Chances are you're about to lose.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
The Zeditave Stakes is a Group 3 sprint held in Melbourne on Blue Diamond Stakes Day during the autumn.
Zeditave Stakes News
The Zeditave Stakes is a Group 3 race held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on Blue Diamond Stakes Day each February.
2026 Zeditave Stakes Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 Zeditave Stakes results and finishing order at Caulfield on Saturday February 21, 2026.
- 1st: No. 3 Pallaton ($3.50)
- 2nd: No. 1 Devil Night
- 3rd: No. 6 Beskar
Winning Margin: 1.5 lengths
Winning Time: 1:09.45
The progressive Michael Freedman-trained Wootton Bassett colt, Pallaton ($3.50), improve on his lead-up fourth in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes to salute in the 2026 Zeditave Stakes results second-up at Caulfield. Jockey Craig Williams produced a beautiful ride on the smart three-year-old who travelled sweetly on-speed throughout before coming from second on the turn to move up on the inside on the home straight and draw clear for a 1.5 length victory over last year’s Blue Diamond winner Devil Night. Freedman named the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on March 7 as the hopeful next-up target for the up-and-coming sprinter.
| 3. Pallaton (2) J: Craig Williams56kg 621×4T: Michael Freedman | ||
| 1. Devil Night (7) J: Michael Dee59.5kg x564xT: M, W & J Hawkes | ||
| 6. Beskar (1) J: Damian Lane56kg 0x68xT: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 5. Wise Inlaw (3) J: Zac Spain56kg 1236xT: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 2. Rosberg (6) J: Ben Melham57.5kg 19xT: Clinton McDonald | ||
| 7. Redders (4) J: Lachlan Neindorf56kg 818×1T: Danny O’brien | ||
| 4. Esmahli (5) J: Luke Currie56kg 1311T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
The Zeditave Stakes is a popular target for in-form three-year-olds heading towards tougher races in autumn carnival including Sydney’s Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Randwick during The Championships in April. In 2017 the Zeditave Stakes third placegetter Derryn went on to win the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint three runs later in Sydney.
In 2023 Wee Nessy ran second in both the Zeditave and that year’s $1 million Arrowfield 3YO Sprint results.
Held over 1200m under set weights plus penalties conditions, the Zeditave Stakes pays $200,000 prize money. It is a fairly lucrative race for that time of year and is often employed as a lead-up race to the autumn carnival at Caulfield.
With so many major races following it, many trainers direct their better three-year-olds towards this race. Prior to the Zeditave Stakes, there are few lead-up races to consider.
Many horses contest the Zeditave Stakes first up or near enough to as part of their return to racing following a break after the spring racing carnival.
The form of the 2021 Zeditave Stakes was franked with the winner Oxley Road going on to win that spring’s Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m).
The 2026 Zeditave Stakes ran on Saturday February 21, 2026 at Caulfield on Blue Diamond Day and saw the Michael Freedman-trained Pallaton ($3.50) salute in an authoritative 1.5 length win off a gun Craig Williams ride.Â
| Zeditave Stakes 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday February 21, 2026 |
| Track: | Caulfield Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Conditions: | 3YOs – Set Weights + Penalties |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $200,000 |
2026 Zeditave Stakes Betting
The official Zeditave Stakes 2026 betting odds will be available here at Races.com.au as soon as markets on the sprint for three-year-olds are released by Ladbrokes.com.au this autumn.
The latest favourites in Zeditave Stakes betting to salute for the punters were Overshare ($3.80 in 2018), Oxley Road ($2.50 in 2021), and Tropicus ($3.30 in 2025).
There was a notable upset in 2024 with Raikoke winning at double-figures ($10).
2026 Zeditave Stakes Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 ZEDITAVE STAKES FORM GUIDE
2026 Zeditave Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Zeditave Stakes 2026 Tips on the Blue Diamond Day support act this autumn.
To Win: No. 4 Esmahli
I’m taking on the favourite Pallaton in this year’s Zeditave and think ESMAHLI (5) looks huge value to make it a hat-trick of wins in this small field. The Hayes boys look to have a nice youngster on their hands with this Blue Point colt chasing his fourth win at start number five, so the record is building. Deserves a shot at a Group 3 now having been progressing through the grades aplomb. Comes off a win fresh at Rosehill on Jan 17 on Heavy going but he’s versatile and handles all ground. Winning trial at HQ on Feb 14 was eye-catching, his other two wins were at Mornington so he goes very well the Melbourne way and love that Luke Currie comes back in the saddle. Biggest test to date but looks well up to the task for mine.
|
4. Esmahli (5)
J: Luke Currie56kg
1311T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes
|
2026 Zeditave Stakes Field
Amongst the Zeditave Stakes field you can usually find some of the better three year olds who are currently on the racing circuit. Because of its convenient location in the racing calendar, the Zeditave Stakes field often features horses that will continue to race throughout March and April.
The official Zeditave Stakes 2026 field and barriers will be released below the Wednesday leading up to Blue Diamond Stakes Day 2026.
The 2026 Zeditave Stakes final field features a small but exciting field of three-year-old sprinters including Devil Night resuming for the autumn.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 215x564x | DEVIL NIGHT | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Michael Dee | 7 | 59.5kg | Â | Â | 101 |
| 2 | 19x | ROSBERG | Clinton McDonald | Ben Melham | 6 | 57.5kg | Â | Â | 75 |
| 3 | 40x35621x4 | PALLATON | Michael Freedman | Craig Williams | 2 | 56kg | Â | Â | 86 |
| 4 | 1311 | ESMAHLI | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Luke Currie | 5 | 56kg | Â | Â | 73 |
| 5 | 5x41236x | WISE INLAW | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Zac Spain | 3 | 56kg | Â | Â | 68 |
| 6 | 1x340x68x | BESKAR | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Damian Lane | 1 | 56kg | Â | Â | 69 |
| 7 | 6x3818x1 | REDDERS | Danny O’Brien | Lachlan Neindorf | 4 | 56kg | Â | Â | 66 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2026 Zeditave Stakes Nominations
Early nominations on the Zeditave Stakes in 2026 are announced the Monday of race week and will be published in full below.
