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Danehill Stakes News
This season’s edition of the Danehill Stakes 2026 ran on Saturday October 3, 2026 as a Coolmore Stud Stakes lead-up and was won in an impressive effort by the promising Ciaron Maher-trained The Next Episode ($3.30).Â
The Danehill Stakes 2026 is one of Melbourne’s premier early season sprint races for three-year-olds, attracting many of the country’s most promising young thoroughbreds to Flemington Racecourse each spring. Run over 1100 metres at Group 2 level on Turnbull Stakes Day, the race provides an important platform for emerging sprint talent and has a strong history of producing future Group 1 winners and elite performers. Named in honour of legendary stallion Danehill, whose influence on Australian thoroughbred breeding remains unmatched, the Danehill Stakes is a key target for up-and-coming colts, geldings, and fillies looking to announce themselves during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. This page features everything you need to know about the Danehill Stakes, including race history, field information, prizemoney, betting trends, results, and past winners.
2026 Danehill Stakes Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 Danehill Stakes results and finishing order on Saturday October 3, 2026 and to see what young sprinters may have a Coolmore Stud Stakes run on the agenda this spring.
- #3 The Next Episode
- #10 Natural Fling
- #7 Mbube
Winning Margin: 0.35 lengths
Winning Time: 1:04.77
The 2026 Danehill Stakes results saw exciting three-year-old colt The Next Episode ($3.30) announce himself as a leading Coolmore Stud Stakes contender with a tough first-up victory in the Group 2 sprint over 1100m at Flemington. Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Mark Zahra, the son of Snitzel overcame a determined challenge from race favourite Natural Fling to score by a short neck, with Mbube finishing a length away in third. The win improved his record to four victories from six starts and showcased the powerful turn of foot that has quickly established him among the season’s top sprinting colts. Following the performance, The Next Episode firmed dramatically into favouritism for the 2026 Coolmore Stud Stakes in from $9 to $3 at Ladbrokes with connections confident there is further improvement to come as he heads towards the Group 1 feature on Derby Day.
Click here for the full story.
2026 Danehill Stakes Race Replay
2026 Danehill Stakes Odds & Finishing Order
See below for the latest Danehill Stakes 2026 odds followed by the official finishing order after the event this spring.
| 3. The Next Episode (6) J: Mark Zahra 58kg 1211x T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 10. Natural Fling (10) J: Damian Lane 56.5kg 12×13 T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy | ||
| 7. Mbube (8) J: Billy Egan 57kg 1×2 T: Lloyd Kennewell | ||
| 4. Alibaba (9) J: Craig Newitt 58kg 1389x T: Ken & Kasey Keys | ||
| 8. Doubt Time (11) J: Michael Dee 57kg 1x T: Nick Ryan | ||
| 6. Buggsy (2) J: Craig Williams 57kg 13×14 T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 11. Over Excited (4) J: Ethan Brown 55kg 12 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 2. Big Sky (7) J: Jordan Childs 58.5kg 11×3 T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 9. Pocketfullofcash (3) J: Blake Shinn 57kg 1x T: Reece Goodwin | ||
| 5. Zambales (5) J: Jamie Mott 57kg 54×21 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 1. Stretan Ruler (1) J: Lachlan Neindorf 58.5kg 4125x T: Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
2026 Danehill Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Danehill Stakes 2026 Tips on the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes lead-up this spring.
Check out our full 2026 Danehill Stakes Predictions, Preview & Best Bets now!
Favourite: No. 10 Natural Fling
| 10. Natural Fling (10) J: Damian Lane 56.5kg 12×13 T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |
Each Way Danger: No. 3 The Next Episode
| 3. The Next Episode (6) J: Mark Zahra 58kg 1211x T: Ciaron Maher |
Best Roughie: No. 6 Buggsy
| 6. Buggsy (2) J: Craig Williams 57kg 13×14 T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
The Group 2 Danehill Stakes is held during Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival at the famous Flemington Racecourse down the straight. The race is a set weights plus penalties sprint. Worth $300,000 in prize money, the Danehill Stakes is now held on Turnbull Stakes Day with racing headlined by the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).
