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The Expressway Stakes is a Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival Group 2 currently held on Apollo Stakes Day at Randwick in February as a lead-up to the Group 1 autumn races.
Expressway Stakes News
The Expressway Stakes is a Group 2 event raced over 1200m at set weights plus penalties, open to sprinters aged three and over. Currently held at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse in mid-February, the Expressway Stakes is one of Sydney’s first key lead-up autumn races of the New Year and suits horses that are in good form and ready for a new season of racing.
2026 Expressway Stakes Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 Expressway Stakes results and finishing order at Randwick on Saturday February 14, 2026 and to see what sprinters have a Group 1 target in sight this autumn carnival!
- 1st: No. 3 Joliestar ($2.60F)
- 2nd: No. 5 Caballus
- 3rd: No. 4 Lady Shenandoah
Winning Margin: 1.19 lengths
Winning Time: 1:09.06
Chris Waller’s multiple Group 1 winning daughter of Zoustar, Joliestar ($2.60F), proved too classy fresh continuing her good first-up record when coming from third on the home straight to run down Caballus and secure a 1.19 length win for the punters in Saturday’s 2026 Expressway Stakes results at Randwick. The front-running Caballus held for second with the fellow Waller-trained mare Lady Shenandoah terrific in third. Joliestar is now expected to contest the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) on March 7 for which she’s now the outright $2 favourite to win through Ladbrokes.com.au.
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| 3. Joliestar (5) J: James McDonald57kg x153xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 5. Caballus (4) J: Tommy Berry56.5kg 5181xT: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 4. Lady Shenandoah (1) J: Nash Rawiller57kg 2472xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 1. Angel Capital (3) J: Zac Lloyd57.5kg 1462xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 2. Coal Crusher (6) J: Chad Schofield57.5kg 6412xT: Joseph Pride | ||
| 7. Who But Roo (2) J: Winona Costin56kg 36132T: Geoffrey Crothers |
Previously, the Expressway Stakes served as a good lead-up to the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m).
In 2024 however the Expressway Stakes was moved from January at Rosehill to take place at Randwick on February’s Apollo Stakes Day card.
Horses may come into the Expressway Stakes first-up and continue onto tougher autumn feature races such as the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m).
Savatiano (2021) was the last runner to complete the Expressway Stakes – Canterbury Stakes double.
The Expressway Stakes also serves as a good lead-up into the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) held in mid-March. Mentality (2007) was the last horse to do the Expressway Stakes – Randwick Guineas double. More recently, Trapeze Artist won the 2018 Expressway Stakes before a third in the Randwick Guineas. He also went on to win the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes – All Aged Stakes double in Randwick that April as well as the following year’s Canterbury Stakes.
In 2019 class mare Alizee won the Expressway Stakes first-up before winning Caulfield’s Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) in Melbourne and running third in the inaugural All-Star Mile (1600m).
Alizee returned for the 2020 Expressway Stakes and ran second to Standout.
The 2022 Expressway Stakes form was franked with the second-placed mare Forbidden Love going on to win the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes – Group 1 George Ryder Stakes double that autumn before a fourth in the Doncaster Mile results.
The form from the 2022 Expressway was further franked with the third place-getter Anamoe winning an impressive five Group 1 races later that year including most famously the iconic Cox Plate at The Valley in October.
The Expressway Stakes winner in 2023 franked the form with Mariamia going on to win the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) later that prep.
The 2025 Expressway Stakes form was franked with the winner, Magic Time, running a next-up third in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes results. She also placed third in the spring’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes and finished runner-up to Giga Kick at a huge price in the Group 1 Champions Sprint over the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The Expressway Stakes form from 2025 also held up in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap which was won by that year’s Expressway third placed mare Joliestar.
The Expressway Stakes 2026 ran on Saturday February 14, 2026 at Randwick Racecourse as a lead-up to the Group 1 sprints of the autumn and was won in a brilliant late charge by Chris Waller’s multiple Group 1 winning mare Joliestar ($2.60F).Â
| 2026 Expressway Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday February 14, 2026 |
| Track: | Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Race Type: | Set Weights + Penalties |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prize Money: | $300,000 |
2026 Expressway Stakes Betting
The Expressway Stakes 2026 betting odds will be published here at Races.com.au as soon as betting on the Group 2 at Randwick is released at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Savatiano ($2.10 in 2021) and Joliestar ($2.60 in 2026) are the latest favourites in Expressway Stakes betting to salute for the punters.
