The 2026 edition of the Russell Balding Stakes runs on Saturday, October 31, 2026 in Sydney offering $3 million in prize money at Randwick Racecourse having been upgraded to a Group 2 event.
The Russell Balding Stakes 2026 shapes as a terrific betting race for punters looking beyond the spring’s headline features, with a talented line-up of proven stakes performers and progressive sprinters set to battle it out over 1300m at Royal Randwick. Run under set weights plus penalties conditions, the Group 2 contest often produces a fascinating clash between established class and up-and-coming talent, creating plenty of intrigue in the market. With black-type success on the line and many runners still building towards bigger targets, the Russell Balding Stakes betting 2026 markets are renowned for uncovering value and identifying horses ready to take the next step. Whether you’re searching for the latest Russell Balding Stakes odds 2026, following market movers, or looking for the strongest form lines heading into race day, Ladbrokes has all the odds, betting updates, expert analysis, and runner information for this exciting Sydney sprint feature.
2026 Russell Balding Stakes Odds
The latest Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) 2026 odds will be provided below complete with market links as soon as betting on the $3 million feature is open followed by the official finishing order after the event.
| 4. Pericles (2) 58.5kg57×77 | |||
| 8. Headwall (3) 56.5kg1×254 | |||
| 3. Caballus (1) 58.5kg16×57 | |||
| 6. Ninja (12) 57.5kg5×195 | |||
| 5. Grafterburners (15) 57.5kg0x841 | |||
| 13. King Of Roseau (10) 56.5kg00×77 | |||
| 1. Jimmysstar (14) 58.5kg2×916 | |||
| 11. Marhoona (7) 56.5kg4×632 | |||
| 2. Headley Grange (9) 58.5kg0x139 | |||
| 17. Theblade (13) 56kg71×14 | |||
| 12. Yellow Brick (6) 56.5kg001×8 | |||
| 9. Spicy Martini (11) 56.5kg21×40 | |||
| 15. Generosity (5) 55.5kg6×780 | |||
| 7. Coal Crusher (4) 57.5kg96×70 | |||
| 10. Jokers Grin (8) 56.5kg15×09 | |||
| 14. Wanaruah (14)SCRATCHED: | |||
| 16. Chidiac (6)SCRATCHED: | |||
Russell Balding Stakes Tips
Early Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) tips include watching for horses coming off good lead-up runs in earlier spring races including The Shorts and Premier Stakes in Sydney. Gallopers with nice Group 1 race form, previous The Everest runners and those that have specifically targeted the Russell Balding Stakes across their campaigns also make good tips.
Ladbrokes Tip: The Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) usually attracts a field full of The Everest race graduates
2026 Russell Balding Stakes Predictions & Best Bets
Our insider Russell Balding Stakes 2026 tipping guide complete with the horses to back and sack in this year’s Russell Balding Stakes tips will be available below the week leading up to the Golden Eagle Day.
| 1. Jimmysstar (14) 58.5kg2×916 |
| 5. Grafterburners (15) 57.5kg0x841 |
| 11. Marhoona (7) 56.5kg4×632 |
The Russell Balding Stakes –previously known as the Winners Stakes – is one of the feature races held over the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival running at Randwick Racecourse on the Golden Eagle Day in early November as part of the revamped Everest Carnival that offers over $60 million in total prize money!
The $10 million Golden Eagle for four-year-olds now rivals Melbourne’s Victoria Derby Day action on the Saturday prior to the Melbourne Cup for the punters’ attention and is now supported by the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes.
The event was run for the first time in 2019 as the Redzel Stakes, 2020 as the Yes Yes Yes Stakes, 2021 as the Classique Legend Stakes, 2022 as the Nature Strip Stakes, and 2023 as the Giga Kick Stakes in honour of the respective The Everest winning horses.
Ahead of the 2024 edition the Winners Stakes underwent a name change, honouring the legacy of Russell Balding, a pivotal figure in the development of the Sydney Everest Carnival. Balding’s significant contributions to racing in New South Wales led to the renaming of the prestigious race in his honour.
The other feature race on the Sydney race card is the $750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m).
Each Sydney Spring Racing Carnival the Winners Stakes was renamed in honour of the previous year’s The Everest winner until 2024. Accordingly, the inaugural edition of the race was known as The Redzel Stakes 2019.
Redzel (2017, 2018) won the opening two editions of the world’s richest turf race – The Everest – but failed in his attempt at the three-peat in 2019.
The 2020 Winners Stakes was known as the Yes Yes Yes Stakes after Chris Waller’s gun three-year-old won the 2019 The Everest and was won by the favourite Gytrash.
The Winners Stakes in 2021 was run as the Classique Legend Stakes after a brilliant 2020 The Everest win by the classy grey.
