The latest edition of the Kingston Town Stakes ran on Saturday, September 19, 2026 with a The Metropolitan ballot exemption going to the impressive all-the-way Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained winner The Euphrates ($5).
The Kingston Town Stakes 2026 is a pivotal 2000m spring contest at Randwick, a genuine staying test that reveals which middle‑distance horses are ready to elevate towards the major features ahead. This Group 2 sets the tone for the campaign, bringing together fit, progressive stayers and seasoned performers building momentum through the early carnival. For punters tracking the latest 2026 Kingston Town Stakes odds, the race provides crucial insight into stamina, tempo adaptability and spring‑target plans, making it a key betting event as markets shift and form lines tighten. With strong staying profiles on show and plenty of value emerging each year, Kingston Town Stakes betting offers punters a prime opportunity to get set early on one of the most influential 2000m races of the Sydney spring.
2026 Kingston Town Stakes Results
The official Kingston Town Stakes 2026 race results and full finishing order will be available below once the Randwick race is run on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
- #11 The Euphrates
- #12 Juja Kibo
- #3 Soul Of Spain
The 2026 Kingston Town Stakes results at Randwick unearthed a genuine spring staying star in The Euphrates ($5), with the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained son of Frankel producing a dominant front-running performance under Tim Clark to score by three-quarters of a length over Juja Kibo ($7), while favourite Soul Of Spain ($3.90) was another three-quarters of a length away in third. Building sharply on his encouraging Australian debut in the Chelmsford Stakes, the European import relished the rise in trip to post his first local stakes victory and launch himself into calculations for the major staying races. Connections have confirmed The Metropolitan (2400m) as his next assignment before potential tilts at both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, while punters piled into the emerging stayer, seeing Ladbrokes slash his The Metropolitan odds from $26 into $4.60, trim his Caulfield Cup price from $51 into $13, and install him as a $21 chance in Melbourne Cup futures following one of the most impressive staying performances of the Sydney spring carnival.
2026 Kingston Town Stakes Race Replay
2026 Kingston Town Stakes Odds & Finishing Order
The season’s best Kingston Town Stakes 2026 betting odds and links to our markets will be made available to punters right here the week of the race so stay tuned for the top Group 2 Randwick racing markets followed by the official finishing order after the event.
Kingston Town Stakes 2026 Results
| 11. The Euphrates (9) J: Tim Clark 55kg 417×4 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | ||
| 12. Juja Kibo (2) J: Sam Clipperton 55kg 339×3 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 3. Soul Of Spain (5) J: James McDonald 56kg 62×68 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 2. Eliyass (14) J: Adam Hyeronimus 56.5kg 9×015 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 4. Klondike (1) J: Chad Schofield 56kg 5x06x T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton | ||
| 13. Floating (4) J: Jason Collett 55kg 72×88 T: Matthew Smith | ||
| 6. Travolta (8) J: Zac Lloyd 56kg 34×95 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 8. Boniface (7) J: Tommy Berry 56kg 52251 T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 14. Piggyback (6) J: Dylan Gibbons 54.5kg 56×57 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 7. Valiant King (3) J: Andrew Adkins 56kg 670×0 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 1. Green Spaces (12) J: Rachel King 58kg 21×86 T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 5. Fawkner Park (13) J: Braith Nock 56kg 6958x T: Declan Maher | ||
| 10. Mr Monaco (10) J: Regan Bayliss 56kg 110×4 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 9. Athabascan (11) J: Tyler Schiller 56kg 8545x T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton |
Kingston Town Stakes Tips
Good Kingston Town Stakes tips include looking for stayers coming off a top three run in Sydney last time out, proven Randwick performers and those suited to at least 2000m.
Locally Sydney-trained horses have an outstanding record in the race including those from Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse who have prepared the bulk of the Kingston Town Stakes winners since 1999.
