The latest edition of the Caulfield Guineas Prelude ran on Saturday, September 19, 2026 as part of Caulfield’s Underwood Stakes Day 2026 card and saw the favourite Blind Raise ($2.40F) post a big 2.75 length victory ahead of the Group 1 final.
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2026 is one of the most telling early‑spring races for punters sizing up the strength of Melbourne’s three‑year‑old crop. Run over 1400 metres at Caulfield, the Prelude brings together colts and geldings on the rise, many stepping out of sharp sprint races and looking to prove they can stretch their talent towards the mile. With Caulfield Guineas Prelude betting markets reacting quickly to trials, form lines and stable plans for the spring carnival, this race is a major checkpoint for identifying genuine Group 1 contenders. The fast tempo, deep fields and clear progression towards the Caulfield Guineas make it a favourite among punters chasing early‑spring value and insight.
2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Results
The official Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2026 results & finishing order will be published below once the race is run and won on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
- #3 Blind Raise
- #1 Tornado Valley
- #2 American Eagle
The 2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude results on Underwood Stakes Day was a one-horse affair as exciting Kiwi-bred talent Blind Raise ($2.40 favourite) announced himself as the standout contender for this year’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas with a dominant 2.75 length victory at Caulfield. Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and ridden with confidence by Blake Shinn, the son of Ace High absorbed early pressure before exploding clear in the straight to comfortably defeat Tornado Valley ($19), while American Eagle ($5) was a short head away in third. The impressive Group 3 triumph improved Blind Raise’s record to four wins from five starts and secured his position at the head of Caulfield Guineas betting, with the gelding set to head straight to the $3 million Group 1 over 1600m on October 10. Unsurprisingly, bookmakers reacted quickly, with Ladbrokes winding Blind Raise’s Caulfield Guineas odds in from $8 to $4, installing him as the outright market leader after one of the most dominant Guineas lead-up performances of the spring.
2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Race Replay
2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Odds & Finishing Order
The latest Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2026 betting odds and links to our Caulfield racing markets will be open below as soon as released so stay tuned for the top odds on the Caulfield Guineas-bound three-year-olds this spring followed by the official finishing order after the event.
Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2026 Results
| 3. Blind Raise (9) J: Blake Shinn 57kg 119×1 T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | ||
| 1. Tornado Valley (3) J: Thomas Stockdale 58kg 68×74 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 2. American Eagle (8) J: Mark Zahra 58kg 11 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 5. Wolf Gap (5) J: Ethan Brown 56kg 13×2 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 8. Vallice (4) J: John Allen 56kg 51×44 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 7. Seraphox (1) J: Declan Bates 56kg 713×3 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 6. Confederation (6) J: Damian Lane 56kg 28×35 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 9. Alchemistic (7) J: Linda Meech 56kg 51 T: Tom Dabernig | ||
| 4. Joint Venture (2) J: Ben Melham 56kg 319 T: Chris Waller |
Caulfield Guineas Prelude Tips
Good Caulfield Guineas Prelude tips to take to the bookies during the spring include looking for colts and geldings coming off a lead-up win in Melbourne, runners with ability over 1400m and those drawn near the rails at Caulfield.
Previous Group 1 performed youngsters at the track from the autumn out of races like the Blue Diamond Stakes also make a good tip in Caulfield Guineas Prelude betting each spring.
Ladbrokes Tip: The Caulfield Guineas Prelude – Caulfield Guineas double is a popular spring bet
2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Predictions & Best Bets
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2026 betting tips and Group 3 racing picks for the Caulfield Guineas lead-up race will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the horses to lock-in for the win and to take in Group 1 futures markets on the mile feature next race.
| 3. Blind Raise (9) J: Blake Shinn 57kg 119×1 T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 2. American Eagle (8) J: Mark Zahra 58kg 11 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
| 7. Seraphox (1) J: Declan Bates 56kg 713×3 T: Ciaron Maher |
Held on a weekend in mid to late September during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival at Caulfield Racecourse, the Caulfield Guineas Prelude is a Group 3 race open to three-year-old colts and geldings.
The set weights plus penalties race is one of three Group races at the meeting that is headlined by the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m). The other key events on the program are the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) offering a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption and is currently known as the MRC Foundation Cup and the fillies’ equivalent to the Caulfield Guineas Prelude, the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m).
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude is obviously the traditional preparatory run for fillies heading into the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) back at the track the following month. The last horse to complete the Caulfield Guineas Prelude – Caulfield Guineas double was Helmet (2011).
