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Overview
This page was last updated on April 8, 2026
The 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes runs on Saturday April 11 on Day 2 of The Championships at Royal Randwick.
- Race Date: 11/04/2026
- Race Status: Group 1
- Race Conditions: Weight-for-Age
- Race Venue: Randwick , NSW
- Prize Money: $5,000,000
- Distance: 2000m
- Track Conditions: Soft5 - Fine
- Rail Position: +4m Entire. (Pent: 5.31)
| 1. Dubai Honour (5) J: Tom Marquand59kg 212x2T: William Haggas | |||
| Second run back. First-up after three months 2nd of 8 at Rosehill in the G1 Tancred on March 28 over 2400m, on a slow track; neck behind Aeliana with 59kg at $3.60. Previously second-up 2nd of 7 at Longchamp in the G2 Conseil De Pari on October 19 over 2200m, head behind Convergent with 58kg at $4.70. Going well and the addition of blinkers will make it interesting, top-three player. | |||
| 2. Sir Delius (3) J: Craig Williams59kg 11x33T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 3rd of 9 at this track in the G1 V Elleegant on February 28 over 1600m, on a slow track; 4 len behind Autumn Glow with 59kg at $8. Last start got back early 3rd in a small field at Rosehill in the G1 Ranvet on March 21 over 2000m, on a slow track; 1.1 len behind Aeliana with 59kg at $3. Ready to peak and expect to see him closer to the speed, go close. | |||
| 3. Light Infantry Man (1) J: Ethan Brown59kg 2x141T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Last start raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by a nose at Flemington G1 Aust Cup March 28 over 2000m on a soft track defeating Pride Of Jenni carrying 59kg at $21. The run before that 4th of 7 at Caulfield in the G2 Peter Young Stk on March 14 over 1800m, 2 len behind Birdman with 59kg at $4.20. Hard to see him peak again for this. | |||
| 4. Lindermann (6) J: Nash Rawiller59kg 1x392T: Chris Waller | |||
| At the latest run rolled along in front then was edged out late 2nd in a small field at Rosehill in the G1 Ranvet on March 21 over 2000m, slow going neck behind Aeliana with 59kg at $16. The race before that did the work up front then tired ran last of 9 at this track in the G1 V Elleegant on February 28 over 1600m, on a slow track; 13 len behind Autumn Glow carrying 59kg at $21. Can run his usual honest race in this tougher contest. | |||
| 5. Wootton Verni (7) J: Tommy Berry59kg x7551T: Chris Waller | |||
| Last start ran on from midfield and won by 2.75 len at Rosehill G2 Sellwood March 28 over 2000m on a rain affected track defeating Caviar Heights with 56.5kg at $5.50. The run before that sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 5th of 7 at Rosehill in the G3 Sky High on March 14 over 2000m, 4.5 len behind Vauban carrying 56.5kg at $2.60. Tested at this level. | |||
| 6. Caviar Heights (4) J: Zac Lloyd59kg 225x2T: William Haggas | |||
| Second run back. First-up after seven months 2nd of 7 at Rosehill in the G2 Sellwood on March 28 over 2000m, on a slow track; 2.75 len behind Wootton Verni carrying 56kg at $4.20. Previously second-up 2nd in a small field at Windsor in the LR August Stks on August 23 over 2313m, neck behind Arabian Crown carrying 60.5kg at $2.50. Needs it much easier. | |||
| 7. Autumn Glow (2) J: James McDonald57kg 1x111T: Chris Waller | |||
| Puts an unbeaten record on the line. When well in the market, favourite; ran on from midfield and won by a long-neck at this track G1 V Elleegant February 28 over 1600m on a rain affected track defeating Aeliana with 57kg at $1.26. Last time out favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 2.75 len at Rosehill G1 Geo Ryder March 21 over 1500m on a rain affected track defeating Gringotts with 57kg at $1.28. Freakish mare expected to get the job done in her stiffest test to date. | |||
| 8. Aeliana (8) J: Damian Lane57kg x2211T: Chris Waller | |||
| Form hard to fault. Last start favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by a neck at Rosehill G1 Tancred March 28 over 2400m on a soft track defeating Dubai Honour carrying 56.5kg at $1.70. The race before that favourite; was well back until straightening; raced back then made ground from the turn; won by a neck at Rosehill G1 Ranvet March 21 over 2000m on a soft track defeating Lindermann with 57kg at $1.60. Back 400m for this and hard to see her turning the tables on Autumn Glow | |||
2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes results and finishing order at Randwick on Saturday April 11, 2026 and to see what early 2026 Cox Plate hopes emerge ahead of the spring!
