Chances are you're about to lose.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
This year’s Stutt Stakes 2026 ran on Sunday September 27, 2026 as part of the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes Day card at Caulfield on Sunday September 27, 2026 and was won in an improved third-up performance by the progressive Chris Waller-trained Diameter ($3.20).
The Bill Stutt Stakes is one of Melbourne’s signature three-year-old mile features, a Group 2 contest over 1600m that consistently shapes the early spring form lines heading toward the Caulfield Guineas. Run under set weights conditions, the race brings together emerging talents on the rise, proven juveniles transitioning to the mile, and lightly raced prospects looking to announce themselves on one of the carnival’s key racing programs. With a long history of producing genuine Group 1 contenders the Bill Stutt Stakes offers punters reliable form indicators, strong betting opportunities, and an early snapshot of the season’s standout three-year-olds. For those tracking the major spring features, it remains a must-watch race that often reveals the next wave of elite milers.
2026 Stutt Stakes Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 Stutt Stakes results and finishing order including what gallopers may have the Caulfield Guineas in sight this spring!
- #1 Diameter
- #5 Somethings Burnin’
- #7 Scarole
Winning Margin: 0.15 lengths
Winning Time: 1:37.13
The 2026 Stutt Stakes results saw talented colt Diameter ($3.20) emerge as a genuine Caulfield Guineas contender after a tough victory in the Group 2 mile feature at Caulfield for champion trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald. The son of Brazen Beau prevailed in a thrilling finish, edging out stablemate Somethings Burnin’ ($8) by a short head, with Scarole ($10) another head away in third, giving Waller the quinella. A Listed Fernhill Mile winner and Group 1 Champagne Stakes placegetter in the autumn, Diameter continued his rise through the ranks and now looks set to tackle the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) back at Caulfield on October 10. Waller indicated the elite mile feature was the logical next step, while also noting stablemate Tron Bolt would improve over longer trips after his fifth-place finish behind Warwoven in Saturday’s Golden Rose. The Stutt Stakes success sparked an immediate market reaction, with Ladbrokes slashing Diameter’s Caulfield Guineas odds from $26 into $9, giving four-time Guineas-winning trainer Waller another serious contender alongside the well-regarded Tron Bolt for Victoria’s premier three-year-old mile.
Click here for the full story.
2026 Stutt Stakes Race Replay
2026 Bill Stutt Stakes Odds & Finishing Order
See below for the latest Bill Stutt Stakes 2026 odds followed by the official finishing order after the event this spring.
| 1. Diameter (1) J: James McDonald 57kg 13×66 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 5. Somethings Burnin’ (6) J: Damian Lane 57kg 0x123 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 7. Scarole (3) J: Thomas Stockdale 57kg 8221 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 10. Lara Antipova (4) J: Zac Lloyd 55kg 11×91 T: Mark Walker | ||
| 9. Russian Rock (2) J: Adam Mccabe 57kg 3×1 T: Michael Trotter | ||
| 8. Boys Bounce (7) J: Jye Mcneil 57kg 31 T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy | ||
| 4. Cliff Runner (8) J: Damien Thornton 57kg 29×10 T: Danny O’brien | ||
| 2. Hidrix (9) J: Ben Melham 57kg 50×59 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 3. Obambulate (5) J: Nash Rawiller 57kg 11×85 T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
2026 Stutt Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Bill Stutt Stakes 2026 Tips on the important spring lead-up in Melbourne this season.
Favourite: No. 10 Lara Antipova
| 10. Lara Antipova (4) J: Zac Lloyd 55kg 11×91 T: Mark Walker |
Each Way Danger: No. 5 Somethings Burnin’
| 5. Somethings Burnin’ (6) J: Damian Lane 57kg 0x123 T: Chris Waller |
Best Roughie: No. 7 Scarole
| 7. Scarole (3) J: Thomas Stockdale 57kg 8221 T: Ciaron Maher |
Re-named in honour of former chairman of the Moonee Valley Racing Club Mr Bill Stutt, the Group 2 Stutt Stakes is traditionally held at the Moonee Valley Racecourse in late September as part of the Manikato Stakes Day program. In 2026, the race moved from The Valley (under redevelopment) to Caulfield and Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes Day was held on the Sunday after Saturday’s Golden Rose Stakes card in Sydney.
