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The CS Hayes Stakes is a Group 3 race held in mid-late February annually at the esteemed Flemington Racecourse in Victoria during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

2026 CS Hayes Stakes Results

Stay tuned for the official 2026 CS Hayes Stakes results and finishing order at Flemington on Saturday February 14, 2026 and to see what 3YOs have the Australian Guineas in sight!

• 1st: No. 2 Sixties ($1.60F)
• 2nd: No. 9 Asakura
• 3rd: No. 12 Beyond Question

Winning Margin: 1.25 lengths

Winning Time: 1:22.35

The Group 1 Australian Guineas on February 28 is calling for the talented and progressive Chris Waller-trained Sixties ($1.60F) who showed plenty of class late to overcome a wide run at HQ and salute for the punters in the 2026 CS Hayes Stakes results for his second Group 3 victory thanks to a gutsy ride by Damian Lane. Sixties has firmed into $4 second favouritism behind Observer to win the Guineas through Ladbrokes.com.au.

One of the feature Group races held on Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Day, the event takes place along with the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) and the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m). Run over the middle-sprint distance of 1400m, the CS Hayes Stakes is an event for three-year-old colts and geldings at set weights plus penalties and is worth $200,000 in total prize money.

The handy runners that contest the CS Hayes Stakes will often progress on to the Group 2 Alister Clarke Stakes (1600m) a fortnight later or the prestigious Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) in early March.

The CS Hayes – Australian Guineas double has recently been completed by Wandjina (2015), Hey Doc (2017), Grunt (2018), and Alligator Blood (2020) making it a popular autumn punt.

In 2024 Riff Rocket became the first galloper in 30 years, since Mahogany (1993/94), to win the Victoria Derby and back-up to win the CS Hayes the following season. 

Riff Rocket franked the 2024 CS Hayes form going on to run third in the Australian Guineas trifecta before Group 1 wins in Sydney’s Rosehill Guineas & ATC Derby. 

The 2025 CS Hayes Stakes winner Sepals went on to run fourth in that year’s Australian Guineas results before returning for a big spring headlined by a Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes win and $10 million Golden Eagle second placing. 

The 2025 CS Hayes also produced that year’s Australian Guineas winner with Feroce improving on his Group 3 third to win the Group 1 mile feature at his next start. 

The 2026 CS Hayes Stakes took place at Flemington on Saturday February 14, 2026 as part of Black Caviar Lightning Day and was won second-up by Chris Waller’s highly spruiked Flying Artie colt Sixties ($1.60F). 

CS Hayes 2026 Info:
Date:	Saturday February 14, 2026
Track:	Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
Distance:	1400m
Conditions:	3YO Colts & Geldings Set Weights + Penalties
Status:	Group 3
Prizemoney:	$200,000
Inaugurated:	1987

2026 CS Hayes Stakes Betting

The latest CS Hayes Stakes 2026 betting odds will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and also published here at Races.com.au the week of the race.

Alligator Blood ($1.80 in 2020), Pinstriped ($5.50EF in 2022*) and Sixties ($1.60 in 2026) are the last favourites in CS Hayes Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

*Note: In 2022 the pre-race favourite Lightsaber was scratched at the barriers.

2026 CS Hayes Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 CS HAYES STAKES FORM GUIDE

2026 CS Hayes Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider CS Hayes Stakes 2026 Tips on the autumn lead-up this season.

CS Hayes Stakes Field

The CS Hayes Stakes field attracts a smart line-up of three-year-old colts and geldings each autumn, many eyeing a return to the track the next month for a shot at the Group 1 Australian Guineas over a mile.

Recent Australian Guineas winners to come off a run in the CS Hayes Stakes field include Wandjina (2015) who completed the double, Palentino (2nd in 2016), Hey Doc (1st in 2017), Grunt (1st in 2018), Alligator Blood (2020) who was the last CS Hayes winner to also win the Australian Guineas, Lunar Fox (12th in 2021), and Feroce (3rd in 2025).

The CS Hayes Stakes 2026 field and barriers will be released the Wednesday before the race runs on Black Caviar Lightning Day and will be published below.

The 2026 CS Hayes Stakes final field features a quality line-up of potential Australian Guineas bound three-year-olds including last start Group 3 Manfred Stakes winner Space Rider and the progressive Asakura chasing a hat-trick.

No	Last 10	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Probable Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	x20x42194x	WEST OF SWINDON	Ciaron Maher	Thomas Stockdale	9	58.5kg			84
2	821515×1	SIXTIES	Chris Waller	Damian Lane	11	58.5kg			84
3	14x1740x1	SPACE RIDER	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Ethan Brown	2	58.5kg			84
4	13177x	BINGI	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	Zac Spain	13	57kg			68
5	8x2130x	OFFICIATE	Chris Waller	Ben Melham	5	56kg			70
6	120×9	ROMANTIC ENCOUNTER (NZ)	Ben, Will & JD Hayes	Daniel Stackhouse	4	56kg			76
7	2x7134x	PICTOR	Chris Waller	Ms Jamie Melham	7	56kg			67
8	136×96	EXPRESS CLASS	Gerard Moloney	Patrick Moloney	10	56kg			71
9	2×11	ASAKURA	Mitchell Freedman	Dean Yendall	8	56kg			67
10	31	LOUD CHARLIE	Lloyd Kennewell	Jamie Mott	12	56kg			64
11	224×2	WETUMPKA	Peter Gelagotis	Ben Allen	1	56kg			61
12	1	BEYOND QUESTION	Patrick Kearney	Harry Coffey	3	56kg			62
13	6	EARTHING	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	Luke Nolen	6	56kg			60

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2026 CS Hayes Stakes Nominations

The 2026 CS Hayes Stakes race nominations close the Monday of race week and will be listed in full below as soon as released by Racing Victoria.

