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The Cockram Stakes 2026 ran on Saturday, August 29, 2026 as the Courtza Stakes held on Caulfield’s Memsie Stakes Day card and was won in impressive runaway fashion by Ciaron Maher’s four-year-old Street Boss mare Custom ($6).  

The Courtza Stakes (formerly the Cockram Stakes) launches an exciting new chapter in Melbourne’s early spring racing, and Races.com.au punters are already tuning into the latest Courtza Stakes odds and early Courtza Stakes betting moves for the revamped Group 3 mares’ feature. Run at Caulfield and traditionally a key first-up target for high-quality sprinters and emerging mares, the race now carries a fresh identity while retaining its role as an essential early-season form guide. With sharp tempo, tactical barriers and fitness levels all playing a major part in market shifts, the Courtza Stakes is set to deliver another fast, competitive and highly watchable contest — giving punters a clear read on which mares are ready to fire, and which are building towards bigger spring targets.

2026 Courtza Stakes (Cockram Stakes) Results

Stay tuned for the official 2026 Courtza Stakes Stakes results and finishing order when the Group 3 Memsie Stakes Day support act runs on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

• 1st: No. 11 Custom ($6)
• 2nd: No. 12 Photograph
• 3rd: No. 2 Salty Pearl

Winning Margin: 1.75 lengths

Winning Time: 1:10.68

Custom ($6) produced a brilliant bounce-back performance at Caulfield on Saturday, sweeping past the heavily backed Shadhavar and powering clear to head the 2026 Courtza Stakes results in dominant fashion, delivering a Godolphin quinella and her first black-type victory. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare, a 4YO daughter of Street Boss, has now built a strong record of 13:3-2-3-2 and over $300,000 in prizemoney, adding this stakes success to wins at Caulfield and Randwick-Kensington plus her Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes placing. Maher praised the three-week freshen that helped her rebound to peak form, while jockey Ethan Brown noted her improved turn of foot after enjoying a perfect run in transit. The final result saw Custom ($6) defeat Photograph ($10) by 1¾ lengths, with Salty Pearl ($15) a further length away in third, stopping the clock in 1:10.68.

2026 Courtza Stakes (Cockram Stakes) Odds & Finishing Order

See below for the latest Courtza Stakes (Cockram Stakes) odds followed by the official finishing order after the event this spring.

2026 Courtza Stakes (Cockram Stakes) Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Courtza Stakes 2026 Tips on the spring lead-up this Memsie Stakes Day.

Raced over 1200m the Cockram Stakes is one of the first sprint events in the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and is restricted to mares only. Run under set weights with penalties the W.W. Cockram Stakes provides punters with an opportunity to assess the form of mares likely to continue to compete at higher levels during the season.

Mares usually contest the Cockram Stakes once they’re on the way to form following a few other starts.

Success in the Cockram Stakes is often followed up by entries into other races such as the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes, Group 3 How Now Stakes, and Group 2 Stocks Stakes.

The Cockram Stakes is held on Memsie Stakes Day and shares the program with three other Group races: the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes, and Group 3 The Heath 1100. 

2026 Cockram Stakes (Courtza Stakes)
Date:	Saturday, August 29, 2026
Track:	Caulfield Racecourse
Distance:	1200m
Race Type:	4YO&UP Mares – SW+P
Status:	Group 3
Prize Money:	$200,000

2026 Courtza Stakes (Cockram Stakes) Betting

The top Courtza Stakes 2026 betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes will be provided at Races.com.au once markets are out on the Memsie Stakes Day support act.

Pippie ($2.05 in 2019), Probabeel ($1.95 in 2021) and Magic Time ($3.90 in 2025) are the latest favourites in Cockram Stakes betting to win.

There was a notable upset in 2024 when Quintessa won at $12.

2026 Courtza Stakes (Cockram Stakes) Form

The Cockram Stakes form guide (now the Courtza Stakes from 2026 onward) gives punters a complete snapshot of every mare heading into this key early-spring Group 3 at Caulfield. It’s designed to help you quickly compare first-up profiles, sprinting credentials, stable patterns and how each runner is likely to map in a fast-run mares’ race. Because the Courtza Stakes regularly launches the spring campaigns of high-quality sprinters and emerging mares, the form guide is one of the most valuable tools on Races.com.au for identifying early winners, spotting hidden value and understanding how the race will be run.