Ladbrokes Tip: The Kingston Town Stakes is a key guide to The Metropolitan each spring
2026 Kingston Town Stakes Predictions & Best Bets
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Kingston Town Stakes 2026 betting tips and exotic selections will be detailed below leading up to the race so stay tuned for the fillies to get behind in The Shorts Day support act this September.
| 3. Soul Of Spain (5) J: James McDonald 56kg 62×68 T: Chris Waller |
| 1. Green Spaces (12) J: Rachel King 58kg 21×86 T: Bjorn Baker |
| 12. Juja Kibo (2) J: Sam Clipperton 55kg 339×3 T: Ciaron Maher |
The Kingston Town Stakes is a Group 2 race for stayers held at Royal Randwick Racecourse in September on The Shorts Day during the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.
The day’s racing is headlined by the Group 2 $1 million The Shorts (1100m) for the spring sprint stars potentially gearing up for a run in the $20 million The Everest and the Group 2 $300,000 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) for Flight Stakes-bound fillies.
Added to the card for the first time in 2023 is the $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) which replaced the George Main Stakes as the mile feature on the card, offers the winner an Epsom Handicap ballot exemption and became a Group 2 status race in 2026.
The meeting also sees the running of the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) offering the winner an Epsom Handicap ballot exemption.
The Kingston Town Stakes is contested over 2000m at set weights plus penalties and offers a total of $300,000 in total prize money.
It is a traditional lead-up to the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick in October and the Kingston Town Stakes winner is exempt from ballot for that mile and a half classic. Herculian Prince (2010) and Just Fine (2023) are the latest horses to complete the Kingston Town Stakes – Metropolitan Handicap double.
In 2021 The Metropolitan winner Montefilia came via a lead-up second in the Kingston Town Stakes results.
Run and won since 1948, the event was previously known as the STC Cup before being renamed in hour of the race’s dual champion Kingston Town (1980, 1981) who is best known for his Cox Plate three-peat (1980-82).
Kingston Town Stakes Race Info
- Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Track: Royal Randwick Racecourse
- Distance: 2000m
- Conditions: 3YOs & upwards – Set Weights + Penalties
- Status: Group 2
- Prize Money: $300,000
- First Run: 1948
Kingston Town Stakes Betting
Kingston Town Stakes odds are led by the in-form stayers of the spring coming off good lead-up runs in Sydney races against similar company.
There are usually short Kingston Town Stakes betting odds offered on any Chris Waller-trained horses with the stable winning eight times from 2007-26 most recently with Birdman (2025).
She’s Ideel ($2.80 in 2021) and Just Fine ($3.30 in 2023) are the latest favourites in Kingston Town Stakes betting to win.
There was a notable upset in 2022 with the James Cummings-trained Alegron winning at Kingston Town Stakes odds of $20.
Kingston Town Stakes Field
The Kingston Town Stakes race field attracts the season’s best stayers heading towards a run in The Metropolitan over a mile and a half back at the track a fortnight later.
Some of the better stayers out of the Kingston Town Stakes field may also continue onto Flemington’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) over the two miles on the first Tuesday in November.
Finche ran fourth in the 2018 Melbourne Cup before winning the next year’s Kingston Town Stakes. He would contest the 2019 Melbourne Cup as well placing seventh and also ran ninth in the 2020 edition of the world’s richest handicap.
In 2022 Knight’s Order finished third in the Kingston Town Stakes, third in that year’s Caulfield Cup, ninth in a credible Melbourne Cup performance, and third in the following autumn’s 2023 Sydney Cup trifecta.
2026 Kingston Town Stakes Field
The official Kingston Town Stakes 2026 final field and barrier draw will be available below once announced on the Wednesday of The Shorts Day.
