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Group 1 racing for the spring is underway in Sydney on Saturday and Races.com.au have you covered with our full Winx Stakes 2026 field preview, tips and best bets as we welcome back a host of turf stars.
Named after one of Australian racing’s immortals, the Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m) serves as a key launchpad for the season’s weight-for-age greats, and this year’s field looks elite.
The bulk of the money in Winx Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is, unsurprisingly, on Chris Waller‘s resuming mare Autumn Glow who will kick off her campaign as the heavily backed odds-on favourite.
The now five-year-old daughter of The Autumn Sun lost few admirers when suffering her sole loss to date, stretched to 2000m for the first time in the autumn’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes and failing to keep her flawless record intact.
After winning her opening 11 starts on the trot, including a trio of elite level victories, she could only manage to cross the line third behind Sir Delius.
Fresh last time in she was emphatic at this track and trip beating Aeliana home by 2.66 lengths in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes, after which she went on to claim the Verry Elleegant / George Ryder double.
Her two recent lead-up trials suggest she’s ready to bounce back from the only blip on her glowing CV and do what she does best, win a big race at Randwick.
With a hot speed predicted, this mighty mare should track the pace midfield with master hoop James McDonald aboard and flash home.
Waller’s mares have become a genuine force in the Winx Stakes, and the stable’s strike-rate has been exceptional in recent years with Fangirl breaking through in 2023 after finishing runner-up the season prior, and Via Sistina going back-to-back in 2024 and 2025 to extend Waller’s dominance.
Despite the class of this season’s 14-horse Winx Stakes field, just one other runner is currently under double-figures for the win, and she isn’t part of the dominant eight-strong Waller contingent.
Sheza Alibi sits on the second line of betting at $3.20 looking to rain on Autumn Glow’s parade, and there’s plenty of money rolling in for Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman‘s Doncaster Mile queen to do just that.
Last prep as a filly this still untapped daughter of Saxon Warrior did some incredible things including stringing together five straight turf triumphs.
Living up to the hype in her first Group 1 test, she showed the boys how it’s done claiming the Randwick Guineas with a three-length romp home over Autumn Boy.
But, it didn’t stop there.
At her latest she went out in the time-honoured Doncaster Mile as the odds-on favourite and didn’t just win, she destroyed them, running away to destroy her older rivals by over four lengths to become the first filly in 27 years to win.
Those are some pretty huge credentials; she’s won fresh in the past and is undefeated at Royal Randwick making her clash with Autumn Glow one to definitely tune in for.
Outside the dominant duo, the next best in Winx Stakes betting at a far more generous prices are two hopes under $20 – Waller’s pacesetter Beiwacht ($17) who’ll hit the lead and take some serious running down and his classy stablemate Lady Shenandoah ($19) looking to break a notable winning drought.
Nash Rawiller rides Bivouac entire Beiwacht from gate four and the now four-year-old he’s aboard is looking to make it a perfect three-from-three over the 1400m.
Beiwacht went out a Group 1 All Aged Stakes winner, looked the goods in his recent Warwick Farm trials and shouldn’t be discounted if he doesn’t go too hard out in front.
As for Lady Shenandoah, this always honest Snitzel mare hasn’t secured a 1st place trophy since completing the Group 1 Surround Stakes / Coolmore Classic double in the autumn last year.
Yes, it’s been a while between drinks, but she is never far away, knows how to match motors with these rivals and runs for the first time since her Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes second to Idle Flyer over the mile here at her pet track.
Looking for value even further down the markets? Quite a few punters are tipping an upset and that’s caused Gringotts to emerge as our early Winx Stakes market mover backed into $23 at time of publish.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Per Incanto seven-year-old was second to Autumn Glow at big odds in the George Ryder before rounding out his autumn with a fourth to Sheza Alibi.
So, can he turn the tables on the better fancied mares on the weekend?
While it looks unlikely, we never say never in the world of horse racing, and this tough old warrior was outstanding winning his lead-up trial over Beiwacht at the start of the month in a warning he’s not done just yet.
The fact we then have Waller’s honest dual 7 Stakes winning mare Fangirl, winner of this race back in 2023, making her eight-year-old debut at around $23 after a strong winter campaign in Brisbane that finished with her close Stradbroke fourth and the stable’s resuming Ranvet / Tancred Stakes double champ Aeliana first-up at $26 just goes to show the depth of this year’s race.
