Chances are you're about to lose.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
The Winners Stakes - run as the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes from 2024 onwards - is a Special Conditions feature run in Sydney each spring on the Golden Eagle Day.
Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) News
- Bella Nipotina Wins 2024 Russell Balding Stakes
- The Everest Winner Bella Nipotina Leads 2024 Russell Balding Stakes Field & Odds
- 2023 Giga Kick Stakes Field & Betting: Everest Winner Think About It Odds-On Favourite to Keep Climbing
- Lost And Running Leads 2022 Nature Strip Stakes Field & Odds
- 2021 Golden Eagle Day: Rosehill Scratchings & Track Report
The Russell Balding Stakes – formerly the Winners Stakes – is a $3,000,000 Special Conditions race run and won in late October or early November on the Golden Eagle Day in Sydney.
2025 Russell Balding Stakes Results
Stay tuned for the official 2025 Russell Balding Stakes results and finishing order this spring!
- 1st: No. 2 Jimmysstar ($2.50F)
- 2nd: No. 12 Lady Shenandoah
- 3rd: No. 13 Mazu
Winning Margin: 2.67 lengths
Winning Time: 1:16.57
Ciaron Maher’s classy Group 1 winning sprinter, Jimmysstar ($2.50F), delivered on the big stage again when coming off a third in The Everest to salute for the punters in the 2025 Russell Balding Stakes results thanks to another peach of a ride by jockey Ethan Brown. Settling midfield, he was unleashed down the centre of the track and powered past a quality field that included six Everest runners. His sustained speed and timing were unmatched, leaving Lady Shenandoah and Mazu to fight for the minor placings. He will now be considered for a quick back-up and trip to Flemington for the Champions Sprint, which he pays $8 through Ladbrokes.com.au to win.
Russell Balding Stakes 2025 Results
|
1st
2. Jimmysstar (2)
J: Ethan Brown 58.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
2nd
12. Lady Shenandoah (10)
J: James McDonald 56.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
3rd
13. Mazu (7)
J: Rachel King 56.5kg
T: Joseph Pride |
||
|
4th
15. Coal Crusher (15)
J: Chad Schofield 56kg
T: Joseph Pride |
||
|
5th
4. Private Eye (9)
J: Nash Rawiller 57.5kg
T: Joseph Pride |
||
|
6th
7. Strauss (13)
J: Joao Moreira 57.5kg
T: Ryo Takei |
||
|
7th
14. With Your Blessing (3)
J: Alysha Collett 56.5kg
T: John P Thompson |
||
|
8th
16. Amor Victorious (12)
J: Regan Bayliss 57.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
|
9th
1. Briasa (4)
J: Tyler Schiller 58.5kg
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
||
|
10th
8. Waterford (1)
J: Dylan Gibbons 57.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
Part of the wider $60 million The Everest Racing Carnival, the spring feature is run alongside the lucrative $10 million The Golden Eagle (1500m) for four-year-olds and the $750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m).
It was previously conducted at Rosehill Gardens but moved to Royal Randwick ahead of the 2025 edition.
In 2024 the event was renamed the Russell Balding Stakes in honour Racing NSW’s former Chairman, Russell Balding, who played a crucial role in the creation and evolution of the now iconic Sydney Everest Carnival and the former Winners Stakes race.
Previously, each season’s edition of this race was renamed in honour of the previous year’s The Everest winner.
On the same date in Melbourne Flemington Racecourse is host to the coveted Victoria Derby Day program that kicks off the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
A set weights plus penalties event open to sprinters aged three and above the Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) takes place over 1300m.
The multi-million-dollar showdown makes an excellent next-up target for horses out of that year’s $20 million The Everest race.
The first four Winners Stakes champions – Pierata (5th in 2019), Gytrash (3rd in 2020), Eduardo (3rd in 2021) and Private Eye (2nd in 2022) – were all The Everest graduates.
The inaugural Winners Stakes was known as the Redzel Stakes in honour of the first and two-time The Everest hero Redzel (2017, 2018).
The 2020 edition ran as the Yes Yes Yes Stakes following the 2019 The Everest success of the Chris Waller-trained three-year-old Yes Yes Yes.
The 2021 Winners Stakes was known as the Classique Legend Stakes after the classy grey who won the 2020 The Everest race.
The 2022 Winners Stakes was named the Nature Strip Stakes following the 2021 The Everest win by Chris Waller’s super sprinter Nature Strip.
The Winners Stakes 2022 form was franked with the runner-up Mazu going on to place third in the following autumn’s Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
The 2023 Winners Stakes ran as the Giga Kick Stakes after the upset 2022 The Everest victory by the then undefeated three-year-old at 20/1.
The 2024 Winners Stakes took place as the Russell Balding Stakes, meaning the 2023 The Everest winner Think About It went without an event in his honour.
In 2024 star mare Bella Nipotina completed The Everest – Russell Balding Stakes double becoming the first ever mare to win the former and the first dual time champion of the latter with her sensational title defense.