What Punters Should Look For in the Cockram Stakes / Courtza Stakes Form Guide:

• First-up records — Many mares resume here; strong fresh stats are a major advantage.
• Sprint-distance form — Proven 1100-1200m performers usually measure up best.
• Barrier draws — Caulfield can be tricky; wide gates often require early speed or luck.
• Speed map — Identifying leaders and on-pace runners is crucial in a race often run at a genuine tempo.
• Sectional times — Late splits from previous preps can reveal mares ready to explode fresh.
• Stable patterns — Top barns like Moody, Maher and Godolphin often target this race with spring-bound mares.
• Track conditions — Some mares excel on firm Caulfield tracks; others need give in the ground.
• Market movement — Early firmers often indicate stable confidence and strong trial form.

FULL 2026 COURTZA STAKES FORM GUIDE

2026 Courtza Stakes (Cockram Stakes) Field

The 2026 Courtza Stakes field and barriers are announced on the Wednesday leading up to Memsie Stakes Day, the full line-up of mares to be published below once released.

The Courtza Stakes 2026 final field features a strong line-up of a dozen fillies and mares led in betting by the rails-drawn Tom Dabernig-trained Shadhavar coming off a win fresh in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes at the track and trip.

No	Last 10	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Probable Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	313x1121x	BELLE CHEVAL (NZ)	Mark Walker	Craig Williams	7	60kg			104
2	41x323135x	SALTY PEARL	Ciaron Maher	Ben Allen	8	59kg			91
3	32x60x139x	WROTE TO ARATAKI (NZ)	Matthew Williams	Dean Yendall	3	58kg			101
4	210x31469x	BOSSY BENITA	Michael Mehegan	Daniel Stackhouse	10	58kg			97
5	1x111x510x	PROVED (NZ)	Enver Jusufovic	Ms Carleen Hefel	2	58kg			98
6	36212x11x1	SHADHAVAR	Tom Dabernig	Damian Lane	1	57kg			102
7	8048×31081	FLYER	Jason Warren	Jye McNeil	9	56kg			86
8	x691411x38	BETWITCHERY	Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin	William Pike	4	56kg			84
9	546764x35x	PONDALOWIE	Emma-Lee & David Browne	Lachlan Neindorf	11	56kg			90
10	1111x7512x	GOLD MEDALLIST	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	Luke Nolen	6	56kg			82
11	162x44x213	CUSTOM	Ciaron Maher	Ethan Brown	5	56kg			79
12	19x6446x2x	PHOTOGRAPH	Ben, Will & JD Hayes	Blake Shinn	12	56kg			85

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2026 Courtza Stakes (Cockram Stakes) Nominations

Nominations for the Courtza Stakes 2026 close the Monday of race week and will be published in full below.

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Ballot	Weight	True Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	313x1121x	BELLE CHEVAL (NZ)	M	4	Mark Walker	1	60kg			104
2	41x323135x	SALTY PEARL	M	4	Ciaron Maher	2	59kg			91
3	32x60x139x	WROTE TO ARATAKI (NZ)	M	8	Matthew Williams	3	58kg			101
4	210x31469x	BOSSY BENITA	M	5	Michael Mehegan	4	58kg			97
5	1x111x510x	PROVED (NZ)	M	6	Enver Jusufovic	5	58kg			98
6	3721x2200x	INKARUNA	M	4	Anthony & Sam Freedman	6	58kg			91
7	36212x11x1	SHADHAVAR	M	5	Tom Dabernig	7	57kg			102
8	11x23x172x	BRIDAL WALTZ	M	5	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	8	56kg			109
9	546764x35x	PONDALOWIE	M	6	Emma-Lee & David Browne	9	56kg			90
10	111×1112	TENNESSEE BOUND	M	5	Ciaron Maher	10	56kg			89
11	8048×31081	FLYER	M	5	Jason Warren	11	56kg			86
12	19x6446x2x	PHOTOGRAPH	M	5	Ben, Will & JD Hayes	12	56kg			85
13	x691411x38	BETWITCHERY	M	5	Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin	13	56kg			84
14	1111x7512x	GOLD MEDALLIST	M	5	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	14	56kg			82
15	x58135x147	SIGNATURE SCENT	M	4	Ciaron Maher	15	56kg			80
16	162x44x213	CUSTOM	M	4	Ciaron Maher	16	56kg			79
17	1580x1116x	TRES MAGNIFIQUE	M	4	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	17	56kg			77
18	20×3477424	SUN SETTING	M	5	Matt Laurie	18	56kg			70

