Ladbrokes Tip: The Manfred Stakes makes a nice early Group 1 Australian Guineas lead-up in the autumn
The latest edition of the Manfred Stakes ran on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Caulfield Racecourse and was won in an impressive first-up upset by Space Rider ($15) for Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr.
2026 Manfred Stakes Results
The full Manfred Stakes 2026 Results & Finishing Order will be known on Saturday, January 24, 2026 and published right here so stay tuned.
- #1 Space Rider
- #2 Job Done
- #6 Salty Pearl
Price and Kent Jnr have done it again! Space Rider ($15) made a mockery of his double-figure odds on Saturday, returning with a statement victory in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes at Caulfield. The son of Zoustar looked every bit a Group 1 star in the making, overcoming a messy tactical map to round up the leaders and draw clear in authoritative fashion. It was a clinical first-up performance that showcased the perfect blend of Zoustar speed and genuine stamina. With a high-impact return now under his belt, the stable has their eyes firmly set on the Australian Guineas on February 28, where Space Rider looks the horse to beat.
2026 Manfred Stakes Odds & Results
The updated Manfred Stakes 2026 betting odds will be available below as soon as released followed by the official Manfred Stakes results and finishing order after the event.
| 1. Space Rider (9) J: Ethan Brown 57kg 1740xT: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 2. Job Done (7) J: Thomas Stockdale 57kg 4x113T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 6. Salty Pearl (3) J: Ben Allen 56.5kg 3341xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 9. Custom (4) J: Jamie Melham 55kg x162xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. Naifah (8) J: Jordan Childs 55kg 15723T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 4. Express Class (5) J: Patrick Moloney 57kg 136x9T: Gerard Moloney | ||
| 7. Miss Ole (2) J: Ben Melham 55kg 511x5T: Clinton McDonald | ||
| 10. Conscience (6) J: Luke Cartwright 55kg 1x4x3T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 3. Romantic Encounter (1) J: Luke Currie 57kg 120xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
Manfred Stakes Tips
Manfred Stakes tips include backing the proven Group winners in the field, looking for those with a good Melbourne strike-rate, and avoiding the fillies who have a poor record against the colts and geldings in the event.
Any horses that raced in Group 1 grade the spring prior also make a good Manfred Stakes tip as do those proven over further distance but that are resuming over the 1200m.
2026 Manfred Stakes Tips
Our expert Manfred Stakes 2026 tips will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned.
| 3. Romantic Encounter (1) J: Luke Currie 57kg 120xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
| 6. Salty Pearl (3) J: Ben Allen 56.5kg 3341xT: Ciaron Maher |
| 5. Cyber Link (7) Scratched: | |||
The Manfred Stakes is a Group 3 sprint for three-year-olds run currently run on the Australia Day long weekend in Melbourne as a lead-up to the Autumn Racing Carnival features.
The race was moved from Caulfield to Sandown and the distance increased from 1200m to 1300m ahead of the 2023 edition.
In 2024 the Manfred remained on the Australia Day race card but moved back to Caulfield over 1200m.
In 2025 the event ran at Sandown Lakeside before returning to Caulfield in 2026.
First conducted in 1968 and holding Group 3 status since 2014, the Manfred Stakes now runs on the same day as the Blue Diamond Preview races.
The race conditions are set weights plus penalties with $200,000 in prize money on offer.
The best three-year-olds out of the Manfred Stakes field may target a run in Flemington’s Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) over the mile the following month. To date Mosheen (2012) is the only runner to complete the Manfred Stakes – Australian Guineas double.
The race is named in honour of the heroic galloper Manfred who won a host of Group 1 events over his career including the 1925 Cox Plate and 1926 Caulfield Cup.
Manfred Stakes Race Info
- Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Distance: 1200m
- Conditions: 3YO Set Weights + Penalties
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $200,000
- First Run: 1968
Manfred Stakes Betting
Manfred Stakes betting markets traditionally open after the field is announced a few days prior to the event running at the start of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.
Three-year-olds with previous Group 3 or higher winning form, those that performed well the previous spring in similar grade races and the proven Melbourne runners traditionally dominate Manfred Stakes odds.
The colts and geldings are also favoured in Manfred Stakes betting with just two fillies winning the race in the 20 years from 2002 – 2020 with Mosheen (2012) and Legless Veuve (2017).
