The latest edition of the Colin Stephen Quality took place on Saturday, September 26, 2026 offering a The Metropolitan ballot exemption to the eye-catching Bjorn Baker-trained winner So You Are ($2.15F) who carried the topweight to victory for the punters.
The Colin Stephen Quality 2026 is a key staying contest on Rosehill’s Golden Rose Day program, giving punters a crucial early look at the horses shaping the Sydney spring staying ranks. Run over a testing 2400m, the race regularly attracts proven stayers deep into their preparations, emerging types stretching to the trip for the first time, and runners chasing momentum ahead of major Group 1 targets. With its long‑standing reputation as a spring launching pad, the Colin Stephen Quality provides reliable form lines, tactical depth and strong betting opportunities for punters tracking the staying features. For those lining up early markets, futures plays and race‑day value, the Colin Stephen Quality is a must‑watch event that helps define the road toward the carnival’s biggest staying races.
2026 Colin Stephen Quality Results
The full Colin Stephen Quality 2026 race results and finishing order will be provided below as soon as the race is run and won on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
- #1 So You Are
- #4 Amplify
- #2 Bella Montagna
Hot favourite So You Are ($2.15F) enhanced his spring staying credentials with a gritty victory in the 2026 Colin Stephen Quality results at Rosehill, with the Bjorn Baker-trained five-year-old digging deep under Rachel King to hold off Amplify by a half-neck, while Bella Montagna completed the trifecta. The progressive son of So You Think continues to go from strength to strength and now shapes as a genuine contender for the major staying features after connections flagged races including the Group 2 The Metropolitan and a potential Melbourne campaign. The win also sparked a significant market reaction at Ladbrokes, with So You Are’s The Metropolitan odds slashed from $51 into $13, while his Melbourne Cup quote tightened from $101 into $51, making him one of the spring’s biggest staying market movers.
2026 Colin Stephen Quality Race Replay
2026 Colin Stephen Quality Odds & Finishing Order
The season’s top Colin Stephen Quality 2026 odds and Group 3 betting links to our Golden Rose Day markets will be provided below as soon as open followed by the official finishing order after the event.
Colin Stephen Quality 2026 Results
| 1. So You Are (6) J: Rachel King 58.5kg 32421 T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 4. Amplify (5) J: Zac Lloyd 53kg 43134 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 2. Bella Montagna (3) J: Tim Clark 53kg 25×43 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | ||
| 3. Sam Hawkens (4) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 53kg 70×06 T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton | ||
| 7. Spacetime Legend (1) J: Reece Jones 53kg 53693 T: Joel Wilkes | ||
| 5. Fernao (2) J: Alysha Collett 53kg 62222 T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
Colin Stephen Quality Tips
Good Colin Stephen Quality betting tips include backing Sydney-trained stayers with previous winning form over the mile and a half distance and those at single-figures in the markets.
While Entente (2021) was the first favourite to win since Julienas (2013), backing horses under $10 in the markets is a top Colin Stephen Quality tip as no horse has won at double-figures since Get Up Jude ($12 in 2008). The favourites were on top again in 2026 with So You Are ($2.15).
Ladbrokes Tip: The Colin Stephen Quality serves as an early lead-up into The Metropolitan
2026 Colin Stephen Quality Predictions & Best Bets
Our Ladbrokes’ exclusive Colin Stephen Quality 2026 betting tips and exotic Rosehill selections on The Metropolitan ballot exemption-offering event will be detailed below the week of the race.
| 2. Bella Montagna (3) J: Tim Clark 53kg 25×43 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 1. So You Are (6) J: Rachel King 58.5kg 32421 T: Bjorn Baker |
| 4. Amplify (5) J: Zac Lloyd 53kg 43134 T: Ciaron Maher |
The Colin Stephen Quality is a Group 3 handicap race for stayers aged three-year-old and above run at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse on a Saturday in late September during the annual Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. Contested at the same meeting as the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) and the $400,000 Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m), the race is contested over 2400m and offers $250,000 in total prize money.