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Courtza Stakes / Cockram Stakes History

The inaugural edition of the Cockram Stakes was in 1992 when successful mare Pride Of Demus seized victory in her third start as a four-year-old.

Those horses that gain entry to the Cockram Stakes field are usually fairly talented mares with decent racing experience in their history.

Originally held at Sandown Park Racecourse for two years the 1994 Cockram Stakes was held at Caulfield. It returned to Sandown again for two years in 1995. Then the race went back to Caulfield for 1997. In 1998, Sandown Park was once again the host and remained so until 2002 when Caulfield once again resumed its hosting of the race. Since then, the Cockram Stakes has always been held at Caulfield.

For the 2005 edition the Cockram Stakes was upgraded from listed status to Group 3, which it has held since.

Notable winners of the Cockram Stakes include Pride Of Demus (1992), Brief Embrace (2003), Storm Alert (2006), Octavia (2013), Pippie (2019), and Probabeel (2021).

The 2019 Cockram Stakes winner Pippie went on to win in Group 1 grade winning the following year’s Oakleigh Plate and Moir Stakes. The 2021 Cockram Stakes form was franked with the winner Probabeel going on to run second in that year’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) before winning the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m). The 2023 Cockram Stakes winner Benedetta franked the form with a host of subsequent top four runs including in the 2024 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (4th) and Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (4th) before a big Adelaide campaign headlined by her Group 1 The Goodwood win at Morphettville.

In 2025, the Cockram Stakes was won by Magic Time who went on to place third in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes results that spring and second in the Champions Sprint during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

In 2023 Benedetta set a new Cockram Stakes race record winning in 1 minute 9.55 seconds.

In 2026 the event was renamed the Courtza Stakes.

Cockram Stakes results since 2000 are listed below.

