The latest edition of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes ran on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, as part of Australia’s biggest day of racing – Melbourne Cup Day 2026, and saw Tom Dabernig’s race favourite Shadhavar ($2.70F) salute for the punters in a big 4.25 length victory.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes 2026 offers punters a terrific betting opportunity on Melbourne Cup Day, with a quality line-up of proven mares set to clash over 1400m at Flemington. As a black-type contest run under set weights plus penalties conditions, the Group 3 feature regularly attracts a competitive mix of established stakes performers and in-form mares looking to build their spring résumés and boost their breeding value. With many runners coming through some of the carnival’s strongest mares’ races, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes betting 2026 markets often present excellent value for punters willing to dig into the form. Whether you’re searching for the favourite, tracking market movers, or looking to back an emerging mare on the rise, Ladbrokes has the latest Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes odds 2026, betting updates, runner news, and expert insights for one of Melbourne Cup Day’s key support races.
2026 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Results
The official Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes 2026 Results & Finishing order including the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes winner will be available below once the race takes place on Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- #2 Shadhavar
- #15 Tomato Toastie
- #11 Gold Medallist
Favourite Shadhavar ($2.70F) capped a stellar spring campaign with a commanding victory in the 2026 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes results at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. The in-form five-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai, prepared by Tom Dabernig and expertly ridden by Craig Williams, settled prominently before letting down strongly in the straight to score by a dominant four-length margin in 1:21.50. She comfortably accounted for $41 outsider Tomato Toastie, while Gold Medallist edged into third by a nose. The win further enhanced Shadhavar’s outstanding season, adding another black-type success to her resume following victories in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes and Listed Regal Roller and Matrice Stakes, with connections now considering a potential autumn target in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes.
2026 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Race Replay
2026 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Odds & Finishing Order
The season’s latest Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes 2026 betting odds on the field of mares will be available as soon as released, so stay tuned for access to the best markets on the Melbourne Cup Day Group 3 this spring followed by the official finishing order after the event.
| 2. Shadhavar (2) 58kgx1421 | |||
| 15. Tomato Toastie (11) 55kg825×8 | |||
| 11. Gold Medallist (16) 55kg2×552 | |||
| 8. Terilee (8) 55kg15×32 | |||
| 5. Miss Freelove (12) 56kg13×40 | |||
| 14. Milos Filos (13) 55kg31×31 | |||
| 13. Stealth Of Night (9) 55kgx8245 | |||
| 9. Betwitchery (15) 55kg80930 | |||
| 17. Cooly (6) 55kg015×6 | |||
| 4. Dance To The Boom (7) 57kgx07x2 | |||
| 7. So You Pence (4) 55kg1x1x3 | |||
| 12. Butternut Princess (10) 55kg43784 | |||
| 3. Oh Too Good (3) 57kg226×9 | |||
| 6. Ruska Roma (14) 56kg41×64 | |||
| 10. Bon Mistress (1) 55kg28×67 | |||
| 1. Stylish (5) 58kg73516 | |||
| 16. You Sexy Thing (13)SCRATCHED: | |||
| 18. Karren (8)SCRATCHED: | |||
Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Tips
Tips for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes are dominated by any mares coming off a previous Group status win over the spring and those with a proven record at the famous Flemington track.
Another key betting tip is to take a widely-drawn mare with 12 of the 17 winners from 2009 – 2026 jumping from barrier 10 or wider, including five from barrier 10, most recently Rich Hips (2021) and Skew Wiff (2023). The 2022 winner Larkspur Run jumped from barrier 12 of 15. In 2024 Fancify won from barrier 11, while the 2025 winner Dance To The Boom won from gate 13.
