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The Manfred Stakes is run over 1200m in late January over the Australia Day long weekend each year in Melbourne.
Manfred Stakes News
The Manfred Stakes is a Group 3 race currently runs Caulfield Racecourse on the Australia Day long weekend in late January during the early stages of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.
2026 Manfred Stakes Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 Manfred Stakes results and finishing order at Caulfield on Saturday January 24, 2026.Â
- 1st: No. 1 Space Rider ($15)
- 2nd: No. 2 Job Done
- 3rd: No. 6 Salty Pearl
Winning Margin: 0.5 lengths
Winning Time: 1:10.09
Space Rider ($15) officially announced himself as a Group 1 contender on Saturday, with the returning Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr trained son of Zoustar claiming a first-up victory in the 2026 Manfred Stakes results in authoritative fashion. Starting at a generous $15 quote, the colt overcame a tricky tactical setup at Caulfield to surge past the frontrunners and secure the Group 3 feature. It was a professional, high-impact return that showcased both speed and stamina, marking him as the standout performer of the day. Connections will now look toward bigger prizes, with the son of the season appearing primed for a dominant autumn preparation heading towards the Australian Guineas on February 28.
| 1. Space Rider (9) J: Ethan Brown57kg 1740xT: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 2. Job Done (7) J: Thomas Stockdale57kg 4x113T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 6. Salty Pearl (3) J: Ben Allen56.5kg 3341xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 9. Custom (4) J: Jamie Melham55kg x162xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. Naifah (8) J: Jordan Childs55kg 15723T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 4. Express Class (5) J: Patrick Moloney57kg 136x9T: Gerard Moloney | ||
| 7. Miss Ole (2) J: Ben Melham55kg 511x5T: Clinton McDonald | ||
| 10. Conscience (6) J: Luke Cartwright55kg 1x4x3T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 3. Romantic Encounter (1) J: Luke Currie57kg 120xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
2026 Manfred Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Manfred Stakes 2026 Tips on the three-year-old’s showdown this season.
Best Bet: No. 6 Salty Pearl
SALTY PEARL (3) finds a terrific first-up target at Caulfield on Saturday, and this classy Tagaloa filly looks more than capable of knocking off the boys fresh. The striking grey hasn’t been seen since her Group 2 MV Fillies Classic win over the mile in October, but she’s been tuned up nicely with two Cranbourne trials and should be forward enough to fire. She’s yet to win first-up, but she’s already proven around Caulfield after scoring a 2YO Handicap here last winter, and her spring campaign was nothing but consistent. She even held her own at Group 1 level, finishing a close fourth in the Thousand Guineas at big odds. With Ben Allen sticking, the blinkers coming off, a perfect draw, and a strong 1200m record, she profiles as one of the best value plays in the Manfred. Expect her to be charging late and right in the finish.
|
6. Salty Pearl (3)
J: Ben Allen56.5kg
3341xT: Ciaron Maher
|
The race was previously held in early February before being moved to the Australia Day race card for 2023 when it took place over 1300m at Ladbrokes Park Hillside.
It stayed on the Australia Day program in 2024 back at Caulfield Racecourse over 1200m, before taking place the day prior in 2025 at Sandown Lakeside.
In 2026 the event returns to Caulfield.
Open only to three-year-old horses the Manfred Stakes is run under set weights plus penalties conditions and offers $200,000 in total prize money.
Gallopers may be having their first start for the autumn in the race or have had an earlier lead-up in a summer lead-up in Melbourne.
Horses out of the Manfred Stakes field have a number of options looking ahead including the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1200m) at Flemington a fortnight later and even the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) in March for those after more distance.
In 2020 Super Seth backed up from his Caulfield Guineas win to take out the Manfred Stakes before a next-up second against the older horses in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) on Blue Diamond Stakes Day.
The following year the 2021 Manfred Stakes winner Portland Sky backed-up to dead-heat for first in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
The 2023 Manfred Stakes form was franked by the winner Jacquinot who won the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at his next start.
The 2026 Manfred Stakes ran on Saturday January 24, 2026 as part of Melbourne’s Australia Day long weekend racing action in Melbourne and was won in an impressive upset by resuming Zoustar colt Space Rider ($15).Â
| 2026 Manfred Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday January 24, 2026 |
| Track: | Caulfield Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Race Type: | 3YO – Set Weights + Penalties |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $200,000 |
2026 Manfred Stakes Betting
The latest Manfred Stakes 2026 betting markets will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and also published here at Races.com.au as soon as betting on the Melbourne Group 3 are released.
Generation ($1.85 in 2022) and Jacquinot ($2.10 in 2023) are the latest favourites in Manfred Stakes betting to win.
There was a notable upset in 2026 with Space Rider winning at Manfred Stakes odds of $15.
