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HDF McNeil Stakes News
The HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 runs on Saturday, August 29, 2026 as part of Caulfield’s Memsie Stakes Day card.
The HDF McNeil Stakes is one of Melbourne’s most important early-spring three-year-old sprinting features, and Races.com.au readers are already diving into the latest HDF McNeil Stakes odds and expert HDF McNeil Stakes betting predictions as the new season form begins to unfold. Run at Caulfield over 1200m, the Group 3 race is a proven launching pad for elite colts and fillies heading towards the big Group 1 sprints and Guineas targets later in the spring. With sharp tempo, tactical barriers, second-up improvers and boom youngsters all shaping the market, the HDF McNeil Stakes consistently delivers high-quality racing and strong betting interest from smart punters — giving punters a crucial early read on which rising stars are ready to explode and which are still building towards their peak.
2026 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes Odds
See below for the latest HDF McNeil Stakes odds followed by the official finishing order after the event this spring.
2026 McNeil Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 Tips on the spring lead-up for 3YOs.
Hosted at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne the HDF McNeil Stakes forms an important part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Held on Memsie Stakes Day the McNeil Stakes shares its race program with a number of other black-type events. Other races held on the same day include:
- Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m),
- Group 3 The Heath 1100 (1100m), and the
- Group 3 WW Cockram Stakes (1200m) – run in 2026 as the Courtza Stakes.
Scheduled at the outset of the Spring Racing Carnival the McNeil Stakes play an important role in guiding form understanding for the remainder of the year.
Quite a few handy three years olds run in the McNeil Stakes. It’s a very competitive race and is well worth watching as it could lead to a run in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Merchant Navy (2017) was the last horse to do the HDF McNeil Stakes – Coolmore Stud Stakes double. The HDF McNeil Stakes also serves as a good lead-up race for three-year-olds looking to step-up in distance to a mile for the Thousand Guineas and Caulfield Guineas races at Caulfield later in the spring.
Super Seth (2019) was the last horse to complete the HDF McNeil Stakes – Caulfield Guineas double.
| 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday, August 29, 2026 |
| Track: | Caulfield Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Race Type: | 3YOs – SW+P |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $200,000 |
2026 McNeil Stakes Results
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
Winning Margin: TBD
Winning Time: TBD
2026 McNeil Stakes Betting
The best HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 betting odds will be provided at Races.com.au with market links to Ladbrokes.com.au.
Growing Empire ($2.50 in 2024) was the last favourite in McNeil Stakes betting to salute.
2026 McNeil Stakes Form
The HDF McNeil Stakes form guide is the key resource Races.com.au punters use to assess every runner heading into this important early-spring three-year-old sprint at Caulfield. Because the race regularly produces future Group 1 stars, the form guide helps you compare each colt and filly’s fitness, speed, map position, and progression from their juvenile campaigns — giving you a clear read on which emerging talents are ready to peak, and which may still be building.
What Punters Should Look for in the HDF McNeil Stakes Form Guide:
- Second-up improvement — Many runners spike here after a solid first-up return.
- Juvenile Group form — Performances in races like the Blue Diamond, Golden Slipper or JJ Atkins often translate strongly.
- 1200m credentials — Proven short-course speed is a major advantage at Caulfield.
- Barrier draws — Inside gates can be gold in a fast-run three-year-old sprint.
- Speed map — Identifying leaders, on-pacers and swoopers helps predict race shape and betting value.
- Trial and jump-out form — Sharp recent work often signals a horse ready to fire early in the prep.
- Stable patterns — Big yards like Maher, Godolphin and Moody frequently unveil top prospects here.
- Market movement — Early firmers can indicate strong stable confidence and peak readiness.
FULL 2026 HDF MCNEIL 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 Caulfield?
- Which runner has the best form on this track?
- Which runners are mapped as leaders in the HDF McNeil 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 McNeil Stakes Field
The 2026 McNeil Stakes field of final acceptances will be published in full below once announced by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday leading up to Memsie Stakes Day.
2026 HDF McNeil Stakes Nominations
Nominations for the HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 close the Monday of race week and will be published in full below.
HDF McNeil Stakes History
The HDF McNeil Stakes was inaugurated in 1989 and has continued to provide excellent racing action ever since.
Good Old Ted took out the first edition of the McNeil Stakes, and since then several renowned horses have seen success.
Originally called the HDF McNeil Quality, the race name was changed for the 2005 edition to its current form.
Up to and including 2005 the McNeil Stakes was raced over 1100 metres. Since 2006 it has remained at its current distance of 1200 metres. The McNeil Stakes was granted listed status in 1991, which it held until being upgraded to Group 3 in 1999. The race has remained a Group 2 event since then.
Notable McNeil Stakes winners include Danzero (1994), Miss Finland (2006), Scenic Blast (2007), Starspangledbanner (2009), Merchant Navy (2017), that year’s Caulfield Guineas champion Super Seth (2019), and Growing Empire (2024).
The form out of the 2021 HDF McNeil Stakes was franked with the winner Bruckner going on to run second in that year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes. The 2021 runner-up Artorious meanwhile ran fourth in Sydney’s Golden Rose, and third in both the Caulfield Guineas and Coolmore Stud Stakes. Artorious would further frank the form with a brilliant third overseas at Royal Ascot in 2022’s Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes (1207m).
