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The Quokka race a $5 million slot-race held at Ascot in Perth in April since 2023.
The Quokka News
The $5 million The Quokka is a new event to run at Ascot Racecourse in Perth in April since 2023.
The Special Conditions slot-race is officially the richest race held in Western Australia and is run over a 1200m sprint distance at weight-for-age.
2026 The Quokka Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 The Quokka results and finishing order at Ascot on Saturday April 18, 2026.
- 1st: No. 1 Jigsaw ($4F)
- 2nd: No. 3 Rey Magnerio
- 3rd: No. 12 Talkanco
Winning Margin: 0.36 lengths
Winning Time: 1:10.18
Cindy Alderson’s flying seven-year-old, Jigsaw ($4F), was huge saluting for the punters with his brave all-the-way victory in the 2026 The Quokka results. The last start William Reid Stakes champion extended his winning streak to make it seven straight off another well-rated ride by apprentice Logan Bates who crossed from the wide gate and lead from barrier to box, only briefly relinquishing the lead in a tense moment close to the finishing line before the horse fought back and held off Rey Magnerio in the $5 million feature with the filly Talkanco running third.
Click here for the full story.
2026 The Quokka Odds
The Quokka 2026 Results
| 1. Jigsaw (13) J: Logan Bates 58.5kg 1×111 T: Cindy Alderson | ||
| 3. Rey Magnerio (5) J: William Pike 58.5kg 331×6 T: Robbie Griffiths | ||
| 12. Talkanco (3) J: Lucy Fiore 54.5kg 2×224 T: Daniel & Ben Pearce | ||
| 6. Spywire (1) J: John Allen 58.5kg 61571 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. Rope Them In (10) J: Shaun Mcgruddy 58.5kg 249×1 T: Steve Wolfe | ||
| 2. Caballus (9) J: Tommy Berry 58.5kg 81×21 T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 11. Smooth Chino (11) J: Mark Zahra 58.5kg 111×2 T: Indianna Weinert | ||
| 10. Sisu Warrior (8) J: Shaun O’donnell 58.5kg 674×1 T: Dion Luciani | ||
| 13. Luana Miss (6) J: Chris Parnham 54.5kg 117×4 T: Trevor Andrews | ||
| 9. West Star (4) J: Clint Johnston-Porter 58.5kg x09x8 T: Simon A Miller | ||
| 4. Magnificent Andy (2) J: Brad Parnham 58.5kg 5457x T: Stephen Miller | ||
| 5. Jedibeel (7) J: Tyler Schiller 58.5kg 09×42 T: Brad Widdup |
The Quokka Day takes place on a Saturday in mid to late April currently on the same date Sydney hosts the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick.
The Quokka field is open to 13 slot holders at a cost of $200,000 each.
In a huge multi-million dollar initiative by Perth Racing, The Quokka forms part of The Western Trilogy series, Australia’s first tri-code slot-racing event. The other races making up the massive autumn racing weekend are The Nullarbor (harness racing) and The Sandgroper (greyhounds).
The Quokka race is named in honour of the quokka, dubbed the “happiest animal on Earth”, for which the state’s Rottnest Island is famous for.
The Quokka is Australia’s latest slot-racing event, the concept continuing to gain popularity since the now world-famous $20 million The Everest (1200m) held in Sydney during the spring since 2017 which now holds Group 1 status.
It is currently the fifth richest thoroughbred horse race in Australia with stakes boosted from $4 million to $5 million.
The Quokka Day also features the Group 2 $500,000 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) for two-year-olds.
Horses that perform well in the previous summer’s Perth Group 1 races including the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) are likely to target a slot in The Quokka field.
The opening edition of The Quokka was won in an all-the-way thriller by the Bjorn Baker-trained Sydney raider Overpass.
Overpass franked The Quokka 2023 form with a next-up second in Brisbane’s Group 1 Doomben 10,000 before going on to win the Winterbottom Stakes back in Perth that summer.
Third in the inaugural The Quokka results, Bella Nipotina also franked the form with a victory in the $3 million Winners Stakes – now run as the Russell Balding Stakes – in Sydney that spring.