The 2026 Winx Stakes is set to run as Randwick Race 9 at 4:30pm (AEST) as the penultimate event on the 10-race card.
Winx Stakes 2026 Tips & Best Bets
To Win: No. 8 Autumn Glow
AUTUMN GLOW (3) again commands top billing, and it’s no surprise she’s gone up odds-on to kick off her spring with a win in the first Group 1 of the season. Even in a Winx Stakes field stacked with depth, it’s incredibly hard to oppose Waller’s triple Group 1-winning mare, who has built one of the most formidable records of any modern Randwick performer. The daughter of The Autumn Sun reeled off 11 straight victories to open her career, including a dominant Group 2 Apollo Stakes win at this track and trip where she put nearly three lengths on them fresh in the autumn. Her Randwick strike-rate is exceptional (six wins from seven starts), she’s unbeaten at 1400m, and the only blemish on her résumé came last start when third behind Sir Delius after being stretched to 2000m in the Queen Elizabeth. Whether she should ever have been asked to run beyond a mile will be debated for years, but what isn’t up for debate is her brilliance when fresh. With over $8.5 million banked, star power to burn, and J-Mac back aboard, she looks perfectly placed to return to the winner’s stall on Saturday.
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8. Autumn Glow (3)
J: James McDonald57kg
1113xT: Chris Waller
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| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation third of 7 at this track in the G1 Queen Eliz April 11 over 2000m, 2.5 len behind Sir Delius with 57kg at $1.30. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by 2.75 len this track G2 Apollo February 14 over 1400m defeating Aeliana carrying 57kg at $1.40. Champion mare who can keep her undefeated first up record intact. | |||
Each Way Danger: No. 14 Sheza Alibi
SHEZA ALIBI (1) shapes as the clear danger, sitting on the second line of betting and attracting plenty of pre-race buzz ahead of her clash with Autumn Glow. The Moody/Coleman-trained Saxon Warrior mare has built an elite record across her first 10 starts, never missing the placings and stringing together five straight wins last campaign as she dominated both Melbourne and Sydney features. She was brilliant in the G2 Angus Armanasco at Caulfield before smashing the boys in the G1 Randwick Guineas, and her Doncaster Mile triumph — a four-length demolition from a wide gate, becoming the first filly in nearly three decades to win the race — confirmed her as one of the country’s most exciting rising stars. Two sharp Pakenham jump-outs have her forward enough for a big first-up showing, Luke Nolen knows exactly how to get the best out of her, and she brings enormous upside into her first crack at the Winx Stakes. The inside draw is the only query, but if she lands the right spot, she’s the mare most likely to make Autumn Glow earn it.
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14. Sheza Alibi (1)
J: Luke Nolen56.5kg
x111xT: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
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| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation by posting a big 4.5 len win at this track carrying 49kg in the G1 Doncaster April 4 over 1600m slow track defeating Autumn Boy at $1.90. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by 2.25 len Caulfield G2 Armanasco February 21 over 1400m defeating Salty Pearl with 58.5kg at $1.50. Exciting mare who kicks off in a strong Winx, will need to be good from the rails draw. | |||
Best Roughie: No. 12 Lady Shenandoah
LADY SHENANDOAH (2) is one of a big team Waller sends into field, and while she’s unlikely to topple her short-priced stablemate, she shapes as a seriously attractive value play for exotics. The Snitzel mare resumes at around the $20 quote and looks well over the odds for a proven Randwick specialist — her 9:3-3-2 record at the track speaks for itself — and she’s unbeaten at the 1400m trip she gets on Saturday. She hasn’t won since her Group 1 Surround Stakes / Coolmore Classic double last autumn, but she’s been right around the mark in every major since. Fresh last spring she was beaten a whisker in the $1 million Concorde, then produced a string of brave runs including a close-up seventh in The Everest. Her autumn was just as honest, putting together four straight top-four finishes and closing out the prep with a strong second in the G1 Queen Of The Turf. Her trials have been steady, but she’s a mare who traditionally lifts under race day pressure. From gate two she maps to get a perfect run, and Kerrin McEvoy jumps aboard for the first time — another positive. She flies fresh, gets her ideal distance first-up, and will be building through her gears from a midfield spot. A genuine Top 3 roughie who can make her presence felt late.
