---

---

The 2026 How Now Stakes ran on Saturday September 19, 2026 as part of Caulfield’s Underwood Stakes Day and saw Anthony & Sam Freedman’s track specialist, four-year-old Blue Point mare Point Barrow ($7.50), enjoy a drop back in grade to win in a big late burst. 

The How Now Stakes 2026 is one of Melbourne’s key early spring sprints, a Group 3 showdown for the mares that regularly shapes form for bigger races later in the carnival. Run over 1200m at Caulfield, the race attracts proven performers and rising talents looking to kick-start their spring campaigns, making it a prime betting target for punters chasing value, momentum and sharp sectionals. As a fast-run mares’ feature, the How Now Stakes consistently delivers strong form lines, tight finishes and plenty of angles for How Now Stakes 2026 betting, with punters keeping a close eye on speed maps, barriers and track conditions. Whether you’re comparing the latest 2026 How Now Stakes odds, assessing the key dangers or hunting early spring black-type winners, this page gives you everything you need to get set for one of Caulfield’s most reliable sprint contests.

2026 How Now Stakes Results

Stay tuned for the official How Now Stakes 2026 results and finishing order at Caulfield on Saturday September 19, 2026.

Winning Margin: 0.35 lengths

Winning Time: 1:08.81

The 2026 How Now Stakes results at Caulfield saw Point Barrow ($7.50) continue her outstanding rise through the sprinting ranks, with the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained mare producing a powerful late burst under Mark Zahra to score a narrow but impressive victory over odds-on favourite Bridal Waltz ($1.85F), with stablemate Inkaruna ($18) a further three-quarters of a length away in third. Building on an eye-catching first-up effort in the Moir Stakes, the daughter of Blue Point relished the firmer ground to record her third stakes victory and enhance her growing reputation as a top-class sprinting mare. The Freedman camp indicated the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) down Flemington’s straight on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival remains her primary spring target, believing her fresh legs could prove a major advantage against rivals coming through tougher campaigns, while bookmakers have her installed as a $26 chance in 2026 Champions Sprint futures betting at Ladbrokes. Zahra, reunited with the mare for the first time in two years, praised her explosive turn of foot after positioning her perfectly in transit before she unleashed a devastating finish to score.

2026 How Now Stakes Odds & Finishing Order

See below for the latest How Now Stakes 2026 odds followed by the official finishing order after the event this spring.

How Now Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider How Now Stakes 2026 tips on the Underwood Stakes Day support act this spring.

Favourite: No. 10 Bridal Waltz

Each Way Danger: No. 4 Custom

Best Roughie: No. 6 Hearcomesthestar

From 2023-25 the How Now Stakes sprint race was run during mid to late-November before moving back to its earlier September timeslot ahead of the 2026 edition.

The How Now Stakes forms an integral part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and is open only to mares aged four-years-old and over.

The How Now Stakes now takes place on Underwood Stakes Day and shares the card with five other Group status races including the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) for Caulfield Cup types and the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).

It is held under set weights with penalties conditions and offers $200,000 in total prize money.

One of the better recognised lead-up races to the How Now Stakes is the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) in August. Savanna Amour (2017) was the last mare to complete the Cockram Stakes – How Now Stakes double. The Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) under the same conditions is also a good indicator of mares likely to remain in Melbourne to contest the How Now Stakes.

The 2021 How Now Stakes form was franked with the winner Bella Nipotina going on to enjoy a stellar spring carnival that included a second in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) and third to Nature Strip in the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m).

The 2022 How Now Stakes winner Zapateo went on to frank the form the following year running third in both the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes and Group 1 The Goodwood in Adelaide in May of 2023.

The 2023 How Now Stakes form was franked with the winner Rose Quartz, now deceased, running third in the following summer’s $1 million Magic Millions Snippets at the Gold Coast in January of 2024.

How Now Stakes
Date:	Saturday September 19, 2026
Track:	Caulfield Racecourse
Distance:	1200m
Race Type:	4YO&UP Mares SW+P
Status:	Group 3
Prize Money:	$200,000

2026 How Now Stakes Betting

The spring’s top How Now Stakes 2026 betting odds and Group 3 Caulfield racing markets will be available at Ladbrokes and provided here at Races.com.au the week leading up to Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Day.