Overpass returned in 2024 to go back-to-back in The Quokka with another strong performance before also saluting in the Winterbottom Stakes again that year.
In 2025 Jokers Grin became the second horse to win The Quokka and the first locally trained champion.
The 2026 The Quokka winner Jigsaw, who recorded his seventh straight seventh straight win, handed slot holders Ladbrokes back-to-back wins after their 2025 success with Jokers Grin.
The fourth edition of the $5 million The Quokka race ran at Perth’s Ascot Racecourse on Saturday April 18, 2026 and was won in brilliant all-the-way fashion by the Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw ($4F) who saluted for the punters. Â
| The Quokka 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday April 18, 2026 |
| Track: | Ascot Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Race Type: | Weight-for-age |
| Status: | Non-Black Type Special Conditions Slot-Race |
| Prize Money: | $5,000,000 |
2026 The Quokka Betting
The Quokka 2026 racing betting odds will be available at Ladbrokes and also published here at Races.com.au as soon as The Quokka race betting opens.
There was a narrow upset in the opening edition with Overpass winning the 2023 race at The Quokka odds of $12. Amelia’s Jewel was the first The Quokka favourite at $2.80 and ran second by the barest of margins.
Overpass won again in 2024 at The Quokka odds of $6 with Amelia’s Jewel second again as the beaten favourite at $3.
There was a blowout The Quokka result in 2025 with Jokers Grin winning at $21 while the dual defending champion Overpass ($2.05F) ran fifth.
Jigsaw ($4 in 2026) became the first favourite in The Quokka betting to salute for the punters.
2026 The Quokka Tips
Stay tuned for our insider The Quokka 2026 betting tips and exotic Perth autumn racing selections on the now $5 million slot-race this season.
To Win: No. 3 Rey Magnerio
REY MAGNERIO (5) looks a terrific play in what shapes as one of the deepest editions of The Quokka, and after working through the various form lines, he’s the runner I’m happiest to be with. The Robbie Griffiths-trained sprinter gets the services of Willie Pike, and that alone is a major tick — the Wizard is fresh off yet another WATC Derby win and knows Ascot better than anyone, plus he has an excellent record on this horse. Pike guided Rey Magnerio through a brilliant Perth campaign last summer, finishing a close third in the G1 Winterbottom before taking out the G3 Gold Rush over 1400m, proving he’s right at home around this circuit. He resumed in the G1 William Reid at Caulfield and was much better than the sixth placing suggests, beaten just 1.27 lengths after giving away a huge start in a race dominated on speed. Second-up he traditionally improves sharply — his fast-finishing third in the Century Stakes last prep is a perfect example — and he’s been kept up to the mark with a strong Cranbourne jump-out. The blinkers go back on, he’s proven at Ascot, and his powerful get back and charge style looks tailor made for a high-pressure Quokka. If they overdo it up front, Rey Magnerio is the one who’ll be launching late, and at the price he shapes as a superb value selection to take out The Quokka.| 3. Rey Magnerio (5) J: William Pike 58.5kg 331×6 T: Robbie Griffiths |
2026 The Quokka Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 THE QUOKKA FORM GUIDE
2026 The Quokka Field
The autumn’s The Quokka field features an exclusive line-up of 13 weight-for-age hopefuls selected by the slot-holders that purchased a spot in the event at a cost of $200,000.
The Quokka 2026 field will be confirmed the week of the race and published below as soon as available.
