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The Belmont Sprint is a Group 3 race held at Belmont Racecourse in Perth as a follow-up to the Roma Cup during the autumn - winter WA racing season.
Belmont Sprint News
The Belmont Sprint is a 1400m Group 3 race held annually at Perth’s Belmont Racecourse (transferred to Pinjarra in 2025). Open to horses two-years-old and upwards, the Belmont Sprint attracts a varied field of mainly locally trained talent each year.
2026 Belmont Sprint Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 Belmont Sprint results and finishing order in WA on Saturday May 16, 2026.
- 1st: No. 1 Western Empire ($2.25F)
- 2nd: No. 3 Rope Them In
- 3rd: No. 9 Smooth Chino
Winning Margin: 0.44 lengths
Winning Time: 1:23.85
Grant & Alana Williams’ evergreen eight-year-old and race favourite, Western Empire ($2.25F), proved too strong for his fellow Group 3 rivals in the 2026 Belmont Sprint results in WA. Western Empire produced a powerful late surge to mow down Rope Them In by nearly a half-length and secure his win in the event having also saluted in 2024, sealing a memorable afternoon for jockey William Pike, who was also unveiled as the newest member of the WA Racing Hall of Fame.
2026 Belmont Sprint Odds
| 1. Western Empire (3) J: William Pike59kg 5238xT: Grant & Alana Williams | ||
| 3. Rope Them In (10) J: Paul Harvey59kg 9×157T: Steve Wolfe | ||
| 9. Smooth Chino (2) J: Austin Galati59kg 1×271T: Indianna Weinert | ||
| 8. Ginger Baker (9) J: Holly Watson59kg 600×0T: Daniel & Ben Pearce | ||
| 2. Magnificent Andy (4) J: Brad Parnham59kg 57×08T: Stephen Miller | ||
| 7. West Star (7) J: Clint Johnston-Porter59kg 9×803T: Simon A Miller | ||
| 10. In Good Order (1) J: Chris Parnham59kg 750×6T: Daniel Morton | ||
| 5. Diamond Scene (5) J: Steven Parnham59kg 4949xT: Michael Grantham | ||
| 11. Hoba West (8) J: Shaun O’donnell59kg 1212xT: Summer Dickson | ||
| 6. Sentimental Hero (6) J: Lucy Fiore59kg 3037xT: Peter Fernie |
With a total prize pool of $200,000, the Belmont Sprint is the highest-paying race on Belmont Sprint Day. As a Group 3 race, it is also the only black-type event on the race card and is now run under weight-for-age conditions.
Perth’s Belmont Racecourse is one of the most picturesque in the nation, located on the Swan River with the Perth CBD just on the other side. It is one of two major racecourses in the region, with the other being Ascot Racecourse, slightly further away from the CBD and nearer to the city.
Many horses who compete in the Belmont Sprint previously competed in the Group 3 Roma Cup (1200m), a sprint event held at the same track a fortnight prior. Rock Magic (2017) and The Boss Lady (2025) are the latest gallopers to complete the Roma Cup – Belmont Sprint double, also a popular betting double with the punters each winter.
The Belmont Sprint provides a good indication as to the form of the horses that will likely stay on to compete in later summer races in Perth.
Many runners will back-up out of the Belmont Sprint and contest other Perth races including the Group 3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) back at Belmont a fortnight later and the Group 3 Strickland Stakes (2000m) at the end of the month. In 2018, gun galloper Material Man completed the Belmont Sprint – Hyperion – Strickland Stakes treble.
In 2019 classy mare Galaxy Star ran second in the Roma Cup, won the Belmont Stakes, finished runner-up in the Hyperion Stakes next-up and then took out that year’s Strickland Stakes franking the form of the winter sprints in Perth.
The next year, another top mare in Perfect Jewel completed the Belmont Sprint – Hyperion Stakes double. Also in 2020, The Velvet King finished runner-up in the Roma Cup, Belmont Sprint and the Hyperion Stakes before returning in 2021 to win the Belmont Sprint at his second attempt.
The 2022 Belmont Sprint form was franked with the winner God Has Chosen going on to place in both the Hyperion Stakes (2nd) and Strickland Stakes (3rd). The runner-up Red Can Man went on to gain a start in the inaugural multi-million dollar The Quokka race the following year in 2023 running sixth.
In 2023 the three-year-old Belmont Sprint winner Bustler had previously run 11th in the first ever The Quokka event.
Bustler went on to frank the 2023 Belmont Sprint form with a win in that summer’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
The 2024 Belmont Sprint form was franked with the winner, Western Empire, going on to win the lucrative $1.5 million The Gold Rush that December. Magnificent Andy meanwhile improved on his Belmont Sprint third to win the Group 3 Hyperion Stakes next start and also finish runner-up in the summer’s The Gold rush.