Secret Agenda ($2.80 in 2016), Bella Nipotina ($3.60 in 2021) and Niance ($2.70 in 2024) are the latest How Now Stakes betting favourites to win.

There was a notable upset in 2025 with Proved saluting at How Now Stakes odds of $26!

2026 How Now Stakes Form Guide

The How Now Stakes form guide is your complete snapshot of every mare lining up in this Group 3 Caulfield sprint — a race that regularly produces sharp early spring form and reliable betting angles. It pulls together each runner’s recent performances, preferred conditions, speed map position, jockey and trainer stats, and historical trends to help punters make confident, well-informed bets on one of the carnival’s key 1200m features.

What Punters Should Look for on the How Now Stakes Form Guide:

• Recent sprint form — mares with strong 1100–1200m lead-up runs often peak here.
• Caulfield track performance — the tight-turning circuit rewards horses with tactical speed and previous success at the track.
• Speed map position — on-pace runners historically hold the advantage in this race.
• Barrier draw — inside gates can be golden over the Caulfield 1200m.
• Mares in form — this race consistently rewards fit, in-season mares rather than first-up runners needing the start.
• Stable patterns — top spring stables often target this race as a stepping-stone to bigger black-type goals.

FULL 2026 HOW NOW STAKES FORM GUIDE

2026 How Now Stakes Field

The How Now Stakes field attracts a line-up of quality mares each Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

The official 2026 How Now Stakes Final Field & Barriers are released on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.

The How Now Stakes 2026 field features a dozen classy mares led in betting by Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman’s Group 1 placed Bridal Waltz.

2026 How Now Stakes Nominations

Nominations for the How Now Stakes 2026 close the Monday leading-up to Underwood Stakes Day and will be published below.

How Now Stakes History

The How Now Stakes was inaugurated in 1999, with Snippet’s Lass taking out the race that year. While the How Now Stakes doesn’t hold the long and storied history of other Caulfield events, it still stands up on its own as a respectable and worthy event.

In 2005 there was a dead heat between Sarah Michelle and Brindabella. In the same year, the How Now Stakes was upgraded from a listed race to a Group 3 event, a status it has retained since.

The How Now Stakes has been known by a variety of names throughout its short history. These include the Cranbourne Diahatsu Stakes, Dubai Convention Bureau Stakes, Dubai International Stakes and Emirates Racing Association Stakes. In 2006, the How Now Stakes returned to its correct name. Then in 2013, the race became known as the Sportingbet Sprint Series Heat 2, a name that it continued to hold throughout 2014.

Notable How Now Stakes winners include Piavonic (2000), Valentine Miss (2010), Catkins (2013), and Secret Agenda (2016) who went on to win the following year’s Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide.

It moved from September to November in 2023-25 before coming back to the earlier position on the spring racing calendar in 2026.

How Now Stakes results since 2000 are listed below.