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
Winning Margin: TBD
Winning Time: TBD
Queen Elizabeth Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 betting tips on the $5 million end-of-autumn feature race!
To Win: No. 7 Autumn Glow
AUTUMN GLOW (2) is an odds-on elect for a reason, and she arrives at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes looking every bit the superstar of the autumn. Chris Waller’s unbeaten daughter of The Autumn Sun has been flawless this prep, and she chases a perfect 12-from-12 record after a dominant George Ryder victory where she put nearly three lengths on Gringotts. She now attempts to emulate Winx by completing the Ryder-Queen Elizabeth double, and with six Randwick wins already on her résumé, the rise to 2000m looks more opportunity than obstacle. Drawn ideally in gate two with James McDonald sticking, she brings tactical versatility, a lethal turn of foot and impeccable form into Sydney’s $5 million feature. She’s the benchmark, the mare they all have to run down, and on exposed form she remains the clear top pick to keep her unbeaten streak intact.
| 7. Autumn Glow (2) J: James McDonald57kg 1x111T: Chris Waller | |||
| Puts an unbeaten record on the line. When well in the market, favourite; ran on from midfield and won by a long-neck at this track G1 V Elleegant February 28 over 1600m on a rain affected track defeating Aeliana with 57kg at $1.26. Last time out favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 2.75 len at Rosehill G1 Geo Ryder March 21 over 1500m on a rain affected track defeating Gringotts with 57kg at $1.28. Freakish mare expected to get the job done in her stiffest test to date. | |||
Queen Elizabeth Stakes News
- Tancred Stakes 2026 Winner Aeliana Salutes for Punters
- 2026 Australian Cup Results: Light Infantry Man Goes Back-to-Back
- George Ryder Stakes 2026 Results: Autumn Glow Remains Undefeated, J-Mac Adds to Record Group 1 Tally
- 2026 Verry Elleegant Stakes Results: Autumn Glow Shines Again, Remains Undefeated
- 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Winner Via Sistina Dominates for Punters
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is held on Day 2 of ‘The Championships’ during the prestigious Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival at the state’s premier track, Royal Randwick, on the second Saturday of April.
The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes is run at weight-for-age conditions over 2000 metres and, after receiving a substantial prizemoney increase in 2013, is now worth a staggering $5 million in prize money.
For the 2020 running of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes the prize money was cut to $2 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic but was boosted back to $4 million in 2021 and increased again another $ million ahead of the 2023 edition.
The Group 1 event generally draws the best weight-for-age horses from right around Australia as well as international raiders set to make the trip in coming years. That came to fruition in 2020 with the William Haggas-trained UK raider Addeybb becoming the first Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner in the post-Winx era.
In 2021 Addeybb successfully defended his title going back-to-back with the Waller-trained Verry Elleegant – subsequent 2021 Melbourne Cup champion – second in both 2020 and 2021.
Verry Elleegant was favourite in the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but only managed to run a disappointing fifth behind upset winner Think It Over.
The 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes form was franked with the runner-up Zaaki going on to run top three in a host of subsequent elite level races, finish fourth in that year’s Cox Plate results and successfully defend his title that spring in Flemington’s Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes.
In 2023 UK horseman William Haggas returned and won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for the third time in four years with his classy raider Dubai Honour saluting by 2.45 lengths on the back of a Ranvet Stakes victory.
History was made in the 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Ciaron Maher’s brilliant mare Pride Of Jenni leading from barrier to box and holding a 30-length lead at one stage to eventually win by over six lengths.
The 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes form was franked with the runner-up, Via Sistina, returning in the spring to post a string of Group 1 victories including her enormous eight length romp home in the Cox Plate!