Caulfield Guineas Prelude Race Info
- Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Distance: 1400m
- Conditions: 3YO Colts & Geldings – Set Weights + Penalties
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $300,000
- First Run: 1985
Caulfield Guineas Prelude Betting
Caulfield Guineas Prelude betting markets are led each spring by in-form colts and geldings coming off good lead-up form in earlier races against similar class.
Last start winners sit high up the Caulfield Guineas Prelude betting markets with the likes of Alligator Blood (2019), Crosshaven (2020), Steparty (2023), Angel Capital (2024) and Blind Raise (2026) all coming off lead-up wins to take out the Group 3.
Horses that performed well in Flemington’s Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) also often get attention in betting on the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and Native Soldier (5th in 2018) was the last Prelude winner to come out of that race.
Aft Cabin ($2.15 in 2022), Steparty ($2.60 in 2023) and Blind Raise ($2.40 in 2026) are the latest favourites in Caulfield Guineas Prelude betting to win.
Caulfield Guineas Prelude Field
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude race field attracts a line-up of the season’s most promising middle-distance horses heading towards a run over the mile in the Caulfield Guineas.
Youngsters in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude field can come off a number of possible runs including the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington, a double last completed by Crosshaven (2020).
Another lead-up race is the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes (1200m), a double last achieved by Native Soldier (2018).
In 2022 Aft Cabin improved on a second in the HDF McNeil Stakes to win the Prelude next start.
The likely next-up option for Caulfield Guineas Prelude graduates is the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
While the double hasn’t been completed since 2011, in recent times the 2020 Prelude winner Crosshaven ran a good fourth next-up in the Caulfield Guineas results. The year before, Alligator Blood missed out on a run in the Caulfield Guineas but franked the form with a win in the next autumn’s 2020 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
In 2023 the Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner, Steparty, was good next-up running third in the Caulfield Guineas trifecta.
Planet Red’s 2025 Caulfield Guineas run stacked up beautifully, with the colt backing up his Prelude placing to finish runner‑up in both the Caulfield Guineas and the following autumn’s Australian Guineas.
2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Field
The official Caulfield Guineas 2026 Prelude Final Field & Barriers are released the Wednesday of race week and will be published below.
The Caulfield Guineas 2026 final field features a compact but class line-up of three-year-olds including the undefeated Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes winner American Eagle and Blind Raise coming off a win fresh in the Listed McKenzie Stakes.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Tornado Valley
J: Thomas Stockdale
T: Ciaron Maher |
268×74 | C | 3 | 58kg | |
|
2. American Eagle
J: Mark Zahra
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
11 | C | 8 | 58kg | |
|
3. Blind Raise
J: Blake Shinn
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
119×1 | G | 9 | 57kg | |
|
4. Joint Venture
J: Ben Melham
T: Chris Waller |
319 | C | 2 | 56kg | |
|
5. Wolf Gap
J: Ethan Brown
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
13×2 | C | 5 | 56kg | |
|
6. Confederation
J: Damian Lane
T: Chris Waller |
28×35 | C | 6 | 56kg | |
|
7. Seraphox
J: Declan Bates
T: Ciaron Maher |
713×3 | C | 1 | 56kg | |
|
8. Vallice
J: John Allen
T: Ciaron Maher |
51×44 | C | 4 | 56kg | |
|
9. Alchemistic
J: Linda Meech
T: Tom Dabernig |
51 | G | 7 | 56kg |
2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Nominations
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2026 Nominations are taken the Monday of race week and the list of early entries will be provided below once announced.
Caulfield Guineas Prelude Form Guide
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude form guide details to punters all the need-to-know information from trainers and jockeys to barriers and lead-up runs.
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude form has also stacked up in tougher spring races in recent years including in 2021 with the winner Lightsaber running fourth in that year’s Caulfield Guineas results and second the following autumn in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
The 2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude also produced the following year’s 2024 Australian Guineas winner with the Prelude runner-up Southport Tycoon returning in the autumn to post an elite level victory.
2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Form Guide
A link to our detailed Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Past Caulfield Guineas Prelude Results
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude race results have been dominated by single-figure chances in the past decade.
Notable recent Caulfield Guineas Prelude winners include Alligator Blood (2019), Sacred Elixir (2016), Epaulette (2012), Helmet (2011), Anacheeva (2010), Apache Cat (2005), Elvstroem (2003), Strategic (1995). and Unspoken Word (1990).
Helmet holds the current Caulfield Guineas Prelude race record winning over 1400m on a Firm (2) track in 2011 in 1 minute 21:40 seconds.
