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The Kevin Hayes Stakes (now run as the Peter Le Grand Stakes) is a Group 3 event held at Caulfield Racecourse each February.
Kevin Hayes Stakes (Peter Le Grand Stakes) News
The Kevin Hayes Stakes – currently known in 2026 as the Peter Le Grand Stakes in honour of the MRC Chairman – is a Group 3 race contested at Caulfield Racecourse during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival on Rubiton Stakes Day.
2026 Kevin Hayes Stakes (Peter Le Grand Stakes) Results
Stay tuned for the official Peter Le Grand Stakes 2026 results and finishing order on Saturday February 7, 2026.
- 1st: No. 2 Alpha Sofie ($3.80F)
- 2nd: No. 7 Wintery
- 3rd: No. 1 Bel Merci
Winning Margin: 1.5 lengths
Winning Time: 1:02.59
Alpha Sofie ($3.80F) proved far too sharp for her rivals in the 2026 Peter Le Grand Stakes results at Caulfield on Saturday, producing a brilliant turn of foot to sweep past the leaders and claim the sprint feature in style. The classy Capitalist filly from the Moody/Coleman stable travelled sweetly throughout with Zac Spain in the saddle before exploding up the middle to surge clear inside the final 200 metres, reaffirming her status as one of the most reliable short-course performers of the summer, and beat home Wintery by 1.5 lengths.
| 2. Alpha Sofie (4) J: Zac Spain57.5kg 4111xT: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 7. Wintery (12) J: Tom Madden56kg 126x1T: Aaron Purcell | ||
| 1. Bel Merci (11) J: Ethan Brown58.5kg 1x80xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 9. Chateau Eze (3) J: Jordan Childs56kg 120xT: Mark Walker | ||
| 4. Signature Scent (2) J: John Allen57kg 1144xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 12. Balance (7) J: Jamie Melham56kg T: Clinton McDonald | ||
| 6. Thanks Gorgeous (6) J: Jye Mcneil56kg 24411T: Mark & Levi Kavanagh | ||
| 11. Angel Eyes (5) J: Luke Currie56kg 1xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 3. Esha (10) J: Damian Lane57kg 188x0T: Shane Nichols & Hayden Black | ||
| 10. Morgana (1) J: Lachlan Neindorf56kg 1x97xT: Patrick F Ryan Jnr | ||
| 8. No Limitation (8) J: Craig Williams56kg x7x21T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 5. Jenni The Ninja (9) J: Beau Mertens57kg 11T: Gavin Bedggood |
The day is host to some of the top early autumn events including the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) and Blue Diamond Prelude races.
The Kevin Hayes Stakes (Peter Le Grand Stakes) is run over 1100m (previously 1200m) and is open only to three-year-old fillies. The set weights plus penalties sprint offers $200,000 in prize money and makes a nice lead-up to some tougher autumn features for three-year-olds.
Fillies in the Kevin Hayes Stakes field may have come via an earlier summer – autumn run or be kicking off their campaigns. A good next-up run back at the track a fortnight later is the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) on Blue Diamond Stakes Day. Sabatini (2015) was the last filly to complete the Kevin Hayes Stakes – Angus Armanasco Stakes double.
The best out of the race could go on to take on the boys in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) as the 2016 winner Risque did finishing third in the Flemington mile feature in early March.
The 2022 Kevin Hayes Stakes form was franked with the third placegetter Asfoora returning that spring to win the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) and Flemington’s Group 3 Begonia Belle Stakes (1100m).
The 2024 Peter Le Grand Stakes form was franked with the winner, Estriella, winning the $1 million Inglis Sprint at her next start.
The 2025 Peter Le Grand Stakes winner Arabian Summer went on to frank the form that spring with a Group 1 Moir Stakes third placing.
