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Matthew Smith‘s talented sprinter Headwall is favourite to catch the eye of The Everest slot holders in the million-dollar The Shorts 2026 field in Sydney on Saturday, but does he head the Races.com.au team’s tips and best bets on the key Group 2?
The Group 2 $1 million The Shorts (1100m) serves as a key lead-up into the world’s richest turf race with a spot in the 12-horse $20 million The Everest field on October 11 looming for the best performers in this short-distance clash.
Current The Shorts odds online at Ladbrokes are firmly led by Headwall at $3.30 second-up off a luckless run fresh in the Group 2 Concorde Stakes (1000m).
The Dream Ahead gelding was having his first start in a year since claiming the Concorde in 2025 and he was very good late off the lengthy break flashing home after getting caught back in traffic early to cross under a half-length off the winner Tempted.
A multiple Group 1 placegetter will take huge benefit from that, relish the step-up to 1100m now and with a hot pace predicted he’ll get conditions to suit from barrier five with Zac Lloyd aboard.
It is an open top half of the market with a further two sprinters sitting at single figures in The Shorts betting with Chris Waller‘s class mare Joliestar ($4) and the already confirmed The Everest contender Ninja ($4.60) who the early money is coming for.
Joliestar is a six-year-old daughter of Zoustar who, on her day, is capable of a huge performance to kick off her spring.
From a dozen Randwick starts to date she boasts a 50% winning strike rate at the track, and she’s got six Group 1 trophies already in the cabinet.
The latest of her elite level triumphs was in the autumn’s TJ Smith Stakes when beating former The Everest hero Giga Kick during an undefeated campaign that also saw her take out the Group 2 Expressway and Group 1 Canterbury Stakes when in peak form.
Waller sent her to the UK off that and she was super tough running out of her skin at Royal Ascot for a third in the Queen’s Jubilee.
How she’s come back off her international bid is the question as her trial form has been only fair ahead of her return, but she remains a genuine danger having won last year’s The Shorts.
History is against her however with the last horse to go back-to-back in the event being Kings Favourite (1976 & 1977).
Ninja meanwhile is one of two runners already locked in for a 2026 The Everest bid along with the oh-so-dominant favourite and defending champ Ka Ying Rising.
Michael Freedman‘s consistent Farnan gelding carries the top weight second-up on Saturday off a winning return when he won his four-year-old debut in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m).
While he has plenty of ability, his best looks to be at six to seven furlongs so the drop back in distance is a query where he could find them a bit sharp.
For value other notable contenders further down The Shorts betting markets this year include the Joe Pride-trained King’s Secret ($12) who was excellent at 30/1 when under two lengths fourth in the Concorde, the now Waller-trained 2025 The Quokka champ Jokers Grin ($13) running for his new stable for the first time, Peter Snowden‘s rails-drawn Mazu ($13) who is never far off them at this level and reigning The Galaxy winner Marhoona ($14) who is unbeaten at 1100m.
The Shorts 2026 is set to run as Randwick Race 9 at 4:35pm (AEST) as the penultimate event on the Sydney race card on Saturday.
2026 The Shorts Best Bets
Favourite: No. 3 Headwall
| 3. Headwall (5) J: Zac Lloyd 56kg 2x1x2 T: Matthew Smith | |||
| Second-up today. Last outing 2nd of 12 in the G2 Concorde Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1000m, long-neck behind Tempted with 58.5kg at $4.40. At only start last preparation won by a nose in the G3 Concorde Stakes at this track on September 6 2025 over 1000m defeating Lady Shenandoah with 58kg at $4.20. Can atone for the unlucky first up run. | |||
Each Way Danger: No. 2 Joliestar
| 2. Joliestar (11) J: James McDonald 56kg 11x3x T: Chris Waller | |||
| Back from a spell. Only had one start last campaign sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 3rd of 18 in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot on June 20 over 1207m, neck behind Almeraq carrying 58kg at $2.90. Won previous preparation first up favourite; won by 1.2 len in the G2 Expressway Stakes at this track on February 14 over 1200m defeating Caballus carrying 57kg at $2.60. Trialled on September 8 at Rosehill over 900m and finished sixth. Expected to go close again despite drawing | |||
Best Roughie: No. 5 Mazu
| 5. Mazu (1) J: Rachel King 56kg 3361x T: Joseph Pride | |||
| Resuming after a break of five months. Finished off last campaign by nose this track G3 Hall Mark April 18 over 1200m defeating King’s Secret with 58.5kg at $3.70. Previously first up; third of 9 at this track in the G2 Challenge March 7 over 1000m, a head behind Generosity with 58.5kg at $8.50. Trialled well and will give plenty of cheek from the rails draw. | |||
The Shorts 2026 Odds
| 1. Ninja (9) J: Tommy Berry 57kg 215×1 T: Michael Freedman | |||
