The next edition of the How Now Stakes runs on Saturday, September 19, 2026 as part of the Underwood Stakes Day card in Melbourne.
The How Now Stakes 2026 is a key early spring sprint on the Melbourne racing calendar, giving punters a first real look at the mares ready to make an impact through the carnival. Run over 1200m at Caulfield, this Group 3 sets the tone for the weeks ahead, attracting sharp sprinters, proven black‑type performers and emerging talents building towards bigger targets. With fast tempos, tactical pressure and form lines that regularly stack up later in spring, the race is a favourite for punters chasing value, momentum and reliable betting angles. Whether you’re comparing the latest 2026 How Now Stakes odds, assessing the map or looking for early‑spring movers, this is your home for all the latest insights, trends and How Now Stakes betting plays ahead of Caulfield’s mares’ feature.
2026 How Now Stakes Odds
The latest How Now Stakes 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 mares’ event this spring followed by the official finishing order after the event.
How Now Stakes Tips
Good How Now Stakes tips include backing in-form mares coming off a top-three run in a similar grade Melbourne race earlier in the spring.
There’s been a number of recent How Now Stakes winners saluting at double-figure odds, so laying the favourite can also be profitable in How Now Stakes tipping as can backing proven Caulfield specialists at the track.
2026 How Now Stakes Predictions & Best Bets
Our Ladbrokes’ insider How Now Stakes 2026 betting tips and Group 3 racing picks for the event will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the mares to lock-in for the win.
The set weights plus penalties race was moved from September to the later time slot ahead of the 2023 edition as part of the new-look Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Day before reverting back in 2026 to join the Underwood Stakes Day card.
Racing at the meeting is headlined by the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), which is a key Caulfield Cup lead-up race, and the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m). Other Black-Type events at the meeting include the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m), Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) and the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).
The How Now Stakes has been run and won since 1999 and takes place over a 1200m sprint distance. Offering $200,000 in total prize money, the event is named after former star filly and 1976 Underwood Stakes winner How Now.
It gained Group 3 status in 2005 and a number of nice mares have taken out the How Now Stakes over its relatively short history including Lovely Jubly (2003), Catkins (2013), and Secret Agenda (2016).
How Now Stakes Race Info
- Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Distance: 1200m
- Conditions: Mares 4YOs and above – Set Weights + Penalties
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $200,000
- First Run: 1999
2026 How Now Stakes Results
The official How Now Stakes 2026 results & finishing order will be published below once the race is run and won on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
How Now Stakes Betting
How Now Stakes betting markets are dominated each year by in-form mares with a strong record over 1200m and those coming off good performances in key lead-up races like the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m). Savanna Amour (2017) was the last mare to complete the Cockram Stakes – How Now Stakes double.
Secret Agenda ($2.80 in 2016), Bella Nipotina ($3.60 in 2021) and Niance ($2.70 in 2024) are the latest favourites in How Now Stakes betting to salute for the punters.
In 2025, Proved scored a big upset win at How Now Stakes odds of $26.
How Now Stakes Field
The How Now Stakes race field attracts a line-up of the season’s quality short-distance mares. Female gallopers that run in the How Now Stakes field may be targeted for bigger and better races deeper into the spring, stepping up in distance for something like the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
2026 How Now Stakes Field
The official How Now Stakes 2026 Final Field & Barriers are released the Wednesday of race week and will be published below.
2026 How Now Stakes Nominations
The How Now Stakes 2026 Nominations are taken the Monday of race week and the list of early entries will be provided below once announced.
How Now Stakes Form Guide
The How Now Stakes form guide details to punters all the need-to-know information from trainers and jockeys to barriers and lead-up runs.
The How Now Stakes form has also stacked up in tougher spring races in recent years including in 2021 with the winner Bella Nipotina going on to run second in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) and third to Nature Strip in the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) that campaign.
The 2022 How Now Stakes from was franked with the winner Zapateo heading to Adelaide in May of 2023 to finish third in both the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes and Group 1 The Goodwood.
The 2023 How Now Stakes form was franked with the winner Rose Quartz, now deceased, running third in the following summer’s $1 million Magic Millions Snippets at the Gold Coast in January of 2024.
2026 How Now Stakes Form Guide
A link to our detailed How Now Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Past How Now Stakes Results
Notable recent How Now Stakes winners include: Bella Nipotina (2021), Winter Bride (2018), Secret Agenda (2016), Politeness (2015), Catkins (2013), Sister Madly (2011), Velocitea (2009), and Lovely Jubly (2003).
Recent How Now Stakes Winners
Recent How Now Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 1999 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Proved | Aviatress | She’s Bulletproof |
| 2024 | Niance | She’s Bulletproof | Miss Roumbini |
| 2023 | Rose Quartz | Ghaanati | She Dances |
| 2022 | Zapateo | Lavish Girl | Chain Of Lightning |
| 2021 | Bella Nipotina | Chassis | La Mexicana |
| 2020 | Felicia | Broadwayandfourth | Fiesta |
| 2019 | Manicure | Angelic Ruler | Dawn Dawn |
| 2018 | Winter Bride | Ellicazoom | Platinum Angel |
| 2017 | Savanna Amour | Legless Veuve | Ravi |
| 2016 | Secret Agenda | Every Faith | Exclusive Lass |
| 2015 | Politeness | Griante | Jessy Belle |
| 2014 | Girl Guide | A Time For Julia | Shamal Wind |
| 2013 | Catkins | Hi Belle | Flash Of Doubt |
| 2012 | Detours | Classy Chloe | Mrs Onassis |
| 2011 | Sister Madly | Valentine Miss | Lone Rock |
| 2010 | Valentine Miss | I’m A Hussy | Red Flair |
| 2009 | Velocitea | Neroli | Dollops |
| 2008 | Vivacious Spirit | Benatar | Vormista |
| 2007 | Miss Judgement | Juste Momente | Flying Object |
| 2006 | Queen Of The Hill | Megadeal | Nuclear Free |
| 2005 | Sarah Michelle Brindabella (Dead Heat) |
– | Little Chloe |
| 2004 | Strikeline | Solar Antiquity | Skewiff |
| 2003 | Lovely Jubly | Infinite Grace | Astaroth |
| 2002 | Taimana | Calming | Galapagos Girl |
| 2001 | Miss Power Bird | Purple Groove | Dynamic Love |
| 2000 | Piavonic | Nova Clause | Clemens Belle |
| 1999 | Snippets Lass | Rose Of Dane | Blazing Aura |
FAQs
How do I bet on the 2026 How Now Stakes?
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 How Now Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the How Now Stakes 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 How Now Stakes 2026?
The 2026 How Now Stakes is set to run on Saturday September 19 at Caulfield during the early stages of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival on Underwood Stakes Day.
What is the prize money for the How Now Stakes 2026?
The 2026 How Now Stakes prize money is set at $200,000 which is paid from 1st to 8th place including $120,000 going to the How Now Stakes winner.
Where is the How Now Stakes 2026?
The 2026 How Now Stakes 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 How Now Stakes run over?
The How Now Stakes is run over 1200 metres, making it a fast, tactical sprint where mares with sharp early speed and proven short‑course form traditionally hold the advantage.
How many horses run in the How Now Stakes?
The How Now Stakes typically attracts a field of around 10–14 mares, depending on acceptances in a given year. As a Group 3 1200m sprint at Caulfield restricted to mares, it consistently draws a competitive mid‑sized line‑up, giving punters plenty to work with when assessing How Now Stakes form, speed maps and betting value.