2026 The Championships Day 1 Preview

Recent Kindergarten Stakes winning include Paulele, Bivouac, Astern and Hallowed Crown, and I think a debutant can join that list this weekend.

BLUE DOOR is yet to make an appearance at the races, but he was outstanding at the trials late last month and looks to have a lot of ability.

Rachel King rides and I am confident the horse can hit the ground running.

With one eye on the Oaks next weekend, PROFOUNDLY is the one for me in Saturday’s Adrian Knox.

Profoundly returned to the race with an eye-catching performance to get up in BM72 company over 1400m at Warwick Farm, while she was only just denied in the Group 3 Kembla Classic last time out.

I like that she has been kept up to the mark with a trial since that race, and she is a filly that looks as though she’ll relish getting out to the 2000m this week.

An ideal draw and Tommy Berry retaining are further ticks.

JUJA KIBO has been improving with each run back from a break and looks well placed to strike in Saturday’s Chairman’s Quality.

He dusted off the cobwebs when finishing down the order over 1600m here at Randwick early last month, and Juja Kibo has since filled the minors in both the Randwick City Stakes and the NE Manion Cup, the traditional path into this race.

In peak order this week, he’s a horse that should stay all day and I think he’ll get his chance with only 55.5kgs in tow.

I’m happy to give a fit RIVELLINO another chance in Saturday’s Carbine Club Stakes.

While he’s yet to place in three runs back from a break, Rivellino is a horse that has tended to improve as his campaigns have progressed, and there’s no doubt that he was improved when finishing fourth in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas last time out.

He’s another one that has trialled since his latest start, there’s no doubt this is a drop in class and with luck in the run, I think his class can shine through.

Matt Dunn is one of Country NSW’s best trainers, and I think he’ll win this year’s Country Championships Final with the impressive CONSIDERED.

Considered simply does not know how to run a bad race, and she ended her last prep under the care of Cody Morgan with consecutive victories.

Since joining Dunn’s stable though, she really has gone to another level and is unbeaten in four appearances, winning the Qualifier for this race at Coffs Harbour two back before striking again in featured company on the Gold Coast.

She’s hard fit, drawn perfectly and just needs to hold her form to be right in the finish again.

The first Group 1 feature race sees some of the country’s best two-year-olds chase glory in the Inglis Sires’ including STREISAND, who I think is going to take beating.

She’s hardly put a hoof wrong this time in, and after storming home to win the Group 1 Blue Diamond at Caulfield in February, she hit the line again to only just miss in the Golden Slipper last time out.

That was the run of a filly that I thought would appreciate the extra furlong that she gets this week.

This is a stunning edition of the TJ Smith Stakes with several key contenders engaged, and I am going to back a couple of them.

TENTYRIS ended his 2025 campaign with an outstanding performance to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes, and he picked up where he left off in February’s Black Caviar Lightning.

While he didn’t run on as expected under a heavier weight in the Newmarket last time, he’s undoubtedly in peak order for this race and has options in the run from the rails draw.

BRIASA meanwhile is the TJ Smith Stakes defending champion, and I was keen on his chances first up in The Galaxy a fortnight ago.

He looked the winner at the 250m before ultimately fading to finish fourth, but this is the race he’s been set for, and I have little doubt he’ll improve noticeably into it.

Don’t forget to check out our full 2026 TJ Smith Stakes Runner-by-Runner Preview!

Another great opportunity to back one to win and have a saver at healthy odds is how the 2026 Doncaster Mile field has shaped, in my opinion.

SHEZA ALIBI has just continued to improve with each start and as the bar has been raised, but she truly has gone to a new level this time in, culminating in an utterly bullish performance to win the Randwick Guineas last time.

She carries just 49kgs as a three-year-old filly and with luck from barrier 13, I think she’ll be winning.

GRINGOTTS has been charged with carrying a 58.5kg topweight, but he is just as tough as they come, and after tuning up in the Canterbury Stakes first up this time, he was first home behind Autumn Glow in the George Ryder last time out.

Fitter third-up and out to the mile, I think he’s a terrific each way contender at around the $17 mark (at publish).

I’m keen to stick with OBSERVER when he takes his place in the 2026 Australian Derby field.

Having capped his 2025 campaign with an impressive win in the Victoria Derby, Observer picked up where he left off by winning the Autumn Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield before adding the Australian Guineas to his CV.

He was well beaten by Autumn Boy in the Rosehill Guineas last time out, but he’s a fit horse, James McDonald jumps into the saddle, and we know he’ll relish the mile and a half.

INKARUNA is third up and primed to strike in the PJ Bell.

She hasn’t finished worse than second at her last four trips to the races and has only just been denied in both the Listed Fireball and the Group 3 Birthday Card this time in.

Fitter third-up and back into three-year-old fillies’ company, I think she’s going to take a power of beating this time.