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The first of the spring’s elite level sprint races heads to Sandown on Saturday and Races.com.au have you covered with our expert AJ Moir Stakes 2026 field preview, tips and best bets as we prepare to be entertained by a superior field of super sprinters.
No, you didn’t misread that punters, for the first time in history the Group 1 $750,000 AJ Moir Stakes (1000m) will take place outside of Moonee Valley with the cauldron closed for redevelopment.
The Moir Stakes winners list reads like the who’s who of Australian racing’s greatest speed horses including the best there was, Black Caviar, and fellow dual champion Buffering from the Sunshine State.
We may have moved tracks, but the quality of this year’s 13-horse Moir Stakes field remains top-notch, and the early money is coming for the lightly raced but progressive filly Natural Fling.
Tony & Calvin McEvoy‘s nicely bred daughter of Home Affairs might be the baby of the bunch, but she’s certainly not running around unnoticed.
The boom young filly has been one of the big firmers in Moir Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au and is currently paying $3.20 to etch her name into the history books with a Group 1 victory at just her fourth start.
Despite landing the carpark draw (13), punters have doubled down after her sizzling four-length Quezette Stakes romp fresh.
She’s raw, she’s fast, and she’s got that unmistakable X-factor feel about her — the kind that makes a three-year-old filly suddenly look right at home against the older sprinting elite.
Still very much a work in progress, and yes, this is a monster leap from beating her own age group at Caulfield to tackling hardened WFA sprinters down the Sandown straight, but the drop to 50kg is enormous, she handles soft ground, and her 1000–1100m profile is exactly what you want for this version of the Moir.
Jamie Melham is almost certain to press on from the wide alley, take luck out of the equation, and let her natural speed do the talking. If she crosses cleanly, she’s going to give them all something to chase.
The flip side? She’s still learning, and the big guns will be stalking late. At the price, she’s not bulletproof, but will take some beating as she looks to join She Will Reign (2017) and Coolangatta (2022) as the only fillies to win the Moir.
The danger occupying the second line of the markets at $4.50 is the proven veteran, the Clayton Douglas-trained seven-year-old Giga Kick.
He rolls back into the Moir like the seasoned star he is, and while the market has him sitting just off the favourite, he’s very much the class act of the 2026 field.
The former The Everest hero hasn’t quite hit his peak in recent runs, but his autumn campaign still showed he’s got plenty of spark left — that nose-margin second in the TJ Smith was a reminder of just how dangerous he can be when he’s switched on.
Plenty of punters are happy to forget to forget his All Aged Stakes flop in the autumn. He’s always been a horse who improves sharply when fresh, and everything he’s done at the trials this time in suggests he’s ready to rumble.
The 1000m isn’t his pet trip, but Sandown’s long rising straight is tailor-made for his booming finish. He’ll flop out the back, relax, and then start to build from the 400m — exactly the pattern that saw him run Tentyris to two lengths in the Lightning last prep.
Add in his strong Soft track form and his trademark late surge, and suddenly the “trip too short” argument starts to look pretty flimsy.
If Natural Fling is the flashy filly everyone wants to be with, Giga Kick is the old warhorse punters trust when the pressure goes on. He won’t be in the picture early, but he’ll be in it when it matters.
It is a predicted age vs youth showdown with Natural Fling and Giga Kick the sole runners under $10 for the win, but lurking just off them at $10 is the Tom Dabernig-trained Cavalry Girl.
Plenty of punters are starting to gravitate toward this airborne four-year-old Bivouac mare, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why.
She’s been flying this prep, stringing together three straight wins and putting margins on her rivals like a mare absolutely loving life.
Whether it was her Black-Type Lightning Stakes thumping in Adelaide, her slick Heath win at Caulfield, or her gritty Group 3 Norman Carlyon Stakes (1000m) victory right here at Sandown, she’s been delivering every single time she’s stepped out.
This is a proper jump in class, no doubt about it, but she arrives rock-hard fit, proven at the track, and a genuine 1000m specialist with a 14:7-2-0 record at the trip so shouldn’t be underestimated.
She’ll be right up on the speed again with Craig Williams sticking solid, and while the flashier types might be winding up late, she’s the one who’ll make them earn it.
If Natural Fling gets the perfect run in front, then Cavalry Girl — at more than double the price — maps just as sweetly.
A trio of chances follow at around $11/$12 at time of publish with My Gladiola, Point Barrow and the exciting Extragalactic.
