The latest edition of the Kevin Heffernan Stakes ran at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, February 7, 2026 and saw the Godolphin-raced Tom Kitten ($3F) narrowly salute for the punters fresh.
2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Results
The full Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Results & Finishing Order will be provided below once the race is run and won on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
- #1 Tom Kitten
- #3 Feroce
- #2 Veight
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Tom Kitten ($3F) returned to winning form in style at Caulfield on Saturday, powering home to claim victory for the punters in the 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes results with a trademark late surge that reminded punters why he’s one of the most reliable weight-for-age performers in training. Settling back in the field before building momentum approaching the bend off a perfectly timed ride by Craig Williams, the classy Godolphin galloper let down strongly in the straight, running down the front-running Feroce to score a narrow but convincing win – his first since last autumn’s All-Star Mile – and signal he’s in for another lucrative autumn campaign.
2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Odds & Results
The season’s top Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 odds and betting market links will be available below the week of the race followed by the official Kevin Heffernan Stakes results and finishing order after the event.
| 1. Tom Kitten (8) J: Craig Williams 59kg 5453xT: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 3. Feroce (2) J: Damian Lane 59kg 6380xT: Dominic Sutton | ||
| 2. Veight (1) J: Luke Currie 59kg 0x0x2T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy | ||
| 7. Plymouth (7) J: Ben Allen 59kg 6120xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 5. Sandpaper (6) J: Jamie Mott 59kg 70261T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 8. Jennilala (4) J: Thomas Stockdale 57kg 24004T: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 6. Hughes (3) J: Harry Coffey 59kg x5062T: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 4. Zou Sensation (5) J: Jamie Melham 59kg 12341T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
Kevin Heffernan Stakes Tips
Good Kevin Heffernan Stakes tips include backing in-form horses, last start winners and well-drawn horses in the event.
Horses drawn in barriers three or four make the best Kevin Heffernan Stakes bet with these two gates producing seven of the 12 winners between 2013 and 2026 most recently Welwal (3 in 2024).
Seven-year-olds also make a good bet four seven-year-olds saluting in as many years between 2015 and 2018.
2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ exclusive Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 betting tips and exotic Melbourne racing selections will be detailed below the week of the race so bookmark this page for the runners to back and sack in the $200,000 feature.
| 4. Zou Sensation (5) J: Jamie Melham 59kg 12341T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
| 1. Tom Kitten (8) J: Craig Williams 59kg 5453xT: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
| 7. Plymouth (7) J: Ben Allen 59kg 6120xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
The Kevin Heffernan Stakes is a Group 3 showdown currently taking place in early February as a key support act on the popular Rubiton Stakes Day card at Caulfield.
Previously contested in the spring, it moved to the early autumn ahead of the 2026 edition.
Racing on the card is headlined by the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m), a race that often attracts stayers heading towards the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.
The other key races on the line-up include the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) for three-year-olds and the Blue Diamond Prelude races.
The Kevin Heffernan Stakes is a weight-for-age event run over 1400m and offers $200,000 in prize money.
First held in 2001 it is named after the Melbourne Racing Club’s former committeeman Kevin Heffernan.
In 2025, Tom Kitten won the Kevin Heffernan Stakes breaking a winning drought going back to the previous autumn’s All-Star Mile.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes Race Info
- Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse (since 2021)
- Distance: 1400m (previously 1300m)
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $200,000
- First Run: 2001
Kevin Heffernan Stakes Betting
Kevin Heffernan Stakes betting is open at the start of race week, and markets are led by proven middle-distance staying types with winning form over the 1400m distance.
Any last start winners, returning runners that finished well in the event the year before, Group 3 performers and in-form mares are traditionally installed at shorter Kevin Heffernan Stakes odds.
Kemalpasa ($3.70 in 2020) and Tom Kitten ($3 in 2026) are the latest Kevin Heffernan Stakes favourites to win.
There was a notable upset in 2024 with Welwal saluting at Kevin Heffernan Stakes odds of $21!
Kevin Heffernan Stakes Field
The Kevin Heffernan Stakes race field attracts a quality line-up of early autumn horses.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes nominations are taken the Monday before the race runs on the Saturday with final acceptances and the barrier draw released on the Wednesday.
2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Field
The official Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Field & Barriers will be published in full below once announced on the Wednesday of race week so stay tuned to see what horses make the starting line-up.
The Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 final field features a small but exciting line-up of WFA stars including reigning All-Star Mile champ Tom Kitten and the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Veight coming off a second fresh in the Group 2 Australia Stakes.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Tom Kitten
J: Craig Williams
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
x5453x | G | 8 | 59kg | |
|
2. Veight
J: Luke Currie
T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |
90x0x2 | G | 1 | 59kg | |
|
3. Feroce
J: Damian Lane
T: Dominic Sutton |
x6380x | G | 2 | 59kg | |
|
4. Zou Sensation
J: Jamie Melham
T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
612341 | G | 5 | 59kg | |
|
5. Sandpaper
J: Jamie Mott
T: Bjorn Baker |
070261 | G | 6 | 59kg | |
|
6. Hughes
J: Harry Coffey
T: Gavin Bedggood |
6x5062 | G | 3 | 59kg | |
|
7. Plymouth
J: Ben Allen
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
06120x | G | 7 | 59kg | |
|
8. Jennilala
J: Thomas Stockdale
T: Gavin Bedggood |
824004 | M | 4 | 57kg |
2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Nominations
The official Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Nominations close the Monday leading-up to the last of the major spring race days and the full list of early entries will be available below.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2317×48152 | AHHA AHHA | M | 4 | Clinton McDonald | 73 |
| 2 | 4223111526 | ENCHANTED JENNI (NZ) | M | 4 | Lucy Yeomans | 71 |
| 3 | x316x6380x | FEROCE (NZ) | G | 4 | Dominic Sutton | 106 |
| 4 | 13116×5062 | HUGHES | G | 6 | Gavin Bedggood | 94 |
| 5 | 607×824004 | JENNILALA | M | 6 | Gavin Bedggood | 98 |
| 6 | 40355×0048 | PASCERO | G | 7 | Carly Thomas | 76 |
| 7 | 463x06120x | PLYMOUTH | G | 4 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 96 |
| 8 | x1x1200x38 | RED GALAXY | G | 5 | Greg Eurell | 79 |
| 9 | 4x50x32345 | RISE AT DAWN (NZ) | G | 5 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 104 |
| 10 | 515×070261 | SANDPAPER | G | 6 | Bjorn Baker | 105 |
| 11 | 5×88349772 | STEPARTY | G | 5 | Paul Preusker | 101 |
| 12 | 1573x5453x | TOM KITTEN | G | 5 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 114 |
| 13 | 21x090x0x2 | VEIGHT | G | 5 | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 109 |
| 14 | x10x86276x | WELWAL (GB) | G | 7 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 103 |
| 15 | 1114612341 | ZOU SENSATION | G | 6 | Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | 105 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes Form Guide
The Kevin Heffernan Stakes form guide details all the need-to-know facts and stats including the jockeys, trainers, barriers, weights and lead-up runs of the horses in the field.
Before the event moved to the autumn in 2026, Streets Of Avalon (4th in 2020) franked the Kevin Heffernan form when coming back to win the 2021 Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) the following autumn. Streets Of Avalon also ran third in the Kevin Heffernan 2021 results and third behind champion WFA star Zaaki in the $5 million The All-Star Mile in the autumn of 2022.
The 2021 Kevin Heffernan Stakes form was further franked by the winner Sinawann who ran second in the Australia Stakes results the following. The 2021 Kevin Heffernan second placed horse, I Am Superman, finished second in the 2022 Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes the next spring.
Vilana franked the Kevin Heffernan form from 2023 when running third before a big 2024 winter campaign in Brisbane headlined by a Group 2 Moreton Cup win and third in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Form Guide
A link to the comprehensive Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be provided below the week of the race.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 KEVIN HEFFERNAN STAKES FORM GUIDE
Past Kevin Heffernan Stakes Results
Notable recent Kevin Heffernan Stakes winners include Century Kid (2002), Avenue (2010), Avenue (2013), Fast ‘N’ Rocking (2014), Lucky Hussler (2016), Jungle Edge (2017), and Tom Kitten (2025).
Teleplay (2019) was the last Kevin Heffernan Stakes winning mare.
Past Kevin Heffernan Stakes Winners
Recent Kevin Heffernan Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
Note, there was no race held in 2025.
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2026 | Tom Kitten | Feroce | Veight |
| 2025 (No Race Held) | – | – | – |
| 2024 | Welwal | Arkansaw Kid | Warnie |
| 2023 | King Magnus | Unusual Culture | Vilana |
| 2022 | Crosshaven | Norwegian Bliss | Literary Magnate |
| 2021 | Sinawann | I Am Superman | Streets Of Avalon |
| 2020 | Kemalpasa | Order of Command | Neighbourhood |
| 2019 | Teleplay | Home Of The Brave | Hey Doc |
| 2018 | Cool Passion | First Among Equals | Savanna Amour |
| 2017 | Jungle Edge | Casino Wizard | Thronum |
| 2016 | Lucky Hussler | Illustrious Lad | Super Cash |
| 2015 | Famous Seamus | Generalife | Gracious Prospect |
| 2014 | Fast N Rocking | Generalife | Flamberge |
| 2013 | Lankan Rupee | Hot Snitzel | Famous Seamus |
| 2012 | Mid Summer Music | Hot Snitzel | Unpretentious |
| 2011 | Soul | Masthead | Doubtful Jack |
| 2010 | Avenue | Dubleanny | Royal Ida |
| 2009 | Lucky Secret | Posadas | Diplomatic Force |
| 2008 | Captain Bax | Posadas | Juggle The Books |
| 2007 | Gibraltar Campion | Cargo Cult | Cocinero |
| 2006 | Tesbury Jack | Cocinero | Let Go Thommo |
| 2005 | Bomber Bill | Unabated | Air Cooled |
| 2004 | Brannigan | Dandy Kid | Mr Lofty |
| 2003 | Super Groove | Recurring | Rustic Mist |
| 2002 | Century Kid | Suit | Belle Du Jour |
| 2001 | Chattanooga | Libidinous | Toledo |
| 2000 | Sports | Paint | Cullen |
FAQ
Who won the 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes?
The 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes was won first-up by five-year-old Harry Angel gelding Tom Kitten at $3 favouritism for trainers Anthony & Sam Freedman with jockey Craig Williams aboard on 59kg from barrier 8 to salute by 0.15 lengths on a Good (4) track in a time of 1:22.05.
When is the Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026?
Saturday, February 7, 2026What is the prize money for the Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026?
$200,000
Where is the Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026?
Caulfield Racecourse, Gate 22, Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145.
How do I bet on the 2026 Kevin Heffernan 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 Kevin Heffernan Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Kevin Heffernan 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.