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The first Group 1 of Victoria Derby Day belonged to the favourite as The Next Episode confirmed his star quality, powering to victory in the 2026 Coolmore Stud Stakes results at Flemington and enhancing his reputation as one of the season’s most exciting young colts.

Prepared by champion trainer Ciaron Maher and partnered by a courageous Mark Zahra, the son of Snitzel justified his $3.20 favouritism with a determined performance down Flemington’s famous straight in this year’s Group 1 $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), defeating St Gotthard by a head, with roughie Mbube producing an excellent run to finish third.

The Group 1 breakthrough was the colt’s fifth win from seven starts and his third straight success after earlier victories in the Danehill Stakes and a Sydney handicap assignment, taking his career earnings past $2.1 million and significantly elevating his future stallion value.

2026 Coolmore Stud Stakes Results

Binge-worthy! The Next Episode delivers a show-stopping finish to take the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes! ?@cmaherracing @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/2CEuVf6afo

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 31, 2026

Coolmore Stud Stakes Success Caps Outstanding Rise

Few colts have improved as quickly this season as The Next Episode, and Maher was delighted to see his exciting prospect deliver on the biggest stage.

“When you’ve got a colt with a record like he does, these are the stallion-making races, and you’ve got to perform on the big days,” he told Racing Victoria.

Maher reserved special praise for the large team of staff who had managed the colt through multiple states during his campaign.

“I was confident he was ready, the team and Jack have done a super job from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, just can’t thank them enough and all the owners,” he said.

“Races in Phil Cunningham’s colours, it’s his first horse in Australia, I’m sure he’d be ready to buy a few more this year, plenty of other mates in the horse as well.

“Anthony Thompson bred the horse, he’s absolutely stoked and so am I, they don’t get much bigger than that.”

The stable’s confidence was rewarded as The Next Episode handled the pressure of favouritism and delivered when it mattered most.

“You want the pressure. That’s what we get up in the morning for, to have a horse good enough to feel the pressure,” Maher added.

“He’s a ripper and I think he’s only going to get better as he gets older.”

A Stallion-Making Victory

The Coolmore Stud Stakes is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most important races for three-year-old sprinting colts, and Maher is convinced The Next Episode has the credentials to develop into a top-class stallion prospect.

“You can’t get a bigger race than this – colt’s running for the Coolmore,” Maher said.

“It’s a stallion-making race.

“He’s a proper, proper colt.”

Maher also acknowledged the ownership group behind the horse.

“Just a great group of owners racing in Phil Cunningham’s colours,” he added.

“He’s a big supporter, it’s his first horse that he’s bought in Australia.

“There are a lot of other friends in the horse as well.”

The trainer credited the horse’s seamless interstate preparation for helping him peak on Derby Day.

“The team have just done a fantastic job with this horse from the Gold Coast, Brisbane,” Maher said.

“He was in Sydney and now the team down here put the icing on.

“I can’t thank Jack and the whole lot enough.”

Zahra Produces Another Big-Race Ride

The victory was made even more remarkable given Zahra’s recent injury concerns following his Caulfield Cup fall, but the champion jockey once again showed why he remains one of Australia’s elite riders.

Maher marvelled at Zahra’s ability to return and immediately perform at the highest level.

“He is, isn’t he? He’s a super jockey, Mark,” he said.

“He had the fall the other day, to be up and riding at the top of his game, they’re marvels the jocks.

“Mark’s a great mate and I’m sure we’ll be popping the top off a couple bottles of champagne tomorrow.”

Asked whether he had considered needing a replacement rider, Maher was quick to dismiss the thought.

“I didn’t want to even think of that, no,” he confirmed.

“It’s amazing really that he can do that.”

Zahra: “He’s a Real Dude Now”

Zahra revealed The Next Episode travelled even better than he had in the Danehill Stakes lead-up victory.

“He actually travelled quite stronger than the other day,” he said.

“The other day he was a bit lackadaisical but today I travelled really strong and I could see J-Mac on the inside.”

The leading rider felt the colt had the race under control despite momentarily switching off when he hit the front.

“When I went, he dropped him really quick and the leaders stopped and he had a good look around but then when he felt the other horse on the inside I picked him up and he went away,” he explained.

“It was a great victory.”

Zahra compared the Group 1 winner favourably to another talented colt he has partnered previously.

“Geez they’re very similar horses, he’s a real dude now this horse,” he added.

“He’s so relaxed, lobs along but when you want him he just goes bang.

“So it’s great to be on two magnificent colts within two years apart, what a day.”

Toughing It Out Late

Still feeling the effects of his recent fall, Zahra admitted Derby Day motivation played a major role in helping him through.

“Any other time of the year I’m probably on a holiday somewhere in Byron or Ibiza but this time of year you just can’t do it and just had to suck it up,” he said.

“It’s been a tough two weeks but it’s this time of year, this is what I live for and ride for.

“Great help from the doctors and a few Nurofen today and we’re bang on song.”

The jockey believed the race unfolded perfectly despite The Next Episode travelling almost too strongly underneath him.

“I was in a sweet spot, I travelled well – travelled too well,” Zahra added.

“When I came out and he sprinted really quick and James sort of challenged him, he put him away late, what a win.

“They took me nowhere, the ones in front, but I was in a spot where I had to go, he was just travelling so sweetly.”

“He showed great tenacity late, it was a great victory.

“He’s going to make a beautiful stallion.”

For Zahra, victories in races like the Coolmore Stud Stakes are among the most rewarding in Australian racing.

“To win these races on these colts, it doesn’t come on often,” he said.

“It’s a stallion-making race.

“I’m sure the owners want to give me a lifetime nom(ination) for this bloke.”

The victory provided an ideal start to the Group 1 action on Victoria Derby Day and confirmed The Next Episode as one of the standout three-year-old sprinters of his generation, adding a prestigious Coolmore Stud Stakes trophy to what is quickly becoming an outstanding racing résumé.

Coolmore Stud Stakes 2026 Results & Finishing Order