2026 All Aged Stakes Day Preview

AUDREY’S LANE is third up into a winnable Midway Handicap on All Aged Stakes Day.

Having returned to action with a fine performance to get up in similar company at Rosehill last month, Audrey’s Lane was last seen filling the minors, beaten just over a length getting out to the 1300m.

Another small rise in trip this week suits and with luck in the run, I think she’ll take beating this time.

CRUIZINGTHESTARS puts an unbeaten record on the line in this week’s Highway race.

Having stamped herself as one to follow with a dominant win on debut in February, Cruizingthestars has since added victories in Class 1 and Class 2 company at Goulburn and Canberra respectively.

This is obviously another decent rise in class, but she continues to jump as the bar is raised and she has proven to be a versatile galloper in the run.

ESTREMO resumes in a nice race at Randwick this week.

We haven’t seen Estremo at the races since September, but he enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence through those six starts, winning twice and placing a further three, highlighted by an impressive victory in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude.

While he’ll undoubtedly improve for whatever he does here, he’s had a couple of soft trials and does look forward enough to win, while he also looks to have an ability edge over a number of these rivals.

PLAINTIFF is another unbeaten galloper I’m keen to be with on All Aged Stakes Day.

Having recorded three wins from as many starts through late spring and summer last year, Plaintiff picked up where she left off with an eye-catching victory in the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes on Day 1 of The Championships.

With natural improvement for that hit-out, she’s certainly capable of going on with it.

MATIAS is third up and primed to strike in the Frank Packer Plate.

He dusted off the cobwebs with a fair effort without threatening in the Phar Lap Stakes at Group 2 level when resuming this time, while Matias was only just denied in a tight finish to the Carbine Club Stakes a fortnight ago getting out to the mile.

It was the run of a horse that looked as though he’d be suited to getting further out in trip again, and with more improvement, he looks very well placed in my opinion.

BEAR ON THE LOOSE steps out a fit horse this weekend and with plenty of ticks in a race like the JRA Plate, in my opinion.

He is yet to strike in three runs back from a break, but Bear On The Loose rarely finishes far away from them, and after a couple of near misses in town first and second up, he was last seen finishing fourth in the Albury Cup.

He’s been freshened and sent back to the trials since then, and with only 53kgs in tow this week, I’m expecting him to lob up front and make his own luck.

CAMPIONE D’ITALIA can make it two Group 1 victories in succession when he takes his place in the Champagne Stakes field.

He’s only made four appearances at the races since debuting but clearly, Campione D’italia is a horse of immense talent, and he followed up a credible fourth placing in the Golden Slipper with an impressive victory in the Inglis Sires’ a fortnight ago.

He’s fit, the mile looks to suit, and James McDonald retains. Plenty of ticks again this week.

Several outstanding sprinters will take their place in the Hall Mark Stakes field including the former West Australian, JOKERS GRIN.

On this weekend last year, Jokers Grin was storming home to win The Quokka, while he continued to turn in strong performances during the Perth Summer Carnival.

He has been transferred to the care of Chris Waller to target the Brisbane Winter Carnival from next month and has had the benefit of a couple of trials ahead of Saturday’s return.

The All Aged Stakes looms as one of the standout contests of the season once again, with many of the country’s best thoroughbreds set to run.

ANGEL CAPITAL has continued to knock on the door of a maiden win at the highest level this time in and I think he gets his chance this week.

After finishing fourth in the Expressway Stakes behind the likes of Joliestar and Caballus, the Harry Angel gelding placed in both the Newmarket and the William Reid, the latter by less than half a length.

He’s been kept up to the mark with a trial since that race, the 1400m should prove ideal and he is drawn to receive every chance under James McDonald.

TAVI TIME resumes in a wide-open contest at the conclusion of 2026 All Aged Stakes Day.

We haven’t seen him going around since winning the Summer Cup over 2000m here on Boxing Day, but Tavi Time is a horse of plenty of ability, and he’s a multiple winner at this point of his preparation.

A couple of trials under his belt and with some relief in the weights under Will Stanley, he has genuine each way claims in my opinion.