Ladbrokes Tip: The Spirit Of Boom Classic is a good early guide to the JJ Atkins winner each winter
The latest edition of the Spirit Of Boom Classic ran on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Doomben Racecourse on the opening Group 1 race day of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and was won in a tight thriller by the Jenny Graham-trained favourite Vantorix ($2.20F) who was ridden by James McDonald.
2026 Spirit Of Boom Classic Results
The official Champagne Classic / Spirit Of Boom Classic 2026 Results & Finishing Order will be provided below once the race takes place at Doomben Racecourse on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
- #3 Vantorix
- #2 Martist
- #9 Dream Roca
Jenny Graham’s consistent Captivant gelding from Port Macquarie, Vantorix ($2.20F), kept his unbeaten record intact securing win number three for the punters in a thrilling 2026 Spirit Of Boom Classic result at Doomben. Given a perfectly timed ride by the maestro James McDonald for his Brisbane debut, Vantorix came from third at the top of the straight to hit the lead inside the final furlong and just hold on in a tight finish to deny Martist by 0.31 lengths with Dream Roca third.
2026 Spirit Of Boom Classic Odds
The Spirit Of Boom Classic 2026 odds on the JJ Atkins-bound two-year-old winter gallopers will be provided below the week of the race so stay tuned for access to the best Brisbane racing markets followed by the official Spirit Of Boom Classic finishing order after the event.
| 3. Vantorix (4) J: James McDonald 57kg 1×1T: Jenny Graham | ||
| 2. Martist (12) J: Mark Zahra 57kg 12xT: Tony Gollan | ||
| 9. Dream Roca (1) J: Ben Thompson 55kg x11x3T: Liam Birchley | ||
| 1. Boomtowns (3) J: Zac Purton 57kg 1×5T: Tony Gollan | ||
| 5. Girmay (6) J: Ryan Maloney 57kg 6×3T: Jack Bruce | ||
| 10. Double Cool (10) J: Martin Harley 55kg 224×2T: Chris & Corey Munce | ||
| 11. Esperanza (11) J: Tim Clark 55kg 1226T: Rex Lipp | ||
| 13. The Autumn Affair (5) J: Cejay Graham 55kg 143T: Kelly Schweida | ||
| 14. Win Star (9) J: Daniel Moor 55kg 4×6T: Adam Campton | ||
| 12. Leaves Of Lorien (8) J: Damien Boche 55kg 5330xT: James Moore | ||
| 4. Coastal Boom (2) J: Jag Guthmann-Chester 57kg 5×22T: Paul Shailer | ||
| 8. Le Starcell (7) J: Ben Melham 57kg 3T: Stephen Lee |
Spirit Of Boom Classic Tips
Spirit Of Boom Classic tips include looking for two-year-olds with previous Group winning form over the 1200m in either Sydney or Brisbane and for the stand-out juvenile of the season in the mix.
Locals have a strong record in the race, so promising juveniles with good lead-up form in Brisbane make a good bet as well when doing the Spirit Of Boom Classic tipping.
Popular betting doubles during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival include the Spirit Of Boom Classic – BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, as well as the BRC Sires’ and the JJ Atkins.
2026 Spirit Of Boom Classic Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Spirit Of Boom Classic 2026 betting tips and Brisbane racing selections on the Group 2 sprint will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the two-year-olds to back and sack in the early winter feature.
| 3. Vantorix (4) J: James McDonald 57kg 1×1T: Jenny Graham |
| 9. Dream Roca (1) J: Ben Thompson 55kg x11x3T: Liam Birchley |
| 2. Martist (12) J: Mark Zahra 57kg 12xT: Tony Gollan |
The Spirit Of Boom Classic – formerly known as the Champagne Classic – is a Group 2 race for two-year-olds held on a Saturday in mid-May at Doomben Racecourse on Doomben 10,000 Day during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. Offering $300,000 in total prize money, the 1200m sprint for juveniles is run at set weights and is a traditional lead-up to the following month’s Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) over the Eagle Farm mile.
