The latest edition of the Thousand Guineas Prelude ran on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Caulfield Racecourse on Underwood Stakes Day and saw the Ciaron Maher-trained Icelady ($7.50) lead from barrier to box for her breakthrough turf triumph.
The Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 is one of Caulfield’s key spring tests for three‑year‑old fillies, and punters know it’s a race that regularly uncovers genuine Group 1 talent. Run over 1400 metres, the Prelude blends speed, early‑spring fitness and rising class, attracting fillies stepping out of sharp sprint races as well as those already shaping as strong mile prospects. With Thousand Guineas implications front and centre, the race delivers fast tempos, deep betting markets and plenty of movement as punters react to trials, form lines and stable intent. This guide brings together the latest Thousand Guineas Prelude odds, market movers, race insights and key contenders to help Ladbrokes players get on the front foot ahead of one of Melbourne’s most influential fillies’ features.
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude Results
The official 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude results and finishing order will be updated below once the event runs on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
- #9 Icelady
- #10 Saintly Dancer
- #5 Profligate
The 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude results at Caulfield unveiled an exciting new contender for next month’s Group 1 feature, with Icelady ($7.50) producing a breakthrough performance for Ciaron Maher to claim her maiden victory at Group 2 level. The daughter of Maurice made the most of a positive ride from Ethan Brown, rolling forward to control the race before proving too strong late, defeating stablemate Saintly Dancer by three-quarters of a length, with favourite Profligate finishing third. The impressive win secured Icelady her first black-type success and locked in a shot at the 2026 Thousand Guineas (1600m), a race connections believe will suit her perfectly. Following the Caulfield triumph, Ladbrokes reacted by dramatically shortening her Thousand Guineas odds from $51 into $15, signalling growing confidence behind the rapidly improving filly.
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude Race Replay
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude Odds & Finishing Order
The latest Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 betting odds and links to our Melbourne racing markets will be open below as soon as released so stay tuned for the top odds on the Thousand Guineas-bound fillies this spring followed by the official finishing order after the event.
Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 Results
| 9. Icelady (7) J: Ethan Brown 56kg 422×2 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 10. Saintly Dancer (4) J: John Allen 56kg 216 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 5. Profligate (3) J: Jordan Childs 56kg 12×4 T: Grahame Begg | ||
| 6. Portinari (10) J: Blake Shinn 56kg x8243 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 8. Tolaga Bay (8) J: Michael Dee 56kg 1×1 T: Mark Walker | ||
| 14. Joely (9) J: Craig Williams 56kg 1 T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | ||
| 2. Rebel Tuesday (2) J: Lachlan Neindorf 57kg 14×00 T: Phillip & Tommy Stokes | ||
| 4. Aethera (5) J: Damian Lane 56kg 1×9 T: Danny O’brien | ||
| 11. Burning Heartz (6) J: Joe Bowditch 56kg 14x T: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 12. Mystical Realm (1) J: Thomas Stockdale 56kg 14 T: Ciaron Maher |
Thousand Guineas Prelude Tips
Good Thousand Guineas Prelude tips to take to the bookies during the spring include looking for fillies coming off a lead-up win in Melbourne, runners with ability over 1400m and those drawn near the rails.
Previous Group 1 performed fillies at the track from the autumn out of races like the Blue Diamond Stakes also make a good tip in Thousand Guineas Prelude betting each spring.
Ladbrokes Tip: The Thousand Guineas Prelude – Thousand Guineas double is a popular spring bet
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude Predictions & Best Bets
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 betting tips and Group 2 racing picks for the Thousand Guineas lead-up race will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the fillies to lock-in for the win and to take in Group 1 futures markets on the mile feature next race.
| 6. Portinari (10) J: Blake Shinn 56kg x8243 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
| 8. Tolaga Bay (8) J: Michael Dee 56kg 1×1 T: Mark Walker |
| 11. Burning Heartz (6) J: Joe Bowditch 56kg 14x T: Gavin Bedggood |
The Thousand Guineas Prelude is a Group 2 race open to three-year-old fillies that currently runs at Caulfield Racecourse in mid-September on Underwood Stakes Day during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The set weights plus penalties race, also known as the Tranquil Star Stakes in honour of dual Cox Plate winning mare Tranquil Star (1942, 1944), was held in September before a number of scheduling changes to the line-up ahead of the 2023 carnival.
In 2025 it moved back to its late September timeslot on its own feature race day at Sandown Hillside alongside the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) before moving to Underwood Stakes Day to run alongside the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) for Caulfield Cup hopes and the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
The Thousand Guineas Prelude is the traditional preparatory run for fillies heading into the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) back at the track in October on Caulfield Cup Day. The last filly to complete the Thousand Guineas Prelude – Thousand Guineas double was Irish Lights (2009).
Ole Dancer (2nd in 2025) was the last Thousand Guineas winner to come via a lead-up run in the Prelude.
