2026 Chairman’s Stakes Day Preview

I’m going to give JENNI’S MEADOW another chance when she contests the first on Chairman’s Stakes Day.

Jenni’s Meadow is yet to strike in five runs back this time but has been hinting at another victory recently, and she was only denied just over a head at Flemington last time out.

In peak order this week and sticking at the 2000m, I think she’ll get her chance.

EAGLE EXPRESS resumes in a nice race.

The Alabama Express mare hasn’t been seen at the races since September, but she was a model of consistency in races not dissimilar to this one, winning in BM70 company and finding form around some classy opposition.

She’s yet to miss placing in three fresh attempts and should find a nice position in the run under Damian Lane.

TARZING puts an unbeaten record on the line.

He’s only made two appearances since debuting, but after stamping himself as one to follow with a comfortable victory out at Seymour, he franked that performance by winning a BM66 sprint again last time.

He’s open to further improvement, gets into the race well under the conditions and can go on with it.

SUN GIFT chases a hat-trick on Chairman’s Stakes Day 2026.

She was only denied by a fit and impressive Tempranillo on the Heath track here at Caulfield when resuming but hasn’t taken a backwards step since, winning each of her two subsequent starts impressively.

She’s hard fit, getting out to the mile and a half looks ideal at this point of her preparation and I think she’s going to take plenty of beating again.

There’s a case to be made for a few of them in this contest including BAYOU MUSIC, who I’ve got on top a nice price ($10 at publish).

Bayou Music turned in some fine performances during his debut prep last year, while he returned to action to finish on the placegetters’ heels at Pakenham a couple of weeks ago.

This is harder, but he strips fitter, he’s horse that looks suited getting out to the 1800m and he looms as a genuine each way contender in something like this.

BIG SKY has opened an odds-on favourite in Chairman’s Stakes betting and understandably after his debut performance, but I am keen to take him on with something at a nicer price.

INVINCIBLE SON has also made just one appearance, but I thought he was decent and to fill the minors and is open to plenty of improvement.

He showed some ability at the trials prior to debuting and hit the line to finish third behind Unit Five, who has since franked the form by winning the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

I like that this bloke has been back to the trial and the booking of Jamie Melham certainly doesn’t hinder his chances.

DAMASK ROSE is the one for me first up in the Bellmaine Stakes this week.

She was nothing short of outstanding in her native New Zealand last summer and autumn, winning races like the Karaka Millions 3YO and The Kiwi, but it’s fair to say that Damask Rose didn’t show her best form in four starts during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

That being said, she’s trialled well, she boasts a class edge over most of these mares, and she has options in the run from the rails draw.

GALLANT SON takes winning form and improvement into another nice race.

He was a model of consistency during the autumn last year and was unlucky not to strike in black type company, and after trialling up nicely in December, he put the writing on the wall with an eye-catching first up win at Flemington.

Back to Caulfield and into a race with a turn, I think he can and will make it two on the bounce.

Another last-start winner I’m keen to stick with on Chairman’s Stake Day is MIDNITE STORM in the penultimate.

Midnite Storm turned in some fine performances at the beginning of his career over in the UK, but after a couple of fair trials in Victoria upon arriving in Australia, he produced a career-best performance to do to win on debut here in Australia, beating home some nice horses at Flemington earlier this month.

I’m only expecting him to improve for that experience and getting out to the 1800m, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.

This is a tough way to end the day from a betting perspective and there is a case to be made for plenty of them, but HARRY’S YACHT is one that we can have some level of confidence in.

Harry’s Yacht has been a consistent performer throughout recent preparations and won in BM84 company two starts back before another credible effort in a lucrative VOBIS race last time out.

While he has been charged with carrying topweight, I think he’ll get the right run in transit under Jamie Melham, and we can have an each way play at around the $12 mark (at publish).