2026 Expressway Stakes Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 EXPRESSWAY STAKES FORM GUIDE
2026 Expressway Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Expressway Stakes 2026 Tips on the popular Group 2 Sydney sprint this February.
To Win: No. 4 Lady Shenandoah
It’s only a small Expressway Stakes field this year, but there’s no shortage of class, with the market dominated by Chris Waller’s pair of multiple Group 1-winning mares. Joliestar heads betting, but I’m firmly in the corner of LADY SHENANDOAH (1). Drawn the rails and already a triple Group 1 winner, she made her name last season with victories in the Flight Stakes, Surround Stakes, and a brilliant Coolmore Classic win against the older mares. While she didn’t quite hit the same heights in the spring, she was ultra-consistent in elite company, producing strong efforts in the Manikato (4th), The Everest (7th) and Russell Balding Stakes (2nd) — form that stacks up beautifully for a race like this. She was beaten a whisker first-up last prep in the Concorde Stakes over 1000m, and the rise to 1200m fresh looks ideal. Add in her outstanding Randwick record (6:3-2-0) and she shapes as the mare most likely to return to winning ways.
|
4. Lady Shenandoah (1)
J: Nash Rawiller57kg
2472xT: Chris Waller
|
2026 Expressway Stakes Field
The Expressway Stakes field attracts a top-class line-up of early autumn sprint types, many eyeing Group 1 autumn races later in the season.
The 2026 Expressway Stakes field is set for release on the Wednesday leading up to the race and will be made available in full below.
The Expressway Stakes 2026 final field features a diminutive but exciting line-up of runners including Chris Waller’s multiple Group 1 winning mares Joliestar and Lady Shenandoah both resuming.
Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2026 Expressway Stakes field and betting markets.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16x1x1462x | ANGEL CAPITAL | Chris Waller | Zac Lloyd | 4 | 57.5kg | Â | Â | 111 |
| 2 | 020x56412x | COAL CRUSHER | Joseph Pride | Chad Schofield | 7 | 57.5kg | Â | Â | 111 |
| 3 | 31921x153x | JOLIESTAR | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 6 | 57kg | Â | Â | 117 |
| 4 | x111x2472x | LADY SHENANDOAH | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 1 | 57kg | Â | Â | 116 |
| 5 | 87x1x5181x | CABALLUS | Bjorn Baker | Tommy Berry | 5 | 56.5kg | Â | Â | 109 |
| Â | Â | ||||||||
| 7 | 3771736132 | WHO BUT ROO | Geoffrey Crothers | Ms Teaghan Martin (a) | 3 | 56kg | Â | Â | 70 |
| Â | Â |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2026 Expressway Stakes Nominations
The Expressway Stakes nominations are usually announced on the Monday prior to the race.
Because of it’s a major lead up race to later feature events, the Expressway Stakes nominations usually include a high number of horses who are intent on an extended Autumn Racing Carnival campaign in both Sydney and Melbourne.
2026 Expressway Stakes nominations extended until 11:00am (AEDT) – 10/02/2026
| Â | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16x1x1462x | ANGEL CAPITAL | H | 4 | Chris Waller | 111 |
| 2 | 19x141x131 | AXIUS | G | 4 | Ciaron Maher | Â |
| 3 | 87x1x5181x | CABALLUS | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 109 |
| 4 | 020x56412x | COAL CRUSHER | G | 8 | Joseph Pride | 111 |
| 5 | 31921x153x | JOLIESTAR | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 117 |
| 6 | 20111×4241 | KING OF ROSEAU | G | 4 | Peter Snowden | Â |
| 7 | x111x2472x | LADY SHENANDOAH | M | 4 | Chris Waller | 116 |
| 8 | 3124x1155x | LAZZURA | M | 4 | Chris Waller | Â |
| 9 | x955x8114x | MANAAL | M | 4 | Michael Freedman | 109 |
| 10 | x11316x272 | THE INSTRUCTOR | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 106 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Expressway Stakes History
First held in 1974 as a principal race, the Expressway Stakes was won by I’m Scarlet and remained that status until 1979 when it became a Group 2 race.
Between 1975 and 1980, the Expressway Stakes was run over a distance of 1100m before being moved out to 1200m.