The feature race at the meeting is the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m), with the Spirit Of Boom Classic the major support act on the Doomben card. The other notable race on Doomben 10,000 Day is the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) for the Queensland Derby-bound three-year-olds.
The 2020 Champagne Classic took place at Eagle Farm on Victory Stakes Day offering $175,000 with no Group 1 Doomben 10,000 scheduled for the carnival due to COVID-19.
The following year in 2021 the race was renamed as the Spirit Of Boom Classic in honour of former Queensland great, 2014 Doomben 10,000 winner Spirit Of Boom and was aptly won by one of his progeny, Prince Of Boom.
The two-year-olds racing in the Spirit Of Boom Classic usually back-up in the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) a fortnight later before possibly going on to contest the JJ Atkins on Stradbroke Handicap Day.
Pressday (2010), Sizzling (2012) and Cool Archie (2025) all won the Spirit Of Boom Classic – BRC Sires’ – JJ Atkins treble known as the Queensland 2YO Triple Crown.
Spirit Of Boom Classic Race Info
- Former Race Name: Champagne Classic
- Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
- Track: Doomben Racecourse
- Distance: 1200m
- Conditions: 2YO – Set Weights
- Status: Group 2
- Prize Money: $300,000
- First Run: 1982
Spirit Of Boom Classic Betting
Spirit Of Boom Classic betting odds are usually led by two-year-olds with proven ability in Group class races.
Sydney raiders with Group winning form or that were Group 1 performed during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival before coming to Queensland often feature high up the Spirit Of Boom Classic betting markets.
Youngsters that ran well at the Gold Coast in the Ken Russell Memorial the month before, who have winning form over the 1200m distance and that are proven at the Doomben track are also usually kept safe in Spirit Of Boom Classic betting by the bookies.
Rothfire ($2.40 in 2020), the fellow Robert Heathcote-trained Prince Of Boom ($4.40 in 2021) and Vantorix ($2.20 in 2026) are the latest favourites in Champagne Classic / Spirit Of Boom betting to get the job done.
Spirit Of Boom Classic Field
The Spirit Of Boom Classic race field attracts the winter’s best two-year-old hopefuls from both local Brisbane stables and interstate. The bulk of the Spirit Of Boom Classic field continue onto the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes with the chance to step out over 1600m in the JJ Atkins in June on Stradbroke Handicap Day.
Youngsters in the Spirit Of Boom Classic field come via a variety of different lead-ups, but the Sydney visitors may have contested something like the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April during ‘The Championships’. The major Queensland lead-up into the Spirit Of Boom Classic meanwhile is the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial (1200m) at the Gold Coast in late April.
Recent winners of the Ken Russell Memorial – Champagne Classic double include Sizzling (2012) and Gold Edition (2006).
Spirit Of Boom Classic nominations close the Monday before the race with the final field and barriers out on the Wednesday.
2026 Spirit Of Boom Classic Field
The official Champagne Classic / Spirit Of Boom Classic 2026 Final Field & Barrier Draw will be published below on the Wednesday leading up to Doomben 10,000 Day so check back to see the two-year-olds that make the line-up.