The 2026 The Quokka final field features a capacity line-up of top-line sprinters including Cindy Alderson’s last start Group 1 William Reid Stakes champ Jigsaw chasing his incredible seventh win on the trot, Steve Wolfe’s Group 3 Roma Cup champ Rope Them In up in grade, The Galaxy runner-up Jedibeel, and the Bjorn Baker-trained Caballus coming off a Group 1 Newmarket Handicap win at HQ.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0x4111x111 | JIGSAW | Cindy Alderson | Logan Bates (a) | 13 | 58.5kg |  | 115 |
| 2 | x1x5181x21 | CABALLUS | Bjorn Baker | Tommy Berry | 9 | 58.5kg | Â | 115 |
| 3 | 074x1331x6 | REY MAGNERIO | Robbie Griffiths | William Pike | 5 | 58.5kg | Â | 112 |
| 4 | 222x15457x | MAGNIFICENT ANDY | Stephen Miller | Brad Parnham | 2 | 58.5kg | Â | 110 |
| 5 | 28x8409x42 | JEDIBEEL (NZ) | Brad Widdup | Tyler Schiller | 7 | 58.5kg | Â | 108 |
| 6 | 31×1361571 | SPYWIRE | Ciaron Maher | John Allen | 1 | 58.5kg | Â | 105 |
| 7 | 69x2264x13 | OSCAR’S FORTUNE | Dion Luciani | Patrick Carbery | 12 | 58.5kg |  | 106 |
| 8 | 170x1249x1 | ROPE THEM IN | Steve Wolfe | Shaun McGruddy | 10 | 58.5kg | Â | 110 |
| 9 | x1713x09x8 | WEST STAR | Simon A Miller | Clint Johnston-Porter | 4 | 58.5kg | Â | 103 |
| 10 | 6x178674x1 | SISU WARRIOR | Dion Luciani | Shaun O’Donnell | 8 | 58.5kg | Â | 86 |
| 11 | 111x111x2 | SMOOTH CHINO | Indianna Weinert | Mark Zahra | 11 | 58.5kg | Â | 102 |
| 12 | 1x1822x224 | TALKANCO | Daniel & Ben Pearce | Ms Lucy Fiore | 3 | 54.5kg | Â | 90 |
| 13 | x10x2117x4 | LUANA MISS | Trevor Andrews | Chris Parnham | 6 | 54.5kg | Â | 88 |
| 14e | 11x3394x25 | REPOSSESSION | Chris & Michael Gangemi | Â | 0 | 58.5kg | Â | 97 |
| 15e | x442212x32 | CESSATION | Tiarnna Noske | Â | 0 | 56.5kg | Â | 89 |
| 16e | 4354×52347 | CUT THE TALK | Tim Crosby | Â | 0 | 58.5kg | Â | 88 |
| 17e | 9×91401926 | SKY DUKE | Neville Parnham | Â | 0 | 58.5kg | Â | 87 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2026 The Quokka Slot Holders (Horse)
- Woodbridge & JLS Thoroughbreds (Talkanco)
- TABtouch (Luana Miss)
- Sportsbet (Rey Magnerio)
- RAM Racing Syndicate #1 (Caballus)
- Unitbet / Chief Racing (Smooth Chino)
- Ladbrokes (Jigsaw)
- Magic Bloodstock Racing (West Star)
- Trackside NZ / Perth Racing (Jedibeel)
- Rapid Equine Breeding (Rope Them In)
- Trucking Nominees / Morton Racing (Magnificent Andy)
- Peters Investments (Oscar’s Fortune)
- RAM Racing Syndicate #2 (Spywire)
- Seacorp / Hallowell (Sisu Warrior)
Confirmed 2026 The Quokka Horses
Stay tuned below as all the slots in The Quokka Field are filled, the confirmed horses and the slot-holders to be listed below as positions are announced leading up to the race.
