2026 Southern Cross Stakes Day Preview

2026 Southern Cross Stakes Day Preview

Black type racing returns to action at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday!

With one eye on some of the Sydney Autumn Carnival’s biggest prizes, we’ll start to get a better idea of which horses to be following when races like the Widden Stakes and the Canonbury Stakes are run and won, amongst a talent-rich ten-race program.

Read on for this week’s complete Rosehill Gardens best bets!

Highway Plate (1500m) – 12:35pm AEDT
No. 13 Holy Hell

HOLY HELL has returned to racing in good form this time and rates as a key chance in this week’s Highway Handicap.

Holy Hell has recorded three wins from five starts since resuming back in October, bouncing back from a near miss over a mile at the Sapphire Coast with an eye-catching performance at Wagga last time.

She’s hard fit, Tim Clark’s a bonus and one of these races doesn’t look beyond her.

Rosehill R1 – Tab Highway Plate (C3)
Final Race time: 
13. Holy Hell (8) Scratched:
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 02/06/2026 02:01:46 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
Midway Handicap (1350m) – 1:10pm AEDT
No. 13 Attractiveness

ATTRACTIVENESS can continue a positive career start on Southern Cross Stakes Day.

The three-year-old daughter of Hello Youmzain has only made three appearances since debuting, but after breaking her maiden impressively at Gosford last month, she was only just denied stepping up in grade and into a BM64 contest last time out.

She’s still got plenty of upside, she takes weight from every other horse engaged and she’s drawn a peach.

Rosehill R2 – Midway Handicap (Bm72)
Final Race time: 
5th
13. Attractiveness (4)
J: Zac Lloyd 52kg
412T: Richard & Will Freedman
4.20WIN
1.75PLACE
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 02/06/2026 02:01:47 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) – 1:45pm AEDT
Same Race Multi

INCOGNITO has opened an odds-on favourite in 2026 Canonbury Stakes betting.

He made just one appearance at the races during his first campaign but stamped himself as one to follow by winning the Breeders’ Plate.

He’s trialled up nicely again and on exposed form, he does look hard to beat, so I am going to select him as my winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with DEFENSEMEN finishing in the first three.

He didn’t break his maiden in two starts last spring, but Defensemen did race well in both the Kirkham Plate and the Golden Gift, and he therefore boasts an experience edge over plenty of these.

Same Race Multi selections:

  • 1 Incognito (Win)
  • 2 Defensemen (Top 3)
Rosehill R3 – Arrowfield Canonbury Stakes (G3)
Final Race time: 
5th
1. Incognito (5)
J: Tommy Berry 57.5kg
1xT: Michael Freedman
2.00WIN
1.28PLACE
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 01/06/2026 11:58:47 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) – 2:20pm AEDT
No. 3 Miss Chanel
Each Way

MISS CHANEL is second up and open to plenty of improvement when she takes her place in the Widden Stakes field.

She showed ability at the trials prior to debuting, and Miss Chanel turned in a competitive performance to finish third, beaten a little over a length and a half here a fortnight ago.

From a nice barrier, she should get every chance again, and we can have an each way play at around the $7 mark (at publish).

Rosehill R4 – Widden Stakes (G3)
Final Race time: 
2nd
3. Miss Chanel (4)
J: Regan Bayliss 54.5kg
3T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
5.00WIN
1.85PLACE
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 01/06/2026 10:36:07 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
Petaluma Handicap (1350m) – 2:55pm AEDT
No. 5 Interjection

INTERJECTION can bounce back into winning form on Southern Cross Stakes Day.

The Too Darn Hot gelding has turned in some nice performances in four appearances since resuming, winning in BM78 company at Randwick two back before a luckless effort saw him finish just outside of the placings last time.

He’s hard fit, I like that he’s on the quick back up and he is another one that looks to have drawn favourably this week.

