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A gun field of spring sprinters will face off in one of the key support acts on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day this weekend, and Races.com.au have sorted the best from the rest providing our expert 2026 McEwen Stakes tips, best bets and full race preview below.
The Group 2 $300,000 McEwen Stakes (1200m) will take on a different format this season with The Valley closed forcing the contenders to take on the famous Flemington ‘Straight Six’ in the important Champions Sprint lead-up.
We’ve got a compact but classy field of just eight in the mix and it is Trent Edmonds‘ high-flying mare from Pakenham, Extragalactic, sitting top of the latest McEwen Stakes odds at $2.80 through Ladbrokes.
Nature Strip ($1.50 in 2018) was the last favourite in McEwen Stakes betting to win, but there’s support for the four-year-old daughter of Deep Field to break the hoodoo and finish on top as she comes back in grade after two eye-catching Group 1 efforts this prep.
After being narrowly denied in Adelaide’s The Goodwood last time in, she resumed in the Moir and ran just 1.25 lengths back fourth to My Gladiola at double-figures to get her spring campaign underway.
Proving that was no fluke, she went up to the six furlongs in the Ladbrokes Maniakto and improved when second to Jimmysstar in an excellent form race heading into this easier assignment on Saturday.
With lovely six-furlong form (5:1-3-0), Extragalactic is drawn in gate seven and has James McDonald sticking with and, despite this being her first go at Flemington, she looks the type to relish it.
In a wide-open market next best in McEwen Stakes 2026 betting following very closely in a tight two-horse battle at $2.90 is the defending champion Jigsaw.
If held at Moonee Valley, then Cindy Alderson‘s ultra-consistent eight-year-old would hands down be the one to beat again as he prepares to defend his title attempting dual wins in the event.
He’s won eight on the bounce including Group 1s either side of the Tasman as well as Perth’s $4 million The Quokka, and on that alone he demands respect.
Fresh, he was straight back to the winner’s stall with an impressive all-the-way Group 2 Schillaci Stakes victory, but Flemington has not been a happy hunting ground for the $5 million earner.
From four goes here he’s without a top three performance, and that is concerning.
Still, on class alone he’ll attract plenty of money with apprentice Logan Bates sure to take him to the front and attempt another barrier to box victory.
Smooth Chino meanwhile looks the value at $7 after making his Melbourne debut last time out.
Indianna Weinert’s tough son of Maschino made an immediate impression at Flemington when tackling the course and distance for the first time in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes, producing a brave runner-up finish behind Skybird on testing Heavy ground.
The result came in one of the more unusual finishes of the spring, with several runners appearing to be caught out before the post in a blanket finish, leaving plenty open to interpretation. Regardless, his performance was full of merit and suggested he’s ready to make his mark at this level.
Now fitter third-up, boasting an unbeaten record at this stage of a preparation, and with Austin Galati knowing him inside out, he profiles as a genuine contender.
With valuable experience down the Flemington straight under his belt and further improvement expected, expect him to be charging into contention when the race is there to be won.
Recent The Shorts winner in Sydney Mazu ($9.50) with form around The Everest champion mare Tempted for Joe Pride and the Robbie Griffiths-trained Rey Magnerio ($9.50) who was runner-up to Jigsaw in The Quokka round out the single-figure hopes.
The winter’s Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara winner Splash Back resuming is the early McEwen Stakes market mover now into $11 to add to her imposing first-up record, while the rails-drawn Arkansaw Kid ($16) could prove to be the forgotten chance as the Flemington track specialist in the mix.
Prepared by the Hayes’ boys, Arkansaw Kid has a terrific Top 3 strike rate at the course (10:2-2-2) and lines-up for his third consecutive Flemington appearance on the weekend.
At double-figures he was under a length back fourth here in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis when giving away plenty of weight to the winner Losesomewinmore before a last start third in the Gilgai which could prove the right lead-up to follow into this.
The 2026 McEwen Stakes is set to run as Flemington Race 5 at 3:00pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s nine-race card.