2026 Manfred Stakes Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 MANFRED STAKES FORM GUIDE
2026 Manfred Stakes Field
The Manfred Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of early autumn three-year-olds who could be heading towards Group 1 races including the Australian Guineas against their own kind.
The official Manfred Stakes 2026 field and barriers are set for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The 2026 Manfred Stakes final field features a small but quality line-up of potential Australian Guineas bound three-year-olds including the resuming Ciaron Maher trained Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic winner Salty Pearl drawn in gate three.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14x1740x | SPACE RIDER | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Ethan Brown | 10 | 57kg | Â | Â | 72 |
| 2 | 14×113 | JOB DONE | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Thomas Stockdale | 8 | 57kg | Â | Â | 74 |
| 3 | 120x | ROMANTIC ENCOUNTER (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Luke Currie | 1 | 57kg | Â | Â | 77 |
| 4 | 136×9 | EXPRESS CLASS | Gerard Moloney | Patrick Moloney | 5 | 57kg | Â | Â | 71 |
| 5 | 1 | CYBER LINK | Greg Eurell | Beau Mertens | 7 | 57kg | Â | Â | 64 |
| 6 | x231x3341x | SALTY PEARL | Ciaron Maher | Ben Allen | 3 | 56.5kg | Â | Â | 86 |
| 7 | 511×5 | MISS OLE | Clinton McDonald | Ben Melham | 2 | 55kg | Â | Â | 72 |
| 8 | 0x29x15723 | NAIFAH | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Jordan Childs | 9 | 55kg | Â | Â | 74 |
| 9 | 7373x162x | CUSTOM | Ciaron Maher | Ms Jamie Melham | 4 | 55kg | Â | Â | 70 |
| 10 | 1x4x3 | CONSCIENCE | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Luke Cartwright (a) | 6 | 55kg |  |  | 66 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2026 Manfred Stakes Nominations
Early nominations for the Manfred Stakes in 2026 close the Monday ahead of the event.
| Â | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x231x3341x | SALTY PEARL | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 1 | 56.5kg | Â | Â | 86 |
| 2 | 8x111367x | JIMMY RECARD | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 2 | 58.5kg | Â | Â | 85 |
| 3 | 1x1432x | PLANET RED | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 3 | 57kg | Â | Â | 98 |
| 4 | 120x | ROMANTIC ENCOUNTER (NZ) | C | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 4 | 57kg | Â | Â | 77 |
| 5 | 14×113 | JOB DONE | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 5 | 57kg | Â | Â | 74 |
| 6 | 0x29x15723 | NAIFAH | F | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 6 | 55kg | Â | Â | 74 |
| 7 | 511×5 | MISS OLE | F | 3 | Clinton McDonald | 7 | 55kg | Â | Â | 72 |
| 8 | 14x1740x | SPACE RIDER | C | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 8 | 57kg | Â | Â | 72 |
| 9 | 136×9 | EXPRESS CLASS | G | 3 | Gerard Moloney | 9 | 57kg | Â | Â | 71 |
| 10 | 7373x162x | CUSTOM | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 10 | 55kg | Â | Â | 70 |
| 11 | 67x53218x1 | EXPULSION | F | 3 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 11 | 55kg | Â | Â | 67 |
| 12 | 25x3x15115 | SURPRISATIC | G | 3 | Brent Stanley | 12 | 57kg | Â | Â | 66 |
| 13 | 1x4x3 | CONSCIENCE | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 13 | 55kg | Â | Â | 66 |
| 14 | 9x135x | EXIT | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 14 | 55kg | Â | Â | 66 |
| 15 | 1 | CYBER LINK | C | 3 | Greg Eurell | 15 | 57kg | Â | Â | 64 |
| 16 | 1 | YUKAINA | G | 3 | Mitchell Freedman | 16 | 57kg | Â | Â | 63 |
| 17 | 2×1 | ASAKURA | G | 3 | Mitchell Freedman | 17 | 57kg | Â | Â | 62 |
| 18 | 9×1 | NORDIC STRIKE | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 18 | 57kg | Â | Â | 62 |
| 19 | 11 | COCO DE LUXE | F | 3 | Craig Weeding | 19 | 55kg | Â | Â | 62 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Manfred Stakes History
The Manfred Stakes began as a Principal race in 1968 and the inaugural winner was Anvil.
Since then, a number of notable gallopers have won the race including Danasinga (1995), Don Edurado (2002), Haradasun (2007), Turffontein (2008), Denman (2010), Mosheen (2012), and returning Caulfield Guineas champion Super Seth (2020).
The event was elevated to a Group 3 race from 1979 – 1990 but was downgraded to Listed status from 1991 – 2013. From 2014 the Manfred Stakes has been run as a Group 3 race once more and continues to attract quality three-year-olds.
It has been run over various distances from 1200m – 1600m and at both Sandown and Caulfield Racecourse.