In 2022 the Winners Stakes was run as the Nature Strip Stakes in honour of Chris Waller’s 2021 The Everest champ and subsequent Group 1 winner in the UK.
The 2023 Winners Stakes was known as the Giga Kick Stakes in honour of the 2022 The Everest winning three-year-old who won as an undefeated youngster at just his fifth start.
The 2024 Winners Stakes took place as the Russell Balding Stakes meaning the 2023 The Everest winner Think About It went get a name in his honour over the 2024 spring carnival.
In 2024 star mare Bella Nipotina completed The Everest – Russell Balding Stakes double becoming the first ever mare to win the former and the first dual time champion of the latter with her sensational title defense.
The 2024 Russell Balding Stakes proved to be a key form guide for the Group 1 Champions Sprint. Bella Nipotina validated the form with a third-place finish in the prestigious race, while the Russell Balding Stakes runner-up, Sunshine In Paris, went on to win the Champions Sprint, turning the tables on Bella Nipotina in the process.
In 2025 the Russell Balding Stakes was won by that year’s The Everest third placegetter Jimmysstar.
Russell Balding Stakes Stakes Info
- Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Former Registered Name: Winners Stakes
- Track: Randwick Racecourse
- Distance: 1300m
- Conditions: 3YOs & Up – Set Weights + Penalties
- Status: Group 2 (as of 2026)
- Prize Money: $3 million
- First Run: 2019
2026 Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) Results
The official Russell Balding Stakes 2026 Results and Finishing Order will be published below once the event is run and won on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
- #4 Pericles
- #8 Headwall
- #3 Caballus
Russell Balding Stakes Betting
Betting on the Russell Balding Stakes in the spring is led by in-form sprint types coming off nice form in lead-up races in Sydney.
Good events to keep an eye on that impact Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) betting each season include the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick in mid-September and of course the $20 million The Everest (1200m) held a fortnight before.
The inaugural Winners Stakes winner was Pierata who took out the 2019 Redzel Stakes on the back of a fifth in The Everest.
The following year the Winners Stakes (run as the Yes Yes Yes Stakes) was won by the favourite in betting Gytrash who was backing-up from a third in The Everest race.
In 2021 Eduardo improved on a third in that spring’s The Everest trifecta to also salute for the punters as the $3 favourite in the markets.
The 2022 winner Private Eye won at $5.50 on the back of his second in The Everest, while Mazu ran third in The Everest and second in that year’s Winners Stakes – run as the Nature Strip Stakes.
Private Eye returned in 2023 and was narrowly denied back-to-back wins when run down late by the mare Bella Nipotina who jumped at Giga Kick Stakes odds of $10.
In 2024 Bella Nipotina completed The Everest – Russell Balding Stakes double.
In 2025 Jimmysstar ran third in The Everest before his Russell Balding Stakes victory.
Russell Balding Stakes betting on The Everest graduates and track specialists will be firm, especially on local hopes opting to stay in Sydney over a trip to Melbourne for the Cup Carnival Group 1s at Flemington that same week.
Russell Balding Stakes Field
The Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) race field attracts sprinters and middle-distance runners alike chasing the lucrative prize money on offer in Sydney.
Many of these horses may previously have targeted the following Saturday’s Group 1 Champions Sprint down the Flemington straight, but the Russell Balding Stakes field now provides horses better suited to the track a shot at a nice feature race win without having to race over the ‘Straight Six’ in Melbourne.
Sprinters out of The Everest field the month before may also opt to back-up in the Russell Balding Stakes field, which will suit horses with form over 1200m – 1400m as opposed to the genuine short-distance runners.
The Everest – (Russell Balding Stakes) Winners Stakes double becomes a new feature for connections to target and for punters to enjoy a spring bet on and Bella Nipotina (2024) was the last to complete it.
The Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) field boasts a capacity 16 starters.
2026 Russell Balding Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
The official Russell Balding Stakes 2026 field and barriers will be provided below once Racing NSW announces final acceptances the week of the race.
