The Championships Day 1 2026 Fields & Barriers - Randwick Full Race Guide

• Last five winners: North England (2025), Espionage (2024), Libertad (2023), Semillion (2022), Paulele (2021)
• Notable graduates include Paulele and Bivouac, both elite-level sprinters
• Often draws two-year-olds with race experience rather than debutantes
• Positioned late in the juvenile season, capturing horses peaking through autumn
• Waterhouse & Bott have won two of the past three runnings and saddle-up with Low Key in this year’s field

• Last five winners: Belle Detelle (2025), Good Banter (2024), Arts (2023), Honeycreeper (2022), Duais (2021)
• Famous winners include Light Fingers, Leilani, Colette and Duais
• Winner gains Australian Oaks ballot exemption
• Positioned as the final major lead-up, it often attracts fillies stepping beyond 1600m for the first time
• Strong historical link to the Australian Oaks

• Last five winners: Alalcance (2025), Circle Of Fire (2024), Surefire (2023), Nerve Not Verve (2022), Quick Thinker (2021)
• Winner earns ballot exemption into the Sydney Cup
• Several winners have gone on to place or perform strongly in the Sydney Cup
• Run over 2600m, one of the few genuine staying tests in Sydney
• International-bred stayers have dominated recent editions

• Last five winners: Evaporate (2025), Ducasse (2024), The Fortune Teller (2023), Straight Arron (2022), Kiku (2021)
• Restricted to three-year-olds under Set Weights and Penalties conditions
• Often produces progressive middle-distance gallopers
• Named after legendary Melbourne Cup winner Carbine
• Chris Waller has prepared three of the last seven winners and has five runners engaged this year

• Last five winners: Know Thyself (2025), Asgarda (2024), Sizzle Minizzle (2023), Another One (2022), Art Cadeau (2021)
• Showcases the best country-trained horses from across NSW
• Qualifiers come through a series of regional heats
• Run at set weights over 1400m
• Final field typically made up of heat winners and placegetters, creating deep and even contests

Race 6 - Inglis Sires' (1400m)

• Last five winners: Vinrock (2025), Manaal (2024), Militarize (2023), Fireburn (2022), Anamoe (2021)
• Honour roll includes Anamoe, Pierro, Sebring and Octagonal
• First run in 1867, making it one of Australia’s oldest races
• Run over 1400m at set weights for two-year-olds
• A key stallion-making race on the Australian calendar

Race 7 - T J Smith Stakes (1200m)

• Last five winners: Briasa (2025), Chain Of Lightning (2024), I Wish I Win (2023), Nature Strip (2022), Nature Strip (2021)
• Won by sprinting greats including Black Caviar, Nature Strip and Chautauqua
• Run at weight-for-age over 1200m
• One of Australia’s premier sprint races
• Nature Strip’s three consecutive wins (2020–2022) stands as a defining modern feat

Race 8 - Doncaster Mile (1600m)

• Last five winners: Stefi Magnetica (2025), Celestial Legend (2024), Mr Brightside (2023), Mr Brightside (2022), Cascadian (2021)
• Honour roll includes Winx, Sunline, Super Impose and More Joyous
• T.J. Smith and Gai Waterhouse share the training record with seven wins each
• First run in 1866, one of Australia’s great handicaps
• Fun fact: Super Impose won back-to-back Doncasters carrying 57kg+ (1990 & 1991)

• Last five winners: Aeliana (2025), Riff Rocket (2024), Major Beel (2023), Hitotsu (2022), Explosive Jack (2021)
• One of the premier three-year-old staying tests, run over 2400m
• First run in 1861
• Honour roll includes Phar Lap, Octagonal and Dundeel
• Since 1960, eight horses have completed the Victoria Derby/Australian Derby double

• Last five winners: She’s Got Pizzazz (2025), Facile (2024), Magic Time (2023), Heresy (2022), Matchmaker (2021)
• Group 3 sprint for three-year-old fillies, first run in 1985
• Run under Set Weights and Penalties conditions over 1200m
• Often attracts runners coming through fillies races like the Birthday Card Stakes
• Past winners such as Dane Ripper, Ortensia and Magic Time highlight its quality