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12. Lady Shenandoah (2)
J: Kerrin Mcevoy57kg
3342xT: Chris Waller
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| Mare returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last preparation second of 11 at this track in the G1 Queen Turf April 11 over 1600m, 0.9 len behind Idle Flyer with 57kg at $3.50. When resuming last campaign third in a small field at this track in the G2 Expressway February 14 over 1200m, 1.3 len behind Joliestar carrying 57kg at $6. Look for her closing strongly. | |||
Winx Stakes 2026 Same Race Multi
$5.30 at time of publish through Ladbrokes.com.au (at time of publish)
- Top 2 – No. 8 Autumn Glow
- Top 3 – No. 14 Sheza Alibi
- Top 4 – No. 12 Lady Shenandoah
A tidy Same Race Multi play for the 2026 Winx Stakes sits at $5.30 and combines the three key chances: Autumn Glow to finish Top 2, Sheza Alibi to land Top 3, and Lady Shenandoah to slot into the Top 4. Autumn Glow is the rock-solid fresh specialist who never misses at Randwick 1400m, Sheza Alibi brings elite Group 1 form and a flawless record into her return, and Lady Shenandoah offers genuine value as a proven track-and-trip mare drawn to get every favour. Together they form a compact, high-percentage multi built around class, consistency and ideal setups for the predicted speed map.
2026 Winx Stakes Odds
| 1. Ceolwulf (8) J: Chad Schofield59kg 1x66xT: Joseph Pride | |||
| Resumes after a break of six months and has been in the money when fresh before. Finished off last preparation sixth of 9 at this track in the G1 V Elleegant February 28 over 1600m, soft track; 5.5 len behind Autumn Glow carrying 59kg at $14. When resuming last campaign sixth of 10 at this track in the G2 Apollo February 14 over 1400m, 5 len behind Autumn Glow with 59kg at $10. Expecting him to hit the ground running this campaign. | |||
| 2. Gringotts (7) J: Ethan Brown59kg x924xT: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Gelding returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last preparation fourth of 16 at this track in the G1 Doncaster April 4 over 1600m, soft track; 6 len behind Sheza Alibi with 58.5kg at $12. When resuming last campaign second last of 10 at this track in the G1 Cant Stks March 7 over 1300m, 1.75 len behind Joliestar carrying 59kg at $15. Looks to be back in great shape, respect. | |||
| 3. Lindermann (12) J: Hugh Bowman59kg 3922xT: Chris Waller | |||
| First-up. Finished off last preparation second of 7 at this track in the G1 Queen Eliz April 11 over 2000m, 2.25 len behind Sir Delius with 59kg at $31. Previously first up; third of 10 at this track in the G2 Apollo February 14 over 1400m, 3.5 len behind Autumn Glow with 59kg at $13. Will take great benefit from this run. | |||
| 4. Midnight Dynamite (5) J: Tim Clark59kg 21314T: Bjorn Baker | |||
| Recent form sound. Most recently 4th of 7 in the G2 Missile Stakes at this track on August 8 over 1200m, 2.25 len behind Ninja carrying 56kg at $10. The start before that won by 3 len in the LR Winter Challenge at Rosehill on July 18 over 1500m in the wet defeating Just Folk with 57kg at $3.20. Goes to a new level here and place best. | |||
| 5. Beiwacht (4) J: Nash Rawiller58.5kg 8261xT: Chris Waller | |||
| Entire back from a spell of four-and-a-half months. Has placed previously first up from a break. Finished off last campaign by 0.9 len this track G1 All Aged April 18 over 1400m defeating Lazzura with 56.5kg at $6.50. First up last campaign ran last of 8 at Flemington in the G1 Lightning February 14 over 1000m, 6 len behind Tentyris carrying 55.5kg at $9. Suited this level and gets map favours. | |||
| 6. Autumn Boy (6) J: Adam Hyeronimus58.5kg 3212xT: Chris Waller | |||
| Resuming after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation second of 16 at this track in the G1 Doncaster April 4 over 1600m, soft track; 4.5 len behind Sheza Alibi with 52kg at $10. Previously first up; third of 7 at Rosehill in the G2 Hobartvlle February 21 over 1400m, 1.5 len behind Ninja with 56.5kg at $2.90. Prefer to see at this level. | |||
