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The 2026 Herbert Power Stakes ran on Saturday October 10, 2026 at Caulfield with a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption going to the Chris Waller-trained winner. Pinhole ($3.70F) who saluted for the punters in a fighting photo-finish. 

The Herbert Power Stakes 2026 is one of the most important spring staying races in Australia, serving as a crucial lead-up to both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Run over 2400 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes regularly attracts a quality field of local and international stayers looking to prove their credentials ahead of the nation’s premier distance races.

The race boasts a rich history and has long been regarded as a key form reference for punters assessing the spring staying ranks. With many past winners progressing to success in major Group 1 staying features, the Herbert Power Stakes remains a race of significant importance on the road to the Cups. This page features everything you need to know about the Herbert Power Stakes, including race history, field information, betting odds, form guides, prizemoney, results, and past winners.

2026 Herbert Power Stakes Results

Stay tuned for the official 2026 Herbert Power Stakes results and finishing order on Saturday October 10, 2026 and to see what horses may be on the Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup path this spring.

Winning Time: 2:27.09

Winning Margin: 0.06 lengths

Favourite Pinhole ($3.70F) further enhanced his Spring Carnival credentials with a tough win in the 2026 Herbert Power Stakes results at Caulfield, digging deep under James McDonald to edge out Suntora by a short half-head, with Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice another short head away in third. The Chris Waller-trained Frankel gelding continued his rise through the staying ranks, securing his fifth career victory and stamping himself as a genuine Cups contender after overcoming all challengers late to score in 2:27.09. The imported stayer is now under consideration for next Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, although Waller indicated a Melbourne Cup campaign may prove the preferred option, believing the two-mile feature could better suit the progressive galloper. Following the win, Ladbrokes trimmed Pinhole’s Caulfield Cup 2026 odds from $34 into $21, while his Melbourne Cup 2026 betting quote shortened from $51 to $34, highlighting growing confidence that the lightly raced five-year-old has the talent to feature prominently in Australia’s premier staying races this spring.

Click here for the full story.

2026 Herbert Power Stakes Race Replay

Herbert Power Stakes | Pinhole

Pinhole books his place in the Caulfield Cup ? The Waller trained gelding lunges & wins on the wire ?

? Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/HEhdpozFmy
CAULFIELD-ONLY LIVE: https://t.co/ZyYNNgqbuL pic.twitter.com/xSIl5gQuv8

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 10, 2026

2026 Herbert Power Stakes Odds & Finishing Order

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

2026 Herbert Power Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our exclusive Herbert Power Stakes 2026 Tips on the Caulfield Cup lead-up this spring.

Check out our full 2026 Herbert Power Stakes Preview, Predictions & Best Bets now!

Favourite: No. 12 Pinhole

Each Way Danger: No. 14 Shockletz

Best Roughie: No. 15 Suntora

The Herbert Power Stakes is a Group 2, 2400m, quality handicap race for horses aged three years and over run in mid-October on Caulfield Guineas Day. Held at Caulfield Racecourse during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, the Herbert Power Stakes is a highly regarded lead up race to both the Caulfield Cup back at the track / distance the following weekend and Melbourne Cup over the two miles at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.

The Herbert Power Stakes winner is exempt from Caulfield Cup ballot, and the double was last completed by Master O’Reilly in 2007. Despite being considered a key Melbourne Cup lead-up, no Herbert Power Stakes winner has gone on to win the two-mile classic in the same year since Rogan Josh in 1999.

The mile and a half event offers $400,000 in total prize money.

The Herbert Power Stakes shares a race program a host of other Group races including the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) which is currently run as the Might And Power, Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), and the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m).

In 2023 the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Military Mission became the first horse since Unsolved (1995) to come via a run in Sydney’s Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) improving on a fourth to stablemate Just Fine to win the Herbert Power Stakes.

The Herbert Power Stakes form from 2024 was franked with the runner-up Okita Soushi winning the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup at his next start before a third in that year’s Melbourne Cup trifecta.