The Danehill Stakes was previously run a fortnight earlier on Makybe Diva Stakes Day before being moved ahead of the 2021 edition to serve as a stepping-stone towards the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Many of the best out of the Danehill Stakes results continue onto the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at the same track and distance on Victoria Derby Day with Sepoy (2011) the last to complete the double.
In 2023 I Am Unstoppable ran second in both the Danehill Stakes and Coolmore Stud Stakes results.
The form of the 2021 Danehill Stakes was franked with the third-placed Bruckner going on to run second in that spring’s Coolmore Stud Stakes results.
The 2022 Danehill Stakes winner Giga Kick went on to make history winning the world’s richest turf race, The Everest (1200m), in an upset at 20/1 over the older horses next start in Sydney. He further franked the form the following year with wins in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes and Doomben 10,000 in 2023.
The 2024 Danehill Stakes form was franked with the runner-up, Reserve Bank, heading to Adelaide the following autumn to win the Group 1 The Goodwood in 2025.
In 2025, the Danehill Stakes runner-up My Gladiola went on to finish second in the Coolmore Stud Stakes results. She further improved the following autumn when runner-up in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes in the autumn before a Group 1 Moir Stakes victory in the early spring of 2026.
The 2025 Danehill Stakes also produced that year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes winner with Tentyris (3rd) winning the Group 1 over the Melbourne Cup Carnival. He also won the Lightning Stakes at elite level in the autumn of 2026.
| 2026 Danehill Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday October 3, 2026 |
| Track: | Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: | 1100m |
| Race Type: | 3YOs – Set Weights + Penalties |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prizemoney: | $300,000 |
2026 Danehill Stakes Betting
The top Flemington racing odds and Danehill Stakes 2026 betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes will be provided at Races.com.au the week of the race.
Dalasan ($2.60 in 2019), Giga Kick ($1.95 in 2022), and First Settler ($4 in 2024) are the last favourites in Danehill Stakes betting to salute.
There was a notable upset in 2025 with McGaw winning at Danehill Stakes odds of $15.
2026 Danehill Stakes Form
The Danehill Stakes form guide is an essential tool for punters assessing the leading chances in one of Australia’s premier three-year-old sprint races at Flemington. Featuring a field of emerging young sprinters, the form guide provides key information on each runner’s recent performances, pedigree, barrier draw, jockey, trainer, and track and distance credentials. As a proven launching pad for future Group 1 performers, the Danehill Stakes often attracts some of the best spring three-year-olds, making careful form analysis crucial for finding the winner.
What Punters Should Look for in the Danehill Stakes Form Guide:
- Recent 3YO sprint form – Runners coming through quality juvenile races or early spring features often bring the strongest credentials into the Danehill Stakes.
- Flemington performance – The straight-track course can be a unique challenge, so horses with proven form down the Flemington straight are worth close attention.
- 1100m suitability – Speed and the ability to sustain a strong finish over 1100m are key attributes in this fast-run Group 2 sprint.
- First-up records – Many runners resume in the Danehill Stakes, making strong fresh statistics an important factor for punters.
- Trainer and stable form – Leading spring carnival stables often target this race with talented youngsters capable of progressing to elite level.
- Barrier draw and track pattern – While straight-course races remove some of the impact of barriers, understanding where the best ground is on race day can be a significant advantage.
- Sectional times – Horses posting strong late splits or showing explosive acceleration in previous runs are often well suited to the Flemington straight.
- Weight and set weights conditions – Comparing runners on exposed class and ability is generally more important than weight differentials under the race conditions.
- Betting market moves – Significant support for lightly raced or highly touted youngsters can often provide valuable clues in a race featuring developing horses.
- Future Group race aspirations – Many Danehill Stakes runners use the race as a stepping stone to bigger spring targets, so horses with established stakes form are often among the leading contenders.
FULL 2026 DANEHILL 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 Flemington?
- Which runner has the best form on this track?