The official 2026 Russell Balding Stakes final field is now out featuring a capacity line-up of middle-distance sprinters including the Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar defending his crown from wide out in gate 16 and Michael Freedman’s Group 1 winning Snitzel mare Marhoona coming off a Group 2 Sydney Stakes second.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Jimmysstar
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
42×916 | G | 14 | 58.5kg | |
|
2. Headley Grange
J: Zac Lloyd
T: Joseph Pride |
10×139 | G | 9 | 58.5kg | |
|
3. Caballus
J: Tim Clark
T: Bjorn Baker |
216×57 | G | 1 | 58.5kg | |
|
4. Pericles
J: Dylan Gibbons
T: Bjorn Baker |
357×77 | G | 2 | 58.5kg | |
|
5. Grafterburners
J: Nash Rawiller
T: Kelly Schweida |
00×841 | H | 15 | 57.5kg | |
|
6. Ninja
J: Tommy Berry
T: Michael Freedman |
15×195 | G | 12 | 57.5kg | |
|
7. Coal Crusher
J: Andrew Adkins
T: Joseph Pride |
596×70 | G | 4 | 57.5kg | |
|
8. Headwall
J: Chad Schofield
T: Matthew Smith |
x1x254 | G | 3 | 56.5kg | |
|
9. Spicy Martini
J: Taylor Marshall
T: Toby Edmonds |
121×40 | M | 11 | 56.5kg | |
|
10. Jokers Grin
J: Zac Purton
T: Chris Waller |
115×09 | G | 8 | 56.5kg | |
|
11. Marhoona
J: Rachel King
T: Michael Freedman |
14×632 | M | 7 | 56.5kg | |
|
12. Yellow Brick
J: Sam Clipperton
T: Tony & Maddysen Sears |
1001×8 | G | 6 | 56.5kg | |
|
13. King Of Roseau
J: Tom Sherry
T: Peter Snowden |
100×77 | G | 10 | 56.5kg | |
| 14. Wanaruah (14) Scratched: | |||||
|
15. Generosity
J: Siena Grima
T: Chris Waller |
56×780 | M | 5 | 55.5kg | |
| 16. Chidiac (6) Scratched: | |||||
|
17. Theblade
J: Tyler Schiller
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
771×14 | G | 13 | 56kg | |
2026 Russell Balding Stakes Nominations
The official 2026 Russell Balding Stakes nominations close on the Monday of race week.
The Russell Balding Stakes 2026 nominations are now out featuring a bumper crop of spring sprinters including Ciaron Maher’s defending champion Jimmysstar last seen running sixth in The Everest and the in-form Chris Waller-trained Group 2 The Invitation winning mare Lazzura on the potential quick back-up.
Russell Balding Stakes Form Guide
The Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) form guide provides all the must know race facts and stats on the confirmed horses in the field including barriers, jockeys, career statistics and the track conditions for the Golden Eagle Day.
Looking over the Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) form guide for horses with a nice record in the Sydney races, gallopers proven over at least 1200m and sprinters that ran well in the previous month’s The Everest results is crucial.
The 2023 winner Bella Nipotina firmly franked the form going on to run top three in a host of subsequent Group 1 Australian horse races including the 2024 TJ Smith Stakes (2nd), Doomben 10,000 (1st), Kingsford Smith Cup (2nd), Stradbroke Handicap (2nd), and Tatt’s Tiara (1st).
She returned to win both The Everest and the Russell Balding Stakes when defending her title in the latter in 2024.
Jimmsstar franked the form in 2025 completing the Russell Balding Stakes – CF Orr Stakes double. He also returned in the spring of 2026 to add the Group 1 Manikato Stakes to his impressive sprint record.
2026 Russell Balding Stakes Form
A link to our comprehensive Russell Balding Stakes 2026 form guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Past Russell Balding Stakes Results
The Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) race results provide punters with the complete finishing order of the $3 million race including where the favourite in Russell Balding Stakes betting finished.
How your Russell Balding Stakes bets went, what the Russell Balding Stakes trifecta was and the winning margin can all be found in the results.
Eduardo holds the current Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) race record winning the 2021 Classique Legend Stakes in a time of 1 minute 15.16 seconds.
Bella Nipotina (2023 & 2024) is the first and to date only Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) winning mare.
Bella Nipotina holds the current Russell Balding Stakes race record winning her second in 1 minute 14.96 seconds in 2024.
Past Russell Balding Stakes / Winners Stakes Winners
A complete list of past Russell Balding Stakes / Winners Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the race’s inauguration in 2019 is detailed below.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Russell Balding Stakes) | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 (Russell Balding Stakes) | Jimmysstar | Lady Shenandoah | Mazu | 1:16.57 |
| 2024 (Russell Balding Stakes) | Bella Nipotina | Sunshine In Paris | Lady Laguna | 1:14.96 (R) |
| 2023 (Giga Kick Stakes) | Bella Nipotina | Private Eye | Think About It | 1:15.50 |
| 2022 (Nature Strip Stakes) | Private Eye | Mazu | Kementari | 1:15.93 |
| 2021 (Classique Legend Stakes) | Eduardo | Lost And Running | Standout | 1:15.16 |
| 2020 (Yes Yes Yes Stakes) | Gytrash | Haut Brion Her | Imaging | 1:17.85 |
| 2019 (Redzel Stakes) | Pierata | Trekking | Le Romain | 1:16.59 |