2026 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Predictions & Best Bets
Our Ladbrokes’ exclusive Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes 2026 tips and selections on what mares will enjoy a Melbourne Cup Day victory will be detailed below the week of the race, so stay tuned.
| 2. Shadhavar (2) 58kgx1421 |
| 7. So You Pence (4) 55kg1x1x3 |
| 11. Gold Medallist (16) 55kg2×552 |
Melbourne Cup Day 2026 Race Schedule
| Race Number | Start Time (AEDT) | Status | Prize Money | Conditions | Race Name | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race 1 | 10:45am | Group 3 | $240,000 | Set Weights, 2YO | Darley Maribyrnong Plate | 1000m |
| Race 2 | 11:20am | Benchmark 80 | $150,000 | Handicap | Pin & Win Community Handicap | 2000m |
| Race 3 | 12:00pm | Listed | $200,000 | Set Weights Plus Penalties, 3YO | TAB One Pool Trophy | 1800m |
| Race 4 | 12:40pm | Feature Handicap | $150,000 | Set Weights Plus Penalties, 3YO | The Schweppervescence Plate | 1000m |
| Race 5 | 1:20pm | Benchmark 96 | $250,000 | Handicap | Australian Heritage Cup | 2800m |
| Race 6 | 1:55pm | Listed | $200,000 | Handicap | Asahi Super Dry Plate | 1800m |
| Race 7 | 3:00pm | Group 1 | $10.2 Million | Handicap | Lexus Melbourne Cup | 3200m |
| Race 8 | 3:50pm | Listed | $200,000 | Quality, 3YO | Crown Amanda Elliott | 1400m |
| Race 9 | 4:35pm | Group 3 | $240,000 | Set Weights Plus Penalties, Mares | Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes | 1400m |
| Race 10 | 5:15pm | Benchmark 90 | $150,000 | Handicap | Channel 9 Trophy | 1400m |
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes – also known as the Maybe Mahal Stakes – is a Group 3 race for mares aged four-years-old and above taking place at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November annually on the hugely popular Melbourne Cup Day card.
Racing at headquarters that day is dominated by the time-honoured Group 1 $10.2 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) and also features the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) for two-year-olds.
The event is contested at set weights plus penalties and currently offers $240,000 in prize money.
It’s registered name is in honour of former top Bart Cummings-trained mare Maybe Mahal who was the 1977-1978 Australian Racehorse of the Year.
The race has held Group 3 status since 2012 and a number of top-class mares have won the event including Neroli (2008), Strawberry Field (2009), Plucky Belle (2013), Rich Hips (2020, 2021) and runaway four-length champion Shadhavar (2026).
Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Info
- Registered Race Name: Maybe Mahal Stakes
- Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Track: Flemington Racecourse
- Distance: 1400m
- Conditions: Mares, 4YOs & Upwards, Set Weights + Penalties
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $240,000
- First Run: 2005
Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Betting
Odds for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes are displayed shortly after the final field is released on the Wednesday prior to the race but most of the betting is done on the Saturday with the number of bets increasing as it gets closer to start time.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes odds displayed by bookies are determined by each horses lead up form over the Spring Carnival and may include races in Melbourne as well as the Sydney Carnival.
The prices on individual mares range from the favourite who would have been winning or running around the placings and could be as short as $3 and range up to $51 to $101 for those horses that have been running near to last than first.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes betting is big business as the punters enjoy bets on Melbourne Cup Day.