| 7. Green Spaces (14) J: Rachel King58.5kg 6621xT: Bjorn Baker | |||
| First-up. Finished off last preparation post a big 3 len win. This track G1 Atc Derby April 4 over 2400m slow track defeating Dezignation carrying 56.5kg at $4.40. First up last campaign second last of 7 at Rosehill in the G2 Hobartvlle February 21 over 1400m, 4.5 len behind Ninja with 56.5kg at $51. Might be better off following this run. | |||
| 8. Autumn Glow (3) J: James McDonald57kg 1113xT: Chris Waller | |||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation third of 7 at this track in the G1 Queen Eliz April 11 over 2000m, 2.5 len behind Sir Delius with 57kg at $1.30. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by 2.75 len this track G2 Apollo February 14 over 1400m defeating Aeliana carrying 57kg at $1.40. Champion mare who can keep her undefeated first up record intact. | |||
| 9. Aeliana (11) J: Unknown57kg 2211xT: Chris Waller | |||
| Back from a spell. Finished off last campaign won by neck Rosehill G1 Tancred March 28 over 2400m slow track defeating Dubai Honour with 56.5kg at $1.70. Previously first up; second of 10 at this track in the G2 Apollo February 14 over 1400m, 2.75 len behind Autumn Glow carrying 57kg at $14. Will be savaging the line. | |||
| 10. Fangirl (10) J: Tommy Berry57kg x834xT: Chris Waller | |||
| Back from a spell. Finished off last campaign fourth of 18 at Eagle Farm in the G1 Stradbroke June 13 over 1400m, on heavy track; 2 len behind Spicy Martini with 56.5kg at $11. First up last campaign eighth of 13 at this track in the G1 All Aged April 18 over 1400m, 3 len behind Beiwacht with 57kg at $12. Tough old mare likely to need this. | |||
| 11. Idle Flyer (9) J: Tyler Schiller57kg x411xT: Matthew Smith | |||
| Back from a spell. Finished off last campaign by 0.9 len this track G1 Queen Turf April 11 over 1600m defeating Lady Shenandoah with 57kg at $6. When resuming last campaign fourth of 12 at this track in the G3 Wenonagirl March 7 over 1200m, 1.5 len behind Gangsta Granny carrying 54.5kg at $2.30. Happy to watch first up. | |||
| 12. Lady Shenandoah (2) J: Kerrin Mcevoy57kg 3342xT: Chris Waller | |||
| Mare returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last preparation second of 11 at this track in the G1 Queen Turf April 11 over 1600m, 0.9 len behind Idle Flyer with 57kg at $3.50. When resuming last campaign third in a small field at this track in the G2 Expressway February 14 over 1200m, 1.3 len behind Joliestar carrying 57kg at $6. Look for her closing strongly. | |||
| 13. Barnavara (13) J: Sam Clipperton57kg 11x4xT: Chris Waller | |||
| Resuming. Finished off last campaign 4th of 7 in the G2 Neville Sellwood Stakes at Rosehill on March 28 over 2000m, slow going 3.5 len behind Wootton Verni with 57kg at $1.70. When resuming last campaign 3rd of 7 in the G3 Snow Fairy (Dance Design) Stakes at Curragh on August 30 over 1810m, 3.5 len behind Red Letter with 58.5kg at $5.50. Trialled on July 31 at Randwick over 1000m and finished fourth. Looking to others. | |||
| 14. Sheza Alibi (1) J: Luke Nolen56.5kg x111xT: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | |||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation by posting a big 4.5 len win at this track carrying 49kg in the G1 Doncaster April 4 over 1600m slow track defeating Autumn Boy at $1.90. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by 2.25 len Caulfield G2 Armanasco February 21 over 1400m defeating Salty Pearl with 58.5kg at $1.50. Exciting mare who kicks off in a strong Winx, will need to be good from the rails draw. | |||
2026 Winx Stakes Big Bets
Follow the big money Winx Stakes bets and see what WFA stars the punters are coming for at Randwick this weekend in the first Group 1 race of the spring!
