Welcome back to Group 1 racing punters! The spring carnival really arrives in Sydney on Saturday with a star-studded field of resuming WFA stars doing battle in a terrific Randwick race and Ladbrokes are here with our expert 2026 Winx Stakes tips, predictions and best bets to help get things underway with a bang.
We’re treated to a stacked field for the season’s opening elite-level, the Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m) featuring a mouth-watering clash between two very exciting mares with Autumn Glow odds-on to return to winning form and Sheza Alibi there looking to stop her.
So, will Autumn Glow get back to what she does best – winning Group 1s? Or, is there other dangers lurking from the seven stablemates that join her in this elite line-up?
Let’s get into it with our insider Winx Stakes predictions and Same Race Multi selections below.
Race Snapshot
- Status: Group 1
- Distance: 1400m
- Track: Royal Randwick
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
- Race Style: A high‑pressure, early spring weight‑for‑age clash where proven Group 1 stars and sharp first‑up performers launch their campaigns in a fast‑run, class‑driven Randwick 1400m test that rewards race day fitness and sustained closing strength.
- Key Profiles: Elite WFA campaigners, sharp first‑up Group 1 performers, proven Randwick 1400m specialists, and rising spring carnival contenders capable of producing a sustained closing kick in a pressure‑laden clash.
2026 Winx Stakes Best Bets
AUTUMN GLOW (3) is odds-on to resume a winner in the opening Group 1 of the season, and despite the depth of this outstanding Winx Stakes field, it really is hard to tip against Waller’s triple elite level winning mare.
The talented daughter of The Autumn Sun won her opening 11 career starts in style including the Group 2 Apollo at this track and trip by nearly three lengths when first-up in the autumn (see footage below). ⬇️
Her Randwick record is near flawless (six from seven); she’s two from two over the seven furlongs and the only blip on her glowing CV came at her latest when third behind Sir Delius when stretched to 2000m for the Queen Elizabeth.
Whether Waller should have stepped her out over further than a mile will be a question that goes down in history, but she’s a flyer fresh, oozes star status, has banked over $8.5 mill and I think she’ll be back where she belongs on Saturday – in the winner’s stall with J-Mac in the saddle.
Verdict: Resuming Randwick queen who is odds-on for a reason, should waltz back into Group 1 company fresh.
| 8. Autumn Glow (3) 57kg1113x |
SHEZA ALIBI (1) is the obvious danger on the second line of Winx Stakes betting and there’s been plenty of pre-race hype on her showdown with Autumn Glow.
This Moody/Coleman-trained Saxon Warrior mare is as classy and consistent as they come looking set for a big 4YO campaign.
She’s yet to run out of the money and is a seven-time winner from 10 starts having won her past five on the trot and dominating things in both states last time in.
After putting 2.25 lengths on Salty Pearl in Caulfield’s Group 2 Angus Armanasco over this distance in February, she was absolutely dominant against the boys to claim an emphatic three-length victory over Autumn Boy in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas over the mile.
Proved she was the real deal against her older rivals in the Doncaster Mile at her latest from barrier 13 of 16 when leaving them in her wake with a four-length demolition job (the first filly in 27 years to do so) – a supreme performance you can relive below before backing her this weekend! ⬇️
Two sharp Pakenham jump-outs have her cherry ripe for her much awaited return, Luke Nolen knows her well and she oozes upside.
WFA is the real test, and she’ll need to find the right spot from the inside alley, but if she produces anything like what she did in the autumn she’ll be coming for them!
Verdict: With her autumn demolition jobs still echoing, she shapes as the danger who’ll turn this into a real fight if she lands the right spot.
| 14. Sheza Alibi (1) 56.5kgx111x |
LADY SHENANDOAH (2) is one of eight Waller-trained Winx Stakes contenders and, while I don’t think she’ll knock off her odds-on stablemate, I do see her as a huge value chance for exotics.
This consistent Snitzel mare resumes for the spring paying close to $20 at time of publish and looks overpriced for a genuine Randwick track specialist (9:3-3-2) who is undefeated over Saturday’s 1400m distance.
She’s not been first past the post since going back-to-back at Group 1 level last March taking out the Surround Stakes / Coolmore Classic double, but she has been competitive in plenty of top-level events since.
Fresh last spring she was a nostril-flare second to Headwall in the $1 million Concorde before a host of game runs including a seventh in The Everest only two lengths off Hong Kong hero Ka Ying Rising.
Her autumn was full of strong performances with four Top 4 runs on the trot, the latest a second to Idle Flyer in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf over the mile.
Her trials have been okay, but she always performs better with the race day pressure on, she’s drawn to get a gun run from gate two and Kerrin McEvoy takes the sit on her for the first time.