Shadhavar ($2.70 in 2026) was the last favourite in Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes betting to salute.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Field
The final field for the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes is made up of older mares, many coming off previous Group 3 and Group 2 lead-up spring races.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes nominations close on the Wednesday before the race, with final acceptances on the Friday before VRC Derby Day runs on the Saturday to kick off the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
2026 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
The official 2026 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw will be published below once announced on the Friday before the race.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Stylish
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
273516 | M | 5 | 58kg | |
|
2. Shadhavar
J: Craig Williams
T: Tom Dabernig |
1×1421 | M | 2 | 58kg | |
|
3. Oh Too Good
J: Damian Lane
T: Kevin Daffy |
0226×9 | M | 3 | 57kg | |
|
4. Dance To The Boom
J: Rachel King
T: Bjorn Baker |
5x07x2 | M | 7 | 57kg | |
|
5. Miss Freelove
J: Blake Shinn
T: Peter Snowden |
613×40 | M | 12 | 56kg | |
|
6. Ruska Roma
J: Jordan Childs
T: Grahame Begg |
741×64 | M | 14 | 56kg | |
|
7. So You Pence
J: Tommy Berry
T: Matthew Dale |
51x1x3 | M | 4 | 55kg | |
|
8. Terilee
J: William Pike
T: Michael Kent |
115×32 | M | 8 | 55kg | |
|
9. Betwitchery
J: Luke Currie
T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
380930 | M | 15 | 55kg | |
|
10. Bon Mistress
J: Jett Stanley
T: Ken & Kasey Keys |
428×67 | M | 1 | 55kg | |
|
11. Gold Medallist
J: Luke Nolen
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
12×552 | M | 16 | 55kg | |
|
12. Butternut Princess
J: Ben Melham
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
x43784 | M | 10 | 55kg | |
|
13. Stealth Of Night
J: Zac Lloyd
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
3×8245 | M | 9 | 55kg | |
|
14. Milos Filos
J: Alana Kelly
T: Liam Howley |
231×31 | M | 13 | 55kg | |
|
15. Tomato Toastie
J: Tim Clark
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
3825×8 | M | 11 | 55kg | |
| 16. You Sexy Thing (13) Scratched: | |||||
|
17. Cooly
J: James McDonald
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
3015×6 | M | 6 | 55kg | |
| 18. Karren (8) Scratched: | |||||
2026 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Nominations
The early Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes 2026 Nominations close on the Wednesday leading up to 2026 Melbourne Cup Day.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Form Guide
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes form guide shows all the must know race facts and stats on the horses in the field including their lead-up runs, strike-rate at the track / distance and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes barrier draw.
The form out of the Maybe Mahal Stakes / Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes has often gone on to be franked by the winning mares over their careers. The 2013 winner Plucky Belle took out the 2015 Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m), while looking further back Neroli won the 2008 event before returning the next autumn to win the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) in the autumn of 2009.
2026 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Form Guide
A link to the full 2026 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Form Guide will be provided below once the field is out.
Past Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Results
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes race results display the full finishing order of all the runners, their starting prices and weights along with the winning margins and times.
Rich Hips (2020-2021) is the only two-time Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes winning mare in the race’s history.
Recent Maybe Mahal Stakes / Hong Kong Jockey Club Past Winners
Recent Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2005 are detailed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Shadhavar | Tomato Toastie | Gold Medallist |
| 2025 | Dance to the Boom | Roll on High | Jenni the Fox |
| 2024 | Fancify | Tiz Invincible | Konasana |
| 2023 | Skew Wiff | Foxy Cleopatra | Forbidden City |
| 2022 | Larkspur Run | Literary Magnate | Mac ‘N’ Cheese |
| 2021 | Rich Hips | Excelida | Paul’s Regret |
| 2020 | Rich Hips | Lyre | Wild Vixen |
| 2019 | Teleplay | La Tigeresa | Sweet Scandal |
| 2018 | Cool Passion | Princess Posh | Savatiano |
| 2017 | Pedrena | Cool Passion | Swampland |
| 2016 | Artistry | Shillelagh | Silent Sedition |
| 2015 | Scarlet Billows | Wawail | She’s Clean |
| 2014 | Mahara | Rose Of Choice | Vibrant Rouge |
| 2013 | Plucky Belle | Arinosa | She’s Clean |
| 2012 | Koonoomoo | Cabernet | Mid Summer Music |
| 2011 | Sophie’s Spirit | Little Surfer Girl | Divorces |
| 2010 | Jersey Lily | Happy Hippy | Valentine Miss |
| 2009 | Strawberry Field | Ortensia | Rose Syrah |
| 2008 | Neroli | Jacqueline Rouge | Jewelled Gate |
| 2007 | Juste Momente | Zip Baby Zip | Goldfield Ashes |
| 2006 | Storm Signal | Pasikatera | Hasta La Ciao Ciao |
| 2005 | Vintner | Pin Up | Irongail |