Worth $300,000 in prize money, the set weights race is open to all three-year-old horses. Colts and geldings must carry 55.5kg, while fillies are required to carry 53.5kg.
Run over a mile distance, the Bill Stutt Stakes in held two weeks before the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m). Whobegotyou (2008) followed by Griff (2023) are the latest horses to complete the Stutt Stakes – Caulfield Guineas double.
Currently held on the Manikato Stakes Day, the event is the first 1600m race for three-year-olds in the spring carnival and is run alongside the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m), Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m), Group 3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 JRA Cup (2000m).
The 2022 Stutt Stakes form was franked with the third-placed Virtuous Circle, second next start in the Moonee Valley Vase, also returning the following autumn to finish runner-up in the 2023 Group 1 ATC Derby in Sydney.
The 2024 Stutt Stakes winner Evaporate went on to run a good third in that year’s Caulfield Guineas trifecta.
| 2026 Stutt Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Sunday September 27, 2026 |
| Track: | Moonee Valley Racecourse (Caulfield in 2026) |
| Distance: | 1600m |
| Race Type: | 3YOs – Set Weights (C&G 55.5kg / F 53.5kg) |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prize money: | $300,000 |
2026 Bill Stutt Stakes Betting
The latest Bill Stutt Stakes 2026 odds and betting markets for the Manikato Stakes Day support act will be listed at Races.com.au complete with links to Ladbrokes for you to lock in your early Stutt Stakes betting tips at the right price.
Glenfiddich ($2.50 in 2020) followed by Tijuana ($2.30 in 2022) are the last favourites in Bill Stutt Stakes betting to salute for the punters.
2026 Stutt Stakes Form
The Bill Stutt Stakes form guide is the key resource punters use to assess every runner in the Group 2 1600m feature for three-year-olds, which in 2026 will be held at Caulfield Racecourse while Moonee Valley undergoes redevelopment. The guide breaks down each horse’s recent form, mile credentials, racing pattern, track suitability, and overall spring progression. Because the Bill Stutt Stakes is a major lead-up to the Caulfield Guineas, the form guide helps punters identify which emerging three-year-olds are ready to peak at the mile and which may be building toward bigger assignments deeper into the carnival.
What Punters Should Look for on the Bill Stutt Stakes Form Guide:
- Mile suitability — Horses showing strength late in 1400m races or already proven at 1600m often hold a key advantage.
- Caulfield track profile — Caulfield rewards horses with tactical speed, balance around the sweeping turns, and a sharp turn of foot.
- Speed map positioning — On pacers and horses capable of holding a spot are typically favoured. Backmarkers need genuine tempo to get into the race.
- Sectional strength — Strong closing splits at 1400m–1600m are a reliable indicator of a horse ready for Group 2 pressure.
- Spring progression — Many winners peak second-up or third-up. Punters should check whether each runner is positioned to improve sharply.
- Stable & jockey combinations — Leading three-year-old stables often target this race with their Guineas prospects. Rider changes can also be significant.
FULL 2026 BILL STUTT STAKES FORM GUIDE
Want to discover value runners using smart form suggestions?
Form Genius is a powerful form analysis tool that makes doing the form easy by getting through mountains of data at the touch of a button! Ask it anything and get fast, form-based answers on any runner, jockey or trainer in any race. Use the smart prompts for deep insights and to sharpen your punting even further.
Ask Form Genius...
- Which runner has the best trainer/jockey combo at Caulfield?
- Which runner has the best form on this track?
- Which runners are mapped as leaders in the Bill Stutt Stakes?
Want to discover value runners using smart form suggestions?
Form Genius is a powerful form analysis tool that makes doing the form easy by getting through mountains of data at the touch of a button! Ask it anything and get fast, form-based answers on any runner, jockey or trainer in any race. Use the smart prompts for deep insights and to sharpen your punting even further.
