
- Conditions: 3YOs- Set Weights
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $240,000
- First Run: 1971
Caulfield Classic Betting
Caulfield Classic betting odds are led each season by quality three-year-old staying types with proven Melbourne form, ability over at least a mile, and those coming off a run in a lead-up race against similar rivals.
Gunstock ($3.80 in 2021) and Mr Maestro ($1.70 in 2022) are the latest favourites in Caulfield Classic betting to salute for the punters.
There was a notable upset in 2023 with Sunsets ($26) defeating the odds-on favourite Riff Rocket ($1.28) at big Caulfield Classic odds, while in 2026 the Caulfield Classic winner King Snitz paid a juicy $16.
Caulfield Classic Field
The Caulfield Classic race field attracts a collection of the season’s top young stayers many eyeing a Group 1 VRC Derby run over further on Derby Day a fortnight later.
The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) makes a nice lead-up into the Caulfield Classic field.
The Caulfield Classic nominations close on the Monday of race week before final acceptances on the Wednesday before Caulfield Cup Day.
2026 Caulfield Classic Final Field
The official Caulfield Classic 2026 Final Field & Barriers will be released on the Wednesday of race week and detailed in full below so stay tuned to see what three-year-olds line-up in the Group 3 showdown.
The Caulfield Classic 2026 final field features a quality line-up of VRC Derby types led in betting by the Ciaron Maher-trained Vallice coming off a tough run in the mud at Flemington behind Miss Waititi in Black-Type company.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Lepolo
J: Harry Coffey
T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |
110 | C | 5 | 57kg | |
|
2. Vallice
J: Mark Zahra
T: Ciaron Maher |
1×4452 | C | 7 | 57kg | |
|
3. Cignetti
J: Blake Shinn
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
35×123 | G | 1 | 57kg | |
|
4. Aragog
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
714×25 | C | 3 | 57kg | |
|
5. Skua
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
2×316 | C | 8 | 57kg | |
|
6. Russian Rock
J: Craig Williams
T: Michael Trotter |
3×15 | G | 2 | 57kg | |
|
7. Vantaa
J: Jake Noonan
T: Matt Laurie |
21 | G | 6 | 57kg | |
|
8. King Snitz
J: Damian Lane
T: Shane Jackson |
931 | C | 4 | 57kg | |
| 9. Aerostatique (7) Scratched: | |||||
2026 Caulfield Classic Nominations
The Caulfield Classic 2026 Nominations are first taken on the Monday leading-up to Caulfield Cup week.
Caulfield Classic Form Guide
The Caulfield Classic form guide gives punters all the crucial information from trainers, jockeys and barriers to the lead-up runs and track / distance records of the mares in the race.
The Caulfield Classic form has gone on to stack-up in tougher grade Group 1 races many times over the years especially in the VRC Derby.
Casual Pass meanwhile in 2003 franked the Caulfield Classic form going on to win that year’s Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes – now the Champions Stakes – against the older horses over the Cup Carnival.
In 2023 the Caulfield Classic winner Sunsets ran a next-up third in the VRC Derby behind Riff Rocket who improved on his 2nd in the Group 3 to win.
Riff Rocket further franked the Caulfield Classic form in 2024 winning both the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby in the autumn but would sadly pass away due to surgical complications for colic that September.
The 2024 Caulfield Classic form stacked up nicely with the runner-up China Sea backing it up with a third in the VRC Derby trifecta, while the winner, Kingofwallstreet, wasn’t disgraced either, finishing a close fourth in Group 1 company next start.
2026 Caulfield Classic Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Caulfield Classic 2026 Form Guide will be available for punters the week of the race.
Past Caulfield Classic Results
The Caulfield Classic race results have been dominated by in-form colts with an eye on the Victoria Derby.
Sacred Eye (2015) was the last Caulfield Classic winning filly.
Lady Purpose holds the current Caulfield Classic race record winning over 2000m in 1991 in a time of 2 minutes 1 second.
Recent Caulfield Classic Winners
Recent Caulfield Classic winners and placegetters dating back to the year 1988 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2026 | King Snitz | Vallice | Cignetti | 2:03.94 |
| 2025 | Autumn Mystery | Miewa | Amazake | 2:06.32 |
| 2024 | Kingofwallstreet | China Sea | Keeneland | 2:09.89 |
| 2023 | Sunsets | Riff Rocket | Gates | 2:05.5 |
| 2022 | Mr Maestro | Muramasa | Distrustful Award | 2:06.8 |
| 2021 | Gunstock | El Patroness | Teewaters | 2:05.5 |
| 2020 | Albarado | Let’s Karaka Deal | Hit The Shot | 2:07.9 |
| 2019 | Thought Of That | Warning | Brilliant Venture | 2:02.8 |
| 2018 | Thinkin’ Big | Chapada | Sikorsky | 2:06.7 |
| 2017 | Cliff’s Edge | Tangled | Main Stage | 2:02.4 |
| 2016 | Good Standing | Rocketeer | Inference | 2:04.3 |
| 2015 | Sacred Eye | Lizard Island | Etymology | 2:03.2 |
| 2014 | Fontein Ruby | Crafty | Firehouse Rock | 2:03.8 |
| 2013 | Polanski | San Diego | Epic Saga | 2:02.0 |
| 2012 | Hvasstan | Honorius | Electric Fusion | 2:03.8 |
| 2011 | Sabrage | Sangster | Niagara | 2:03.0 |
| 2010 | Retrieve | Almindoro | Digital Fortress | 2:08.3 |
| 2009 | Shamoline Warrior | Onemorenomore | Gathering | 2:03.9 |
| 2008 | Pre Eminence | Miss Scarlatti | Paddy O’Reilly | 2.04.3 |
| 2007 | Pillar Of Hercules | Down Under Boy | Villian | 2:04.5 |
| 2006 | Get Square | Ulfah | Sir Lago | 2:03.6 |
| 2005 | Pendragon | Headturner | Replicator | 2:03.5 |
| 2004 | Cedar Manor | Court Ricardo | King Durham | 2:04.5 |
| 2003 | Casual Pass | Our Court | Face Value | 2:04.5 |
| 2002 | Platinum Scissors | Hydrometer | Aint Here | 2:02.3 |
| 2001 | Amalfi | Grey Song | Tully Zeal | 2:05.3 |
| 2000 | Royale Exit | Hit The Roof | Adolescence | 2:01.2 |
| 1999 | Blackfriars | Chief Scout | Freemason | 2:04.5 |
| 1998 | Lawyer | Sky Heights | Arena | 2:04.3 |
| 1997 | Brave Prince | Danasuria | Tie The Knot | 2:03.5 |
| 1996 | Mustang Ranch | Tambour | Ebony Grosve | 2:04.4 |
| 1995 | Nothin Leica Dane | Catalan Opening | Arctic Scent | 2:05.2 |
| 1994 | Punctual | Destined | Celtic Explosion | 2:04.2 |
| 1993 | Battle Hawk | Waikikamukau | McGuane | 2:02.6 |
| 1992 | River Hero | Skilero | Queens Choice | 2:07.7 |
| 1991 | Lady Purpose | Star Of The Realm | Barrakee | 2:00.1 |
| 1990 | Big Dermott | Callao Star | Fire Oak | 2:03.6 |
| 1989 | Counterfeit | Ice Solid | Lemarque | 2:01.6 |
| 1988 | Panneria | Yarra Bay | Oakwood | 2:00.0 |