- Which runners are mapped as leaders in the Danehill 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 Danehill Stakes Field
The Danehill Stakes field attracts a line-up of the season’s most exciting three-year-old sprinters coming off lead-up races including the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) for fillies and the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m), both held at Caulfield the month before.
Giga Kick (2022) was the last horse to complete the Vain Stakes – Danehill Stakes double.
The official 2026 Danehill Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw will be provided below once released on the Wednesday leading up to Turnbull Stakes Day.
The Danehill Stakes 2026 field features a quality line-up of young sprinters led in betting by the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Group 3 winning Home Affairs filly Natural Fling back in grade after her brave Group 1 Moir Stakes third behind the older horses.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Stretan Ruler
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
x4125x | C | 1 | 58.5kg | |
|
2. Big Sky
J: Jordan Childs
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
11×3 | C | 7 | 58.5kg | |
|
3. The Next Episode
J: Mark Zahra
T: Ciaron Maher |
x1211x | C | 6 | 58kg | |
|
4. Alibaba
J: Craig Newitt
T: Ken & Kasey Keys |
31389x | C | 9 | 58kg | |
|
5. Zambales
J: Jamie Mott
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
954×21 | C | 5 | 57kg | |
|
6. Buggsy
J: Craig Williams
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
13×14 | C | 2 | 57kg | |
|
7. Mbube
J: Billy Egan
T: Lloyd Kennewell |
1×2 | C | 8 | 57kg | |
|
8. Doubt Time
J: Michael Dee
T: Nick Ryan |
1x | G | 11 | 57kg | |
|
9. Pocketfullofcash
J: Blake Shinn
T: Reece Goodwin |
1x | G | 3 | 57kg | |
|
10. Natural Fling
J: Damian Lane
T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |
12×13 | F | 10 | 56.5kg | |
|
11. Over Excited
J: Ethan Brown
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
12 | F | 4 | 55kg |
2026 Danehill Stakes Nominations
Each Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival the Danehill Stakes nominations close on the Monday of race week.
Danehill Stakes History
The first recorded Danehill Stakes took place in 1982 when Fiesta Star won the Group 3 event. Changed to a Group 2 race in 2009, the sprint event has also been known as the Black Douglas, Hilton on the Park, Chivas Regal and L’Oreal Plate. The fastest recorded winning time (since 1988) was by 1 minute 8.1 seconds by Rich Enuff in 2014.
The 2011 Danehill Stakes winner Sepoy went on to win that year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The last filly to beat home the boys in the Danehill Stakes results was Catchy (2017) who also won the previous season’s Blue Diamond Stakes.
In 2021 the Danehill Stakes distance was reduced from 1200m to 1100m.
The 2022 Danehill Stakes winner Giga Kick made history in Sydney next start winning The Everest race.
Recent Danehill Stakes Winners
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Danehill Stakes | 1st | The Next Episode | 1 minutes 04.77 seconds |
| 2nd | Natural Fling | ||
| Mbube | |||
| 2025 Danehill Stakes | 1st | McGaw | 1 minute 02.63 seconds (over 1100m) |
| 2nd | My Gladiola | ||
| Tentyris | |||
| 2024 Danehill Stakes | 1st | First Settler | 1 minute 04.54 seconds (over 1100m) |
| 2nd | Reserve Bank | ||
| Enriched | |||
| 2023 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Stretan Angel | 1 minute 04.11 seconds (over 1100m) |
| 2nd | I Am Unstoppable | ||
| Don Corleone | |||
| 2022 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Giga Kick | 1 minute 02.69 seconds (over 1100m) |
| 2nd | Buenos Noches | ||
| 3rd | Cannonball | ||
| 2021 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Kallos | 1 minute 04.31 seconds (over 1100m) |
| 2nd | General Beau | ||
| 3rd | Bruckner | ||
| 2020 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Doubtland | 1 minute 09.51 seconds |
| 2nd | Amish Boy | ||
| 3rd | Ranting | ||
| 2019 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Dalasan | 1 minute 09.40 seconds |
| 2nd | Dubious | ||
| 3rd | Express Pass | ||
| 2018 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Encryption | 1 minute 10.64 seconds |
| 2nd | Thorondor | ||
| 3rd | Tavisan | ||
| 2017 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Catchy | 1 minute 10.34 seconds |
| 2nd | Jukebox | ||
| 3rd | Booker | ||
