The sixth edition of Group 2 The Invitation tooke place at Randwick on Saturday, October 24, 2026 as part of the Spring Champion Stakes Day program and was won in style by Chris Waller’s class mare Lazzura ($2.70F).
The Invitation race has quickly become one of the most sought-after targets for Australia’s elite fillies and mares, with the lucrative Royal Randwick feature attracting top-class female talent from across the country each spring. Run over 1400m, the Group 2 race offers a rich prize purse and a highly competitive stage for proven Group performers, rising stars, and specialist mares to test themselves against quality opposition. With interstate challengers, strong black-type form lines, and a history of attracting some of the nation’s best female gallopers, the race consistently creates plenty of excitement for punters. Stay up to date with the latest The Invitation odds 2026, market movers, field announcements, and expert The Invitation betting 2026 predictions at Ladbrokes as the leading mares vie for glory in one of the highlights of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.
2026 The Invitation Results
The Invitation 2026 race results and finishing order will be available below once the race is run and won on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
- #1 Lazzura
- #5 Infancy
- #3 Verona Rose
The 2026 The Invitation results saw classy Chris Waller-trained mare Lazzura ($2.70 favourite) further enhance her outstanding record with victory in the Group 2 feature for fillies and mares over 1400m at Randwick. Ridden by Tommy Berry, the Coolmore Classic winner overcame a wide run after settling prominently to score by a half-length over rank outsider Infancy, with Verona Rose a short head away in third, stopping the clock in a slick 1:21.06. The win was Lazzura’s eighth from 20 career starts and her second straight Group 2 success following victory in the Golden Pendant, taking her earnings beyond $3.1 million. The performance has now brought the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington into consideration, with Ladbrokes trimming her 2026 Empire Rose Stakes odds from $15 into $11 should connections elect to back the in-form mare up seven days later on Derby Day.
2026 The Invitation Race Replay
2026 The Invitation Odds & Finishing Order
The season’s top The Invitation 2026 odds complete with betting market links will be provided below once markets on the marquee race for fillies and mares during the spring in Sydney are open followed by the official finishing order after the event.
| 1. Lazzura (10) 59kg12×31 | |||
| 5. Infancy (7) 58.5kg89644 | |||
| 3. Verona Rose (3) 58.5kg50×32 | |||
| 9. Gerringong (5) 58kg234×1 | |||
| 2. Idle Flyer (6) 59kgx6440 | |||
| 6. Stylish (1) 58.5kg27351 | |||
| 10. Perfumist (4) 58kg71×10 | |||
| 8. Tuileries (11) 58kg010×4 | |||
| 12. Modella (8) 58kg68×13 | |||
| 11. Arabian Rose (2) 58kg171×2 | |||
| 4. Super Smink (12) 58.5kg060×0 | |||
| 7. Firestorm (9) 58.5kgx08x0 | |||
| 13. Asgarda (5)SCRATCHED: | |||
| 14. Miss Freelove (1)SCRATCHED: | |||
The Invitation Tips
Good The Invitation betting tips include looking for the proven Group 1 fillies and mares in the race out of spring lead ups including the Flight Stakes and the Epsom Handicap both run over the Randwick mile.
Looking for the mare Kerrin McEvoy is booked to ride could be another key The Invitation tip as he rode the first three winners in the event.
2026 The Invitation Predictions & Best Bets
Our Ladbrokes’ insider The Invitation 2026 tips and Randwick racing selections will be detailed below closer to race day.
| 1. Lazzura (10) 59kg12×31 |
| 3. Verona Rose (3) 58.5kg50×32 |
| 12. Modella (8) 58kg68×13 |
Latest News
The Invitation is a Sydney Spring Racing Carnival feature race offering $2 million in prize money and contested at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Spring Champion Stakes Day.
The race, which became a Group 2 event in 2024, now accompanies the Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), Group 2 $750,000 Craven Plate (1800m), Group 2 $1 million Callander-Presnell (1600m) and the $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m).
The Invitation is also held on the same day as Melbourne’s coveted $6 million Cox Plate.
Open only to fillies and mares, The Invitation field features a dozen female gallopers invited to contest the event by a panel selected by Racing NSW.
Fillies and mares from both Australia and New Zealand are invited to contest the lucrative middle-distance feature.
The Invitation Race Info
- Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Edition: 6th
- Track: Royal Randwick Racecourse
- Distance: 1400m
- Conditions: Fillies & Mares – Set Weights + Penalties
- Status: Group 2 – Special Condition (Invitation Only)
- Prize Money: $2 million
- First Run: 2021
The Invitation Betting
The Invitation betting markets are led by classy fillies and mares proven in top grade, especially those that secured a Group 1 win in Sydney during the autumn.
As female gallopers are officially invited from across Australia and New Zealand to take place in the $2 million showdown, The Invitation odds on the confirmed starters will shorten.
There are a host of good lead-up races ahead of October’s The Invitation race that will impact betting on the event including any fillies coming out of the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at the same track earlier in the month.
The first The Invitation race saw Icebath salute at odds of $6 improving on her lead-up ninth in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).
There was a notable upset in 2022 with Promise Of Success winning at The Invitation odds of $26.
In 2023 second favourite Espiona won at The Invitation odds of $3.60 off a close seventh in the $20 million The Everest race.
The 2024 The Invitation winner Belclare jumped at generous odds of $26.
Stefi Magnetica won the 2025 The Invitation at a starting price of $3.90.
Lazzura ($2.70 in 2026) was the last The Invitation favourite to salute for the punters.