Generation ($1.85 in 2022) and Jacquinot ($2.10 in 2023) are the last Manfred Stakes betting favourites to salute.
There was a blowout result in the 2026 Manfred Stakes with Space Rider saluting at $15!
Manfred Stakes Field
The Manfred Stakes race field attracts a quality line-up of three-year-old gallopers each autumn, many racing first-up for the season. If not on resuming in the event, horses may have run in similar or higher races the spring prior including the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) run at the same track in October.
Super Seth (2019 – 2020) is the last horse to complete the Caulfield Guineas – Manfred Stakes double.
Many Manfred Stakes hopefuls go on to contest that month’s Australian Guineas over the 1600m.
Other next-up options for Manfred Stakes graduates include Flemington’s Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) run on Black Caviar Lightning Day and the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Blue Diamond Day. Denman (2010) is the last horse to complete the Manfred Stakes – Zeditave Stakes double.
Manfred Stakes nominations are taken the Monday before the race with final acceptances and barriers out on the Wednesday.
2026 Manfred Stakes Field & Barrier Draw
The official Manfred Stakes 2026 Field & Barriers are announced by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday of race week and published in full below so stay tuned for the full line-up of top autumn three-year-olds.
The 2026 Manfred Stakes final field features a small but quality line-up of potential Australian Guineas bound three-year-olds including the resuming Ciaron Maher trained Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic winner Salty Pearl drawn in gate three.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Space Rider
J: Ethan Brown
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
x1740x | C | 9 | 57kg | |
|
2. Job Done
J: Thomas Stockdale
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
14x113 | G | 7 | 57kg | |
|
3. Romantic Encounter
J: Luke Currie
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
120x | C | 1 | 57kg | |
|
4. Express Class
J: Patrick Moloney
T: Gerard Moloney |
136x9 | G | 5 | 57kg | |
| 5. Cyber Link (7) Scratched: | |||||
|
6. Salty Pearl
J: Ben Allen
T: Ciaron Maher |
x3341x | F | 3 | 56.5kg | |
|
7. Miss Ole
J: Ben Melham
T: Clinton McDonald |
511x5 | F | 2 | 55kg | |
|
8. Naifah
J: Jordan Childs
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
x15723 | F | 8 | 55kg | |
|
9. Custom
J: Jamie Melham
T: Ciaron Maher |
3x162x | F | 4 | 55kg | |
|
10. Conscience
J: Luke Cartwright
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
1x4x3 | F | 6 | 55kg | |
2026 Manfred Stakes Nominations
The Manfred Stakes 2026 nominations are taken on the Monday leading-up to the event.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x231x3341x | SALTY PEARL | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 1 | 56.5kg | 86 | ||
| 2 | 8x111367x | JIMMY RECARD | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 2 | 58.5kg | 85 | ||
| 3 | 1x1432x | PLANET RED | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 3 | 57kg | 98 | ||
| 4 | 120x | ROMANTIC ENCOUNTER (NZ) | C | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 4 | 57kg | 77 | ||
| 5 | 14×113 | JOB DONE | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 5 | 57kg | 74 | ||
| 6 | 0x29x15723 | NAIFAH | F | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 6 | 55kg | 74 | ||
| 7 | 511×5 | MISS OLE | F | 3 | Clinton McDonald | 7 | 55kg | 72 | ||
| 8 | 14x1740x | SPACE RIDER | C | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 8 | 57kg | 72 | ||
| 9 | 136×9 | EXPRESS CLASS | G | 3 | Gerard Moloney | 9 | 57kg | 71 | ||
| 10 | 7373x162x | CUSTOM | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 10 | 55kg | 70 | ||
| 11 | 67x53218x1 | EXPULSION | F | 3 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 11 | 55kg | 67 | ||
| 12 | 25x3x15115 | SURPRISATIC | G | 3 | Brent Stanley | 12 | 57kg | 66 | ||
| 13 | 1x4x3 | CONSCIENCE | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 13 | 55kg | 66 | ||
| 14 | 9x135x | EXIT | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 14 | 55kg | 66 | ||
| 15 | 1 | CYBER LINK | C | 3 | Greg Eurell | 15 | 57kg | 64 | ||
| 16 | 1 | YUKAINA | G | 3 | Mitchell Freedman | 16 | 57kg | 63 | ||
| 17 | 2×1 | ASAKURA | G | 3 | Mitchell Freedman | 17 | 57kg | 62 | ||
| 18 | 9×1 | NORDIC STRIKE | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 18 | 57kg | 62 | ||
| 19 | 11 | COCO DE LUXE | F | 3 | Craig Weeding | 19 | 55kg | 62 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Manfred Stakes Form Guide
The Manfred Stakes form guide details all of the must know info like the jockeys, trainers and lead-up form of the runners in the field along with their barriers. Looking at the form for first-up three-year-olds that have a previous win in similar class races on their CV is key.