Via Sistina returned in 2025 to post her ninth career Group 1 victory and seventh for the season with a win over the race’s 2023 champion Dubai Honour.
Via Sistina franked the 2025 Queen Elizabeth form that spring winning a trio more Group 1 races before her retirement including that year’s Cox Plate.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes Form
The Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) are generally considered the best Queen Elizabeth form lead-up races, but in recent years the winners of the Group 1 event have come from a wide variety of races.
The Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) have both developed into key lead-up races, the latter most recently producing the mighty Winx (2017-19) who did the double three years running.
In 2020 the UK raider Addeybb became the latest horse to do the Ranvet Stakes – Queen Elizabeth Stakes double. In 2021 he atoned for a lead-up second in the Ranvet Stakes to Verry Elleegant to turn the tables on her and win the 2021 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
In 2023 another William Haggas-trained UK raider, Dubai Honour, became the third international in four years and second to complete the Ranvet Stakes – Queen Elizabeth Stakes double.
The 2021 Queen Elizabeth Stakes form was franked with the runner-up Verry Elleegant going on to win the $8 million Melbourne Cup over two miles at Flemington that November.
In 2024 Pride Of Jenni posted her historic 6.5 length Queen Elizabeth Stakes win on the back of a lead-up third in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m), and prior to that, a win in the All-Star Mile.
Via Sistina (2025) was the last runner to complete the Ranvet Stakes / Queen Elizabeth Stakes double when beating that year’s Tancred Stakes winner Dubai Honour.
2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Betting
Early 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting odds offered under all-in conditions are open at bookmakers weeks out from the race when the nominations are taken by Racing NSW.
There was a huge upset in 2022 with Think It Over winning the race at $41 in Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting.
English raider Dubai Honour ($2.30 in 2023) followed by Via Sistina ($2 in 2025) are the latest favourites in Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting to win.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting is generally very interesting for punters as the Group 1 event has thrown up some interesting results in the past thirty years. The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is well known for having short-priced favourites as many of the most successful and most popular horses in Australian racing have contested the race at the height of their powers.
Class gallopers like Sydeston (1990), Rough Habit (1992), Veandercross (1993), Durbridge (1994), Jeune (1995), Might And Power (1998), Lonhro (2003), Grand Armee (2005) Eremein (2006), and More Joyous (2012) have all taken out the race as short-priced favourites, but there have also been a number of upsets.
It’s A Dundeel was beaten by Reliable Man as an unbackable favourite in the 2013 edition of the race, while Sarrera won the race in 2008 at the lucrative odds of $51.
The recent record of favourites in Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting was boosted by the trio of wins by odds-on fancy, equine superstar Winx (2017-19) followed by that of European raider Addeybb in 2020.
Addeybb jumped the second favourite in 2021 when going back-to-back in the event before his stablemate Dubai Honour won the race in 2023 as the $2.30 favourite.
Via Sistina ($2 in 2025) became one of history’s shortest-priced Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes Field
2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES FORM GUIDE
2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Nominations
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes nominations close two months out from the race in early February each autumn and attract up to 100 weight-for-age hopefuls after a share in the season’s richest race.
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 nominations closed at midday on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
The 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes nominations attracted 66 of the season’s best WFA horses led in all-in betting by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained comeback king Sir Delius.
2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes First Acceptances
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes first acceptances close a month before the race takes place on the second Saturday in April and narrow down the list of Group 1 gallopers heading into the feature Randwick race.
The 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes first acceptances close at midday on Tuesday March 10, 2026.
2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Field & Barriers
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes Field is released on the Tuesday before the race.
The 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Final Field & Barriers will be released on Tuesday April 7, 2026, and will be published in full below.
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 field features a small but elite field of eight WFA stars led in betting by Chris Waller’s unbeaten mare Autumn Glow chasing her 12th win and fourth Group 1 success.
Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes field and betting markets.