Graduates may go on to run in tougher Sydney and Melbourne races over the spring carnival and the Colin Stephen Quality winner is exempt from ballot for the Group 2 The Metropolitan (2400m) held at Royal Randwick on Epsom Handicap Day.
Railings (2005) however was the last horse to complete the Colin Stephen Quality – The Metropolitan double, along with that spring’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in Melbourne.
The Colin Stephen Quality was first run in 1870 as the Spring Stakes and has held Group 3 status since 1987.
Many excellent horses have won the race over the years including Carbine (1890), Wakeful (1902), Poseidon (1907), triple champion Poitrel (1918-20), Phar Lap (1930-31), Peter Pan (1935), Flight (1944), Hydrogen (1953), and Gunsynd (1972).
Colin Stephen Quality Race Info
- Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
- Track: Rosehill Gardens
- Distance: 2400m
- Conditions: Quality Handicap
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $250,000
- First Run: 1870
Colin Stephen Quality Betting
Colin Stephen Quality betting favours local Sydney-trained stayers coming off good lead-up runs in the early spring distance races including the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) or the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) run at Randwick.
Any in-form horses prepared by Gai Waterhouse are also usually kept safe in Colin Stephen Quality betting as she has won the race six times since 1999 most recently with Stampede (2019) – who went on to run a next-up fourth in that year’s The Metropolitan results – and Entente (2021).
Waterhouse also prepared two of the most recent Colin Stephen Quality favourites to salute for the punters with Julienas ($2.60 in 2013) and Entente ($4.60 in 2021).
Waterhouse celebrated her incredible 10th overall Colin Stephen Quality victory co-training Grove Ferry in 2022.
Julienas ($2.60 in 2013), Entente ($4.60 in 2021) and So You Are ($2.15 in 2026) are the latest favourites in Colin Stephen Quality betting to win.
Colin Stephen Quality Field
The Colin Stephen Quality race field attracts a quality line-up of mainly Sydney-trained staying types with Group 1 ambitions over the spring carnival.
Some horses out of the Colin Stephen Quality field may choose to head to Brisbane for the Listed Queensland Cup (2400m), a race the 2020 Colin Stephen Quality third placegetter Grey Lion went on to win.
Colin Stephen Quality nominations close the Monday before the race runs on the Saturday with the field and barrier draw announced on the Wednesday.
2026 Colin Stephen Quality Field
The official Colin Stephen Quality 2026 Final Field & Barrier Draw will be published in full below the Wednesday leading-up to Golden Rose Stakes Day so stay tuned to see what gallopers line-up in the Group 3 feature.
The 2026 Colin Stephen Quality final field features a compact line-up of just seven stayers including Bjorn Baker’s last start Listed Tatt’s Cup winner So You Are giving all the weight away to his rivals.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. So You Are
J: Rachel King
T: Bjorn Baker |
432421 | G | 6 | 58.5kg | |
|
2. Bella Montagna
J: Tim Clark
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
425×43 | M | 3 | 53kg | |
|
3. Sam Hawkens
J: Kerrin Mcevoy
T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton |
870×06 | G | 4 | 53kg | |
|
4. Amplify
J: Zac Lloyd
T: Ciaron Maher |
943134 | M | 5 | 53kg | |
|
5. Fernao
J: Alysha Collett
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
062222 | G | 2 | 53kg | |
| 6. Chief Little Rock (3) Scratched: | |||||
|
7. Spacetime Legend
J: Reece Jones
T: Joel Wilkes |
253693 | G | 1 | 53kg | |
2026 Colin Stephen Quality Nominations
The Colin Stephen Quality 2026 Nominations are announced by Racing NSW the Monday of race week and will be published below once announced.
Colin Stephen Quality Form Guide
The Colin Stephen Quality form guide details to punters all the facts and stats from the jockeys, trainers and barriers, to the horse’s records over the track / distance and their lead-up runs.
The Colin Stephen Quality form has stacked-up in bigger staying features over the spring including the Victorian features with a number of Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup winners coming off the Sydney lead-up.