Get Free Access to Form Genius Now2026 Stutt Stakes Field
The Bill Stutt Stakes field attracts a quality field of young milers each season that could be looking to return to the mile at Caulfield Racecourse in a fortnights’ time in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
For the best three-year-olds in the Stutt Stakes field, the iconic Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) could also be on the spring agenda. Alternatively, youngsters could be kept to a sprint distance and target the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on VRC Derby Day or rise in distance for that meeting’s feature race – the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m).
The official 2026 Bill Stutt Stakes Final Field & Barriers are released on the Wednesday of race week and will be provided for punters in full below.
The Stutt Stakes 2026 field features a compact but smart field of three-year-olds including Mark Walker’s Group 1 winning filly Lara Antipova coming off a Listed Exford Plate win at Flemington.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Diameter
J: James McDonald
T: Chris Waller |
813×66 | C | 1 | 57kg | |
|
2. Hidrix
J: Ben Melham
T: Chris Waller |
350×59 | C | 9 | 57kg | |
|
3. Obambulate
J: Nash Rawiller
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
611×85 | C | 5 | 57kg | |
|
4. Cliff Runner
J: Damien Thornton
T: Danny O’brien |
29×10 | G | 8 | 57kg | |
|
5. Somethings Burnin’
J: Damian Lane
T: Chris Waller |
30×123 | C | 6 | 57kg | |
| 6. Cignetti (7) Scratched: | |||||
|
7. Scarole
J: Thomas Stockdale
T: Ciaron Maher |
8221 | C | 3 | 57kg | |
|
8. Boys Bounce
J: Jye Mcneil
T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |
31 | C | 7 | 57kg | |
|
9. Russian Rock
J: Adam Mccabe
T: Michael Trotter |
3×1 | G | 2 | 57kg | |
|
10. Lara Antipova
J: Zac Lloyd
T: Mark Walker |
111×91 | F | 4 | 55kg | |
2026 Stutt Stakes Nominations
The 2026 Bill Stutt Stakes nominations are released on the Monday leading up to Manikato Stakes Day.
Bill Stutt Stakes History
First won by Titanium in 1934, the Bill Stutt Stakes was originally named the Moonee Valley Stakes until 1990. Originally an eight-furlong race, the distance was changed to 1600m in 1972. In 1979 it then changed from Principal race straight to Group Two status.
Notable Bill Stutt Stakes winners including Evaporate (2024), subsequent next-up Caulfield Guineas winner Griff (2023), Australian Guineas champ Hey Doc (2016), Pierro (2012), and Whobegotyou (2008).
The Bill Stutt Stakes Results and winning times since 2000 are listed below.
Recent Stutt Stakes Winners
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Diameter | 1 minute 37.13 seconds |
| 2nd | Somethings Burnin’ | ||
| 3rd | Scarole | ||
| 2025 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | West Of Swindon | 1 minute 37.15 seconds |
| 2nd | Romantic Encounter | ||
| 3rd | Hillier | ||
| 2024 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Evaporate | 1 minute 36.32 seconds |
| 2nd | Henlein | ||
| 3rd | Rue De Royale | ||
| 2023 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Griff | 1 minute 36.00 seconds |
| 2nd | Verdad | ||
| 3rd | Autumn Angel | ||
| 2022 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Tijuana | 1 minute 39.32 seconds |
| 2nd | Foujita San | ||
| 3rd | Virtuous Circle | ||
| 2021 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Forgot You | 1 minute 35.81 seconds |
| 2nd | Mr Mozart | ||
| 3rd | Daily Bugle | ||
| 2020 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Glenfiddich | 1 minute 37.61 seconds |
| 2nd | Cherry Tortoni | ||
| 3rd | Holyfield | ||
| 2019 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | The Holy One | 1 minute 37.31 seconds |
| 2nd | Vegas Knight | ||
| 3rd | Conqueror | ||
| 2018 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Leonardo Da Hinchi | 1 minute 37.51 seconds |
| 2nd | Muswellbrook | ||
| 3rd | Mark The House | ||
| 2017 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Showtime | 1 minute 37.14 seconds |
| 2nd | Salsamor | ||
| 3rd | Holy Snow | ||
| 2016 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Hey Doc | 1 minute 37.41 seconds |
| 2nd | Land Of Plenty | ||
| 3rd | Kaching | ||
| 2015 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Sovereign Nation | 1 minute 36.17 seconds |