The 2026 Spirit Of Boom Classic final field features a quality line-up of hopeful two-year-olds including Jenny Graham’s undefeated NSW visitor, Vantorix, to be ridden by the master James McDonald.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Boomtowns
J: Zac Purton
T: Tony Gollan |
1x5 | C | 3 | 57kg | |
|
2. Martist
J: Mark Zahra
T: Tony Gollan |
12x | C | 12 | 57kg | |
|
3. Vantorix
J: James McDonald
T: Jenny Graham |
1x1 | G | 4 | 57kg | |
|
4. Coastal Boom
J: Jag Guthmann-Chester
T: Paul Shailer |
5x22 | C | 2 | 57kg | |
|
5. Girmay
J: Ryan Maloney
T: Jack Bruce |
6x3 | C | 6 | 57kg | |
| 6. No Wallet Reg (13) Scratched: | |||||
| 7. West Coast (3) Scratched: | |||||
|
8. Le Starcell
J: Ben Melham
T: Stephen Lee |
3 | C | 7 | 57kg | |
|
9. Dream Roca
J: Ben Thompson
T: Liam Birchley |
2x11x3 | F | 1 | 55kg | |
|
10. Double Cool
J: Martin Harley
T: Chris & Corey Munce |
224x2 | F | 10 | 55kg | |
|
11. Esperanza
J: Tim Clark
T: Rex Lipp |
1226 | F | 11 | 55kg | |
|
12. Leaves Of Lorien
J: Damien Boche
T: James Moore |
35330x | F | 8 | 55kg | |
|
13. The Autumn Affair
J: Cejay Graham
T: Kelly Schweida |
143 | F | 5 | 55kg | |
|
14. Win Star
J: Daniel Moor
T: Adam Campton |
4x6 | F | 9 | 55kg | |
2026 Spirit Of Boom Classic Nominations
The Spirit Of Boom Classic Nominations 2026 are out the Monday of race week attract two-year-olds out of Queensland lead-ups like the Ken Russell Memorial and Listed Dalrello Stakes (1200m) in late April.
2026 Spirit Of Boom Classic nominations extended until 10:00am (AEST) – 12/05/2026
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1×5 | BOOMTOWNS | C | 2 | Tony Gollan | ||
| 2 | 5×22 | COASTAL BOOM | C | 2 | Paul Shailer | ||
| 3 | 224×2 | DOUBLE COOL | F | 2 | Chris & Corey Munce | ||
| 4 | 2x11x3 | DREAM ROCA (NZ) | F | 2 | Liam Birchley | ||
| 5 | 1226 | ESPERANZA | F | 2 | Rex Lipp | ||
| 6 | 1×347 | EVER SO READY | C | 2 | Bevan Laming | ||
| 7 | 6×3 | GIRMAY | C | 2 | Jack Bruce | ||
| 8 | 635330x | LEAVES OF LORIEN | F | 2 | James Moore | ||
| 9 | 12x | MARTIST | C | 2 | Tony Gollan | ||
| 10 | 1 | MOSCATEL | F | 2 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | ||
| 11 | NO WALLET REG | G | 2 | Jamie Bayliss | |||
| 12 | PAC FAIR | G | 2 | Bevan Laming | |||
| 13 | 143 | THE AUTUMN AFFAIR | F | 2 | Kelly Schweida | ||
| 14 | 1×1 | VANTORIX | G | 2 | Jenny Graham | ||
| 15 | WEST COAST | G | 2 | Kurt Goldman | |||
| 16 | 4×6 | WIN STAR | F | 2 | Adam Campton | ||
| 17 | 32516 | WRITTEN ACLAIM | C | 2 | Marcus Wilson |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Spirit Of Boom Classic Form Guide
The Spirit Of Boom Classic form guide features all the must know info on the runners in the field including saddlecloth numbers, barriers, jockeys, trainers and lead-up form.
Looking for two-year-olds with previous Group race experience or winning form over 1200m is important when doing the Spirit Of Boom Classic form.
The Spirit Of Boom Classic form has also stacked up in better Brisbane two-years-old races in recent years including the JJ Atkins.
Recent Champagne Classic form shows the Ken Russell Memorial at the Gold Coast as well as the summer’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic have provided a number of winners of the event now run on Doomben 10,0000 Day.
The 2023 Spirit Of Boom Classic winner, Cifrado, franked the form with a next-up win in the BRC Sires’ that year.
The 2024 Spirit Of Boom Classic winner Bittercreek went on to frank the form with a second in that year’s J.J. Atkins quinella.
The 2025 Spirit Of Boom Classic winner Cool Archie went on to win the BRC Sires’ and JJ Atkins that winter.
2026 Spirit Of Boom Classic Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Spirit Of Boom Classic 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 SPIRIT OF BOOM CLASSIC FORM GUIDE
Past Champagne Classic / Spirit Of Boom Classic Results
Champagne Classic / Spirit Of Boom Classic race results in recent years show an even mix of local and interstate-trained two-year-olds.