Flies fresh, right distance to get things underway, she’ll be midfield and closing hard.
Top 3 chance for sure.
Verdict: Value runner who will be humming late fresh, drawn sweetly and set to slide into the finish late to ruin plenty of trifectas!
Check out all of my best value Randwick racing tips for Saturday now over at Hendo’s Hopefuls!
| 12. Lady Shenandoah (2) 57kg3342x |
2026 Winx Stakes Same Race Multi Selections
- Top 2 – No. 8 Autumn Glow
- Top 3 – No. 14 Sheza Alibi
- Top 4 – No. 12 Lady Shenandoah
AUTUMN GLOW (3) is the clear Top 2 anchor for any Same Race Multi, resuming as an odds‑on favourite with a near‑perfect Randwick record, an unbeaten 1400m profile, and the kind of first‑up brilliance that saw her open her career with 11 straight wins. Her only recent blemish came when stretched to 2000m, and back at her pet trip with J‑Mac aboard, Waller’s star mare looks almost certain to be right in the finish again.
SHEZA ALIBI (1) is a must‑include Top 3 danger, arriving off a dominant autumn where she strung together five straight wins and proved herself at Group 1 level against both her own age and seasoned rivals. She’s ultra‑consistent, never out of the money, and her jump‑outs say she’s forward enough to fire fresh again; the only small query is where she lands from the inside draw, but if she finds the right spot she’ll be charging late and right in the finish.
LADY SHENANDOAH (2) shapes as a value Top 4 roughie for the Winx Stakes exotic bets, resuming at a big price despite being a proven Randwick specialist who’s unbeaten at 1400m and consistently competitive at the top level. She flies fresh, draws perfectly in gate two, and with Kerrin McEvoy aboard she maps to stalk the speed and close hard late, making her an ideal exotic play.
| 8. Autumn Glow (3) 57kg1113x | ||
| 14. Sheza Alibi (1) 56.5kgx111x | ||
| 12. Lady Shenandoah (2) 57kg3342x |
2026 Winx Stakes – Speed Map Snapshot
A fast‑run, high‑class Winx Stakes looks on the cards this year, with a pair of natural leaders drawn to roll forward, plenty of big names parked midfield ready to strike, and a couple of elite swoopers set to unleash late. It’s a classic Randwick 1400m pressure map — early heat, mid‑race sorting, and a deep closing brigade — perfect for punters looking to visualise how this Group 1 will unfold.
Leaders — No. 3 Lindermann (12), No. 5 Beiwacht (4)
Both push up to take control, with Beiwacht looking particularly well‑set after sharp trials and likely proving hard to run down at WFA.
On‑Pace / Applying Pressure — No. 7 Green Spaces (14), No. 9 Aeliana (11)
This pair keeps the leaders honest from wider draws, ensuring a genuine tempo. Aeliana will be savaging the line if the pressure builds.
Midfield Group — No. 1 Ceolwulf (8), No. 8 Autumn Glow (3), No. 11 Idle Flyer (9), No. 12 Lady Shenandoah (2), No. 13 Barnavara (13), No. 14 Sheza Alibi (1)
A stacked stalking brigade perfectly positioned to strike if the front runners overcook it. Ceolwulf looks set to warm up late, Lady Shenandoah will be closing strongly through the line, and Sheza Alibi presents the one small map query — a slight niggle about where she lands from the rails draw in a pressure‑packed Winx Stakes.
Off‑Midfield — No. 6 Autumn Boy (6)
Settles just behind the main pack, close enough to blend in and build momentum from the 400m.
Off‑Pace — No. 4 Midnight Dynamite (5)
Expected to settle behind the midfield wall and look for gaps late; becomes more dangerous if the leaders go too hard.
Backmarkers — No. 2 Gringotts (7), No. 10 Fangirl (10)
Both get back and look to unleash down the outside when the race opens up.
Speed Map Verdict
A genuine, forward‑rolling tempo is expected with Lindermann and Beiwacht controlling the early shape. The midfield brigade — Autumn Glow, Sheza Alibi, Lady Shenandoah, Idle Flyer, and Ceolwulf — get the ideal trail to strike late, while Aeliana and Green Spaces add pressure from wider draws. If they go too hard early, Gringotts and Fangirl become the swoopers to watch.
What Wins the 2026 Winx Stakes?
Elite first‑up performers: The Winx Stakes is a prime launching pad for elite fresh horses, and runners with explosive first‑up profiles regularly dominate the 1400m at Randwick. Classy resumers with proven Group 1 talent are historically the safest bets.