My Gladiola is one of the more intriguing runners in this year’s Moir, John McArdle saddling up a proper mare who can absolutely blow this race open if she brings her best.
Her Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning second last prep showed she’s got the sharpness for a genuine 1000m drag race, and her recent trial win suggests she’s forward enough to fire fresh.
The only niggle is how wet Sandown gets on the day, but at double-figure odds she’s the kind of first-up talent you simply can’t ignore.
She’ll get back, she’ll need the race to set up for her, but if they overcook it up front she’s the one who can launch late and make things very interesting.
Point Barrow for Anthony & Sam Freedman is another four-year-old mare who’ll be spotting them a start but has the class to chime in if the tempo is strong.
She’s a reliable fresh performer, comes off a solid Group 1 Robert Sangster run when under a length fifth behind Geegees Mistruth at Morphettville back in April, and while distance might be on the sharp side, her jockey/trainer combo keeps her firmly in the mix as a sneaky knockout with Daniel Stackhouse in the saddle.
And then there’s Trent Edmonds‘ Extragalactic, yet another classy four-year-old mare who is an early market mover and the one punters are quietly warming to after her excellent campaign in Adelaide that saw her finish second in both the Group 2 Tobin Bronze and Group 1 The Goodwood.
She’s a genuine 1000–1200m specialist with a wicked turn of foot, trialled like a rocket, and boasts a strong first-up profile.
If she gets the right cart into the race, she’s the mare who could be slicing through late and blowing up a few tickets.
Add into the line-up the likes of Michael Freedman’s 2025 Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning winner Skybird ($16), the Chris Waller-trained Generosity ($16) and Rob Heathcote‘s rails-drawn Queensland giant Rothfire ($18) and there’s plenty of class and value to be found.
The 2026 AJ Moir Stakes is scheduled as Sandown Race 8 at 4:15pm (AEST) on the 10-race card in Melbourne for Saturday.
AJ Moir Stakes 2026 Tips & Best Bets
| 1. Giga Kick (9) J: Mark Zahra 58.5kg 5420xT: Clayton Douglas | |||
| Gelding returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last preparation tenth of 13 at Randwick in the G1 All Aged April 18 over 1400m, 4 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $9. When resuming last campaign fifth of 8 at Flemington in the G1 Lightning February 14 over 1000m, 2 len behind Tentyris carrying 58.5kg at $3.50. Class gelding who will be rattling home over a trip short of his best. | |||
| 2. Rothfire (1) J: Brad Rawiller 58.5kg 0170xT: Robert Heathcote | |||
| First-up. Finished off last campaign second last of 18 at Eagle Farm in the G1 Stradbroke June 13 over 1400m, on heavy track; 8 len behind Spicy Martini carrying 56.5kg at $21. First up last campaign second last of 11 at Rockhampton The Archer Sw+P May 5 over 1300m, 5.5 len behind Yellow Brick with 57.5kg at $13. Old warrior, not sure he’s sharp enough for this. | |||
| 3. Skybird (12) J: Ben Melham 56.5kg 3070xT: Mitchell Freedman | |||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of three-and-a-half months. Finished off last campaign 13th of 16 at Eagle Farm in the G1 K-Smith Cup May 30 over 1300m, soft track; 4.5 len behind Headley Grange carrying 57kg at $21. First up last campaign fifth of 9 at Randwick in the G2 Challenge March 7 over 1000m, 2 len behind Generosity with 56.5kg at $12. Wants it wet, has the ability on her day. | |||
| 4. Generosity (7) J: Jye Mcneil 56.5kg x156xT: Chris Waller | |||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last campaign sixth of 13 at Morphettville in the G1 Sangster April 25 over 1200m, 1.75 len behind Geegees Mistruth carrying 56.5kg at $3.90. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by nose Randwick G2 Challenge March 7 over 1000m defeating Marhoona with 56.5kg at $10. Sharp mare who looks well placed, keeping very safe. | |||
| 5. Ole Dancer (8) J: Luke Nolen 56.5kg x230xT: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | |||