| 2016 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Saracino | 1 minute 9.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Archives | ||
| 3rd | Samara Dancer | ||
| 2015 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Kinglike | 1 minute 09.06 seconds |
| 2nd | Raphael’s Cat | ||
| 3rd | Ready For Victory | ||
| 2014 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Rich Enuff | 1 minute 8.13 seconds |
| 2nd | Looks Like The Cat | ||
| 3rd | Ghibellines | ||
| 2013 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Charlie Boy | 1 minute 10.0 seconds |
| 2nd | Kiss A Rose | ||
| 3rd | Eclair Big Bang | ||
| 2012 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Snitzerland | 1 minute 10.54 seconds |
| 2nd | Stralia | ||
| 3rd | Rusambo | ||
| 2011 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Sepoy | 1 minute 8.71 seconds |
| 2nd | Hallowell | ||
| 3rd | Unique Quality | ||
| 2010 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Soul | 1 minute 11.63 seconds |
| 2nd | Buffering | ||
| 3rd | General Truce | ||
| 2009 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Black Caviar | 1 minute 9.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Wanted | ||
| 3rd | Rarefied | ||
| 2008 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Aichi | 1 minute 10.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Time Chief | ||
| 3rd | Nicconi | ||
| 2007 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Tan Tat de Lago | 1 minute 10.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Scenic Blast | ||
| 3rd | Purrealist | ||
| 2006 Danehill Stakes | 1st | The One | 1 minute 10.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Anamato | ||
| 3rd | Sharkbite | ||
| 2005 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Jet Spur | 1 minute 9.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Queen Of The Hill | ||
| 3rd | Stratum | ||
| 2004 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Fastnet Rock | 1 minute 9.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Brannigan | ||
| 3rd | Assafa | ||
| 2003 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Abdullah | 1 minute 12 seconds |
| 2nd | Critical List | ||
| 3rd | Bronc | ||
| 2002 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Planchet | 1 minute 8.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Blur | ||
| 3rd | Choisir | ||
| 2001 Danehill Stakes | 1st | Chongtong | 1 minute 9 seconds |
| 2nd | North Boy | ||
| 3rd | Spectatorial | ||
| 2000 Danehill Stakes | 1st | St Petersburg | 1 minute 10.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Cosset | ||
| 3rd | Ceffyl | ||
Danehill Stakes FAQs
What is the Danehill Stakes?
The Danehill Stakes is a Group 2 sprint race for three-year-old thoroughbreds run during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival at Flemington Racecourse.
When is the Danehill Stakes run?
The Danehill Stakes is held in late September or early October on Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington. The 2026 edition is set to run on Saturday October 3, 2026.
What distance is the Danehill Stakes?
The Danehill Stakes is run over 1100 metres down Flemington’s famous straight course.
Who can run in the Danehill Stakes?
The race is restricted to three-year-old horses, including colts, geldings, and fillies.
Where is the Danehill Stakes held?
The Danehill Stakes takes place at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria.
What is the prizemoney for the Danehill Stakes?
The Danehill Stakes offers lucrative $300,000 in total Group race prizemoney and is one of the key early season targets for promising three-year-old sprinters.
Why is it called the Danehill Stakes?
The race is named after champion sire Danehill, one of the most influential stallions in Australian thoroughbred breeding history.
What races are important lead-ups to the Danehill Stakes?
Many runners come through leading juvenile races and early spring three-year-old contests before targeting the Danehill Stakes.
Can fillies run in the Danehill Stakes?
Yes. Fillies are eligible to contest the Danehill Stakes against colts and geldings.
How can I bet on the Danehill Stakes?
Punters can bet on the Danehill Stakes through Ladbrokes, with markets available before and on race day.
Where can I find the Danehill Stakes field and form guide?
The latest Danehill Stakes field, barriers, betting odds, form guide, race results, and past winners can be found right here on Races.com.au.
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