Manikato Stakes 2026 - Barrier Draw & Final Field

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Wed 23 Sep 2026 02:24

Alex Marsh 2 hours ago

Share this article

The Manikato Stakes returns as a major 1200m Group 1 at Caulfield on Sunday
A deep field features proven Group 1 performers alongside several in-form challengers
Barriers are locked in for one of the headline sprints of the Melbourne spring

Oliveanotherday has drawn barrier five in the Manikato Stakes. (Getty)

The 2026 Manikato Stakes shapes as one of the key sprint contests of the Melbourne spring, with a strong 1200m Group 1 field set for Caulfield on Sunday, September 27 while Moonee Valley remains under redevelopment.

2026 Manikato Stakes - Barriers & Final Field
Manikato Stakes History

Beiwacht (barrier 3) is one of the headline runners after resuming with a three-length victory in the Memsie Stakes, and the Chris Waller-trained four-year-old now drops back from 1400m to the sprint trip.

Oliveanotherday (barrier 5) also draws well after opening his preparation with victory in The Heath before finishing fifth in the Bobbie Lewis Stakes, while Jimmysstar (barrier 8) returns to 1200m after resuming in the Memsie Stakes.

My Gladiola (barrier 9) brings winning Group 1 form into the race after taking out the Moir Stakes at Sandown earlier this month, strengthening a preparation that has her firmly among the leading sprinting chances.

Extragalactic (barrier 2) comes through the same Moir Stakes form line after finishing fourth, and James McDonald takes the ride from an inside draw that should give the mare options in the early stages.

Giga Kick (barrier 4) also returns from the Moir Stakes and draws favourably for Mark Zahra, with the proven Group 1 sprinter looking to improve on his first-up performance as he steps back to 1200m.

Napoleonic (barrier 7) adds further depth after finishing runner-up at his latest appearance, while Geegees Mistruth (barrier 1) gets the inside alley and Charm Stone (barrier 11) resumes as another established Group performer.

Pericles (barrier 10), Gallant Son (barrier 13), Beadman (barrier 12) and Rothfire (barrier 6) round out the field, giving the race a mix of established sprinters and horses still building through their spring campaigns.

The Manikato Stakes carries plenty of weight on its own, with Sunday’s Group 1 also set to play a major role in shaping several of the feature races later in the spring.

2026 Manikato Stakes - Barriers & Final Field

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
1	Giga Kick	Clayton Douglas	Mark Zahra	4	58.5kg
2	Pericles	Bjorn Baker	Craig Williams	10	58.5kg
3	Jimmysstar (NZ)	Ciaron Maher	Ethan Brown	8	58.5kg
4	Rothfire	Robert Heathcote	Brad Rawiller	6	58.5kg
5	Beiwacht	Chris Waller	Nash Rawiller	3	58.5kg
6	Gallant Son	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	Luke Nolen	13	58.5kg
7	Beadman	Peter Snowden	Tim Clark	12	58.5kg
8	Napoleonic	John O'Shea & Tom Charlton	Zac Lloyd	7	58.5kg
9	Oliveanotherday	Tom Dabernig	Harry Coffey	5	58.5kg
10	Charm Stone	Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr	Damian Lane	11	56.5kg
11	My Gladiola	John McArdle	Jamie Mott	9	56.5kg
12	Geegees Mistruth	Mark Walker	Blake Shinn	1	56.5kg
13	Extragalactic	Trent Edmonds	James McDonald	2	56.5kg

Manikato Stakes History

First contested in 1968 as the Freeway Stakes, the Manikato Stakes has grown into one of the major sprint races of the Melbourne spring.

The race was renamed in 1984 in honour of champion sprinter Manikato, who won the event twice and remains one of the most celebrated short-course performers in Australian racing history.

After being staged on Cox Plate Eve from 2012 to 2022, the Manikato Stakes moved to Cox Plate Day for two editions before shifting to the AFL Grand Final public holiday Friday in 2024, taking over the traditional feature slot previously occupied by the Moir Stakes.

Run over 1200m under weight-for-age conditions, the race has long attracted many of Australia’s leading sprinters and carries Group 1 status as one of the key short-course features of the spring.

Its honour roll includes names such as Vain, Sunline, Miss Andretti, Hay List, Buffering and Chautauqua, highlighting the calibre of horses to have won the race across different eras.

The race has also become an important reference point for horses progressing towards other major spring features, with its position on the calendar often bringing together established Group 1 performers and emerging sprinters.

The most recent winners are Imperatriz in 2023, Southport Tycoon in 2024 and Charm Stone, who claimed the 2025 edition.