The Kingston Town Stakes 2026 final field features a class line-up of spring stayers including Bjorn Baker’s ATC Derby winner from the autumn Green Spaces and the talented Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained import The Euphrates racing second-up down under.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Green Spaces
J: Rachel King
T: Bjorn Baker |
621×86 | H | 12 | 58kg | |
|
2. Eliyass
J: Adam Hyeronimus
T: Ciaron Maher |
09×015 | G | 14 | 56.5kg | |
|
3. Soul Of Spain
J: James McDonald
T: Chris Waller |
262×68 | G | 5 | 56kg | |
|
4. Klondike
J: Chad Schofield
T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton |
15x06x | G | 1 | 56kg | |
|
5. Fawkner Park
J: Braith Nock
T: Declan Maher |
x6958x | G | 13 | 56kg | |
|
6. Travolta
J: Zac Lloyd
T: Chris Waller |
434×95 | G | 8 | 56kg | |
|
7. Valiant King
J: Andrew Adkins
T: Chris Waller |
8670×0 | G | 3 | 56kg | |
|
8. Boniface
J: Tommy Berry
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
x52251 | G | 7 | 56kg | |
|
9. Athabascan
J: Tyler Schiller
T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton |
28545x | G | 11 | 56kg | |
|
10. Mr Monaco
J: Regan Bayliss
T: Ciaron Maher |
5110×4 | G | 10 | 56kg | |
|
11. The Euphrates
J: Tim Clark
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
2417×4 | G | 9 | 55kg | |
|
12. Juja Kibo
J: Sam Clipperton
T: Ciaron Maher |
3339×3 | G | 2 | 55kg | |
|
13. Floating
J: Jason Collett
T: Matthew Smith |
072×88 | G | 4 | 55kg | |
|
14. Piggyback
J: Dylan Gibbons
T: Ciaron Maher |
456×57 | M | 6 | 54.5kg | |
| 15. Starzintheireyes (15) Scratched: | |||||
2026 Kingston Town Stakes Nominations
The early Kingston Town Stakes 2026 nominations are announced on the Monday of race week and will be published below once released.
Kingston Town Stakes Form Guide
The Kingston Town Stakes form guide features all the crucial information for punters like the jockeys, trainers, barriers and lead-up runs. One of the best form lines to follow into the Kingston Town Stakes is the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) held a fortnight earlier at the same track.
The Euphrates (4th in 2026) was the last Kingsford Town Stakes winner to come via a lead-up run in the Chelmsford Stakes.
The Kingston Town Stakes is a proven form race, known for producing subsequent Group 1 contenders and winners. A prime example is the 2024 edition, where the winner, Eliyass, followed up with a third-place finish in the Turnbull Stakes. However, the real star of that race was the runner-up, Ceolwulf, who went on to achieve a notable Group 1 double, winning both the Epsom Handicap and the King Charles III Stakes later that spring.
2026 Kingston Town Stakes Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Kingston Town Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Past Kingston Town Stakes Results
Notable Kingston Town Stakes winners include the race’s now namesake Kingston Town (1980 & 1981), Stormhill (2005), Herculian Prince (2010), Libran (2017), Avilius (2018), Finche (2019), Alegron (2022), and Just Fine (2023).
She’s Ideel (2021) was the last Kingston Town Stakes winning mare.
The Euphrates holds the current Kingston Town Stakes race record winning over 2000m in 2026 in a time of 2 minutes 00.48 seconds.
