Australian Guineas 2026 - Barrier Draw & Final Field
The build-up to the Australian Guineas 2026 is marked by a string of impressive performances from burgeoning racing talents. Notably, Observer overcame previous misfortunes to achieve two consecutive wins, including a Group 1 Victoria Derby victory. Meanwhile, Sixties clinched a Group 3 win, and rookies like Planet Red and Victorious Spirit demonstrated notable form, underpinning expectations for the prestigious race. The Australian Guineas, a premier event for three-year-olds, continues to form an essential aspect of Melbourne’s autumn carnival, boasting a storied history with various remarkable winners.
- The barrier draw has been completed for the 2026 Australian Guineas
- This Group 1 headlines the Saturday, February 28 card at Flemington
- Final field & barriers are included below
Sixties has drawn barrier ten in the Australian Guineas. (Getty)
Observer (barrier 6) endured some early spring misfortune, including a luckless third in the Caulfield Guineas, before atoning with back-to-back victories highlighted by his Group 1 Victoria Derby triumph.
Despite those successes over longer trips, the Godolphin colt has shown the versatility and class to be competitive back at shorter distances, which was evident in his February 7 return victory over 1400m at Caulfield.
Sixties (barrier 10) appears to have returned in even stronger order, beating older rivals first-up before adding a Group 3 success in the CS Hayes Stakes, a traditional lead-up to the Australian Guineas.
The Chris Waller-trained colt also brings strong early season references, highlighted by a Group 3 victory over Autumn Boy, who subsequently captured the Caulfield Guineas.
Planet Red (barrier 9) caught the eye when runner-up in the Autumn Stakes, finishing strongly from the rear after settling back from a wide draw.
He also brings compelling spring form, including a Caulfield Guineas second when splitting Autumn Boy and Observer.
Victorious Spirit (barrier 7) also resumed in the Autumn Stakes, with the Moody & Coleman-trained gelding finishing third in that Group 3 contest.
Prior to a spell, he broke through in a Sale maiden on September 14, and the strength of that form was franked by runner-up Getta Good Feeling, who won two of her next three starts at Group 3 level and was placed at Group 1 level in the Thousand Guineas between those victories.
While the spring campaign tapered off for West Of Swindon (barrier 3), he was a Group 2 winner over this distance and produced a sound fresh performance in the CS Hayes Stakes.
Australian Guineas 2026 - Barriers & Final Field
| No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Observer | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 6 | 57kg |
| 2 | Planet Red | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Jamie Melham | 9 | 57kg |
| 3 | West Of Swindon | Ciaron Maher | Ben Allen | 3 | 57kg |
| 4 | Sixties | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 10 | 57kg |
| 5 | Bingi | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Luke Cartwright (a) | 2 | 57kg |
| 6 | Officiate | Chris Waller | Ben Melham | 4 | 57kg |
| 7 | Romantic Encounter (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Daniel Stackhouse | 5 | 57kg |
| 8 | Victorious Spirit | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Zac Spain | 7 | 57kg |
| 9 | Onavuitton | Simon Zahra | Thomas Stockdale | 8 | 57kg |
| 10 | Express Class | Gerard Moloney | Patrick Moloney | 1 | 57kg |
Australian Guineas Winners
The Australian Guineas stands as Melbourne’s premier three-year-old contest of the autumn carnival, with the Group 1 run over 1600 metres at Flemington Racecourse.
A comparatively modern fixture on the Australian racing calendar, the event was first staged in 1986, elevated to Group 1 status the following year, and carried the name Australasian Guineas until 2004.
Despite its shorter history, the race has assembled a distinguished honour roll featuring Zabeel, Mahogany, Reset, Apache Cat, Miss Finland, Mystic Journey and Alligator Blood among its standout winners.
More recently, the Australian Guineas has been claimed by Legarto (2023), Southport Tycoon (2024) and Feroce (2025).
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