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Stradbroke Season is in full swing in Brisbane for the winter and this weekend the Ladbrokes Victory Stakes 2026 serves as a key early guide to the upcoming Group 1 sprints with the resuming Private Harry favourite for the Eagle Farm feature.
Thirteen classy runners make up the field for this year’s Group 2 $300,000 Ladbrokes Victory Stakes (1200m), and the race has been won by a host of good types in recent history including Swiss Ace (2008-09), Buffering (2011 & 2013), Temple Of Boom (2014), and Srikandi (2015).
Having his first start for master trainer Chris Waller, four-year-old Harry Angel entire, Private Harry, is well backed into $3.20 through Ladbrokes.com.au to add to his strong first-up record that stands at two wins from three resuming runs to date.
A winner of five of his seven starts, the still emerging sprinter is already a proven Group 1 champ having claimed victory in last year’s The Galaxy (1100m) in Sydney.
His latest two runs back in the spring produced fifth place finishes at Randwick which brought an end to his potential Everest bid, but he lands himself in a winnable assignment off a spell to get back into winning form.
With conditions to suit on a Soft rated track and Ashley Morgan, who is riding well for the stable, booked for the ride from a favourable gate three draw, Private Harry’s recent trials have been strong, and he’s got the ability at his best to take this out.
The danger occupying the second line of Victory Stakes betting this season at $5 and the only other acceptor at single figures for the win is the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained former Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot.
Stepping back into the spotlight on Saturday, the classy Written Tycoon mare finally gets the right race to snap her post-Slipper drought.
She hasn’t won since her Golden Slipper heroics as a juvenile, but everything about her set-up in the Victory Stakes suggests she’ll be ready to fire fresh.
Now a four-year-old, she boasts a strong first-up profile and drops sharply in grade after tackling elite mares in both the Surround Stakes and Coolmore Classic last prep.
She was beaten a whisker by Lady Shenandoah in the Surround before producing a huge run from a horror draw to finish a close third in the Coolmore in March 2025 — form that stacks up anywhere.
She’s been off the scene for over a year, but her recent Canterbury trial win suggested she hasn’t lost an ounce of her brilliance.
The draw is perfect, Tim Clark knows exactly how to ride her, and while a few rivals arrive with more miles in the legs, she brings the kind of class that can overcome that.
Back in Queensland for the first time since chasing home Private Harry at the Sunshine Coast last January, she maps to land just behind the speed and peel out at the right time.
If she returns anywhere near her best, she’s the comeback star that can upset the favourite.
Outside the dominant duo the other best fancied presenting value include the Ciaron Maher-trained Warnie ($10) racing for the first time since his $1 million Supernova win over Private Eye at Pakenham in mid-December, Tony Gollan‘s top local hope with a stellar Eagle Farm record – Transatlantic ($10) – who won the Group 1 Toorak Handicap in Melbourne last prep and Uncommon James ($11).
Matthew Hoysted‘s lightly raced seven-year-old, Uncommon James has form around Private Harry having placed third in last year’s The Galaxy and he strips fitter after returning here at Eagle Farm to run second with 60.5kg in the Listed Ascot Handicap (1000m).
With an imposing second-up strike-rate (6:3-1-1) and suited to the WFA conditions, he’s one of the double-figure hopes who can give this a shake-up.
Further down the markets at longer Victory Stakes odds but not without each way claims are the likes of the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained Reserve Bank ($15) who won last autumn’s Group 1 The Goodwood in SA and the widely drawn Joe Pride-trained mare In Flight ($15) coming off a Group 2 Sapphire Stakes victory at Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships.
The 2026 Ladbrokes Victory Stakes is scheduled as Eagle Farm Race 8 at 4:13pm (AEST) on Saturday’s nine-race card.