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Hcp Rating
1	2×11	ASAKURA	G	3	Mitchell Freedman
2	1	BEYOND QUESTION	G	3	Patrick Kearney
3	13177x	BINGI	C	3	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
4	6	EARTHING	C	3	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
5	136×96	EXPRESS CLASS	G	3	Gerard Moloney
6	1	FLY BY LIGHT	G	3	Clinton McDonald
7	31	LOUD CHARLIE	G	3	Lloyd Kennewell
8	8x2130x	OFFICIATE	C	3	Chris Waller
9	63×14	ONAVUITTON	G	3	Simon Zahra
10	2x7134x	PICTOR	C	3	Chris Waller
11	120×9	ROMANTIC ENCOUNTER (NZ)	C	3	Ben, Will & JD Hayes
12	821515×1	SIXTIES	C	3	Chris Waller
13	14x1740x1	SPACE RIDER	C	3	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
14	x20x42194x	WEST OF SWINDON	C	3	Ciaron Maher
15	224×2	WETUMPKA	C	3	Peter Gelagotis

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

CS Hayes Stakes History

The CS Hayes Stakes was inaugurated in 1987, and the first race was won by Raveneaux.

It began as a Listed race run over 1400m and was originally known as The Debonair. For one year in 1990 the race distance was decreased to 1200m before reverting back to 1400m.

In 1994 the race was called the Vanuatu stakes and was run over 1420m. The following year in 1995 the race name went back to The Debonair, but the race distance was 1432m.

In 1996 the race distance was 1433m and then in 1997 went back to the original 1400m length. In 2001 the race reached Group 3 status. A couple of years later in 2003 the distance was 1420m and the next year the length was 1410m. In 2006 the distance went back to 1400m but in 2007 a shorter race was held over 1200m. In 2008 the distance was again 1400m.

CS Hayes Stakes Winners

CS Hayes Stakes results and winning times since 2000 are provided below.

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2026 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Sixties	1 minute 22.35 seconds
	2nd	Asakura
	3rd	Beyond Question
2025 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Sepals	1 minute 24.21 seconds
	2nd	Ndola
	3rd	Feroce
2024 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Riff Rocket	1 minute 22.32 seconds
	2nd	King Colorado
	3rd	Verdad
2023 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Elliptical	1 minute 21.96 seconds
	2nd	Holymanz
	3rd	Maximillius
2022 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Pinstriped	1 minute 22.74 seconds
	2nd	Pascero
	3rd	Captivant
2021 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Tagalao	1 minute 21.63 seconds
	2nd	Aysar
	3rd	Mo’unga
2020 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Alligator Blood	1 minute 22.61 seconds
	2nd	Catalyst
	3rd	Chenier
2019 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	The Inevitable	1 minute 21.99 seconds
	2nd	Age Of Chivalry
	3rd	O’Tauto
2018 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Grunt	1 minute 21.55 seconds
	2nd	Cliff’s Edge
	3rd	Muraaqeb
2017 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Hey Doc	1 minute 22.88 seconds
	2nd	Malaise
	3rd	Land Of Plenty
2016 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Tivaci	1 minute 22.7 seconds
	2nd	Palentino
	3rd	Tulsa
2015 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Wandjina	1 minute 22.3 seconds
	2nd	Disposition
	3rd	Stratum Star
2014 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Hucklebuck	1 minute 22.9 seconds
	2nd	Prince Harada
	3rd	The Quarterback
2013 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Sheer Talent	1 minute 22.6 seconds
	2nd	Force Command
	3rd	Hosting
2012 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	That’s The One	1 minute 22.1 seconds
	2nd	Decircles
	3rd	Instinction/Highly Recommended
2011 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Bullbars	1 minute 23.9 seconds
	2nd	Startsmeup
	3rd	Spirited Eagle
2010 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Take The Rap	1 minute 23.2 seconds
	2nd	Encosta Belief
	3rd	Extra Zero
2009 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Fair Trade	1 minute 22.5 seconds
	2nd	Cavalaire Bay
	3rd	Excelltastic
2008 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Playwright	1 minute 23.6 seconds
	2nd	Schilling
	3rd	Viatorian
2007 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Wordsmith	1 minute 10.8 seconds
	2nd	General Albert
	3rd	Mondano
2006 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Minson	1 minute 21.6 seconds
	2nd	Langarza
	3rd	Zigotto
2005 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Lieutenant	1 minute 24.2 seconds
	2nd	Mr Martini
	3rd	Barely A Moment
2004 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Starcraft	1 minute 24 seconds
	2nd	Under The Bridge
	3rd	Elvstroem
2003 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Innovation Girl	1 minute 22.7 seconds
	2nd	Delago Brom
	3rd	Tycoon Ruler
2002 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Dash For Cash	1 minute 22.6 seconds
	2nd	All Courage
	3rd	Royal Code
2001 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Kosta Zoff	1 minute 22.3 seconds
	2nd	Skalato
	3rd	Crop
2000 CS Hayes Stakes	1st	Crawl	1 minute 22.7 seconds
	2nd	Pins
	3rd	Kapuna