Some famous Champagne Classic winners in the past decade include Gold Edition (2006), Court (2008), Pressday (2010), Sizzling (2012), Brazen Beau (2014), Rothfire (2020) and Cool Archie (2025).
Blueberry Hill (2015) was the last Champagne Classic / Spirit Of Boom Classic winning filly.
Recent Champagne / Spirit Of Boom Classic Winners
Recent Champagne Classic / Spirit Of Boom Classic winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Third | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Vantorix | Martist | Dream Roca | 1:11.35 |
| 2025 | Cool Archie | Gallo Nero | Grafterburners | 1:12.64 |
| 2024 | Bittercreek | El Morzillo | President | 1:11.55 |
| 2023 | Cifrado | Armed Forces | Appin Girl | 1:10.0 |
| 2022(Run at Eagle Farm Racecourse) | Swiss Exile | Exo Lady | Thelwell / Political Debate(Dead Heat) | 1:13.1 |
| 2021 | Prince Of Boom | Invinsible Tears | Berdini’s Girl | 1:11.5 |
| 2020 | Rothfire | Isotope | Wild Ruler | 1:10.4 |
| 2019 | Dubious | Strasbourg | Czarson | 1:10.1 |
| 2018 | Zousain | Mishani Hustler | Blue Book | 1:10.8 |
| 2017 | Tangled | All Too Huiying | Italia Bella | 1:11.8 |
| 2016 | Winning Rupert | Attention | Souchez | 1:09.5 |
| 2015 | Blueberry Hill | Wicked Intent | Pepperano | 1:09.9 |
| 2014 | Brazen Beau | Looks Like The Cat | Shaumari | 1:09.7 |
| 2013 | Vo Heart | Vilanova | Global Dream | 1:12.1 |
| 2012 | Sizzling | Academus | Dances On Stars | 1:09.9 |
| 2011 | Free Wheeling | Dr Ichi | Hot Snitzel | 1:10.5 |
| 2010 | Pressday | Spirit Of Boom | Buffering | 1:09.9 |
| 2009 | Funtantes | Trim | Impulsive Dream | 1:09.7 |
| 2008 | Court | Captain Fantastic | Cat D’Antibes | 1:10.8 |
| 2007 | Keiki | Key Bar Nights | Diamond Deck | 1:10.2 |
| 2006 | Gold Edition | Ghetto Blaster | Silent Power | 1:09.3 |
| 2005 | Virage de Fortune | Kincharm | Well Noted | 1:10.3 |
| 2004 | Golden Fox | Star Shiraz | Our Sweet Dreams | 1:10.3 |
| 2003 | Shamekha | In Top Swing | Sir Success | 1:10.8 |
| 2002 | Lovely Jubly | Yell | Verstak | 1:10.5 |
| 2001 | Dolce Veloce | Dutch Harry | Jar Jar Binks | 1:09.8 |
| 2000 | Chenar | Centona | Rapid Man | 1:10.4 |
FAQ
Who won the 2026 Spirit Of Boom Classic?
The 2026 Spirit Of Boom Classic was won by two-year-old Captivant gelding Vantorix at $2.20 favouritism for trainer Jenny Graham with jockey James McDonald aboard on 57kg to win by 0.31 lengths on a Soft (7) track in a time of 1:11.35.
Who won the 2025 Spirit Of Boom Classic?
The 2025 Spirit Of Boom Classic was won by two-year-old Cool Aza Beel colt Cool Archie at $8 for trainers Chris & Corey Munce with jockey Martin Harley aboard on 57kg from barrier 3 to win by 0.11 lengths in a time of 1:12.64.
When is the Spirit Of Boom Classic 2026?
Saturday, May 16, 2026What is the prize money for the Spirit Of Boom Classic 2026?
$300,000
Where is the Spirit Of Boom Classic 2026?
Doomben Racecourse, 75 Hampden Street, ASCOT, QLD 4007.
How do I bet on the 2026 Spirit Of Boom Classic?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. 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 Spirit Of Boom Classic?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Spirit Of Boom Classic is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.