The Kevin Hayes Stakes 2026 ran on Saturday February 7, 2026 at Caulfield Racecourse as the Peter Le Grand Stakes and saw the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained favourite Alpha Sofie ($3.80F) surge late to salute for the punters.Â
| 2026 Kevin Hayes Stakes (Peter Le Grand Stakes) | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday February 7, 2026 |
| Track: | Caulfield Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1100m |
| Race Type: | SW+P / 3YO Fillies |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $200,000 |
2026 Kevin Hayes Stakes (Peter Le Grand Stakes) Betting
The Peter Le Grand Stakes / Kevin Hayes Stakes 2026 betting odds on the Group 3 event will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and also found here at Races.com.au the week of the race so stay tuned.
How Womantic ($4 in 2020), La Mexicana ($2.90 in 2021), Estriella ($3.90 in 2024), Arabian Summer ($2.60 in 2025) and Alpha Sofie ($3.80 in 2026) are the latest favourites in Kevin Hayes Stakes betting to salute for the punters.
2026 Kevin Hayes Stakes (Peter Le Grand Stakes) Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 PETER LE GRAND STAKES FORM GUIDE
2026 Kevin Hayes Stakes (Peter Le Grand Stakes) Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Kevin Hayes Stakes 2026 / Peter Le Grand Stakes Tips on the Rubiton Stakes Day support act this autumn.
Each Way: No. 4 Signature Scent
No doubt the favourite ALPHA SOPHIE (4) deserves respect, but the value in the race for mine is SIGNATURE SCENT (2) who is really starting to be wound in as the money comes for this talented Written Tycoon filly. Prepared by master trainer Ciaron Maher, she is putting together a lovely record ahead of the tougher autumn features having won two of her four starts to date. Was only a length off the winner Ferivia here in the Group 3 Quezette when up to Black-Type company for the first time last August crossing the line fourth to suffer her first defeat but without disgrace. Hasn’t raced since mid-September when fourth again in a Listed sprint race at Flemington won by My Gladiola. That form held up very nicely with the winner going on to place second in both the Group 2 Danehill and Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. Now it is this filly’s turn, and she’s been brought on fitness-wise with a couple of decent trials that suggest she’ll be right up there with the better 3YOs of the season. Gun gate two draw which should see her get out quick, sit up on the speed, and I think she’ll be right there in the finish.
|
4. Signature Scent (2)
J: John Allen57kg
1144xT: Ciaron Maher
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2026 Kevin Hayes Stakes (Peter Le Grand Stakes) Field
The Kevin Hayes Stakes field features a good line-up of quality three-year-old fillies at the early stages of their autumn campaigns and is announced by Racing Victoria the Wednesday before the race.
The official 2026 Kevin Hayes Stakes (Peter Le Grand Stakes) field and barriers are set for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be published below.
The 2026 Peter Le Grand Stakes final field features a small but quality line-up of three-year-old fillies including the resuming Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes winner Alpha Sofie and the in-form Thanks Gorgeous chasing a hat-trick.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1x80x | BEL MERCI | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 11 | 58.5kg | Â | Â | 72 |
| 2 | 4111x | ALPHA SOFIE | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Zac Spain | 4 | 57.5kg | Â | Â | 78 |
| 3 | 1x188x0 | ESHA | Shane Nichols & Hayden Black | Damian Lane | 10 | 57kg | Â | Â | 76 |
| 4 | 1144x | SIGNATURE SCENT | Ciaron Maher | John Allen | 2 | 57kg | Â | Â | 70 |
| 5 | 11 | JENNI THE NINJA | Gavin Bedggood | Beau Mertens | 9 | 57kg | Â | Â | 70 |
| 6 | 7223×24411 | THANKS GORGEOUS | Mark & Levi Kavanagh | Jye McNeil | 6 | 56kg | Â | Â | 76 |
| 7 | 337x3126x1 | WINTERY | Aaron Purcell | Tom Madden | 12 | 56kg | Â | Â | 69 |
| 8 | 661x7x21 | NO LIMITATION | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 8 | 56kg | Â | Â | 69 |
| 9 | 120x | CHATEAU EZE (GB) | Mark Walker | Jordan Childs | 3 | 56kg | Â | Â | 70 |
| 10 | 421x97x | MORGANA | Patrick F Ryan Jnr | Lachlan Neindorf | 1 | 56kg | Â | Â | 62 |
| 11 | 1x | ANGEL EYES | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Luke Currie | 5 | 56kg | Â | Â | 63 |
| 12 | Â | BALANCE | Clinton McDonald | Ms Jamie Melham | 7 | 56kg | Â | Â | 61 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2026 Kevin Hayes Stakes (Peter Le Grand Stakes) Nominations
The Peter Le Grand Stakes / Kevin Hayes Stakes 2026 nominations close on the Monday of race week and will be listed in full below as soon as released.