Courtza Stakes / Cockram Stakes Results

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2026 Cockram Stakes	1st	Custom	1 minute 10.68 seconds
	2nd	Photograph
	3rd	Salty Pearl
2025 Cockram Stakes	1st	Magic Time	1 minute 10.01
	2nd	Miss Roumbini
	3rd	Abounding
2024 Cockram Stakes	1st	Quintessa	1 minute 11.51 seconds
	2nd	Extratwo
	3rd	La Danseuse Rouge
2023 Cockram Stakes	1st	Benedetta	1 minute 9.55 seconds
	2nd	Parisal
	3rd	Wrote To Arataki
2022 Cockram Stakes	1st	Chain Of Lightning	1 minute 11.04 seconds
	2nd	She’s All Class
	3rd	Kissonallforcheeks
2021 Cockram Stakes	1st	Probabeel	1 minute 10.58 seconds
	2nd	Chassis
	3rd	Instant Celebrity
2020 Cockram Stakes	1st	Perfect Jewel	1 minute 10.22 seconds
	2nd	Bless Her
	3rd	She Shao Fly
2019 Cockram Stakes	1st	Pippie	1 minute 10.18 seconds
	2nd	Spanish Whisper
	3rd	Sylvia’s Mother
2018 Cockram Stakes	1st	Ellicazoom	1 minute 9.6 seconds
	2nd	I Am Excited
	3rd	I Am A Star
2017 Cockram Stakes	1st	Savanna Amour	1 minute 11.1 seconds
	2nd	Flying Jess
	3rd	Written Era
2016 Cockram Stakes	1st	Ocean Embers	1 minute 12.2 seconds
	2nd	Thames Court
	3rd	Telopea
2015 Cockram Stakes	1st	Madam Gangster	1 minute 11.1 seconds
	2nd	Hazard
	3rd	Vezalay
2014 Cockram Stakes	1st	Gregers	1 minute 09.9 seconds
	2nd	A Time For Julia
	3rd	Commanding Jewel
2013 Cockram Stakes	1st	Octavia	1 minute 11.2 seconds
	2nd	A Time For Julia
	3rd	Oriental Ruby
2012 Cockram Stakes	1st	Lady Melksham	1 minute 12.4 seconds
	2nd	Le Societe
	3rd	Glows
2011 Cockram Stakes	1st	Mid Summer Music	1 minute 10.4 seconds
	2nd	Parables
	3rd	Anabaa’s Legacy
2010 Cockram Stakes	1st	Rhythm In Paris	1 minute 13.2 seconds
	2nd	Response
	3rd	Lady Lynette
2009 Cockram Stakes	1st	Cats Whisker	1 minute 12.2 seconds
	2nd	Annesong
	3rd	Flying Ruby
2008 Cockram Stakes	1st	Princess Gisella	1 minute 11.4 seconds
	2nd	Mimi Lebrock
	3rd	Devil Moon
2007 Cockram Stakes	1st	Storm Signal	1 minute 09.6 seconds
	2nd	Universal Queen
	3rd	Juste Momente
2006 Cockram Stakes	1st	Storm Alert	1 minute 10.3 seconds
	2nd	Sorenstam
	3rd	Doubting
2005 Cockram Stakes	1st	Dea	1 minute 14.5 seconds
	2nd	Pretty Penny
	3rd	Sarah Michelle
2004 Cockram Stakes	1st	Strikeline	1 minute 11.9 seconds
	2nd	Beautiful Gem
	3rd	Rinky Dink
2003 Cockram Stakes	1st	Brief Embrace	1 minute 11.9 seconds
	2nd	Royal Sash
	3rd	Ain’t Seen Nothin
2002 Cockram Stakes	1st	Pernod	1 minute 09.6 seconds
	2nd	Calming
	3rd	Miss La La
2001 Cockram Stakes	1st	Libidinous	1 minute 13.2 seconds
	2nd	Poppett
	3rd	Tickle My
2000 Cockram Stakes	1st	Tickle My	1 minute 12.2 seconds
	2nd	Piavonic
	3rd	Monterosso

FAQ

What is the Courtza Stakes?

The Courtza Stakes, registered as the Cockram Stakes, is a Group 3 sprint for mares run at Caulfield over 1200m. It traditionally launches the early-spring campaigns of quality mares heading towards races like the How Now Stakes, Tristarc Stakes, and Empire Rose.

When is the Courtza Stakes held?

The race takes place in late August during Melbourne’s opening Group race meeting of the spring. In 2026 the Courtza Stakes and full Memsie Stakes Day race card at Caulfield runs on Saturday August 29.

What is the distance of the Courtza Stakes?

The event is run over 1200 metres, suiting fresh mares with sharp turn of foot.

What age/sex can run in the Courtza Stakes?

The race is restricted to mares aged four and older, run under set weights plus penalties.

Where is the Courtza Stakes run?

Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne hosts the Group 3 feature.

What is the prize money?

The Courtza Stakes offers $200,000 in total prize money.

Who won the Courtza Stakes (Cockram Stakes) last year?

The 2025 Cockram Stakes was won by six-year-old Hellbent mare Magic Time at $3.90 favouritism for trainer Grahame Begg with jockey Michael Dee aboard on 59kg from barrier 6 to win by 0.75 lengths on a Soft (5) track in a time of 1:10.01.

How do horses qualify for the Courtza Stakes?

Entry is via nomination and acceptance with Racing Victoria. Set weights plus penalties favour mares with prior black-type success.

Is the Courtza Stakes a good form race?

Yes. The race consistently produces mares who progress to Group 2 and Group 1 races later in the spring, including the How Now Stakes, Tristarc Stakes, and Empire Rose.

What are common lead-up races?

Fresh-up mares often resume here off winter trials. Key form lines include the Bletchingly Stakes, Regal Roller Stakes, and mares returning from Queensland’s winter carnival.

What are typical betting trends?

Punters usually favour mares with strong first-up records, proven Caulfield form, and those dropping in grade from Group 1/Group 2 company.

Where can I find Courtza Stakes tips?

Races.com.au publishes expert tips, speed maps, and betting previews in the week of the race.