Bella Nipotina franked the 2024 Russell Balding Stakes form with a next-up third in the Group 1 Champions Sprint. The 2024 Champions Sprint winner, Sunshine In Paris, also came via the Russell Balding improving on her second to turn the tables on Bella Nipotina.
In 2025 the Russell Balding Stakes winner, Jimmysstar, came via a luckless third in that year’s The Everest trifecta.
The 2025 Winners Stakes took place at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday, November 1, 2025 as the Russell Balding Stakes offering $3 million in prize money having moved from Rosehill for the 2025 edition and was won in a class display by the Ciaron Maher trained favourite Jimmysstar ($2.50F).
| 2025 Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday, November 1, 2025 |
| Track: | Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1300m |
| Race Type: | 3YOs & Above – Set Weights + Penalties |
| Status: | Special Condition |
| Prize Money: | $3,000,000 |
2025 Russell Balding (Winners Stakes) Betting
The Russell Balding (Winners Stakes) 2025 betting odds will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and published here at Races.com.au.
Pierata ($2.60 in 2019), Gytrash ($3.60 in 2020) and Eduardo ($3 in 2021) all saluted for the punters giving the favourites in Winners Stakes betting a flawless record after the opening three editions of the event.
In 2022 the Winners Stakes winner Private Eye paid $5.50, while the favourite Lost And Running ran a disappointing seventh.
Private Eye returned to run second in 2023 behind upset winner Bella Nipotina who jumped at Giga Kick Stakes odds of $10 while Think About It ran third as the beaten odds-on favourite.
Bella Nipotina ($2.50 in 2024) and Jimmysstar ($2.50 in 2025) are the latest Russell Balding Stakes favourites to win.
2025 Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 RUSSELL BALDING STAKES FORM GUIDE
2025 Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Russell Balding Stakes 2024 Tips on the $3 million showdown this Golden Eagle Day in Sydney.
To Win: No. 2 Jimmysstar
JIMMYSSTAR (3) is the deserving favourite in the $3mill Russell Balding and I’m more than happy to suggest he will salute for the punters after his excellent third after getting into the wrong spot in The Everest. Before tackling the world’s richest turf race, this Per Incanto six-year-old produced a sharp run in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes here on October 4, charging home from last on the bend to finish second of seven, just a half-length off Briasa over 1200m while carrying 58.5kg. That effort showed he’s right up to this level, and after a solid showing in tougher company, he won’t need to find much more to be in the finish again. Conditions suit, and he’s well placed to strike. Barrier 3 looks ideal for a kinder run than last time out, he’s proven at the track and Ethan Brown remains aboard. Wins.
|
1st
2. Jimmysstar (2)
J: Ethan Brown 58.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
2025 Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) Field
The confirmed Russell Balding Stakes 2025 field of sprinters will be detailed below as soon as available.
Many horses in the field may have contested the previous month’s Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick and Gytrash (2020) was the last to do the double.
The 2025 Russell Balding Stakes final field features a capacity line-up of sprinters including last start Group 3 Moonga Stakes winner Private Eye, Brisbane veteran Rothfire who broke a notable drought with his Group 3 Sydney Stakes win on The Everest Day, and The Everest third placegetter Jimmysstar drawn well in gate four.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11x414x218 | BRIASA | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tyler Schiller | 6 | 58.5kg | 117 | ||
| 2 | 0x1341x523 | JIMMYSSTAR (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 4 | 58.5kg | 116 | ||
| 3 | 80x2111x10 | WAR MACHINE (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Tim Clark | 7 | 58.5kg | 114 | ||
| 4 | 814x3x1241 | PRIVATE EYE | Joseph Pride | Nash Rawiller | 11 | 57.5kg | 114 | ||
| 5 | 64x427x971 | ROTHFIRE | Robert Heathcote | Jason Collett | 10 | 57.5kg | 111 | ||
| 6 | 4221100×62 | IOWNA MERC | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr (late alt) | 14 | 57.5kg | 109 | ||
| 7 | 6x2x1x0x3x | STRAUSS (JPN) | Ryo Takei | Joao Moreira | 16 | 57.5kg | 107 | ||
| 8 | 081x64x010 | WATERFORD (IRE) | Chris Waller | Dylan Gibbons | 1 | 57.5kg | 107 | ||
| 9 | 43x60330x0 | GOLDEN MILE | Joseph Pride | Tom Marquand | 8 | 57.5kg | 107 | ||
| 10 | x19028x840 | JEDIBEEL (NZ) | Brad Widdup | Tom Sherry | 12 | 57.5kg | 106 | ||
| 11 | 617x50x574 | AIRMAN | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Zac Lloyd | 17 | 57.5kg | 106 | ||