| Â | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4111x | ALPHA SOFIE | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 78 |
| 2 | 1x | ANGEL EYES | F | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 63 |
| 3 | Â | BALANCE | F | 3 | Clinton McDonald | 61 |
| 4 | 6x6123x | BEFUDDLE | F | 3 | John Sadler | 68 |
| 5 | 1x80x | BEL MERCI | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 72 |
| 6 | 120x | CHATEAU EZE (GB) | F | 3 | Mark Walker | 70 |
| 7 | 1x188x0 | ESHA | F | 3 | Shane Nichols & Hayden Black | 76 |
| 8 | 7x53218x13 | EXPULSION | F | 3 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 69 |
| 9 | 1 | FUNDAMENTAL NATURE | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 64 |
| 10 | 5×221 | GWEN’S GIRL | F | 3 | Tom Dabernig | 62 |
| 11 | 11 | JENNI THE NINJA | F | 3 | Gavin Bedggood | 70 |
| 12 | 7x196x2 | MILITARY TYCOON | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 76 |
| 13 | 421x97x | MORGANA | F | 3 | Patrick F Ryan Jnr | 62 |
| 14 | 661x7x21 | NO LIMITATION | F | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 69 |
| 15 | 1144x | SIGNATURE SCENT | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 70 |
| 16 | 289×264 | SWOBODA | F | 3 | Patrick F Ryan Jnr | 59 |
| 17 | 7223×24411 | THANKS GORGEOUS | F | 3 | Mark & Levi Kavanagh | 76 |
| 18 | 126×151 | VIOLET LOVEBUG | F | 3 | Travis Doudle | 69 |
| 19 | 2330x31x53 | WILTSHIRE SQUARE | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 68 |
| 20 | 337x3126x1 | WINTERY | F | 3 | Aaron Purcell | 69 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Kevin Hayes Stakes History
The Kevin Hayes Stakes was first run in 1984 as the Catanach’s Handicap and won by Fork Tongue.
Notable Kevin Hayes Stakes winners since include Rockabye (1992), Hollow Bullet (2005), Typhoon Tracy (2009), Octavia (2013), and Risque (2016).
The race began as a Listed event and gained its current Group 3 status in 2014. For one year in 2006 the event took place at Sandown Racecourse instead of Caulfield.
In 2023 the Kevin Hayes Stakes again ran at Sandown Racecourse with renovations to the Caulfield track.
The Kevin Hayes Stakes has been run over 1400m, 1200m and 1100m over the years and has gone by a number of different names. It was renamed as the Kevin Hayes Stakes in 2004 in honour of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club’s former chairman Kevin Hayes.
The 2024 edition was renamed the Peter Le Grand Stakes in honour of the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) Chairman Peter Le Grand.
Kevin Hayes Stakes Winners
See below for the full Kevin Hayes Stakes winners and results going back to 2000.