Plenty of top-class gallopers have taken out the race and notable Expressway Stakes winners include Saintly (1996), Tie The Knot (2001), Lonhro (2003), Rangirangdoo (2010), Appearance (2014), and Chris Waller’s multiple Group 1 winner Joliestar (2026).
Magic Time (2025) and Joliestar (2026) are the latest Expressway Stakes winning mares.
The Expressway Stakes winners and results going back to 2000 are listed below.
Recent Expressway Stakes Winners
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Joliestar | 1 minute 9.06 seconds |
| 2nd | Caballus | ||
| 3rd | Lady Shenandoah | ||
| 2025 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Magic Time | 1 minute 10.07 seconds |
| 2nd | Iowna Merc | ||
| 3rd | Joliestar | ||
| 2024 Expressway Stakes | 1st | King Of Sparta | 1 minute 9.17 seconds |
| 2nd | Coal Crusher | ||
| 3rd | Malkovich | ||
| 2023 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Mariamia | 1 minute 8.73 seconds |
| 2nd | Golden Mile | ||
| 3rd | Nicolini Vito | ||
| 2022 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Overpass | 1 minute 8.96 seconds |
| 2nd | Forbidden Love | ||
| 3rd | Anamoe | ||
| 2021 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Savatiano | 1 minute 11.22 seconds |
| 2nd | Kolding | ||
| 3rd | Emeralds | ||
| 2020 Expressway Stakes(Run at Randwick) | 1st | Standout | 1 minute 9.56 seconds |
| 2nd | Alizee | ||
| 3rd | White Moss | ||
| 2019 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Alizee | 1 minute 11.32 seconds |
| 2nd | Le Romain | ||
| 3rd | Dothraki | ||
| 2018 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Trapeze Artist | 1 minute 10.41 seconds |
| 2nd | Showtime | ||
| 3rd | Addictive Nature | ||
| 2017 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Music Magnate | 1 minute 9.48 seconds |
| 2nd | Kuro | ||
| 3rd | Ball Of Muscle | ||
| 2016 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Our Boy Malachi | 1 minute 11.65 seconds |
| 2nd | Solicit | ||
| 3rd | Big Money | ||
| 2015 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Weary | 1 minute 10.66 seconds |
| 2nd | Driefontein | ||
| 3rd | Territory | ||
| 2014 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Appearance | 1 minute 9.06 seconds |
| 2nd | River Lad | ||
| 3rd | Sizzling | ||
| 2013 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Happy Galaxy | 1 minute 9.82 seconds |
| 2nd | Skytrain | ||
| 3rd | Centennial Park | ||
| 2012 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Rain Affair | 1 minute 10.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Centennial Park | ||
| 3rd | Shoot Out | ||
| 2011 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Centennial Park | 1 minute 10.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Love Conquers All | ||
| 3rd | Hot Danish | ||
| 2010 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Rangirangdoo | 1 minute 12.66 seconds |
| 2nd | Dao Dao | ||
| 3rd | McClintock | ||
| 2009 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Burdekin Blues | 1 minute 9.76 seconds |
| 2nd | Gold Trail | ||
| 3rd | Hurried Choice | ||
| 2008 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Paratroopers | 1 minute 9.6 seconds |
| 2nd | He’s Canny | ||
| 3rd | Sniper’s Bullet | ||
| 2007 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Mentality | 1 minute 9.96 seconds |
| 2nd | Fashions Afield | ||
| 3rd | More Than Lucky | ||
| 2006 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Court’s In Session | 1 minute 9.15 seconds |
| 2nd | Shania Dane | ||
| 3rd | Primus | ||
| 2005 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Court’s In Session | 1 minute 9.51 seconds |
| 2nd | Our Egyptian Raine | ||
| 3rd | Grand Armee | ||
| 2004 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Sportsman | 1 minute 8.37 seconds |
| 2nd | Thorn Park | ||
| 3rd | Excellerator | ||
| 2003 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Lonhro | 1 minute 10.66 seconds |
| 2nd | Belle Du Jour | ||
| 3rd | Carael Boy | ||
| 2002 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Ateates | 1 minute 11.23 seconds |
| 2nd | Viscount | ||
| 3rd | Caissa | ||
| 2001 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Tie The Knot | 1 minute 9.98 seconds |
| 2nd | Referral | ||
| 3rd | Landsighting | ||
| 2000 Expressway Stakes | 1st | Mr. Innocent | 1 minute 9.25 seconds |
| 2nd | Adam | ||
| 3rd | Commands | ||
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