Herbert Power Stakes
Date:	Saturday October 10, 2026
Track:	Caulfield Racecourse
Distance:	2400m
Race Type:	Open Handicap
Status:	Group 2
Prize Money:	$400,000

2026 Herbert Power Stakes Betting 

The latest Herbert Power Stakes 2026 betting odds and markets will be listed here at Races.com.au complete with links to Ladbrokes for you to lock in your Herbert Power Stakes tips in at the right price this spring as soon as announced.

Delphi ($1.95 in 2021), Saracen Knight ($4.20 in 2022) and Pinhole ($3.70 in 2026) are the latest favourites in Herbert Power Stakes betting to win.

There was a notable upset in 2024 with Herman Hesse taking out the Herbert Power at $16.

2026 Herbert Power Stakes Form

The Herbert Power Stakes form guide is an essential resource for punters analysing one of the key staying races of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Run over 2400 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, the Group 2 feature regularly attracts a quality field of local and international stayers building towards the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup, and other major spring staying targets. The form guide provides crucial information on each runner’s recent performances, barrier draw, weight, jockey and trainer statistics, fitness profile, and staying credentials, helping punters identify the horses most likely to excel over the testing journey.

What Punters Should Look for in the Herbert Power Stakes Form Guide:

• Recent staying form – Horses coming through quality races over 2000m to 2600m often bring the strongest form lines into the Herbert Power Stakes.
• 2400m suitability – Proven form at or around the distance is a major advantage in a race that regularly develops into a genuine staying test.
• Caulfield performance – Previous experience at Caulfield can be valuable, particularly for horses accustomed to the track’s turns and tempo.
• Lead-up races – Form through races such as the Naturalism Stakes, Makybe Diva Stakes, Underwood Stakes, and other spring staying features can provide important clues.
• Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup aspirations – Many runners target the Herbert Power Stakes as a pathway to the spring’s biggest staying races, making proven class a key consideration.
• Weight carried – Assessing each horse’s weight relative to its rivals can be particularly important in staying events.
• Fitness and preparation – Stayers generally improve deeper into their campaigns, making third, fourth, or fifth-up runners worth close attention.
• Barrier draw and race pattern – A favourable barrier can help runners secure an economical run, which is often crucial over longer distances.
• Track conditions – Some stayers excel on firm spring ground while others improve significantly with give in the track.
• Trainer record with stayers – Leading staying trainers frequently target the Herbert Power Stakes as part of a long-term Cups preparation.
• Sectional times and finishing strength – Horses capable of sustaining a strong finish over longer journeys are often well suited to this race.
• International and imported form – Imported stayers regularly contest the Herbert Power Stakes, making overseas form and previous staying performances important factors when assessing the field.
• Betting market moves – Strong support in betting markets can often indicate confidence from connections, especially for horses aiming at bigger spring assignments.

FULL 2026 HERBERT POWER STAKES FORM GUIDE

2026 Herbert Power Stakes Field

The Herbert Power Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of spring sprinters each season, many looking for the ballot exemption into the following weekend’s Caulfield Cup field.

Good lead-up races into the Herbert Power Stakes field include the Listed JRA Trophy (2500m) at Flemington in mid-September and even the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) just seven days earlier.

Each year the Herbert Power Stakes field attracts a field of genuine stayers heading towards the Spring Cup races, many of the runners having previous experience in Group 1 company and over the mile and a half distance.

The Herbert Power Stakes field 2026 and barriers are set for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below once announced by Racing Victoria.

The 2026 Herbert Power Stakes final field features a quality line-up of potential Caulfield Cup-bound gallopers including Chris Waller’s last start Rosehill winner Pinhole suited to the rise in trip and the Ciaron Maher-trained Lexus Archer Stakes winning Shocking mare Shockletz.

2026 Herbert Power Stakes Nominations

Nominations for the Herbert Power Stakes in 2026 close the Monday leading-up to the Spring Cups lead-up.

Herbert Power Stakes History

Since its inauguration in 1898 when Cocos won, the race has been known by several different names including the Eclipse Stakes, Herbert Power Handicap, Quick-Eze Stakes, Perrier Mineral Water Stakes, Perrier Stakes and the Herbert Power Stakes.