How Now Stakes Results

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2026 How Now Stakes	1st	Point Barrow	1 minute 8.81 seconds
	2nd	Bridal Waltz
	3rd	Inkaruna
2025 How Now Stakes	1st	Proved	1 minute 10.17 seconds
	2nd	Aviatress
	3rd	She’s Bulletproof
2024 How Now Stakes	1st	Niance	1 minute 10.90 seconds
	2nd	She’s Bulletproof
	3rd	Miss Roumbini
2023 How Now Stakes	1st	Rose Quartz	1 minute 09.28 seconds
	2nd	Ghaanati
	3rd	She Dances
2022 How Now Stakes	1st	Zapateo	1 minute 13.29 seconds
	2nd	Lavish Girl
	3rd	Chain Of Lightning
2021 How Now Stakes	1st	Bella Nipotina	1 minute 10.75 seconds
	2nd	Chassis
	3rd	La Mexicana
2020 How Now Stakes	1st	Felicia	1 minute 10.20 seconds
	2nd	Broadwayandfourth
	3rd	Fiesta
2019 How Now Stakes	1st	Manicure	1 minute 10.41 seconds
	2nd	Angelic Ruler
	3rd	Dawn Dawn
2018 How Now Stakes	1st	Winter Bride	1 minute 9.94 seconds
	2nd	Ellicazoom
	3rd	Platinum Angel
2017 How Now Stakes	1st	Savanna Amour	1 minute 9.42 seconds
	2nd	Legless Veuve
	3rd	Ravi
2016 How Now Stakes	1st	Secret Agenda	1 minute 12.2 seconds
	2nd	Every Faith
	3rd	Exclusive Lass
2015 How Now Stakes	1st	Politeness	1 minute 10.7 seconds
	2nd	Griante
	3rd	Jessy Belle
2014 How Now Stakes	1st	Girl Guide	1 minute 10.3 seconds
	2nd	A Time For Julia
	3rd	Shamal Wind
2013 How Now Stakes	1st	Catkins	1 minute 12.5 seconds
	2nd	Hi Belle
	3rd	Flash Of Doubt
2012 How Now Stakes	1st	Detours	1 minute 10.4 seconds
	2nd	Classy Chloe
	3rd	Mrs Onassis
2011 How Now Stakes	1st	Sister Madly	1 minute 10.3 seconds
	2nd	Valentine Miss
	3rd	Lone Rock
2010 How Now Stakes	1st	Valentine Miss	1 minute 9.3 seconds
	2nd	I’m A Hussy
	3rd	Red Flair
2009 How Now Stakes	1st	Velocitea	1 minute 11.4 seconds
	2nd	Neroli
	3rd	Dollops
2008 How Now Stakes	1st	Vivacious Spirit	1 minute 10.5 seconds
	2nd	Benatar
	3rd	Vormista
2007 How Now Stakes	1st	Miss Judgement	1 minute 9.8 seconds
	2nd	Juste Momente
	3rd	Flying Object
2006 How Now Stakes	1st	Queen Of The Hill	1 minute 10.9 seconds
	2nd	Megadeal
	3rd	Nuclear Free
2005 How Now Stakes	=1st	Sarah Michelle	1 minute 13.9 seconds
	=1st	Brindabella
	3rd	Little Chloe
2004 How Now Stakes	1st	Strikeline	1 minute 10.5 seconds
	2nd	Solar Antiquity
	3rd	Skewiff
2003 How Now Stakes	1st	Lovely Jubly	1 minute 9.0 seconds
	2nd	Infinite Grace
	3rd	Astaroth
2002 How Now Stakes	1st	Taimana	1 minute 9.8 seconds
	2nd	Calming
	3rd	Galapagos Girl
2001 How Now Stakes	1st	Miss Power Bird	1 minute 11.3 seconds
	2nd	Purple Groove
	3rd	Dynamic Love
2000 How Now Stakes	1st	Piavonic	1 minute 10.3 seconds
	2nd	Nova Clause
	3rd	Clemens Belle

How Now Stakes FAQs

What is the How Now Stakes?
The How Now Stakes is a Group 3 sprint for mares run over 1200m at Caulfield during the early spring. It’s a key black-type race that often launches contenders into bigger features later in the carnival.

When is the How Now Stakes held?
The race is traditionally run in September as part of Melbourne’s early spring racing program at Caulfield. The 2026 edition is scheduled for Saturday September 19.

Who can run in the How Now Stakes?
The race is restricted to mares, making it an important target for trainers looking to secure valuable black-type for breeding and future campaigns.

What distance is the How Now Stakes?
The race is run over 1200 metres, favouring mares with tactical speed and strong sprinting form.

Where is the How Now Stakes run?
The How Now Stakes is held at Caulfield Racecourse, a track known for rewarding on-pace runners and horses comfortable around tight turns.

How important is the barrier draw in the How Now Stakes?
Barriers matter at Caulfield over 1200m, with inside gates often proving advantageous.

What are the most popular How Now Stakes betting markets?
Punters typically target How Now Stakes odds on the final field including:

• Win/Place
• Exotics (Quinella, Trifecta, First Four)
• Speed map driven same race How Now Stakes multi bets

Does the How Now Stakes produce future Group race winners?
Yes — the race often acts as a launching pad for mares heading to bigger Group 2 and Group 1 sprints later in the spring.

Where can I find the latest How Now Stakes odds?
You can compare updated prices, market movers and betting trends at Ladbrokes this season.