| Second-up. Comes off a 42-day let-up. First-up after five months tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 1.2 len in the G2 Missile Stakes at this track on August 8 over 1200m defeating Napoleonic with 57.5kg at $5. Previously second-up scored a big 5 len win in the G3 Vo Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm on January 3 over 1300m defeating Smexy with 57kg at $2.30. Has gone to a new level this prep and kept fresh for this. | |||
| 2. Joliestar (11) J: James McDonald 56kg 11x3x T: Chris Waller | |||
| Back from a spell. Only had one start last campaign sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 3rd of 18 in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot on June 20 over 1207m, neck behind Almeraq carrying 58kg at $2.90. Won previous preparation first up favourite; won by 1.2 len in the G2 Expressway Stakes at this track on February 14 over 1200m defeating Caballus carrying 57kg at $2.60. Trialled on September 8 at Rosehill over 900m and finished sixth. Expected to go close again despite drawing | |||
| 3. Headwall (5) J: Zac Lloyd 56kg 2x1x2 T: Matthew Smith | |||
| Second-up today. Last outing 2nd of 12 in the G2 Concorde Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1000m, long-neck behind Tempted with 58.5kg at $4.40. At only start last preparation won by a nose in the G3 Concorde Stakes at this track on September 6 2025 over 1000m defeating Lady Shenandoah with 58kg at $4.20. Can atone for the unlucky first up run. | |||
| 4. Jokers Grin (3) J: Adam Hyeronimus 56kg x115x T: Chris Waller | |||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of ten months. Finished off last preparation fifth of 9 at Ascot in the G1 Winterbottom November 29 over 1200m, 1.75 len behind Libertad with 58.5kg at $3.50. Previous preparation first-up won by 0.8 len Ascot G3 Prince Of Wales November 1 over 1000m defeating Oscar’s Fortune carrying 58.5kg at $1.60. First start for the Waller yard and trialled well, place best. | |||
| 5. Mazu (1) J: Rachel King 56kg 3361x T: Joseph Pride | |||
| Resuming after a break of five months. Finished off last campaign by nose this track G3 Hall Mark April 18 over 1200m defeating King’s Secret with 58.5kg at $3.70. Previously first up; third of 9 at this track in the G2 Challenge March 7 over 1000m, a head behind Generosity with 58.5kg at $8.50. Trialled well and will give plenty of cheek from the rails draw. | |||
| 6. Spicy Martini (8) J: Taylor Marshall 56kg x121x T: Toby Edmonds | |||
| First-up. Finished off last campaign by 1.1 len Eagle Farm G1 Stradbroke June 13 over 1400m in the wet defeating Sepals with 51.5kg at $13. Previous preparation first-up won by long-neck Eagle Farm LR Ascot Hcp April 18 over 1000m defeating Uncommon James with 53kg at $15. Likely to find this out of reach. | |||
| 7. Marhoona (2) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 56kg 214×6 T: Michael Freedman | |||
| Second run back. First-up after five months tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 6th of 12 in the G2 Concorde Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1000m, 3 len behind Tempted with 58.5kg at $9. Previously second-up 2nd of 9 in the G2 Challenge Stakes at this track on March 7 over 1000m, nose behind Generosity with 54kg at $9.50. Maps well and undefeated at this trip. | |||
| 8. Grafterburners (6) J: Jason Collett 55kg x300x T: Kelly Schweida | |||
| First-up. Finished off last campaign 11th of 18 at Eagle Farm in the G3 Fred Best 3yo May 30 over 1400m, soft track; 5.5 len behind Regal Award with 57kg at $14. First up last campaign third of 9 at this track in the G2 Arrowfield April 11 over 1200m, 1.75 len behind Tempted with 56.5kg at $8. Talented sprinter not to be overlooked. | |||
| 9. King’s Secret (4) J: Andrew Adkins 55kg 382×4 T: Joseph Pride | |||
| Second-up. First-up after five months 4th of 12 in the G2 Concorde Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1000m, 2 len behind Tempted with 57kg at $31. Previously second-up 8th of 16 in the G3 Star Kingdom Stakes at Rosehill on March 28 over 1200m, slow going 3 len behind Roselyn’s Star carrying 55.5kg at $2.80. Worth following up at the good odds. | |||
| 10. Mal Coupe (7) J: Tyler Schiller 55kg 246×7 T: Stephen O’halloran | |||
| Second run back. First-up after five months 7th of 12 in the G2 Concorde Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1000m, 3 len behind Tempted with 56kg at $51. Previously second-up won by 1.5 len in a Bm88 at this track on February 28 over 1200m on a rain affected track defeating Eye Of The Fire carrying 56kg at $3.20. Hard to have in this company. | |||
| 11. Brave One (10) J: Dylan Gibbons 55kg x919x T: M, W & J Hawkes | |||
| First-up. Finished off last preparation ninth of 16 at Sandown-Hillside Bm100 May 23 over 1400m, soft track; 6 len behind Meridius carrying 57.5kg at $10. When resuming last campaign ran last of 9 at this track in the G3 Hall Mark April 18 over 1200m, 3.5 len behind Mazu carrying 56kg at $19. Outclassed. | |||
| 12. Flying For Fun (12) J: Mollie Fitzgerald 54kg 1949x T: Bryce Heys | |||
| Resuming. Finished off last campaign ninth of 14 at Morphettville in the G1 The Goodwood May 9 over 1200m, soft track; 2 len behind Desert Lightning with 54kg at $5. Previous preparation first-up won by long-neck Rosehill G3 M Mccarten March 14 over 1100m defeating Mal Coupe with 56kg at $5. Sprints well fresh and goes into the exotics. | |||