First an 8-furlong race, the distance increased to 11 furlongs and 12 furlongs before it became a 2400m event.

Six horses have completed the Herbert Power Stakes – Melbourne Cup double in the same year:

• Rogan Josh (1999), Arwon (1978), Van Der Hum (1976), Gala Supreme (1973), Sirius (1944), and Poseidon (1906).

The Herbert Power Stakes – Caulfield Cup double has been achieved seven times in the same season by six horses:

• Master O’Reilly (2007), Beer Street (1970), Rising Fast (1955), My Hero (1953), Poseidon two times (1906 and 1907), and Marvel Loch (1905).

Recent Herbert Power Stakes Winners

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2026 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Pinhole	2 minutes 27.09 seconds
	2nd	Suntora
	3rd	Knight’s Choice
2025 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Brayden Star	2 minutes 32.99 seconds
	2nd	Plymouth
	3rd	Whisky On The Hill
2024 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Herman Hesse	2 minutes 29.03 seconds
	2nd	Okita Soushi
	3rd	Fancy Man
2023 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Military Mission	2 minutes 32.56 seconds
	2nd	United Nations
	3rd	Ferago
2022 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Saracen Knight	2 minutes 32.25 seconds
	2nd	Makram
	3rd	Desert Icon
2021 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Delphi	2 minutes 27.75 seconds
	2nd	The Chosen One
	3rd	Hasta La War
2020 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Chapada	2 minutes 30.57 seconds
	2nd	Zebrowski
	3rd	Platinum Invador
2019 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	The Chosen One	2 minutes 27.52 seconds
	2nd	Prince Of Arran
	3rd	Sully
2018 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Yucatan	2 minutes 26.47 seconds
	2nd	Brimham Rocks
	3rd	Prince Of Arran
2017 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Lord Fandango	2 minutes 27.67 seconds
	2nd	Wall Of Fire
	3rd	Gallic Chieftain
2016 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Assign	2 minutes 29.1 seconds
	2nd	Big Memory
	3rd	Pemberley
2015 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Amralah	2 minutes 27.7 seconds
	2nd	Excess Knowledge
	3rd	Bohemian Lily
2014 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Big Memory	2 minutes 26.7 seconds
	2nd	Signoff
	3rd	Let’s Make Adeal
2013 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Sea Moon	2 minutes 29.98 seconds
	2nd	Oasis Bloom
	3rd	Simenon
2012 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Shahwardi	2 minutes 28.82 seconds
	2nd	Excluded
	3rd	Exceptionally
2011 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Shewan	2 minutes 30.75 seconds
	2nd	Tanby
	3rd	Moyenne Corniche
2010 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Linton	2 minutes 29.43 seconds
	2nd	Cedarberg
	3rd	Precedence
2009 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Alcopop	2 minutes 27.23 seconds
	2nd	Shocking
	3rd	Hissing Sid
2008 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Dolphin Jo	2 minutes 30.2 seconds
	2nd	The Wolverine
	3rd	Cefalu
2007 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Master O’Reilly	2 minutes 30 seconds
	2nd	Zavite
	3rd	Reggie
2006 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Growl	2 minutes 29.3 seconds
	2nd	Dracs Back
	3rd	Siamun
2005 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Leica Falcon	2 minutes 29.5 seconds
	2nd	Sarrera
	3rd	Hugs Dancer
2004 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Rizon	2 minutes 31.7 seconds
	2nd	Grey Song
	3rd	Zazzman
2003 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Yakama	2 minutes 30.7 seconds
	2nd	Physique
	3rd	Vicksburg
2002 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	The Secondmortgage	2 minutes 29.8 seconds
	2nd	Requiem
	3rd	Thong Classic
2001 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Freemason	2 minutes 30.7 seconds
	2nd	The Secondmortgage
	3rd	Rain Gauge
2000 Herbert Power Stakes	1st	Majestic Avenue	2 minutes 31.4 seconds
	2nd	Bulkhead
	3rd	Bohemiath

Herbert Power Stakes FAQs