The HDF McNeil Stakes winner Jacquinot franked the form winning Sydney’s Golden Rose Stakes next start before a fifth in that year’s The Everest results. He also returned in the autumn to win the 2023 CF Orr Stakes.
In 2023 the HDF McNeil Stakes winner Veight went on to run second in the Caulfield Guineas quinella that spring before an autumn return to further frank the form with a Group 1 Australian Guineas second and then Group 1 George Ryder Stakes win in 2024 over the older horses.
The 2024 McNeil Stakes form was firmly franked by the winner Growing Empire who went on to place in a host of Group 1 spring majors including the Manikato Stakes (2nd), The Everest (3rd) and Coolmore Stud Stakes (3rd).
McNeil Stakes results since 2000 are listed below.
HDF McNeil Stakes Results
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | TBD | TBD |
| 2nd | TBD | ||
| 3rd | TBD | ||
| 2025 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Tycoon Star | 1 minute 10.00 seconds |
| 2nd | McGaw | ||
| 3rd | Jimmy Recard | ||
| 2024 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Growing Empire | 1 minute 10.38 seconds |
| 2nd | Wonder Boy | ||
| 3rd | Stay Focused | ||
| 2023 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Veight | 1 minute 9.46 seconds |
| 2nd | Legacies | ||
| 3rd | Little Brose | ||
| 2022 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Jacquinot | 1 minute 11.09 seconds |
| 2nd | Aft Cabin | ||
| 3rd | Tijuana | ||
| 2021 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Bruckner | 1 minute 10.45 seconds |
| 2nd | Artorius | ||
| 3rd | Heresy | ||
| 2020 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Immortal Love | 1 minute 10.89 seconds |
| 2nd | Flying Award | ||
| 3rd | Tagaloa | ||
| 2019 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Super Seth | 1 minute 10.95 seconds |
| 2nd | King Of Hastings | ||
| 3rd | Sebrakate | ||
| 2018 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Native Soldier | 1 minute 9.7 seconds |
| 2nd | The August | ||
| 3rd | Seabrook | ||
| 2017 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Merchant Navy | 1 minute 10.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Booker | ||
| 3rd | Muraahib | ||
| 2016 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Defcon | 1 minute 11.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Highland Beat | ||
| 3rd | Wazzenme | ||
| 2015 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Gold Symphony | 1 minute 10.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Ready For Victory | ||
| 3rd | Demonstrate | ||
| 2014 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Chivalry | 1 minute 10.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Nordic Empire | ||
| 3rd | Awesome Rock | ||
| 2013 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Fast ‘N’ Rocking | 1 minute 10.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Prince Harada | ||
| 3rd | Thermal Current | ||
| 2012 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Lady Of Harrods | 1 minute 10.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Kabayan | ||
| 3rd | Shamexpress | ||
| 2011 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Golden Archer | 1 minute 09.0 seconds |
| 2nd | Cross Of Gold | ||
| 3rd | Vatican | ||
| 2010 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Sistine Angel | 1 minute 113.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Servant | ||
| 3rd | Intencion | ||
| 2009 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Starspangledbanner | 1 minute 10.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Tollesprit | ||
| 3rd | Eclair Fastpass | ||
| 2008 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Sugar Babe | 1 minute 10.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Whobegotyou | ||
| 3rd | Cardinal Virtue | ||
| 2007 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Scenic Blast | 1 minute 10.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Pins On Parade | ||
| 3rd | Marching | ||
| 2006 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Miss Finland | 1 minute 16.18 seconds |
| 2nd | Haradasun | ||
| 3rd | Due Sasso | ||
| 2005 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Danerich | 1 minute 06.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Line Account | ||
| 3rd | Izanami | ||
| 2004 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Tahni Girl | 1 minute 04.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Classiconi | ||
| 3rd | Oratorio | ||
| 2003 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Cahula | 1 minute 05.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Cross Current | ||
| 3rd | Abdullah | ||
| 2002 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Bel Esprit | 1 minute 01.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Yell | ||
| 3rd | Before Too Long | ||
| 2001 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Tully Dane | 1 minute 05.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Raja Lane | ||
| 3rd | King Of Prussia | ||
| 2000 HDF McNeil Stakes | 1st | Rapid Man | 1 minute 06.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Little Dozer | ||
| 3rd | Homewrecker | ||
HDF McNeil Stakes FAQs
What is the HDF McNeil Stakes?
The HDF McNeil Stakes is a Group 3 1200m sprint for three-year-olds held at Caulfield early in the spring. It’s a key form race that regularly produces future Group 1 stars heading towards the big Melbourne features.
When is the HDF McNeil Stakes run?
The race is held in late August as part of Melbourne’s early-spring racing calendar, giving punters an important first look at rising three-year-old talent.
What distance is the HDF McNeil Stakes run over?
The HDF McNeil Stakes is run over 1200 metres, favouring sharp, early-season sprinters with proven short-course speed.
Where is the HDF McNeil Stakes held?
The race is run at Caulfield Racecourse, a track known for rewarding tactical speed, good barriers and horses that can handle its tight turns.
Who typically wins the HDF McNeil Stakes?
Winners are often high-quality colts and fillies from major stables such as Maher, Godolphin and Moody, with strong juvenile form or sharp first-up runs.
How do I bet on the HDF McNeil Stakes?
Punters can follow the latest HDF McNeil Stakes odds, market movers, speed maps and expert analysis on Races.com.au to find value and build confident early-spring plays.
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