2026 The Championships Day 2 Preview

This shapes as an open edition of the Fernhill Mile with several key chances engaged, including HYDROBOMB.

Hydrobomb has improved with each of three runs since debuting, culminating in an eye-catching win over 1400m at Sandown last time out.

He’s hard fit, but getting out the mile here looks ideal for him, and he can stamp himself as a contender for next week’s Champagne Stakes by winning.

WITHIN THE LAW is second up and open to plenty of improvement into the South Pacific Classic.

Within The Law has proven to be a great horse for the Bjorn Baker yard since debuting, winning three of fourteen starts and placing a further five times, finding form around some of her age group’s best fillies.

She was just over a length and a half behind the winner in the Birthday Card Stakes last time out and with improvement for that effort and getting back into three-year-olds’ company, I think she gets plenty of ticks.

SANTONO GLOW puts an unbeaten record on the line in the Percy Sykes.

She showed promise at the trials prior to debuting, and Satono Glow proved too good for them when hitting the line to break her maiden at Warwick Farm last month.

Having since gone to Melbourne and won the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Plate down the Flemington straight, she’s open to further improvement and is drawn to receive a dream run under in-form hoop, Zac Lloyd.

The Provincial Championship Final looks a perfect race for BUFFALO, in my opinion.

Buffalo placed in Group 1 company during last year’s Championships, but after spending nearly a year away from the races, he returned to action in the Newcastle Qualifier for this race with an eye-catching performance to win.

I’m expecting plenty of improvement for that hit-out, and while he has drawn wide into the field, he’ll likely settle off the pace regardless before calling on that turn of speed.

We were with PROFOUNDLY when she won last week’s Adrian Knox Stakes and I am keen to stick with her on the quick back up.

Profoundly has raced consistently through ten starts since debuting, but she really has gone to a new level this time.

Having won in BM72 company at Warwick Farm fresh from a break, the daughter of Farnan kept her best work for late when third in the Group 3 Kembla Classic.

She attracted late support in last weekend’s 2000m fillies’ race and again kept her best work for late when kicking clear to win by more than two lengths.

I like that she’s on the quick back up and getting further out in trip this week.

This is an outstanding edition of the Arrowfield Sprint featuring no fewer than four Group 1 winners, including our short-priced favourite, TEMPTED.

Tempted doesn’t know how to run a bad race and is unbeaten in two starts back this time, including the Surround Stakes last time out.

Back to 1200m following a freshen up and a trial, I do think she’ll be hard to beat, but I am also going to have an each way saver on the Queenslander, GRAFTERBURNERS.

Grafterburners was unfortunately scratched at the gates ahead of The Galaxy three weeks ago after becoming fractious in the gates, but he otherwise would have started the race favourite.

His record last time in was faultless and included victories in the Gold Edition Plate and the Sunlight Plate.

From the good draw this week, I think he can make his presence felt.

This is a typically open edition of the Sydney Cup with plenty of live chances engaged, but I am siding with the topweight this year, RIVER OF STARS.

Having filled the minors of this race last year at his just second Australian start, River Of Stars continued to perform well throughout the Spring Carnival, finishing second in the Caulfield Cup and fourth in the Melbourne Cup.

He didn’t beat a runner home over 1400m in the Apollo Stakes first up, but he has since turned in competitive performances in the Sky High, and the Tancred and getting out to 3200m at this point of his preparation is ideal.

James McDonald rides and we can have an each way play at current Sydney Cup odds ($9 at publish).

Some of the best fillies and mares in the country will step out in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes field on Saturday, but I’ve found it impossible to look past PRIDE OF JENNI.

This day was the scene of her greatest triumph two years ago when she recorded a truly incredible victory in the Queen Elizabeth, and Pride Of Jenni has obviously continued as one of the darlings of Australian racing since.

While she’s yet to win in two starts back this time, she was tough to fill the minors in the All-Star Mile first up before running an agonizingly close second in the Australian Cup last time out.

Fit, back down to a mile and into fillies and mares’ company, and I think she’ll be leading all the way.

That unbeaten record goes on the line again when AUTUMN GLOW takes her place in the 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes field and understandably, she’s opened a short favourite again.

Her winning streak now stands at 11, having added the Apollo Stakes, Verry Elleegant Stakes and George Ryder to her CV this time in, and she has been nothing short of outstanding in each.

I do think she’ll be winning again, so I am going to select her as my winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with SIR DELIUS running into the first three and DUBAI HONOUR running into the first four.

I don’t think either horse is up to beating Autumn Glow, but they’re both fit and set for this race, and I think they’ll be fighting out the minors.

Same Race Multi selections:

• 7 Autumn Glow (Win)
• 2 Sir Delius (Top 3)
• 1 Dubai Honour (Top 4)

GANGSTA GRANNY is perfectly placed in the Sapphire Stakes, in my opinion.

We were with Gangsta Granny when she won the Wenona Girl Quality fresh from a break, and also when she was only just denied in the Star Kingdom last time out.

She meets this field far better at the weights and with James McDonald retaining the ride, I think she can and will bounce back.