Thousand Guineas Prelude Race Info
- Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Distance: 1400m
- Conditions: 3YO Fillies – Set Weights + Penalties
- Status: Group 2
- Prize Money: $300,000
- First Run: 1983
Thousand Guineas Prelude Betting
Thousand Guineas Prelude odds are led each spring by in-form fillies coming off good lead-up form in earlier races against similar class.
A popular Thousand Guineas Prelude betting option is to back the winner to go on to win the Thousand Guineas, a punt that has paid off a number of times over the years. Fillies that ran well in earlier spring lead-up races like also sit high up the Thousand Guineas Prelude odds online each spring.
Instant Celebrity ($2.80 in 2020) was the last favourite in Thousand Guineas Prelude betting to get the job done.
There was a notable upset in 2021 with Bon’s A Pearla winning at Thousand Guineas Prelude odds of $31.
In 2025 Ferivia narrowly won the Prelude as an $11 outsider in the markets.
Thousand Guineas Prelude Field
The Thousand Guineas Prelude race field attracts a line-up of the season’s most promising middle-distance fillies heading towards a run over the mile in the Thousand Guineas.
Fillies in the Thousand Guineas Prelude field can come off a number of possible runs including the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m). In 2015 Miss Gunpowder ran third in the Quezette Stakes before her Prelude win two runs later.
Ferivia (2025) was the last filly to complete the Quezette Stakes – Thousand Guineas Prelude double.
Another lead-up race is the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes (1200m), a double last achieved by Lady Of Harrods (2012).
The likely next-up option for Thousand Guineas Prelude graduates is the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m). Jameka ran third in the Thousand Guineas Prelude in 2015 before a second to Stay With Me in that year’s Thousand Guineas. She also went on to win the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) and Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) that spring.
In 2014 the Thousand Guineas Prelude runner-up Amicus won the Thousand Guineas next start, while in 2013 the Prelude winner Gregers finished third in the Group 1 next time out. The previous year (2012) the Prelude runner-up Commanding Jewel ran second in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) next start before her Thousand Guineas success.
In 2022 the Thousand Guineas Prelude third placegetter She’s Licketysplit also finished third in that year’s Thousand Guineas trifecta with a Flemington win in between in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes.
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude Field
The official Thousand Guineas 2026 Prelude Final Field & Barriers are released the Wednesday of race week and will be published below.
The Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 final field features a cracking line-up of potentially Group 1-bound fillies including the undefeated Mark Walker-trained Tolaga Bay drawn out wide, Group 2 winner Grinzinger Heart with the outside alley to overcome and the progressive Ciaron Maher-trained Icelady.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Grinzinger Heart (14) Scratched: | |||||
|
2. Rebel Tuesday
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
114×00 | F | 2 | 57kg | |
| 3. Leopard Shark (10) Scratched: | |||||
|
4. Aethera
J: Damian Lane
T: Danny O’brien |
1×9 | F | 5 | 56kg | |
|
5. Profligate
J: Jordan Childs
T: Grahame Begg |
12×4 | F | 3 | 56kg | |
|
6. Portinari
J: Blake Shinn
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
9×8243 | F | 10 | 56kg | |
| 7. Almost An Angel (9) Scratched: | |||||
|
8. Tolaga Bay
J: Michael Dee
T: Mark Walker |
1×1 | F | 8 | 56kg | |
|
9. Icelady
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
422×2 | F | 7 | 56kg | |
|
10. Saintly Dancer
J: John Allen
T: Ciaron Maher |
216 | F | 4 | 56kg | |
|
11. Burning Heartz
J: Joe Bowditch
T: Gavin Bedggood |
14x | F | 6 | 56kg | |
|
12. Mystical Realm
J: Thomas Stockdale
T: Ciaron Maher |
14 | F | 1 | 56kg | |
| 13. Double Dodger (8) Scratched: | |||||
|
14. Joely
J: Craig Williams
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
1 | F | 9 | 56kg | |
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude Nominations
The Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 Nominations are taken the Monday of race week.
Thousand Guineas Prelude Form Guide
The Thousand Guineas Prelude form guide details to punters all the need-to-know information from trainers and jockeys to barriers and lead-up runs.
The Thousand Guineas Prelude form has also stacked up in tougher spring races in recent years including the VRC Oaks during the Melbourne Cup Carnival in 2015 when Prelude third placegetter Jameka won the staying clash at Flemington three runs later. Jameka also won the 2016 Caulfield Cup, further franking the previous season’s Thousand Guineas Prelude form.
In 2020 the Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Instant Celebrity ran third in the Thousand Guineas trifecta and went on to win the 2021 Robert Sangster Stakes and run third in that year’s Group 1 The Goodwood in Adelaide.
The upset 2021 Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Bon’s A Pearla franked the form running third in the following autumn’s 2022 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m). The form was further franked with the Prelude third place-getter Elusive Express winning the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) next start before an eye-catching fourth in that year’s Group 1 VRC Oaks results.
The 2024 Thousand Guineas Prelude form was franked with the winner, Too Darn Lizzie, going on to run third in that year’s Thousand Guineas trifecta.