Western Empire returned two years later in 2026 to secure his second Belmont Sprint trophy as an eight-year-old.
The 2026 Belmont Sprint ran on Saturday May 16, 2026 in WA and saw the Grant & Alana Williams-trained eight-year-old favourite, Western Empire ($2.25F), salute for the punters first-up.
| 2026 Belmont Sprint | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday May 16, 2026 |
| Track: | Belmont Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1400m |
| Race Type: | Weight-for-age |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $200,000 |
2026 Belmont Sprint Betting
The winter’s latest Belmont Sprint 2026 betting odds and market links to Ladbrokes.com.au on the Perth sprint will be available at Races.com.au the week of the race.
Western Empire ($1.80 in 2024 and $2.25 in 2026) was the last favourite in Belmont Sprint betting to win.
2026 Belmont Sprint Form
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 BELMONT SPRINT FORM GUIDE
2026 Belmont Sprint Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Belmont Sprint 2026 Tips on the Perth showdown this May.
To Win: No. 9 Smooth Chino
SMOOTH CHINO (2) is deserving favourite for the Belmont Sprint in WA and I’m happy to stick with the punters’ pick. Indianna Weinert’s Maschino four-year-old has his first go at the 1400m but with winning form up to 1300m and an ultra-consistent record building behind him he looks every chance of seeing out the distance without issue. A seven-time winner from nine starts he’s run out of the top two on just one occasion when 2.4 lengths back seventh to Jigsaw in The Quokka. Dropped back class-wise last time out on May 3 to bounce back to winning form with an eye-catching three-quarter length victory in the Group 3 Northam Stakes (1300m). Sent out a warm favourite, he absorbed the pressure and still had enough in reserve to put them away late on the Soft deck, suggesting he’s right back in the zone. His Quokka run prior is an easy forgive — buried in traffic and never able to build momentum under the big weight. From a likely off-pace position, he’ll get the perfect trail into the race, and if he produces the same turn of foot he showed at Northam, he’s going to be awfully hard to hold out. First go around at Belmont and needs to prove himself at WFA but is drawn a dream in gate two with Austin Galati sticking with. Can win.
|
9. Smooth Chino (2)
J: Austin Galati59kg
1×271T: Indianna Weinert
|
2026 Belmont Sprint Field
The Belmont Sprint field attracts a solid line-up of local W.A. sprinters, many graduates out of the Roma Cup two weeks before. Top line local sprinters in the race may have run in the state’s best races over the summer including the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) or be back home off a Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival bid.
The official Belmont Sprint 2026 Final Field & Barriers will be released on the Wednesday of race week and published in full below once announced by Perth Racing.
The 2026 Belmont Sprint field features a small but class field of runners including the resuming Grant & Alana Williams-trained Group 1 winner Western Empire, last start Group 3 Northam Stakes champ Smooth Chino and Summer Dickson’s resuming six-year-old Hoba West racing for the first time since a Group 2 Ted Van Heemst second back in the summer.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x914x5238x | WESTERN EMPIRE (NZ) | Grant & Alana Williams | William Pike | 3 | 59kg | Â | 113 |
| 2 | 2x15457x08 | MAGNIFICENT ANDY | Stephen Miller | Brad Parnham | 4 | 59kg | Â | 108 |
| 3 | 0x1249x157 | ROPE THEM IN | Steve Wolfe | Paul Harvey | 11 | 59kg | Â | 110 |
| 4 | 85020x00x0 | LET’S GALAHVANT | Daniel & Ben Pearce | Manoel Nunes | 8 | 59kg |  | 103 |
| 5 | 212x14949x | DIAMOND SCENE | Michael Grantham | Steven Parnham | 5 | 59kg | Â | 103 |
| 6 | x52113037x | SENTIMENTAL HERO | Peter Fernie | Ms Lucy Fiore | 6 | 59kg | Â | 103 |
| 7 | 713x09x803 | WEST STAR | Simon A Miller | Clint Johnston-Porter | 7 | 59kg | Â | 102 |
| 8 | 31314600×0 | GINGER BAKER | Daniel & Ben Pearce | Ms Holly Watson | 10 | 59kg | Â | 102 |
| 9 | 11x111x271 | SMOOTH CHINO | Indianna Weinert | Austin Galati | 2 | 59kg | Â | 106 |
| 10 | 17x29750x6 | IN GOOD ORDER | Daniel Morton | Chris Parnham | 1 | 59kg | Â | 102 |
| 11 | x71011212x | HOBA WEST | Summer Dickson | Shaun O’Donnell | 9 | 59kg | Â | 93 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Belmont Sprint History
The inaugural running of the Belmont Sprint was in 1963, when it was held as a Principal Race and won by Free Style.