No. 1 JIGSAW
- Trainer: Cindy Alderson
- Jockey: Logan Bates (a)
- Barrier: 13
- Slot Holder: Ladbrokes
| 1. Jigsaw (13) J: Logan Bates 58.5kg 1×111 T: Cindy Alderson |
No. 2 CABALLUS
- Trainer: Bjorn Baker
- Jockey: Tommy Berry
- Barrier: 9
- Slot Holder: RAM Racing Syndicate #1
| 2. Caballus (9) J: Tommy Berry 58.5kg 81×21 T: Bjorn Baker |
No. 3 REY MAGNERIO
- Trainer: Robbie Griffiths
- Jockey: William Pike
- Barrier: 5
- Slot Holder: Sportsbet
| 3. Rey Magnerio (5) J: William Pike 58.5kg 331×6 T: Robbie Griffiths |
No. 4 MAGNIFICENT ANDY
- Trainer: Stephen Miller
- Jockey: Brad Parnham
- Barrier: 2
- Slot Holder: Tracking Nominees / Morton Racing
| 4. Magnificent Andy (2) J: Brad Parnham 58.5kg 5457x T: Stephen Miller |
No. 5 JEDIBEEL
- Trainer: Brad Widdup
- Jockey: Tyler Schiller
- Barrier: 7
- Slot Holder: Trackside NZ / Perth Racing
| 5. Jedibeel (7) J: Tyler Schiller 58.5kg 09×42 T: Brad Widdup |
No. 6 SPYWIRE
- Trainer: Ciaron Maher
- Jockey: John Allen
- Barrier: 1
- Slot Holder: RAM Racing Syndicate #2
| 6. Spywire (1) J: John Allen 58.5kg 61571 T: Ciaron Maher |
No. 7 OSCAR’S FORTUNE
- Trainer: Dion Luciani
- Jockey: Patrick Carbery
- Barrier: 12
- Slot Holder: Peters Investments
| 7. Oscar’s Fortune (12) J: Patrick Carbery 58.5kg 64×13 T: Dion Luciani |
No. 8 ROPE THEM IN
- Trainer: Steve Wolfe
- Jockey: Shaun McGruddy
- Barrier: 10
- Slot Holder: Rapid Equine Breeding
| 8. Rope Them In (10) J: Shaun Mcgruddy 58.5kg 249×1 T: Steve Wolfe |
No. 9 WEST STAR
- Trainer: Simon A Miller
- Jockey: Clint Johnston-Porter
- Barrier: 4
- Slot Holder: Magic Bloodstock Racing
| 9. West Star (4) J: Clint Johnston-Porter 58.5kg x09x8 T: Simon A Miller |
No. 10 SISU WARRIOR
- Trainer: Dion Luciani
- Jockey: Shaun O’Donnell
- Barrier: 8
- Slot Holder: Seacorp / Hallowell
| 10. Sisu Warrior (8) J: Shaun O’donnell 58.5kg 674×1 T: Dion Luciani |
No. 11 SMOOTH CHINO
- Trainer: Indianna Weinert
- Jockey: Mark Zahra
- Barrier: 11
- Slot Holder: Unitbet / Chief Racing
| 11. Smooth Chino (11) J: Mark Zahra 58.5kg 111×2 T: Indianna Weinert |
No. 12 TALKANCO
- Trainers: Daniel & Ben Pearce
- Jockey: Ms Lucy Fiore
- Barrier: 3
- Slot Holder: Woodbridge & JLS Thoroughbreds
| 12. Talkanco (3) J: Lucy Fiore 54.5kg 2×224 T: Daniel & Ben Pearce |
No. 13 LUANA MISS
- Trainer: Trevor Andrews
- Jockey: Chris Parnham
- Barrier: 6
- Slot Holder: TABtouch
| 13. Luana Miss (6) J: Chris Parnham 54.5kg 117×4 T: Trevor Andrews |
The Quokka History
The Quokka history was made when Perth’s richest race ran for the first time in April of 2023 and was won by the Bjorn Baker-trained Sydney visitor Overpass for slot holders RAM Racing Syndicate.
Overpass successfully defended his title winning the 2024 The Quokka race for the same syndication.
In 2025 Jokers Grin won the third edition of The Quokka for local horseman Bernier Miller and jockey Patrick Carbery.
In 2026, Jigsaw ($4) became the first favourite to win saluting for slot holders Ladbrokes for trainer Cindy Alderson and jockey Logan Bates.
The Quokka Winners
The Quokka winners and placegetters from the event’s inauguration in 2023 can be found in the below table.
| YEAR | WINNER | SECOND | THIRD | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jigsaw | Rey Magnerio | Talkanco | 1:10.18 |
| 2025 | Jokers Grin | Headwall | Generosity | 1:09.31 |
| 2024 | Overpass | Amelia’s Jewel | Oscar’s Fortune | 1:08.88 |
| 2023 | Overpass | Amelia’s Jewel | Bella Nipotina | 1:09.53 |
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