Recent Caulfield Guineas Prelude Winners
Recent Caulfield Guineas Prelude winners, trainers, jockeys and times dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Blind Raise | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Blake Shinn | 57 kgs | 1:22.50 |
| 2025 | Estremo | Chris Waller | Ben Melham | 56 kgs | 1:24.52 |
| 2024 | Angel Capital | Clinton McDonald | Ben Melham | 57 kgs | 1:23.92 |
| 2023 | Steparty | Paul Preusker | John Allen | 57 kgs | 1:22.57 |
| 2022 | Aft Cabin | James Cummings | Jamie Kah | 56 kgs | 1:27.67 |
| 2021 | Lightsaber | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 58 kgs | 1:25.14 |
| 2020 | Crosshaven | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | Daniel Stackhouse | 56 kgs | 1:25.57 |
| 2019 | Alligator Blood | David Vandyke | Ryan Maloney | 55 kgs | 1:23.49 |
| 2018 | Native Soldier | Darren Weir | Ben Allen | 57 kgs | 1:23.36 |
| 2017 | Perast | Paul Perry | Damian Lane | 55 kgs | 1:23.47 |
| 2016 | Sacred Elixir | Tony Pike | Damian Lane | 57.5 kgs | 1:24.70 |
| 2015 | Bon Aurum | Ciaron Maher | Kerrin McEvoy | 56.5 kgs | 1:22.67 |
| 2014 | Rich Enuff | Ken Keys | Michael Rodd | 57.5 kgs | 1:23.49 |
| 2013 | Eclair Big Bang | Phillip Stokes | Dom Tourneur | 55 kgs | 1:23.38 |
| 2012 | Epaulette | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 58.5 kgs | 1:24.26 |
| 2011 | Helmet | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 58.5 kgs | 1:21.40 |
| 2010 | Anacheeva | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 55.5 kgs | 1:23.16 |
| 2009 | Demerit | Peter Snowden | Mark Zahra | 54 kgs | 1:24.70 |
| 2008 | Fernandina | Leon Corstens | Vlad Duric | 55.5 kgs | 1:25.42 |
| 2007 | Purrealist | Danny O’Brien | Hugh Bowman | 54 kgs | 1:24.20 |
| 2006 | Wonderful World | Bart Cummings | Luke Nolen | 54 kgs | 1:24.67 |
| 2005 | Apache Cat | Greg Eurell | Nick Ryan | 57.5 kgs | 1:27.08 |
| 2004 | Tirade | Mathew Ellerton | Danny Nikolic | 56 kgs | 1:24.78 |
| 2003 | Elvstroem | Tony Vasil | Brett Prebble | 54 kgs | 1:22.36 |
| 2002 | Great Glen | Leon Macdonald | Kerrin McEvoy | 57.5 kgs | 1:23.29 |
| 2001 | Pure Theatre | Robert Priscott | Darren Beadman | 54 kgs | 1:24.23 |
| 2000 | Fubu | Cliff Brown | Matthew Gatt | 54 kgs | 1:22.47 |
FAQs
How do I bet on the 2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at Ladbrokes
. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.
Which horse will win the 2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Caulfield Guineas Prelude is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out Ladbrokes in the lead up to the race for full form information.
When is the Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2026?
The 2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude is set to run on Saturday September 19 at Caulfield during the early stages of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It is scheduled as Caulfield Race 5 at 2:25pm (AEST) on the 10-race Underwood Stakes Day card.
What is the prize money for the Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2026?
The 2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude prize money is set at $300,000 which is paid from 1st to 8th place including $180,000 going to the Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner.
Where is the Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2026?
The 2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude is set to run a Melbourne's Caulfield Racecourse, home to many iconic races including the Caulfield Cup each October, which is located at Gate 2, Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145.
What distance is the Caulfield Guineas Prelude run over?
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude is run over 1400 metres, a trip that highlights three-year-olds with both early‑spring speed and the strength to stretch out towards the mile.
How many horses run in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude?
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude generally assembles a capacity field of around 14 colts and geldings, keeping it one of Caulfield’s most competitive early‑spring Group 3 races.
Who won the 2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude?
The 2026 Caulfield Guineas Prelude was won by three-year-old Ace High gelding Blind Raise at $2.40 favouritism for trainers Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young with jockey Blake Shinn aboard on 57kg from barrier 9 to win by 2.75 lengths in a time of 1:22.50 on a Good (4) track.
Who won the 2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude?
The 2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude was won by three-year-old Extreme Choice colt Estremo at $7 for trainer Chris Waller with Ben Melham, who also rode last year's winner, aboard on 56kg from barrier 1 to win by 0.06 lengths on a Good (3) track in a time of 1:24.52.