Recent Kingston Town Stakes Winners
Recent Kingston Town Stakes winners dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | The Euphrates | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 55 kgs | 2:00.48 (R) |
| 2025 | Birdman | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 55 kgs | 2:01.85 |
| 2024 | Eliyass | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 56 kgs | 2:01.54 |
| 2023 | Just Fine | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Regan Bayliss | 55 kgs | 2:00.39 |
| 2022 | Alegron | James Cummings | Rachel King | 55 kgs | 2:06.79 |
| 2021 | She’s Ideel | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 53.5 kgs | 2:05.50 |
| 2020 | Taikomochi | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 56 kgs | 2:00.84 |
| 2019 | Finche | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 56 kgs | 2:04.4 |
| 2018 | Avilius | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 56 kgs | 2:02.01 |
| 2017 | Libran | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 57 kgs | 2:02.76 |
| 2016 | Mccreery | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 54 kgs | 2:03.80 |
| 2015 | Silverball | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 58 kgs | 2:02.98 |
| 2014 | He’s Your Man | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 56.5 kgs | 2:04.02 |
| 2013 | Prince Cheri | David Vandyke | Jay Ford | 54 kgs | 2:03.47 |
| 2012 | Stout Hearted | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 54 kgs | 2:00.68 |
| 2011 | Lamasery | David Vandyke | Brenton Avdulla | 53 kgs | 2:02.50 |
| 2010 | Herculian Prince | Gai Waterhouse | Hugh Bowman | 55.5 kgs | 2:01.54 |
| 2009 | Ready To Lift | Gerald Ryan | Glyn Schofield | 58 kgs | 2:01.91 |
| 2008 | Hurrah | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 55 kgs | 2:03.36 |
| 2007 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2006 | Mr Martini | Marc Conners | Darryl McLellan | 52.5 kgs | 2:05.55 |
| 2005 | Stormhill | Tim Martin | Hugh Bowman | 55 kgs | 2:01.06 |
| 2004 | Just Polite | Shaun Dwyer | Danny Beasley | 53 kgs | 2:04.02 |
| 2003 | Ariante | Gai Waterhouse | Lenny Beasley | 54 kgs | 2:03.13 |
| 2002 | Dress Circle | Gai Waterhouse | Lenny Beasley | 60.5 kgs | 2:02.15 |
| 2001 | Swiss Echo | Gai Waterhouse | Glen Boss | 52.5 kgs | 2:03.34 |
| 2000 | Dashing Scene | Gai Waterhouse | Lenny Beasley | 52 kgs | 2:04.86 |
FAQs
How do I bet on the 2026 Kingston Town Stakes?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at Ladbrokes. 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 Kingston Town Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Kingston Town 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 in the lead up to the race for full form information.
When is the Kingston Town Stakes 2026?
The 2026 Kingston Town Stakes is set to run in Sydney on Saturday September 19 early during the Spring Carnival season as one of the key support races on The Shorts Day card. It is scheduled as Randwick Race 6 at 2:45pm (AEST) on the 10-race card.
What is the prize money for the Kingston Town Stakes 2026?
The 2026 Kingston Town Stakes prize money is set at $300,000 which is paid from 1st to 10th place including $170,000 going to the Kingston Town Stakes winner.
Where is the Kingston Town Stakes 2026?
The Kingston Town Stakes 2026 will be run at Royal Randwick, the home of Sydney’s premier sprint races including the $20 million The Everest and mile classics like the Epsom Handicap in October, which is located at Alison Road, Randwick, NSW 2031.
What distance is the Kingston Town Stakes run over?
The Kingston Town Stakes is run over 2000 metres, a genuine staying trip that tests stamina, tempo control and spring readiness for horses targeting the major middle‑distance features ahead.
How many horses run in the Kingston Town Stakes?
The Kingston Town Stakes typically draws a field of around 12–14 runners, depending on acceptances and how many middle‑distance horses are ready to tackle the 2000m trip at this stage of the spring. As a key Group 2 staying contest at Randwick, it regularly attracts a mix of fit, progressive types and seasoned campaigners, giving punters plenty to assess when breaking down Kingston Town Stakes form, speed maps and betting value.
Who won the 2026 Kingston Town Stakes?
The 2026 Kingston Town Stakes was won by six-year-old Frankel gelding The Euphrates at $5 in just his second run down under for trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott with jockey Tim Clark aboard the import on 55kg from barrier 9 to win by 0.85 lengths in a time of 2:00.48 on a Good (4) track.
Who won the 2025 Kingston Town Stakes?
The 2025 Kingston Town Stakes was won by five-year-old Free Eagle gelding Birdman at $5.50 for trainer Chris Waller with jockey Kerrin McEvoy aboard on 55kg from barrier one to win by 0.02 lengths on a Good (4) track in a time of 2:01.85.