Best Bets: No. 8 Autumn Glow, No. 14 Sheza Alibi
| 8. Autumn Glow (3) 57kg1113x | ||
| 14. Sheza Alibi (1) 56.5kgx111x |
Randwick 1400m specialists: The Randwick 1400m rewards horses who handle the rise in tempo, absorb pressure, and still produce a sustained closing kick. Track specialists with strong records at the course and distance have a major edge.
Best Bets: No. 8 Autumn Glow, No. 12 Lady Shenandoah
| 8. Autumn Glow (3) 57kg1113x | ||
| 12. Lady Shenandoah (2) 57kg3342x |
Trial standouts: Sharp, professional August trials are one of the strongest indicators of a winning Winx Stakes return. Stables often tune their best middle‑distance horses specifically for this race.
Best Bets: No. 14 Sheza Alibi, No. 5 Beiwacht
| 14. Sheza Alibi (1) 56.5kgx111x | |||
| 5. Beiwacht (4)SCRATCHED: | |||
On‑pace tactical runners: The Winx Stakes is typically run at a genuine but controlled WFA tempo, and horses who can sit handy without overdoing it often get the perfect slingshot into the straight. Leaders and stalkers have a strong strike‑rate.
Best Bets: No. 5 Beiwacht, No. 3 Lindermann
| 3. Lindermann (10) 59kg3922x | |||
| 5. Beiwacht (4)SCRATCHED: | |||
Stables targeting early Group 1s: Top Sydney yards — especially Waller, Moody/Coleman and Freedman — regularly aim their best horses at the Winx Stakes as a springboard into the King Charles III Stakes, Epsom and beyond. Their runners arrive forward, fit and ready.
Best Bets: No. 8 Autumn Glow, No. 14 Sheza Alibi
| 8. Autumn Glow (3) 57kg1113x | ||
| 14. Sheza Alibi (1) 56.5kgx111x |
Market confidence: Firmers in the Winx Stakes odds 2026 often reflect strong trackwork, favourable maps or stable confidence — and historically, the market reads this race extremely well.
Best Bets: No. 8 Autumn Glow, No. 14 Sheza Alibi
| 8. Autumn Glow (3) 57kg1113x | ||
| 14. Sheza Alibi (1) 56.5kgx111x |
The 2026 Winx Stakes shapes as the perfect early spring form guide, and this year’s edition has it all — elite first‑up stars, Group 1 mares resuming with serious spring plans, a genuine pressure cooker 1400m map, and a market going off with heaps of interest around Autumn Glow, Sheza Alibi and the value runners circling underneath. Get ready to launch into a huge spring racing season.
Happy Group 1 betting punters!
Latest Winx Stakes Odds 2026
Winx Stakes 2026 Results
| 8. Autumn Glow (3) 57kg1113x | |||
| 14. Sheza Alibi (1) 56.5kgx111x | |||
| 2. Gringotts (5) 59kgx924x | |||
| 12. Lady Shenandoah (2) 57kg3342x | |||
| 1. Ceolwulf (6) 59kg1x66x | |||
| 11. Idle Flyer (7) 57kgx411x | |||
| 4. Midnight Dynamite (4) 59kg21314 | |||
| 7. Green Spaces (11) 58.5kg6621x | |||
| 3. Lindermann (10) 59kg3922x | |||
| 10. Fangirl (8) 57kgx834x | |||
| 9. Aeliana (9) 57kg2211x | |||
| 5. Beiwacht (4)SCRATCHED: | |||
| 6. Autumn Boy (6)SCRATCHED: | |||
| 13. Barnavara (13)SCRATCHED: | |||
Winx Stakes FAQs
The Winx Stakes is Sydney’s first Group 1 weight‑for‑age race of the season, run over 1400m at Royal Randwick, and acts as a key early‑spring form guide for elite middle‑distance horses.
The 2026 Winx Stakes is held on Saturday the 22nd of August at Royal Randwick as the opening Group 1 of the Sydney spring.
The race is run over 1400 metres, a trip that rewards sustained speed, tactical positioning and strong first‑up performers.
The 2025 Winx Stakes was won by the defending champion, eight-year-old Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina, at $2.80 favouritism for now nine-time winning trainer Chris Waller with jockey James McDonald aboard on 57kg from barrier 1 to win by 0.36 lengths on a Heavy (10) track in a time of 1:26.02.
Elite first‑up runners, Randwick specialists, strong trial performers and proven WFA horses dominate this race.
Live markets update frequently based on trials, track conditions and stable confidence. The latest Winx Stakes 2026 odds are open now at Ladbrokes.
Top chances typically include proven Group 1 performers resuming at their preferred trip. For 2026, Autumn Glow, Sheza Alibi and Lady Shenandoah profile strongly.
A fast‑run, tactical 1400m WFA clash with early pressure, a big stalking midfield group and elite closers launching late.