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Peter Le Grand Stakes | 1st | Alpha Sofie | 1 minute 2.59 seconds |
| 2nd | Wintery | ||
| 3rd | Bel Merci | ||
| 2025 Peter Le Grand Stakes | 1st | Arabian Summer | 1 minute 3.78 seconds |
| 2nd | Tobeornottobe | ||
| 3rd | Shadhavar | ||
| 2024 Peter Le Grand Stakes | 1st | Estriella | 1 minute 2.97 seconds |
| 2nd | Lazzago | ||
| 3rd | Brazen Style | ||
| 2023 Kevin Hayes Stakes(1100m at Sandown) | 1st | Rich Fortune | 1 minute 3.20 seconds |
| 2nd | Queen Of The Ball | ||
| 3rd | Cythera | ||
| 2022 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Argentina | 1 minute 9.17 seconds |
| 2nd | Scorched Earth | ||
| 3rd | Asfoora | ||
| 2021 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | La Mexicana | 1 minute 9.98 seconds |
| 2nd | Malicorne | ||
| 3rd | Pinkham | ||
| 2020 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | How Womantic | 1 minute 8.80 seconds |
| 2nd | Enfleurage | ||
| 3rd | Aquitaine | ||
| 2019 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Crack The Code | 1 minute 10.65 seconds |
| 2nd | News Girl | ||
| 3rd | Aperitif | ||
| 2018 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Booker | 1 minute 11.11 seconds |
| 2nd | Leather’n’lace | ||
| 3rd | See Me Exceed | ||
| 2017 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Fuhryk | 1 minute 09.56 seconds |
| 2nd | Oregon’s Day | ||
| 3rd | Savanna Amour | ||
| 2016 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Risque | 1 minute 09.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Mossin’ Around | ||
| 3rd | Cana | ||
| 2015 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Sabatini | 1 minute 09.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Royal Snitzel | ||
| 3rd | Fontein Ruby | ||
| 2014 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Spirits Dance | 1 minute 10.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Marianne | ||
| 3rd | Patricia Dawn | ||
| 2013 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Octavia | 1 minute 09.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Member’s Joy | ||
| 3rd | Angelic Light | ||
| 2012 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Soft Sand | 1 minute 10.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Anabandana | ||
| 3rd | Glows | ||
| 2011 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Miss Gai Flyer | 1 minute 9.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Miss Elvee | ||
| 3rd | Pinker Pinker | ||
| 2010 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Set For Fame | 1 minute 8.66 seconds |
| 2nd | Aloha | ||
| 3rd | Dystopia | ||
| 2009 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Typhoon Tracy | 1 minute 9.48 seconds |
| 2nd | Bubble Below | ||
| 3rd | Boogaloo | ||
| 2008 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Absolut Glam | 1 minute 10.50 seconds |
| 2nd | Tranquility Base | ||
| 3rd | Vivacious Spirit | ||
| 2007 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Gina Lollawitcha | 1 minute 9.50 seconds |
| 2nd | Mistake Creek | ||
| 3rd | Anamato | ||
| 2006 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Chetwynd South | 1 minute 11.16 seconds |
| 2nd | Cayambe | ||
| 3rd | Doubting | ||
| 2005 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Hollow Bullet | 1 minute 10.38 seconds |
| 2nd | Dance At Ascot | ||
| 3rd | Astrodame | ||
| 2004 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | French Bid | 1 minute 8.84 seconds |
| 2nd | Strikeline | ||
| 3rd | Hinting | ||
| 2003 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Brief Embrace | 1 minute 9.28 seconds |
| 2nd | Sensational Spot | ||
| 3rd | Tarcoola Diamond | ||
| 2002 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Fair Embrace | 1 minute 11.0 seconds |
| 2nd | Firm | ||
| 3rd | Li Lo Lill | ||
| 2001 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Queen Carey | 1 minute 9.19 seconds |
| 2nd | Comhere | ||
| 3rd | Johann’s Dream | ||
| 2000 Kevin Hayes Stakes | 1st | Heaps Of Fun | 1 minute 10.82 seconds |
| 2nd | Kaemess | ||
| 3rd | Be Cool | ||
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