The Invitation Field
The Invitation race field comprises of 12 female gallopers exclusively invited to contest the event.
A potential lead-up for mares into The Invitation field is the Group 3 The Nivison (1200m) run at Rosehill at the start of October.
Up to two emergency runners may be declared for The Invitation field. Strict conditions apply to the scratching of horses from the event. Any mare accepting an invitation for the race may only scratch from the event with a certified veterinary certificate approved by Racing NSW and confirmed by Racing NSW’s industry veterinarian, or otherwise as approved by the Racing NSW.
2026 The Invitation Final Field & Barrier Draw
The official The Invitation 2026 final field and barriers will be provided below the week of the race once released by Racing NSW.
The 2026 The Invitation final acceptances close at 10am (AEDT) on the Monday of race week.
The 2026 The Invitation final field features a dozen class mares led in betting by the widely drawn Chris Waller-trained Group 1 champion and last start Group 2 Golden Pendant winner Lazzura who sits top of the markets despite carrying the 59kg topweight from the outside gate.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Lazzura
J: Tommy Berry
T: Chris Waller |
212×31 | M | 10 | 59kg | |
|
2. Idle Flyer
J: Jason Collett
T: Matthew Smith |
1×6440 | M | 6 | 59kg | |
|
3. Verona Rose
J: Kerrin Mcevoy
T: Gary Portelli |
150×32 | M | 3 | 58.5kg | |
|
4. Super Smink
J: Tom Sherry
T: John P Thompson |
7060×0 | M | 12 | 58.5kg | |
|
5. Infancy
J: Dylan Gibbons
T: Kris Lees |
289644 | M | 7 | 58.5kg | |
|
6. Stylish
J: Tim Clark
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
127351 | M | 1 | 58.5kg | |
|
7. Firestorm
J: Tyler Schiller
T: Chris Waller |
3x08x0 | M | 9 | 58.5kg | |
|
8. Tuileries
J: Zac Lloyd
T: Peter Snowden |
1010×4 | M | 11 | 58kg | |
|
9. Gerringong
J: Nash Rawiller
T: Chris & Corey Munce |
x234x1 | M | 5 | 58kg | |
|
10. Perfumist
J: Regan Bayliss
T: Bjorn Baker |
071×10 | M | 4 | 58kg | |
|
11. Arabian Rose
J: Tiffani Brooker
T: James Healy |
x171x2 | M | 2 | 58kg | |
|
12. Modella
J: Andrew Adkins
T: Lee & Cherie Curtis |
168×13 | M | 8 | 58kg | |
| 13. Asgarda (5) Scratched: | |||||
| 14. Miss Freelove (1) Scratched: | |||||
2026 The Invitation Nominations
The Invitation 2026 nominations close the Monday of race week and will be updated below once confirmed.
The Invitation Form Guide
The Invitation form guide provides punters with key race facts and statistics on the fillies and mares in the 12-starter field to help with betting. In The Invitation form guide the full field, barrier draw, jockeys / trainers / owners, distance record, track record and lead-up form is all provided.
Looking at the The Invitation form guide for classy female runners that have a proven record at the Randwick track over 1400m and any Group 1 winning starters is key.
The inaugural The Invitation form was franked in 2021 with the winner Icebath backing-up to finish second in that spring’s Group 1 Kennedy Cantala (1600m) – a race now run as the Champions Mile. Icebath also returned the next autumn to finish third in both the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) and Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) in 2022.
The 2021 second-placed Rocha Clock further franked The Invitation form finishing runner-up next start in the $500,000 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m), while the third place-getter Forbidden Love won the next year’s Group 1 Canterbury Stakes – George Ryder Stakes double in the autumn of 2022.
Magic Time franked The Invitation 2023 form improving on her third-place finish behind Espiona to win Melbourne’s Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at her next start.
Magic Time returned to run second as the beaten favourite in 2024 behind upset 25/1 shot Belclare.
Belclare (2024) was the last mare to complete The Invitation – Hot Danish Stakes double.
The 2025 form was franked with The Invitation winner, Stefi Magnetica, running third at her next start in the Champions Mile at Flemington.
2026 The Invitation Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive The Invitation 2026 form guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race following final acceptances.
Recent The Invitation Results
The official The Invitation race results list the full finishing order of all the gallopers in the field, the winning margin / time, the Trifecta and First Four results plus the starting prices of the runners.
The inaugural The Invitation winner was the Brad Widdup-trained Icebath. Icebath returned to miss the kick in 2022 for a failed title defence running unplaced in the second edition of the $2 million race.
The third champion, Espiona, holds the current The Invitation race record winning in 2023 in a time of 1 minute 21.74 seconds.
There was an upset with the fourth The Invitation winner Belclare saluting at $26 in 2024 to set a new record time of 1 minute 20.74.
Trainer Bjorn Baker went back-to-back in 2025 with Stefi Magnetica winning at $3.90.
Past The Invitation Winners
A complete list of The Invitation winners and placegetters dating back to the first edition in 2021 can be found below.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Lazzura | Infancy | Verona Rose | 1:21.06 |
| 2025 | Stefi Magnetica | Gerringong | Gangsta Granny | 1:22.76 |
| 2024 | Belclare | Magic Time | Makarena | 1:20.74 (R) |
| 2023 | Espiona | Ruthless Dame | Magic Time | 1:21.74 |
| 2022 | Promise Of Success | Electric Girl | Nimalee | 1:25.05 |
| 2021 | Icebath | Rocha Clock | Forbidden Love | 1:22.37 |