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The bookies are taking no chances with Lindsay Park‘s returning Stradbroke champ with War Machine a dominant odds-on favourite in Australia Stakes 2026 betting under the lights at Pakenham on Friday night.
With The Valley currently under redevelopment, this season’s Group 2 $350,000 Australia Stakes (1200m) will be run and won at Southside Pakenham.
A small but field of just eight summer sprinters face off in the event, which serves as a key early lead-up to the autumn’s Group 1 majors, and all the money is on the Ben, Will & JD Hayes trained War Machine.
Currently quoted at $1.60 in the Australia Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au, the classy Harry Angel five-year-old makes his new-season return chasing atonement in easier company after heavy back-to-back losses last time in.
After failing to match it with the world’s best in The Everest when 10th to Ka Ying Rising in Sydney back in October, he was last seen running 12th when 10-lengths off Jimmysstar in the Russell Balding Stakes on November 1.
This is a much lower grade of rivals and he’s a $3.36 million earner with a strong first-up record (5:2-2-1).
A gun over the six-furlongs (6:2-2-1), War Machine strung together four wins on the trot prior to his Everest flop including taking out Brisbane’s premier race – the Stradbroke – over 1400m last June.
Fresh in the spring he claimed the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes at Flemington with 60kg by two lengths in an enormous 1200m run, and he is more than capable of repeating that feat this weekend.
Second elect in the latest Australia Stakes betting markets at $6 is the rails-drawn Hedged prepared by Gavin Bedggood.
Harry Coffey sticks aboard the Capitalist five-year-old here having ridden him for an impressive 2.5 length win in the Listed X’Mas Stakes (1200m) at Sandown on Boxing Day as well has his last start loss.
Hedged failed to fire down the Flemington straight on January 10 over six lengths beaten in the Group 3 Standish Handicap but he is better than that and if he can get on the speed early there’s improvement in him.
The Ciaron Maher trained Nadal ($8) – coming off a second in the X’Mas Stakes, and the early market mover Jimmy Recard ($9) – a three-year-old racing first-up also prepared by Maher – are the other single figure fancies hoping to rain on War Machine’s parade.
Of the value runners, returning Group 1 champ and the 2024 Australia Stakes winner Veight ($13) who saluted for the punters that year along with Perth raider Aztec Ruler ($12) to be ridden by William Pike shape up as those most likely for a blowout.
The 2026 Australia Stakes is scheduled to run as Pakenham Race 7 at 9:15pm (AEDT) on Friday’s eight-race twilight racing program.
Australia Stakes 2026 Odds
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1. War Machine (2)
J: Jamie Melham 58.5kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
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| Gelding returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last campaign 12th of 15 at Randwick Russell Balding November 1 over 1300m, soft track; 10 len behind Jimmysstar with 58.5kg at $7. Previous preparation first-up won by 2 len Flemington G2 Gilgai October 4 over 1200m defeating Bridal Waltz with 60kg at $2.90. Looks forward enough after a recent trial win. Class sprinter who might just be too good for these. | ||
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2. Veight (3)
J: Luke Currie 58.5kg
T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |
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| Back after a long spell. Finished off last preparation ran last of 13 at Doomben in the G1 Doomben 10,000 on May 17 over 1200m, on a wet track; 22 len behind Sunshine In Paris carrying 58.5kg at $31. When resuming last campaign second last of 12 at Moonee Valley in the G1 Manikato on September 27 2024 over 1200m, 5.5 len behind Southport Tycoon with 58.5kg at $11. Won a jump-out at Flemington on January 9. Resumes after a recent trial win. Been off his best for some time but he's absolutely good | ||
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3. Maharba (5)
J: Jordan Childs 58.5kg
T: Grahame Begg |
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| Second run back. First-up after 10 months 9th of 11 at Flemington in the G3 Standish on January 10 over 1200m, 6 len behind Disneck with 60kg at $8.50. Previously second-up 11th of 15 at Flemington in the G1 Newmarket on March 8 over 1200m, 6 len behind Joliestar with 56.5kg at $20. Poor fresh but he's better than that. | ||
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4. Hedged (1)
J: Harry Coffey 58.5kg
T: Gavin Bedggood |
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| Last start sat behind the speed prior to fading second last of 11 at Flemington in the G3 Standish on January 10 over 1200m, 6 len behind Disneck with 57.5kg at $2.90. The run before that favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 2.5 len at Sandown-Lakeside LR Xmas Stks December 26 over 1200m defeating Nadal carrying 57.5kg at $4.20. Shocker last time but form prior says he's in this. | ||
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5. Nadal (4)
J: Ethan Brown 58.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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| At the latest run 2nd of 9 at Sandown-Lakeside in the LR Xmas Stks on December 26 over 1200m, 2.5 len behind Hedged carrying 59kg at $7.50. Before that 6th of 14 at Cranbourne Meteorite on November 22 over 1200m, 4 len behind Jigsaw carrying 58.5kg at $9. Making headway. Keeps building and his best is very good. | ||
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7. Cannonball (6)
J: John Allen 58.5kg
T: Patrick Kearney |
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| Comes here off a 48-day let-up. Most recently 2nd of 11 at Ballarat Bm100 on December 6 over 1100m, slow going 2 len behind South Of India carrying 59kg at $51. Before that ran last of 14 at Launceston in the LR Nwmrkt Hcp on November 21 over 1200m, 9 len behind Durazzo carrying 59.5kg at $10. Outclassed. | ||
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8. Jimmy Recard (7)
J: Lachlan Neindorf 55kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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| Colt returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last preparation seventh of 12 at Flemington in the G1 Coolmore Stud November 1 over 1200m, 5 len behind Tentyris with 57kg at $51. Previous preparation first-up won by 0.9 len Gosford 2&3yo Mdn June 12 over 1100m slow track defeating Just Legendary with 56.5kg at $5.50. Good 3yo but not sure he's right up to the top end yet. | ||
| 6. Aztec Ruler (6) Scratched: | ||
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