Moir Stakes 2026 - Barrier Draw & Final Field

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Wed 02 Sep 2026 02:15

Alex Marsh 3 hours ago

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The Moir Stakes brings together a quality field of sprinters over 1000m
The barrier draw and final field have been released for the Sandown Hillside feature
Saturday, September 5 shapes as a major early-spring sprint highlight

Cavalry Girl has drawn barrier five in the 2026 Moir Stakes. (Getty)

The Moir Stakes brings together some of Australia’s fastest sprinters over 1000m at Sandown Hillside on Saturday, September 5, with the Group 1 feature being staged away from its traditional Moonee Valley home due to The Valley redevelopment.

Moir Stakes 2026 - Barriers & Final Field
Moir Stakes History

A fascinating clash between proven sprinting star Giga Kick (barrier 9) and exciting three-year-old Natural Fling (barrier 13) shapes as one of the highlights of the opening month of the spring carnival.

Giga Kick resumes for Clayton Douglas after another strong season highlighted by victories in the Schillaci Stakes and Champions Sprint.

The former The Everest winner has been given several hit-outs ahead of his return, including a recent Sandown trial, as he looks to add another Group 1 sprint to his record.

Natural Fling tackles open Group 1 company for the first time after producing an impressive first-up victory in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield.

The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained filly receives a significant weight advantage against the older horses and had a look around Sandown on Tuesday morning, with connections reporting she was in excellent order ahead of Saturday.

My Gladiola (barrier 6) brings established Group 1 form into her return after finishing runner-up in both the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Lightning Stakes last season.

The John McArdle-trained mare has also impressed in her lead-up work and shapes as another major player over the sharp 1000m trip.

Extragalactic (barrier 2) enters fresh after connections bypassed the Carlyon Stakes, with the Trent Edmonds-trained mare instead winning a Pakenham jump-out as she prepares to resume.

Her previous campaign culminated in a narrow defeat in The Goodwood, giving her proven form at the highest level heading into the spring.

Race-fit mare Cavalry Girl (barrier 5) arrives in career-best form after claiming the Group 3 Carlyon Stakes over this course and distance on August 22.

Skybird (barrier 12) is another proven Group 1 performer returning for a fresh campaign, while Point Barrow (barrier 10) is among the progressive four-year-old mares looking to establish themselves at the elite level.

Chris Waller-trained Generosity (barrier 7) adds further depth to the sprint, while Geegees Mistruth (barrier 4) was a Group 1 winner in Adelaide before going to the paddock.

Veteran Rothfire (barrier 1) provides the experience, with the nine-year-old set for his fourth attempt at the Moir Stakes as he again tackles some of the country’s leading short-course performers.

The combination of established Group 1 stars, progressive mares and a lightly weighted three-year-old makes the 2026 Moir Stakes one of the more intriguing sprint contests of the early spring.

Moir Stakes 2026 - Barriers & Final Field

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
1	Giga Kick	Clayton Douglas	Mark Zahra	9	58.5kg
2	Rothfire	Robert Heathcote	Brad Rawiller	1	58.5kg
3	Skybird	Mitchell Freedman	Ben Melham	12	56.5kg
4	Generosity	Chris Waller	Jye McNeil	7	56.5kg
5	Ole Dancer	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	Luke Nolen	8	56.5kg
6	Geegees Mistruth	Mark Walker	Blake Shinn	4	56.5kg
7	My Gladiola	John McArdle	Jamie Mott	6	56.5kg
8	Point Barrow	Anthony & Sam Freedman	Daniel Stackhouse	10	56.5kg
9	Cavalry Girl	Tom Dabernig	Craig Williams	5	56.5kg
10	Hearcomesthestar	John Moloney	Beau Mertens	11	56.5kg
11	Extragalactic	Trent Edmonds	Ethan Brown	2	56.5kg
12	Bazaball Rewarded	Kelvin Southey	Teo Nugent	3	56.5kg
13	Natural Fling	Tony & Calvin McEvoy	Jamie Melham	13	50kg

Moir Stakes History

The Moir Stakes might not be the oldest race on the Melbourne calendar, but it has developed into one of the country’s most popular and important sprinting features.

Champion sprinters Black Caviar, Buffering and Apache Cat all launched major campaigns with victory in the race, while Viddora claimed the 2018 edition before heading to Hong Kong for the International Sprint.

Traditionally staged on the night before the AFL Grand Final, the 1000m weight-for-age contest was moved to early September in 2024 as a key lead-up to the Manikato Stakes.

The most recent winners are Imperatriz in 2023, Mornington Glory in 2024 and Baraqiel in 2025.