Rosehill R5 – Petaluma Handicap (Bm78)
Final Race time: 
3rd
5. Interjection (5)
J: Dylan Gibbons 58.5kg
x6214T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton
9.00WIN
2.50PLACE
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 02/06/2026 02:01:48 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1500m) – 3:30pm AEDT
No. 7 Cross Tasman
Tip of The Day

CROSS TASMAN is unbeaten in three runs back this time and rates as a key winning chance once more.

He kept his best work for late when hitting the line over 1250m on the Kensington course at Randwick when resuming and has only continued to improve as the bare has been raised, winning a pair of metro races by a combined six lengths subsequently.

He’s hard fit and need only hold his form to get the chocolates again.

Rosehill R6 – Asahi Super Dry Handicap (Bm88)
Final Race time: 
2nd
7. Cross Tasman (5)
J: Tommy Berry 56.5kg
3×111T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton
1.50WIN
1.12PLACE
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 02/06/2026 02:01:48 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
Precise Air Handicap (1200m) – 4:05pm AEDT
No. 3 Eye Of The Fire

EYE OF THE FIRE is third up and primed to strike again.

Having returned to action for an eye-catching in over 1100m at Randwick earlier this month, Eye Of The Fire was only denied by an impressive Bev’s Nine here a fortnight ago.

He’s another one that is open to further improvement, he’s proven at the class and the small rise in trip also looks suitable.

Rosehill R7 – Precise Air Handicap (Bm88)
Final Race time: 
4th
3. Eye Of The Fire (5)
J: Jack Callan 58kg
55×12T: Annabel & Rob Archibald
7.50WIN
1.95PLACE
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 02/06/2026 02:01:49 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
Group 3 JRA Plate (1200m) – 4:45pm AEDT
No. 5 Disneck
Each Way

DISNECK proved too good for them down in Melbourne when resuming and I am confident he can go on with it in the JRA Plate (formerly the Southern Cross Stakes).

A winner of eight of his 34 career starts so far, Disneck has been a great horse for the Bjorn Baker yard for several seasons now, but his first run back down the straight three weeks back was arguably his best so far.

I’m confident that will have brought him right back on and he’s another whom we can have something on each way ($7 at publish).

Rosehill R8 – Jra Plate (G3)
Final Race time: 
6th
5. Disneck (7)
J: Josh Parr 55.5kg
958×1T: Bjorn Baker
4.40WIN
2.30PLACE
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 01/06/2026 11:58:49 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
Spelling At Coolmore Mt White Handicap (2000m) – 5:20pm AEDT
No. 8 Existential Bob
Each Way

EXISTENTIAL BOB has been knocking on the door recently and gets a great chance to win on Saturday.

It has been a short while since he did manage to win a race, but the Ocean Park gelding was unlucky to be denied in three races through December and January, while he was luckless in the run at his latest.

Getting out to the 2000m this week looks to suit and, there’s no doubting his fitness and with just 54.5kgs in tow, he might not get a better opportunity in Saturday metro company.

Rosehill R9 – Spelling At Coolmore Mt White Handicap (Bm78)
Final Race time: 
2nd
8. Existential Bob (8)
J: Tommy Berry 54.5kg
83325T: Chris Waller
5.00WIN
1.75PLACE
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 02/06/2026 02:01:50 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
Kia Ora Bloodlines To Headlines Handicap (1200m) – 5:55pm AEDT
No. 13 Nepo Baby

NEPO BABY puts an unbeaten record on the line when she makes her eagerly awaited return to the races on Saturday.

She hasn’t been seen since September, but after breaking her maiden with a dominant performance on debut at Scone, Nepo Baby went on with it when comfortably accounting for a BM64 field at her only other appearance.

She’s trialled up nicely and find a good campaign launchpad this week.

Rosehill R10 – Kia Ora Bloodlines To Headlines Handciap (Bm72)
Final Race time: 
3rd
13. Nepo Baby (3)
J: Jack Callan 52kg
11xT: Annabel & Rob Archibald
3.60WIN
1.50PLACE
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 02/06/2026 02:01:50 AM (Australia/Brisbane)