McEwen Stakes 2026 Best Bets
Favourite: No. 8 Extragalactic
| 8. Extragalactic (7) J: James McDonald 56.5kg 22×42 T: Trent Edmonds | |||
| Third-up today and placed third-up previously. First-up 4th of 13 in the G1 Moir Stakes at Sandown-Hillside on September 5 over 1000m, on a slow track; 1.3 len behind My Gladiola carrying 56.5kg at $13. Second run from a spell sat on speed throughout when 2nd of 13 in the G1 Manikato Stakes at Caulfield on September 27 over 1200m, 0.8 len behind Jimmysstar carrying 56.5kg at $5. Been very good in a pair of G1’s, her turn of foot should really suit the straight. | |||
Each Way Danger: No. 5 Smooth Chino
| 5. Smooth Chino (3) J: Austin Galati 58.5kg 13×32 T: Indianna Weinert | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming 3rd of 8 in the LR W H Wylie Hcp at Morphettville on September 12 over 1100m, 1.0 len behind Sir Now carrying 62kg at $3.30. Second-up came from midfield; 2nd of 10 in the G2 Gilgai Stakes at this track on October 3 over 1200m, in the wet; nose behind Skybird with 58.5kg at $6. Very good in Melbourne debut, can measure up. | |||
Best Roughie: No. 4 Arkansaw Kid
| 4. Arkansaw Kid (1) J: Ethan Brown 58.5kg x3043 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Racing well recently. Most recently sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 3rd of 10 in the G2 Gilgai Stakes at this track on October 3 over 1200m, on rain affected going; 1.3 len behind Skybird with 59kg at $5. The race before that 4th of 14 in the G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality at this track on September 12 over 1200m, 0.8 len behind Losesomewinmore with 57.5kg at $17. Solid last time but this is tougher. | |||
2026 McEwen Stakes Same Race Multi Selections
$13 (at time of publish) through Ladbrokes
- Top 2 – No. 8 Extragalactic
- Top 3 – No. 5 Smooth Chino
- Top 4 – No. 4 Arkansaw Kid
Latest McEwen Stakes 2026 Odds
McEwen Stakes 2026 Odds
| 1. Mazu (8) J: Rachel King 58.5kg 61×10 T: Joseph Pride | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up won by a neck in a G2 The Shorts at Randwick on September 19 over 1100m defeating Joliestar with 56kg at $19. Last start raced on the pace before fading 10th of 12 in the G2 Premiere Stakes at Randwick on October 3 over 1200m, slow going 6 len behind Tempted carrying 58.5kg at $18. Through some hot races, will give a sight up front. | |||
| 2. Jigsaw (4) J: Logan Bates 58.5kg 111×1 T: Cindy Alderson | |||
| Second-up. First-up after six months favourite; won by 1.3 len in the G2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield on October 10 over 1100m defeating Flying For Fun with 58.5kg at $2.25. Previously second-up favourite; won by 3.5 len in the Vobis Gold Sprint at Caulfield on March 14 over 1200m defeating She’s Bulletproof with 61kg at $2.60. Looks a huge chance to add to the winning sequence. Resumed with a bang, will be in front for a long way again. | |||
| 3. Rey Magnerio (6) J: William Pike 58.5kg x62x5 T: Robbie Griffiths | |||
| Second run back. First-up after six months 5th of 9 in the G2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield on October 10 over 1100m, 3.5 len behind Jigsaw carrying 58.5kg at $5.50. Previously second-up 2nd of 13 in a The Quokka at Ascot on April 18 over 1200m, slow going long-neck behind Jigsaw with 58.5kg at $4.60. Has a bit to find but will be rattling home. | |||
| 4. Arkansaw Kid (1) J: Ethan Brown 58.5kg x3043 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Racing well recently. Most recently sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 3rd of 10 in the G2 Gilgai Stakes at this track on October 3 over 1200m, on rain affected going; 1.3 len behind Skybird with 59kg at $5. The race before that 4th of 14 in the G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality at this track on September 12 over 1200m, 0.8 len behind Losesomewinmore with 57.5kg at $17. Solid last time but this is tougher. | |||
| 5. Smooth Chino (3) J: Austin Galati 58.5kg 13×32 T: Indianna Weinert | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming 3rd of 8 in the LR W H Wylie Hcp at Morphettville on September 12 over 1100m, 1.0 len behind Sir Now carrying 62kg at $3.30. Second-up came from midfield; 2nd of 10 in the G2 Gilgai Stakes at this track on October 3 over 1200m, in the wet; nose behind Skybird with 58.5kg at $6. Very good in Melbourne debut, can measure up. | |||
| 6. La Fracas (5) J: Blake Shinn 58.5kg 720×9 T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | |||
| Second run back. First-up after five months 9th of 12 in a Hcp at Cranbourne on October 9 over 1200m, 5.5 len behind Ndola with 58kg at $19. Previously second-up 7th of 16 in the G3 Star Kingdom Stakes at Rosehill on March 28 over 1200m, slow going 3 len behind Roselyn’s Star with 54.5kg at $19. Outclassed. | |||
| 7. Splash Back (2) J: Jordan Childs 56.5kg 1961x T: Grahame Begg | |||
| Resuming. Finished off last campaign by 1.3 len Eagle Farm G1 Tatt’s Tiara June 27 over 1400m slow track defeating Savagery Vibe carrying 57kg at $8.50. When resuming last campaign seventh of 12 at Randwick in the G2 Sapphire April 11 over 1200m, 1.5 len behind In Flight with 57kg at $7. Good mare but see this one. | |||
| 8. Extragalactic (7) J: James McDonald 56.5kg 22×42 T: Trent Edmonds | |||
| Third-up today and placed third-up previously. First-up 4th of 13 in the G1 Moir Stakes at Sandown-Hillside on September 5 over 1000m, on a slow track; 1.3 len behind My Gladiola carrying 56.5kg at $13. Second run from a spell sat on speed throughout when 2nd of 13 in the G1 Manikato Stakes at Caulfield on September 27 over 1200m, 0.8 len behind Jimmysstar carrying 56.5kg at $5. Been very good in a pair of G1’s, her turn of foot should really suit the straight. | |||