Other names the race has gone by over time are the Schweppes Cup, the Wellington Racing Club Stakes and then the Ladbrokes Manfred Stakes due to the sponsorship by online bookmaker Ladbrokes.com.au.
See below for the full Manfred Stakes winners and results going back to the year 2000.
The 2023 Manfred Stakes moved back to Sandown on Australia Day. In 2024 the distance returned to 1200m with the race held at Caulfield before it took place at Sandown Lakeside in 2025.
It returned to Caulfield in 2026.
Recent Manfred Stakes Winners
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Space Rider | 1 minute 10.09 seconds |
| 2nd | Job Done | ||
| 3rd | Salty Pearl | ||
| 2025 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Royal Insignia | 1 minute 11.06 seconds |
| 2nd | Tropicus | ||
| 3rd | Band Of Brothers | ||
| 2024 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Brave Mead | 1 minute 9.59 seconds |
| 2nd | King Colorado | ||
| 3rd | Steparty | ||
| 2023 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Jacquinot | 1 minute 17.67 seconds (run over 1300m) |
| 2nd | Bank Maur | ||
| 3rd | Ruthless Dame | ||
| 2022 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Generation | 1 minute 9.86 seconds |
| 2nd | Zethus | ||
| 3rd | Linas Legend | ||
| 2021 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Portland Sky | 1 minute 9.50 seconds |
| 2nd | Aysar | ||
| 3rd | Tagaloa | ||
| 2020 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Super Seth | 1 minute 12.83 seconds |
| 2nd | Free Of Debt | ||
| 3rd | Dalasan | ||
| 2019 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Tin Hat | 1 minute 8.79 seconds |
| 2nd | Halvorsen | ||
| 3rd | Poised to Strike | ||
| 2018 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Cliff’s Edge | 1 minute 8.93 seconds |
| 2nd | Overshare | ||
| 3rd | Muraaqeb | ||
| 2017 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Legless Veuve | 1 minute 10.82 seconds |
| 2nd | Into Orbit | ||
| 3rd | Hey Doc | ||
| 2016 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Puritan | 1 minute 10.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Golden Spin | ||
| 3rd | Ready For Victory | ||
| 2015 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Java | 1 minute 18.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Petrology | ||
| 3rd | Affirmation | ||
| 2014 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Bull Point | 1 minute 9.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Worth A Ransom | ||
| 3rd | The Quarterback | ||
| 2013 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Royal Haunt | 1 minute 9.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Force Command | ||
| 3rd | Hosting | ||
| 2012 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Mosheen | 1 minute 10.7 seconds |
| 2nd | That’s The One | ||
| 3rd | Highly Recommended | ||
| 2011 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Enjin Number Nine | 1 minute 16.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Bullbars | ||
| 3rd | Star Witness | ||
| 2010 Wellington Racing Club Stakes | 1st | Denman | 1 minute 22.89 seconds |
| 2nd | Carrara | ||
| 3rd | Most Immediate | ||
| 2009 Wellington Racing Club Stakes | 1st | Nicconi | 1 minute 24.98 seconds |
| 2nd | Handsupfordetroit | ||
| 3rd | Miss Scarlatti | ||
| 2008 Wellington Racing Club Stakes | 1st | Turffontein | 1 minute 24.41 seconds |
| 2nd | Pillar Of Hercules | ||
| 3rd | El Mandon | ||
| 2007 Wellington Racing Club Stakes | 1st | Haradasun | 1 minute 22.69 seconds |
| 2nd | Danever | ||
| 3rd | Eclair Passion | ||
| 2006 Manfred Stakes | 1st | Thin And Crispy | 1 minute 23.40 seconds |
| 2nd | Serenade Rose | ||
| 3rd | Bel Danoro | ||
| 2005 Schweppervescence Cup | 1st | Shinzig | 1 minute 23.40 seconds |
| 2nd | Not A Single Doubt | ||
| 3rd | Danehill Express | ||
| 2004 Schweppes Cup | 1st | Keep The Faith | 1 minute 35.38 seconds |
| 2nd | Our Smoking Joe | ||
| 3rd | Modern Era | ||
| 2003 Schweppes Cup | 1st | Conspectus | 1 minute 38.56 seconds |
| 2nd | Tantralite | ||
| 3rd | Lord Volksraad | ||
| 2002 Schweppes Cup | 1st | Don Eduardo | 1 minute 37.41 seconds |
| 2nd | Leather Lane | ||
| 3rd | Exaggerate | ||
| 2001 Schweppes Cup | 1st | Academy Dancer | 1 minute 35.54 seconds |
| 2nd | Royale Exit | ||
| 3rd | Adolescence | ||
| 2000 Schweppes Cup | 1st | Freemason | 1 minute 37.03 seconds |
| 2nd | Manner Hill | ||
| 3rd | The Golden Dane | ||
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