2026 Zeditave Stakes nominations extended until 10:00am (AEDT) – 17/02/2026
| Â | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1x80x3 | BEL MERCI | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 75 |
| 2 | 4x | CAVALRY SCOUT | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 60 |
| 3 | 1x4x38 | CONSCIENCE | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 66 |
| 4 | 215x564x | DEVIL NIGHT | C | 3 | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | 101 |
| 5 | 1×1 | EDUCATED | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 68 |
| 6 | 1311 | ESMAHLI | C | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 73 |
| 7 | 40x35621x4 | PALLATON | C | 3 | Michael Freedman | 86 |
| 8 | 6x3818x1 | REDDERS | G | 3 | Danny O’Brien | 66 |
| 9 | 19x | ROSBERG | C | 3 | Clinton McDonald | 75 |
| 10 | 3127×2 | SHINJINA | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 64 |
| 11 | 1 | TRAPPER JOHN (NZ) | G | 3 | Clinton McDonald | 65 |
| 12 | 5x41236x | WISE INLAW | G | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 68 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Zeditave Stakes History
The Zeditave Stakes was a listed event prior to 2013, when it received an upgrade to Group 3 status. It became a feature event for the first time in 2014, having previously been held on Blue Diamond Stakes Day.
The race is named after the 1988 winner of the Blue Diamond Stakes and renowned sprinter Zeditave. Previously restricted to colts and geldings, the Zeditave Stakes is now an open event, allowing many horses to employ it as a leadup event.
Notable Zeditave Stakes winners include Almurtajaz (1989), Blaze The Turf (1998), Not A Single Doubt (2005), and Not Listenin’tome (2014).
Zeditave Stakes results and winning times are listed below.
In 2023 the event takes place at Ladbrokes Park Lakeside, Sandown, with renovations happening at Caulfield.
Recent Zeditave Stakes Results
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Pallaton | 1 minute 09.45 seconds |
| 2nd | Devil Night | ||
| 3rd | Beskar | ||
| 2025 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Tropicus | 1 minute 09.69 seconds |
| 2nd | Lofty Arch | ||
| 3rd | Sergeant Major | ||
| 2024 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Raikoke | 1 minute 10.03 seconds |
| 2nd | Brave Mead | ||
| 3rd | Scully | ||
| 2023 Ladbrokes Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Recommendation | 1 minute 10.19 seconds |
| 2nd | Wee Nessy | ||
| 3rd | Rich Fortune | ||
| 2022 Neds Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Finance Tycoon | 1 minute 09.39 seconds |
| 2nd | Generation | ||
| 3rd | Chartres | ||
| 2021 Neds Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Oxley Road | 1 minute 09.99 seconds |
| 2nd | It’sourtime | ||
| 3rd | Valaquenta | ||
| 2020 Neds Zeditave Stakes | 1st | He’ll Haunt Us | 1 minute 09.28 seconds |
| 2nd | Sansom | ||
| 3rd | Spend | ||
| 2019 Ladbrokes Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Terbium | 1 minute 09.97 seconds |
| 2nd | Zousain | ||
| 3rd | Yulong January | ||
| 2018 Ladbrokes Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Overshare | 1 minute 09.16 seconds |
| 2nd | Wild Heart | ||
| 3rd | Streets Of Avalon | ||
| 2017 Ladbrokes Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Benz | 1 minute 08.71 seconds |
| 2nd | Hard Promise | ||
| 3rd | Derryn | ||
| 2016 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Santa Ana Lane | 1 minute 9.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Brockhoff | ||
| 3rd | Bassett | ||
| 2015 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Rommel | 1 minute 10.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Galaxy Pegasus | ||
| 3rd | Convincible | ||
| 2014 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Not Listenin’tome | 1 minute 9.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Consorting | ||
| 3rd | Thermal Current | ||
| 2013 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Happy Galaxy | 1 minute 10.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Rusambo | ||
| 3rd | Wakeel | ||
| 2012 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Instinction | 1 minute 9.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Specter | ||
| 3rd | Petman | ||
| 2011 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Eclair Mystic | 1 minute 10.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Spirited Eagle | ||
| 3rd | Po Ching King | ||
| 2010 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Denman | 1 minute 8.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Carrara | ||
| 3rd | Spacecraft | ||
| 2009 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Time Thief | 1 minute 10.03 seconds |
| 2nd | Fravashi | ||
| 3rd | Fernandina | ||
| 2008 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Bundle O’ Gold | 1 minute 9.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Lord Monty | ||
| 3rd | El Mandon | ||
| 2007 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Haradasun | 1 minute 9.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Eclair Passion | ||
| 3rd | Churchill Downs | ||
| 2006 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Minson | 1 minute 10.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Red Dazzler | ||
| 3rd | Thin And Crispy | ||
| 2005 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | Not A Single Doubt | 1 minute 10.0 seconds |
| 2nd | Danehill Express | ||
| 3rd | Volitant | ||
| 2004 Zeditave Stakes | 1st | St Elmo’s Fire | 1 minute 10.0 seconds |
| 2nd | Abdullah | ||
| 3rd | Bushido | ||
next to go