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | Age | Sex | Last Starts | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai Honour | Tom Marquand | William Haggas | 5 | 59kg | 8 | G | 212x2 | $9,933,271 |
| 2 | Sir Delius | Craig Williams | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 3 | 59kg | 5 | H | 11x33 | $1,692,283 |
| 3 | Light Infantry Man | Ethan Brown | Ciaron Maher | 1 | 59kg | 7 | G | 2x141 | $5,633,648 |
| 4 | Lindermann | Nash Rawiller | Chris Waller | 6 | 59kg | 6 | G | 1x392 | $4,269,300 |
| 5 | Wootton Verni | Tommy Berry | Chris Waller | 7 | 59kg | 5 | G | x7551 | $1,039,944 |
| 6 | Caviar Heights | Zac Lloyd | William Haggas | 4 | 59kg | 5 | G | 225x2 | $219,305 |
| 7 | Autumn Glow | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 2 | 57kg | 4 | M | 1x111 | $8,124,000 |
| 8 | Aeliana | Damian Lane | Chris Waller | 8 | 57kg | 4 | M | x2211 | $4,432,975 |
Queen Elizabeth Stakes Barrier & Speedmap
Queen Elizabeth Stakes History
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is the feature weight-for-age race during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and has been won by some of the biggest names in the history of Australian racing.
Archer (1862) was the first big name to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the race has since been taken out by equine legends like Carbine (1889, 1890, 1891); Poseidon (1908); Phar Lap (1930); Peter Pan (1932); Russia (1947 and 1948); Tulloch (1958, 1960 and 1961); Ming Dynasty (1978); Veandercross (1993); Doriemus (1996); Might And Power (1998); Lonhro (2003); More Joyous (2012); and the world’s best mare Winx (2017, 2018, 2019).
In 2020 the form of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners became international with UK raider Addeybb saluting for the punters. He returned and again beat home Verry Elleegant in the 2021 Queen Elizabeth Stakes results. Trainer William Haggas was back in 2023 winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for the third time with Dubai Honour.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes history was made in 2024 with the mare Pride Of Jenni leading by 30 lengths at one stage during her brilliant all-the-way victory to salute by over six lengths in the end.
Via Sistina (2025) equalled the record for most Group 1 wins in a single season (7) in that year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes when going one better than her second in the race the year before.
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes has undergone plenty of changes since it was first run in 1851 when Cossack won the event. Up until 1872, the event was known as the Queen’s Plate, and it was then changed to the AJC Plate. In 1954, the race was titled the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and has maintained that name ever since.
Originally raced over 4800m, the distance slowly decreased to 3600m, 2800m, 2400m, 2200m, and finally stopped at 2000m.
| ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Records (over 2000m) | |
|---|---|
| Fastest Time: | 2:01.2 – Intergaze in 1997 |
| Slowest Time: | 2:17.00 – Sydeston in 1990 |
| Most wins by a Jockey: | 5 wins – Damien Oliver (2002, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2016) |
Queen Elizabeth Stakes Previous Race Winners
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 1st | TBD | TBD |
| 2nd | TBD | ||
| 3rd | TBD | ||
| 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 1st | Via Sistina | 2 minutes 00.41 seconds |
| 2nd | Dubai Honour | ||
| 3rd | Tom Kitten | ||
| 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 1st | Pride Of Jenni | 2 minutes 02.02 seconds |
| 2nd | Via Sistina | ||
| 3rd | Mr Brightside | ||
| 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 1st | Dubai Honour | 2 minutes 7.72 seconds |
| 2nd | Mo’unga | ||
| 3rd | Anamoe | ||
| 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 1st | Think It Over | 2 minutes 10.87 seconds |
| 2nd | Zaaki | ||
| 3rd | Mount Popa | ||
| 2021 Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 1st | Addeybb | 2 minutes 5.05 seconds |
| 2nd | Verry Elleegant | ||
| 3rd | Dalasan | ||
| 2020 Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 1st | Addeybb | 2 minutes 6.92 seconds |
| 2nd | Verry Elleegant | ||
| 3rd | Danon Premium | ||
| Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday April 11, 2026 |
| Track: | Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 2000m |
| Race Type: | 3YO+ Weight-For-Age |
| Status: | Group 1 |
| Prize Money: | $5,000,000 |
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