In 2021 the Colin Stephen Quality form was franked with the winner Entente running a next-up second in The Metropolitan results.
In 2025, the Colin Stephen Quality form proved rock‑solid for punters, with runner‑up Juja Kibo backing up impressively to finish in The Metropolitan trifecta at his next start.
2026 Colin Stephen Quality Form Guide
A link to our detailed Colin Stephen Quality 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Past Colin Stephen Quality Results
The Colin Stephen Quality race results have been dominated by single-figure runners over the past decade.
Some of the most noteworthy Colin Stephen Quality winners throughout history include No Wine No Song (2010), Railings (2005), Gunsynd (1972), Roman Consul (1968), Redcraze (1956), Hydrogen (1953), Delta (1950/1951), Russia (1945), Flight (1944), Peter Pan (1935), Phar Lap (1930/1931), Windbag (1925), Gloaming (1924), Poitrel (1918/1919/1920), Poseidon (1907), Wakeful (1902), and Carbine (1890).
Piggyback (2025) was the last Colin Stephen Quality winning mare and the first since Miss Admiration (2018).
Recent Colin Stephen Quality Winners
Recent Colin Stephen Quality winners, trainers, jockeys, weights and times dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | So You Are | Bjorn Baker | Rachel King | 58.5 kgs | 2:28.95 |
| 2025 | Piggyback | Ciaron Maher | Tim Clark | 55.5 kgs | 2:28.98 |
| 2024 | First Light | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 54 kgs | 2:29.22 |
| 2023 | Athabascan | John O’Shea | Tom Sherry | 55 kgs | 2:29.13 |
| 2022 | Grove Ferry | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 55 kgs | 2:29.34 |
| 2021 | Entente | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 56.5 kgs | 2:27.36 |
| 2020 | Attorney | Matthew Smith | Jason Collett | 54 kgs | 2:29.90 |
| 2019 | Stampede | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 59 kgs | 2:29.87 |
| 2018 | Miss Admiration | Mick Price | Jay Ford | 53 kgs | 2:29.55 |
| 2017 | Auvray | Richard Freedman | Glyn Schofield | 57 kgs | 2:30.35 |
| 2016 | Allergic | John O’Shea | James McDonald | 58 kgs | 2:30.88 |
| 2015 | Amelie’s Star | Peter Moody | Joshua Parr | 56.5 kgs | 2:30.84 |
| 2014 | Deane Martin | Bruce Wallace | Brenton Avdulla | 55 kgs | 2:29.51 |
| 2013 | Julienas | Gai Waterhouse | Nash Rawiller | 59 kgs | 2:30.56 |
| 2012 | Kelinni | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 55.5 kgs | 2:30.48 |
| 2011 | Lamasery | David Vandyke | Brenton Avdulla | 57 kgs | 2:29.93 |
| 2010 | No Wine No Song | Kevin Moses | Jim Cassidy | 58 kgs | 2:30.45 |
| 2009 | Mr Clangtastic | Marc Conners | Craig Agnew | 57 kgs | 2:29.85 |
| 2008 | Get Up Jude | Diane Poidevin Laine | Blake Shinn | 53 kgs | 2:31.15 |
| 2007 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2006 | Exinite | Kris Lees | Larry Cassidy | 52.5 kgs | 2:28.80 |
| 2005 | Railings | John Hawkes | Darren Beadman | 55.5 kgs | 2:32.55 |
| 2004 | Don Raphael | Kerry Parker | Glen Boss | 56.5 kgs | 2:29.83 |
| 2003 | Outlaws | John Hawkes | Darren Beadman | 53.5 kgs | 2:29.17 |
| 2002 | Red Trinket | Gai Waterhouse | Chris Munce | 54 kgs | 2:30.52 |
| 2001 | Dress Circle | Gai Waterhouse | Lenny Beasley | 52 kgs | 2:14.92 |
| 2000 | Coco Cobanna | Gai Waterhouse | Chris Munce | 55.5 kgs | 2:31.41 |