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Chris Waller‘s progressive stayer, Birdman, has soared into contention for the Group 1 $2 million Australian Cup (2000m) back at HQ on March 28 following a big win for the punters in Saturday’s 2026 Blamey Stakes results.

The five-year-old son of Free Eagle came off a first-up fourth when narrowly beaten giving the weight away at Flemington in a 1400m handicap a fortnight back to relish the rise in distance and salute for the punters in the Group 2 $300,000 Blamey Stakes (1600m).

Back from 60kg to 57kg, the gelding came from worse than midfield on the final turn for home to charge down the centre of the track off a perfectly timed ride by Ben Melham to run past his rivals and fly to victory.

“He didn’t have much luck the other day and probably should have nearly won, to be honest,” Melham said.

“I had a lot of confidence in the horse. I trialled him when he won first-up and these imports can take a little while to settle in.

“I feel that he will go to a new level this preparation. He did a good job today. He had a beautiful run and he won with a bit of authority.

“I love the feeling when he let down today.

“He’s a master, Chris Waller. This horse has really come into his own this preparation and he’s a gentleman to deal with and he’s got a motor to boot. That will hold him in good stead moving forward.”

Birdman ($3.50F) finished a commanding 1.75 lengths clear over next best, Enxuto, with Mark Twain in third.

“Last start it didn’t work out from the inside draw, but today he held his line out of the gates,” Waller’s stable rep Darren Beadman told Racing.com speaking about tactics to give Birdman more room in the run today.

“He wasn’t the best to step away, but he kept that three wide line and dictated to a few runners around him and let them know he wasn’t going to go over to the fence.

“He was seven lengths off the lead, and it was a pretty easy watch.”

Beadman went on to confirm the team were likely looking at a run in the 2026 Australian Cup later on this month for Birdman who has firmed in from $13 to $6 in futures betting on the Group 1 through Ladbrokes.com.au.

“He arrived in Australia about a year-and-a-half or two years ago with good credentials and a couple of wins, including the Queen’s Vase,” Beadman said.

“The owners were hoping to aim for the Melbourne Cup. He’s been very consistent.

“It was a great run in the Caulfield Cup last year, so I guess, without speaking to Chris, the Australian Cup will probably be the ideal type of race for him.”

Fifty Stars (2020) was the last horse to complete the Blamey Stakes / Australian Cup double.

Birdman has firmed in from $13 to $6 in futures Australian Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to be the next.

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