| Resuming. Finished off last preparation 12th of 14 at Rosehill in the G1 Coolmore March 14 over 1500m, 8 len behind Lazzura with 55kg at $7. When resuming last campaign second in a small field at Flemington in the LR Desirable Stks February 14 over 1400m, 2.25 len behind Sass Appeal with 59.5kg at $2.70. Don’t think she’ll be sharp enough. | |||
| 6. Geegees Mistruth (4) J: Blake Shinn 56.5kg 0721xT: Mark Walker | |||
| Resuming after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last campaign by nose Morphettville G1 Sangster April 25 over 1200m defeating Bridal Waltz carrying 56.5kg at $31. First up last campaign third of 7 at Caulfield in the LR W.J. Adams January 24 over 1000m, 0.8 len behind Way To The Stars with 57kg at $4.20. Good mare, can be hitting the line. | |||
| 7. My Gladiola (6) J: Jamie Mott 56.5kg 2047xT: John Mcardle | |||
| Mare returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last preparation seventh of 13 at Morphettville in the G1 Sangster April 25 over 1200m, 2 len behind Geegees Mistruth with 54.5kg at $9. First up last campaign second of 8 at Flemington in the G1 Lightning February 14 over 1000m, 0.8 len behind Tentyris with 54kg at $7. Looks forward enough after a recent trial win. Sharp mare with the peaks at 1000m to win. | |||
| 8. Point Barrow (10) J: Daniel Stackhouse 56.5kg x515xT: Anthony & Sam Freedman | |||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last campaign fifth of 13 at Morphettville in the G1 Sangster April 25 over 1200m, 0.7 len behind Geegees Mistruth with 54.5kg at $7.50. When resuming last campaign fifth of 13 at Caulfield in the G1 Oakleigh Plt February 21 over 1100m, 4.5 len behind Tropicus carrying 50kg at $2.60. Talented but will give them a big start. | |||
| 9. Cavalry Girl (5) J: Craig Williams 56.5kg 12111T: Tom Dabernig | |||
| On a three run winning streak. Most recently favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 0.5 len in the G3 Carlyon Stakes at this track on August 22 over 1000m in the wet defeating Bazaball Rewarded carrying 56kg at $2.30. The race before that favourite; won by 4 len at Caulfield Heath on August 8 over 1000m in soft going defeating Along The River with 53kg at $2.80. Flying at this trip, can measure up. | |||
| 10. Hearcomesthestar (11) J: Beau Mertens 56.5kg x331xT: John Moloney | |||
| First-up. Finished off last preparation by 1.5 len Caulfield LR Bel Esprit May 30 over 1100m in the wet defeating Bustling with 54kg at $4.40. When resuming last campaign third of 12 at Bendigo Bm84 May 2 over 1100m, 2.5 len behind Stoli Bolli carrying 59kg at $9. This is too tough. | |||
| 11. Extragalactic (2) J: Ethan Brown 56.5kg 1122xT: Trent Edmonds | |||
| Mare returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last campaign second of 14 at Morphettville in the G1 The Goodwood May 9 over 1200m, soft track; a nose behind Desert Lightning carrying 50kg at $3.50. Previous preparation first-up favourite; to post a big 3.5 len win. Pakenham Bm62 March 12 over 1000m defeating Honor Galore carrying 57.5kg at $2.60. Talented, look for her charging through late. | |||
| 12. Bazaball Rewarded (3) J: Teo Nugent 56.5kg 12732T: Kelvin Southey | |||
| At the latest run sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 2nd of 8 in the G3 Carlyon Stakes at this track on August 22 over 1000m, in the wet; 0.5 len behind Cavalry Girl with 55kg at $10. Before that 3rd in a small field in a Bm100 at Caulfield Heath on August 8 over 1000m, on a slow track; 4 len behind Cavalry Girl with 53kg at $4. Very game mare but this will be too tough. | |||
| 13. Natural Fling (13) J: Jamie Melham 50kg 12×1T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy | |||
| Second-up. First-up after three months favourite; scored a big 4 len win in the G3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield on August 15 over 1100m on a soft track defeating Scintillation carrying 56kg at $2.40. Previously second-up ran on from midfield; 2nd of 12 in a Mm Nat 2yo SW at Gold Coast on May 22 over 1000m, slow going 1.5 len behind The Next Episode carrying 55kg at $3.10. Very good filly, looks capable of raising the bar against the older horses. | |||
AJ Moir Stakes 2026 Same Race Multi
$18.50 through Ladbrokes.com.au (at time of publish)
- Top 2 – No. 1 Giga Kick
- Top 3 – No. 9 Cavalry Girl
- Top 6 – No. 12 Bazaball Rewarded