| 12 | 11x111x247 | LADY SHENANDOAH | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 13 | 56.5kg | 115 | ||
| 13 | 65516×5439 | MAZU | Joseph Pride | Ms Rachel King | 9 | 56.5kg | 109 | ||
| 14 | 1412×52313 | WITH YOUR BLESSING (NZ) | John Thompson | Ms Alysha Collett | 5 | 56.5kg | 107 | ||
| 15 | 03x5020x56 | COAL CRUSHER | Joseph Pride | Chad Schofield | 19 | 56kg | 105 | ||
| 16e | 174x23187x | AMOR VICTORIOUS | Bjorn Baker | Regan Bayliss | 15 | 57.5kg | 101 | ||
| 18e | 42x400x270 | FELIX MAJESTIC | Gary Nickson | Ms Molly Bourke (a) | 3 | 56kg | 93 | ||
| 19e | 9x4850644x | PHEARSON | Brad Widdup | 18 | 56.5kg | 93 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) Nominations
Nominations for the 2025 Russell Balding Stakes close the Monday of race week.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 617x50x574 | AIRMAN | G | 6 | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | 106 |
| 2 | 174x23187x | AMOR VICTORIOUS | G | 6 | Bjorn Baker | 101 |
| 3 | x116x1x146 | ANGEL CAPITAL | H | 4 | Chris Waller | 110 |
| 4 | 11x414x218 | BRIASA | G | 5 | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | 117 |
| 5 | x90887x1x5 | CABALLUS | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 101 |
| 6 | 03x5020x56 | COAL CRUSHER | G | 8 | Joseph Pride | 105 |
| 7 | 1148×66319 | DISNECK | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 94 |
| 8 | 9x3421x512 | EVAPORATE (NZ) | G | 4 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 110 |
| 9 | 42x400x270 | FELIX MAJESTIC | G | 6 | Gary Nickson | 93 |
| 10 | 43x60330x0 | GOLDEN MILE | G | 6 | Joseph Pride | 107 |
| 11 | 10112×3796 | HERE TO SHOCK (NZ) | G | 8 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 111 |
| 12 | 4221100×62 | IOWNA MERC | G | 6 | Bjorn Baker | 109 |
| 13 | x19028x840 | JEDIBEEL (NZ) | G | 6 | Brad Widdup | 106 |
| 14 | 0x1341x523 | JIMMYSSTAR (NZ) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 116 |
| 15 | 11x111x247 | LADY SHENANDOAH | M | 4 | Chris Waller | 115 |
| 16 | 65516×5439 | MAZU | G | 7 | Joseph Pride | 109 |
| 17 | 1x2120x212 | MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) | G | 8 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 120 |
| 18 | 973664×368 | OSTRAKA | G | 5 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 104 |
| 19 | 9x4850644x | PHEARSON | G | 8 | Brad Widdup | 93 |
| 20 | 814x3x1241 | PRIVATE EYE | G | 8 | Joseph Pride | 114 |
| 21 | 64x427x971 | ROTHFIRE | G | 8 | Robert Heathcote | 111 |
| 22 | 6x2x1x0x3x | STRAUSS (JPN) | H | 5 | Ryo Takei | 107 |
| 23 | 80x2111x10 | WAR MACHINE (NZ) | G | 5 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 114 |
| 24 | 081x64x010 | WATERFORD (IRE) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 107 |
| 25 | 1412×52313 | WITH YOUR BLESSING (NZ) | G | 7 | John Thompson | 107 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Winners Stakes / Russell Balding Stakes History
The Winners Stakes was first run in 2019 and won by the punters’ pick Pierata who improved on a lead-up fifth in that year’s The Everest race.
In its second running The Everest third placegetter Gytrash made it two-from-two for the favourites saluting in the 2020 race run on a Heavy track.
The flawless run of favourites continued with that year’s The Everest third place-getter Eduardo saluting for the punters at $3 in 2021. Eduardo won in 1:15.16 a record for the race.
Winners Stakes prize money was increased from $1 million to $3 million ahead of the 2022 edition which saw that year’s The Everest runner-up Private Eye win the race run as the Nature Strip Stakes.
Bella Nipotina for her 2023 upset became the first mare to salute in the Winners Stakes.
In 2024 the event was renamed the Russell Balding Stakes and saw Bella Nipotina successfully defend her title to become the first dual champion on the back of her The Everest success.
Bella Nipotina (2024) holds the Russell Balding Stakes race record winning in 1 minute 14.96 seconds.
Past Winners Stakes / Russell Balding Stakes Winners
Previous Winners Stakes / Russell Balding Stakes winners going back to the race’s inauguration in 2019 are detailed below.
| YEAR | WINNER | 2ND | 3RD | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 (Russell Balding Stakes) | Jimmysstar | Lady Shenandoah | Mazu | 1:16.57 |
| 2024 (Russell Balding Stakes) | Bella Nipotina | Sunshine In Paris | Lady Laguna | 1:14.96 |
| 2023 (Giga Kick Stakes) | Bella Nipotina | Private Eye | Think About It | 1:15.50 |
| 2022 (Nature Strip Stakes) | Private Eye | Mazu | Kementari | 1:15.93 |
| 2021 (Classique Legend Stakes) | Eduardo | Lost And Running | Standout | 1:15.16 |
| 2020 (Yes Yes Yes Stakes) | Gytrash | Haut Brion Her | Imaging | 1:17.85 |
| 2019 (Redzel Stakes) | Pierata | Trekking | Le Romain | 1:16.59 |
next to go