2026 Ladbrokes Victory Stakes Field & Odds
| 1. Transatlantic (7) J: Ryan Maloney58.5kg 2112xT: Tony Gollan | |||
| Resuming after a break of six months. Finished off last campaign second of 11 at Rosehill in the LR Five Diamonds November 8 over 1800m, a head behind Vivy Air carrying 59kg at $3.80. First up last campaign second of 12 at Flemington in the LR Tontonan September 13 over 1400m, a nose behind Cafe Millenium with 58.5kg at $5. Been off for a while but his class is obvious. | |||
| 2. Uncommon James (10) J: Ben Thompson58.5kg 434×2T: Matthew Hoysted | |||
| Second run back. First-up after 13 months held ground to the line 2nd of 12 at this track in the LR Ascot Hcp on April 18 over 1000m, long-neck behind Spicy Martini carrying 60.5kg at $7. Previously second-up 3rd of 13 at Rosehill in the G1 The Galaxy on March 22 2025 over 1100m, 1.1 len behind Private Harry carrying 58kg at $41. Excellent return last time and he has the class to go one better. | |||
| 3. Reserve Bank (2) J: Cejay Graham58.5kg 6111xT: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | |||
| Entire returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last preparation by 1.4 len Morphettville G1 The Goodwood May 10 over 1200m defeating Sir Sway carrying 54.5kg at $5.50. Previously first up; sixth of 17 at Flemington Inglis Sprint March 1 2025 over 1200m, 2.5 len behind El Morzillo carrying 57kg at $3.90. Birdcage and market watch off such a long break. | |||
| 4. Private Harry (3) J: Ashley Morgan58.5kg 1x55xT: Chris Waller | |||
| Resuming. Finished off last preparation fifth of 7 at Randwick in the G2 Premiere October 4 over 1200m, 4.5 len behind Briasa carrying 58.5kg at $4.40. First up last campaign fifth of 9 at Randwick in the G2 The Shorts September 20 over 1100m, 4.5 len behind Joliestar carrying 58kg at $2.15. Intriguing runner – now with Waller and is trialling in style. | |||
| 5. Hidden Wealth (11) J: Unknown58.5kg 410×4T: Tony Gollan | |||
| Second-up. First-up after three months 4th of 12 at this track in the LR Ascot Hcp on April 18 over 1000m, 1.0 len behind Spicy Martini with 59.5kg at $5.50. Previously second-up 4th of 10 at Doomben in the G3 George Moore on December 6 over 1200m, 5 len behind Caballus with 60kg at $3.10. Will improve with that run under the belt and he loves it wet. | |||
| 6. Warnie (6) J: Jason Collett58.5kg 2151xT: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Gelding returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last preparation by nose Pakenham Supernova December 13 over 1400m defeating Private Eye with 59kg at $11. First up last campaign fourth of 12 at Gosford in the LR Takeover Target May 10 over 1200m, soft track; a long neck behind Barber with 53kg at $5.50. Expecting a bright return. | |||
| 7. Zarastro (9) J: Angela Jones58.5kg 0x36xT: Tony Gollan | |||
| Resuming after a break of nine weeks. Finished off last preparation sixth of 12 at Randwick in the G3 Liverpool February 28 over 1300m, soft track; 5 len behind King Of Roseau carrying 56kg at $15. When resuming last campaign third of 7 at Rosehill in the G3 Japan Ra Plate January 31 over 1200m, 1.0 len behind Willaidow carrying 59kg at $9.50. Will improve on whatever he does in this. | |||
| 8. Payline (1) J: Kyle Wilson-Taylor58.5kg 432×3T: Chris & Corey Munce | |||
| Second-up. First-up after three months made some head-way from midfield; 3rd of 12 at this track in the LR Ascot Hcp on April 18 over 1000m, 0.6 len behind Spicy Martini with 57.5kg at $6. Previously second-up got back early 6th of 10 at Moonee Valley in the G1 Manikato on September 26 over 1200m, 4.5 len behind Charm Stone carrying 58.5kg at $51. Fine effort first-up and can build on that. | |||
| 9. Pereille (13) J: Martin Harley58.5kg 3232xT: Tony Gollan | |||
| First-up. Finished off last campaign second of 11 at Sunshine Coast in the LR Sun Coast Cup January 24 over 1400m, 1.2 len behind Anemacore with 56kg at $7.50. Previously first up; third of 9 at Doomben Cl6-Sw November 15 over 1200m, soft track; 1.2 len behind Caspernova with 58.5kg at $2.20. Likes the going and is a gun when fresh. | |||
| 10. Lady Of Camelot (4) J: Tim Clark56.5kg 2223xT: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |||
| First-up. Finished off last preparation third of 13 at Rosehill in the G1 Coolmore March 15 2025 over 1500m, 0.7 len behind Lady Shenandoah carrying 54kg at $5. Previously first up; second of 12 at Sunshine Coast Sunlight 3yo SW January 4 2025 over 1100m, soft track; 2.5 len behind Private Harry carrying 55kg at $3. Slipper winner on the comeback trail – keep an eye on the betting. | |||
| 11. In Flight (12) J: Jake Bayliss56.5kg 4×781T: Joseph Pride | |||
| Most recently won by 0.8 len at Randwick G2 Sapphire April 11 over 1200m defeating Infancy with 56kg at $15. The race before that 8th of 12 at Rosehill in the G1 The Galaxy on March 21 over 1100m, slow going 1.0 len behind Marhoona carrying 52.5kg at $41. Super effort last start and that form should stack up. | |||
| 12. Abounding (8) J: Vlad Duric56.5kg 19×76T: Robert Heathcote | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming from last on the turn 7th of 12 at Randwick in the G3 Wenonagirl on March 7 over 1200m, 3.5 len behind Gangsta Granny carrying 59kg at $15. Second-up 6th of 12 at this track in the LR Ascot Hcp on April 18 over 1000m, 2 len behind Spicy Martini with 57kg at $9. Capable of a better showing. Class mare ready to find form at the third run back. | |||
| 13. Splash Back (5) J: Michael Rodd56.5kg 128×7T: Grahame Begg | |||
| Second run back. First-up after five months 7th of 12 at Randwick in the G2 Sapphire on April 11 over 1200m, 1.5 len behind In Flight with 57kg at $7. Previously second-up won by 1.0 len at Flemington F&M Bm90 June 21 over 1420m defeating Terrestar with 53.5kg at $1.70. Eye-catcher last time and is open to plenty of improvement. | |||
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