| 2nd | Get The Picture | ||
| 3rd | Gredington | ||
| 2014 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Almalad | 1 minute 38.83 seconds |
| 2nd | Moonovermanhattan | ||
| 3rd | Kumaon | ||
| 2013 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Divine Calling | 1 minute 37.29 seconds |
| 2nd | Shamus Award | ||
| 3rd | Cluster | ||
| 2012 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Pierro | 1 minute 36.31 seconds |
| 2nd | Carringbush Jack | ||
| 3rd | Jimando | ||
| 2011 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Chase The Rainbow | 1 minute 38.31 seconds |
| 2nd | Cute Emily | ||
| 3rd | Sabrage | ||
| 2010 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Hallowlea | 1 minute 37.29 seconds |
| 2nd | Run For Levi | ||
| 3rd | Bullbars | ||
| 2009 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Carrara | 1 minute 39.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Extra Hero | ||
| 3rd | Miss With Attitude | ||
| 2008 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Whobegotyou | 1 minute 36.3 seconds |
| 2nd | All American | ||
| 3rd | Carnero | ||
| 2007 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Barbaricus | 1 minute 36 seconds |
| 2nd | Davcon | ||
| 3rd | Cecconi | ||
| 2006 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Churchill Downs | 1 minute 22.15 seconds |
| 2nd | Magic Jet | ||
| 3rd | Ankh Morpork | ||
| 2005 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Red Dazzler | 1 minute 38 seconds |
| 2nd | Stratum | ||
| 3rd | Maybe Better | ||
| 2004 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Mr Martini | 1 minute 37.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Under Command | ||
| 3rd | Danaurum | ||
| 2003 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Casual Pass | 1 minute 37.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Special Harmony | ||
| 3rd | Face Value | ||
| 2002 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Helenus | 1 minute 39.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Aint Here | ||
| 3rd | Half Hennessy | ||
| 2001 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Viscount | 1 minute 38.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Dash For Cash | ||
| 3rd | Amalfi | ||
| 2000 Bill Stutt Stakes | 1st | Sarson Trail | 1 minute 38.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Keeper | ||
| 3rd | Make Me A Miracle | ||
Bill Stutt Stakes FAQs
What is the Bill Stutt Stakes?
The Bill Stutt Stakes is a Group 2 race for three-year-olds run over 1600m. Traditionally held at Moonee Valley, the race will be staged at Caulfield Racecourse in 2026 due to The Valley’s redevelopment.
When is the Bill Stutt Stakes held?
In 2026, the Bill Stutt Stakes will be run on Sunday the 27th of September at Caulfield, forming part of Melbourne’s early spring racing program.
What distance is the Bill Stutt Stakes?
The Bill Stutt Stakes is contested over 1600 metres, providing an important early spring test for emerging milers.
Who can run in the Bill Stutt Stakes?
The race is restricted to three-year-olds, attracting rising stars, proven juveniles stepping up in trip, and lightly raced prospects targeting Group 1 mile features.
What type of race is the Bill Stutt Stakes?
It is a Group 2 set weights event, giving punters a clear look at how the best three-year-olds stack up at level conditions.
Where is the Bill Stutt Stakes held?
In 2026, the race will be run at Caulfield Racecourse, replacing its usual Moonee Valley home while the track undergoes redevelopment.
Why is the Bill Stutt Stakes important?
The Bill Stutt Stakes is a proven form reference for the Caulfield Guineas, regularly producing runners who go on to contest — and win — the Group 1 mile.
What are common lead-up races to the Bill Stutt Stakes?
Typical lead-ups include the Exford Plate, McNeil Stakes, and various 1400m three-year-old events earlier in the spring.
Where can I find Bill Stutt Stakes tips?
Expert selections and betting insights are available in our Bill Stutt Stakes tips section at the top of the page as well as over on the Ladbrokes Racing Blog.
Where can I see Bill Stutt Stakes results?
Full finishing order, margins, times, and replay information can be found in our Bill Stutt Stakes results hub at the top of this page post-race.
next to go