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude Form Guide
A link to our detailed Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Past Thousand Guineas Prelude Results
The Thousand Guineas Prelude race results have been dominated by single-figure chances in the past decade, but a number of fillies have managed at upset at double-figures including Lady Of Harrods ($15 in 2012), Legless Veuve ($12 in 2016), Acting ($21 in 2019), blowout winner Bon’s A Pearla ($31 in 2021), and Ferivia ($11 in 2025).
Notable recent Thousand Guineas Prelude winners include Instant Celebrity (2020), Miss Gunpowder (2015), Divorces (2010), Irish Lights (2009), Ortensia (2008), and Miss Finland (2006).
Miss Pennymoney holds the current Thousand Guineas Prelude race record winning in 1999 in a time of 1 minute 22:58 seconds.
Recent Thousand Guineas Prelude Winners
Recent Thousand Guineas Prelude winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Third | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Icelady | Saintly Dancer | Profligate | 1:23.26 |
| 2025 | Ferivia | Ole Dancer | Salty Pearl | 1:23.59 |
| 2024 | Too Darn Lizzie | Zeitung | Geegees Mistruth | 1:25.86 |
| 2023 | Coeur Volante | Vivy Air | Zourion | 1:23.5 |
| 2022 | Boogie Dancer | Sumatra | She’s Licketysplit | 1:27.6 |
| 2021 | Bon’s A Pearla | Heresy | Elusive Express | 1:24.8 |
| 2020 | Instant Celebrity | Personal | Rock My Wand | 1:25.2 |
| 2019 | Acting | Southbank | Barbie’s Fox | 1:23.9 |
| 2018 | Smart Melody | Thrillster | El Dorado Dreaming | 1:22.7 |
| 2017 | Booker | Shoals | Catchy | 1:23.4 |
| 2016 | Legless Veuve | La Luna Rossa | Sword Of Light | 1:25.2 |
| 2015 | Miss Gunpowder | Payroll | Jameka | 1:23.2 |
| 2014 | Afleet Esprit | Amicus | Go Indy Go | 1:24.5 |
| 2013 | Gregers | Marianne | Politeness | 1:29.5 |
| 2012 | Lady Of Harrods | Commanding Jewel | Molto Bene | 1:24.9 |
| 2011 | Bliss Street | Hallowell Belle | Mosheen | 1:24.4 |
| 2010 | Divorces | Sistine Angel | Panipique | 1:24.2 |
| 2009 | Irish Lights | Set For Fame | Mont Fleuri | 1:26.1 |
| 2008 | Ortensia | Romneya | Sugar Babe | 1:26.0 |
| 2007 | Gabbidon | Jestatune | Sleek Chassis | 1:23.9 |
| 2006 | Miss Finland | Anamato | My Only Hope | 1:24.3 |
| 2005 | Doubting | Pinezero | Isanami | 1:27.4 |
| 2004 | Hollow Bullet | Ballet Society | Astradame | 1:24.3 |
| 2003 | Hinting | Ashenti | Portland Damask | 1:22.9 |
| 2002 | La Bella Dame | Toast Of The Coast | Lashed | 1:24.2 |
| 2001 | Haste Ye Back | Malagra Miss | Special Grange | 1:25.0 |
| 2000 | So Gorgeous | Ponton Flyer | All Time High | 1:22.9 |
FAQs
How do I bet on the 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude?
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 Thousand Guineas Prelude?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Thousand Guineas Prelude 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 Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026?
The 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude is set to run on Saturday September 19 at Caulfield during the early stages of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It is scheduled as Caulfield Race 4 at 1:50pm (AEST) on the 10-race Underwood Stakes Day card.
What is the prize money for the Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026?
The 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude prize money is set at $300,000 which is paid from 1st to 8th place including $180,000 going to the Thousand Guineas Prelude winner.
Where is the Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026?
The 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude is set to run a Melbourne's Caulfield Racecourse, home to many iconic races including the Caulfield Cup each October, which is located at Gate 2, Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145.
What distance is the Thousand Guineas Prelude run over?
The Thousand Guineas Prelude is run over 1400 metres, a trip that highlights fillies with both early‑spring speed and the strength to stretch out towards the mile.
How many horses run in the Thousand Guineas Prelude?
The Thousand Guineas Prelude generally assembles a capacity field of around 14 fillies, keeping it one of Caulfield’s most competitive early‑spring Group 2 races.
Who won the 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude?
The 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude was won in impressive all-the-way fashion by three-year-old Maurice filly Icelady at $7.50 who broke her maiden status for trainer Ciaron Maher with jockey Ethan Brown aboard on 56kg from barrier 7 to win by 0.75 lengths in a time of 1:23.26 on a Good (4) track.
Who won the 2025 Thousand Guineas Prelude?
The 2025 Thousand Guineas Prelude was won by three-year-old Astern filly Ferivia at $11 for trainer Phillip Stokes with jockey Lachlan Neindorf aboard on 58kg from barrier 1 to win by 0.06 lengths on a Good (3) track in a time of 1:23.59.