The Manfred Stakes form has gone on to hold up in plenty of autumn Group 1 races over the years including in 2021 when the winner Portland Sky dead-heated for first next-up in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
The year prior, the 2020 Manfred Stakes winner Super Seth backed-up on Blue Diamond Stakes Day to run second against the older horses in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m).
In 2023 the Manfred Stakes form was franked with the winner Jacquinot winning the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) – moved to November in 2025 – next start.
2026 Manfred Stakes Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Manfred Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be provided below the week of the race.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE 2026 MANFRED STAKES FORM GUIDE
Past Manfred Stakes Results
The Manfred Stakes race results have been dominated by colts and geldings under double figures in betting.
Notable Manfred Stakes winners throughout history include Danasinga (1995), Freemason (2000), Haradasun (2007), Mosheen (2012), Super Seth (2020), Portland Sky (2021), and Jacquinot (2023).
Past Manfred Stakes Winners
Recent Manfred Stakes winners and placegetters going back to 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2026 | Space Rider | Job Done | Salty Pearl |
| 2025 | Royal Insignia | Tropicus | Band Of Brothers |
| 2024 | Brave Mead | King Colorado | Steparty |
| 2023 | Jacquinot | Bank Maur | Ruthless Dame |
| 2022 | Generation | Zethus | Linas Legend |
| 2021 | Portland Sky | Aysar | Tagaloa |
| 2020 | Super Seth | Free Of Debt | Dalasan |
| 2019 | Tin Hat | Halvorsen | Poised To Strike |
| 2018 | Cliff’s Edge | Overshare | Muraaqeb |
| 2017 | Legless Veuve | Into Orbit | Hey Doc |
| 2016 | Puritan | Golden Spin | Ready For Victory |
| 2015 | Java | Petrology | Affirmation |
| 2014 | Bull Point | Worth A Ransom | The Quarterback |
| 2013 | Royal Haunt | Force Command | Hosting |
| 2012 | Mosheen | That’s The One | Highly Recommended |
| 2011 | Enjin Number Nine | Bullbars | Star Witness |
| 2010 | Denman | Carrara | Most Immediate |
| 2009 | Nicconi | Handsupfordetroit | Miss Scarlatti |
| 2008 | Turffontein | Pillar Of Hercules | El Mandon |
| 2007 | Haradasun | Danever | Eclair Passion |
| 2006 | Thin And Crispy | Serenade Rose | Bel Danoro |
| 2005 | Shinzig | Not A Single Doubt | Danehill Express |
| 2004 | Keep The Faith | Our Smoking Joe | Modern Era |
| 2003 | Conspectus | Tantralite | Lord Volksraad |
| 2002 | Don Eduardo | Leather Lane | Exaggerate |
| 2001 | Academy Dancer | Royale Exit | Adolescence |
| 2000 | Freemason | Manner Hill | The Golden Dane |
FAQ
Who won the 2026 Manfred Stakes?
The 2026 Manfred Stakes was won by three-year-old Zoustar colt Space Rider at $15 for trainers Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr with jockey Ethan Brown aboard on 57kg from barrier 9 to won by 0.5 lengths on a Good (3) track in a time of 1:10.09.
Who won the 2025 Manfred Stakes?
The 2025 Manfred Stakes was won by the Grahame Begg trained Royal Insignia who started at odds of $7.50 and won by 0.4 lengths with Jamie Mott in the saddle.
When is the Manfred Stakes 2026?
Saturday, January 24, 2026What is the prize money for the Manfred Stakes 2026?
$200,000
Where is the Manfred Stakes 2026?
Caulfield Racecourse, Gate 2 Station Street Caulfield, VIC 3145.
How do I bet on the 2026 Manfred 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 Manfred Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Manfred 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.