In 1980 the Belmont Sprint’s classification was change to Group 3, where it has remained since. It has been contested over 1400m since 1982 and has been one by some quality Perth sprinters including Grand Nirvana (2010-11) and Luckygray (2012).
The 2025 Belmont Sprint was rescheduled to Wednesday, May 28, and transferred from Belmont to Pinjarra after racing on Saturday, May 24, 2025, was abandoned for the day after an inspection near the 150m mark deemed the track unsafe to continue.
Belmont Sprint Results
Belmont Sprint results since 2000 are listed below.
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Western Empire | 1:23.85 |
| 2nd | Rope Them In | ||
| 3rd | Smooth Chino | ||
| 2025 Belmont Sprint (Run at Pinjarra) | 1st | The Boss Lady | 1:22.91 (track record at Pinjarra) |
| 2nd | Magnificent Andy | ||
| 3rd | West Star | ||
| 2024 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Western Empire | 1:22.66 |
| 2nd | Searchin’ Roc’s | ||
| 3rd | Magnificent Andy | ||
| 2023 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Bustler | 1:24.83 |
| 2nd | The Velvet Queen | ||
| 3rd | Resortman | ||
| 2022 Belmont Sprint | 1st | God Has Chosen | 1:23.45 |
| 2nd | Red Can Man | ||
| 3rd | Massimo | ||
| 2021 Belmont Sprint | 1st | The Velvet King | 1:24.21 |
| 2nd | Valour Road | ||
| 3rd | Dance Music | ||
| 2020 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Perfect Jewel | 1:25.30 |
| 2nd | The Velvet King | ||
| 3rd | Angelic Ruler | ||
| 2019 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Galaxy Star | 1:23.38 |
| 2nd | Great Shot | ||
| 3rd | Vital Silver | ||
| 2018 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Material Man | 1:22.95 |
| 2nd | Great Shot | ||
| 3rd | Pounamu | ||
| 2017 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Rock Magic | 1:22.4 |
| 2nd | Scales Of Justice | ||
| 3rd | Disposition | ||
| 2016 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Wink And Nod | 1:24.0 |
| 2nd | Battle Hero | ||
| 3rd | Mr Utopia | ||
| 2015 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Shining Knight | 1:23.7 |
| 2nd | Dawn Approach | ||
| 3rd | Fuchsia Bandana | ||
| 2014 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Elite Belle | 1:25.8 |
| 2nd | Kalahaar | ||
| 3rd | Checkpoint | ||
| 2013 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Kerrific | 1:23.4 |
| 2nd | Belora | ||
| 3rd | Ranger | ||
| 2012 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Luckygray | 1:23.7 |
| 2nd | Reimbursement | ||
| 3rd | Cavallo Pazzo | ||
| 2011 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Grand Nirvana | 1:22.4 |
| 2nd | King Kool Kat | ||
| 3rd | Battle Emblem | ||
| 2010 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Grand Nirvana | 1:22.1 |
| 2nd | Roman Time | ||
| 3rd | Werd | ||
| 2009 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Universal Ruler | 1:22.6 |
| 2nd | Roman Time | ||
| 3rd | Kens Double | ||
| 2008 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Marasco | 1:22.8 |
| 2nd | Oroyo Gold | ||
| 3rd | Ripped | ||
| 2007 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Beat The Storm | 1:23.1 |
| 2nd | Ripped | ||
| 3rd | Is Amazing | ||
| 2006 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Let Go Thommo | 1:23.7 |
| 2nd | Kim Invader | ||
| 3rd | Electic | ||
| 2005 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Who Did It | 1:27.2 |
| 2nd | Mefeking | ||
| 3rd | Beyond Dispute | ||
| 2004 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Modem | 1:26.0 |
| 2nd | Plea Bargain | ||
| 3rd | Secret Link | ||
| 2003 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Tribula | 1:22.6 |
| 2nd | Modem | ||
| 3rd | Shane’s Boy | ||
| 2002 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Dark ‘n’ Dangerous | 1:24.7 |
| 2nd | Prince Of Pop | ||
| 3rd | Country Blazer | ||
| 2001 Belmont Sprint | 1st | Corporate Bruce | 1:24.2 |
| 2nd | Old Fashion | ||
| 3rd | Mystery Lad | ||
| 2000 Belmont Sprint | 1st | News Review | 1:21.1 |
| 2nd | Noble Sky | ||
| 3rd | Jevanswer | ||
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