Looking for this year’s Moonga Stakes betting odds, form guide and tips? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Moonga Stakes 2026 Results
The official 2026 Moonga Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
- #2 War Machine
- #1 Private Eye
- #4 Hughes
The 2026 Moonga Stakes results, run as the Group 3 Harry White Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, saw former Stradbroke Handicap winner War Machine ($3.70) return to winning form with a tough head victory over race favourite Private Eye, while Hughes finished a further three-quarters of a length away in third. The six-year-old son of Harry Angel, prepared by Ben, Will & JD Hayes and expertly ridden by Mark Zahra, enjoyed a perfect run just off the speed before proving too strong late despite a determined challenge from the runner-up. Hayes said the talented gelding had endured a frustrating run of bad luck with wide draws, unsuitable tracks and multiple scratchings before finally finding the right race, adding the performance suggested the Group 1 winner was back on track for bigger assignments. Zahra also credited pre-race gear adjustments and the efforts of the barrier staff after the gelding’s recent gate issues, with War Machine beginning cleanly, securing the run of the race and digging deep to record his eighth career victory and boost his earnings beyond $3.5 million.
2026 Moonga Stakes Race Replay
2026 Moonga Stakes Odds & Finishing Order
The latest Moonga Stakes odds 2026 provide punters with a valuable guide to the leading contenders in this competitive Group 3 feature at Caulfield. Run over 1400m on Caulfield Cup Day, the race regularly attracts quality milers, proven Group performers, and in-form spring campaigners, creating plenty of interest in the betting markets. At Neds, punters can compare the current Moonga Stakes odds 2026, monitor key market moves, and access expert insights to help shape their Moonga Stakes betting 2026 predictions. With class often proving decisive under the set weights plus penalties conditions, the Moonga Stakes is a race worth watching closely throughout the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The latest Moonga Stakes 2026 odds followed by the official race finishing order after the event will be available below.
| 2. War Machine (4) J: Mark Zahra 59kg 30×30 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 1. Private Eye (2) J: Blake Shinn 59kg 5×273 T: Joseph Pride | ||
| 4. Hughes (8) J: Jett Stanley 58.5kg 7115x T: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 9. Amenable (9) J: Michael Dee 57kg 48×34 T: Grahame Begg | ||
| 5. Here To Shock (7) J: Daniel Stackhouse 58kg 70×64 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 7. El Rocko (1) J: John Allen 58kg 467×0 T: John Mcardle | ||
| 8. Cartoon Graveyard (3) J: Craig Newitt 58kg 0521x T: John Keys | ||
| 3. Willaidow (6) J: Rachel King 58.5kg 0645x T: Marc & Mitchell Conners | ||
| 6. Zou Sensation (5) J: Ben Allen 58kg 50573 T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
Moonga Stakes 2026 Tips
Our insider 2026 Moonga Stakes tips will be provided here the week of the race and a full betting preview to be published on the Neds Blog.
| 1. Private Eye (2) J: Blake Shinn 59kg 5×273 T: Joseph Pride |
| 2. War Machine (4) J: Mark Zahra 59kg 30×30 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
| 4. Hughes (8) J: Jett Stanley 58.5kg 7115x T: Gavin Bedggood |
The Moonga Stakes is open to horses aged four-years-old and upwards and was first contested 1988 when subsequent Australian Racing Hall of Famer Vo Rogue, a champion of many subsequent Group 1 races over his career including the Australian Cup (1989, 1990) twice and the C.F. Orr Stakes (1988-1990) on three occasions, won.
The event was originally known as the Richard Ellis Plate (1988-1992) and has undergone a number of name changes before becoming the Moonga Stakes from 2012 onwards. In 2026 it was renamed the Harry White Stakes.
The Moonga serves as a key lead-up to races like the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Boban (2013) was the last horse to complete the Moonga Stakes – Champions Mile (then Cantala Stakes) double.
Plenty of very good racehorses have won the Moonga Stakes over the years including the aforementioned inaugural champion Vo Rogue (1988), Rough Habit (1992), Boban (2013), Streets Of Avalon (2019), and former two-time The Everest placegetter Private Eye (2025).
Moonga Stakes 2026 – Quick Information
- 2026 Race Name: Harry White Stakes
- Race Day: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Track Location: Caulfield Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 1,400 metres
- Weight Conditions: Set weights (plus penalties)
- Qualification: 4YOs & Upwards
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Prize Purse: $240,000
- Inaugural Race: 1988
- 2026 Moonga Stakes Winner: War Machine
2026 Moonga Stakes (Harry White Stakes) Big Bets
Moonga Stakes Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Moonga Stakes, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How to Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s Moonga Stakes |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Moonga Stakes. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers in this year’s Moonga Stakes. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Moonga Stakes, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, in the Moonga Stakes, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, in the Moonga Stakes to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, in the Moonga Stakes to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the correct order, in the Moonga Stakes to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Moonga Stakes, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How to Bet on the Moonga Stakes in 2026
- Log in at neds
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Moonga Stakes Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Moonga Stakes in 2026?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Moonga Stakes in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up spring racing form, assess the barriers, consider the weights and record at the track.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Moonga Stakes winner include:
- 5YO Factor: Five-year-olds have a dominant recent record with seven of the 11 Moonga Stakes winners from 2014-2025 being five-year-olds.
- Single-Digit Barriers: Horses drawn the inside nine alleys have the best strike-rate in the Moonga Stakes results with the last winner to jump from a double-digit gate being Lucky Hussler (13 in 2014).
Moonga Stakes Favourites 2026
Favourites in 2026 Moonga Stakes betting include Joe Pride’s veteran nine-year-old Private Eye coming off a Group 2 Shannon Stakes third in Sydney, last year’s Stradbroke Handicap winner War Machine and the fellow Linsday Park-trained Shocking nine-year-old Here To Shock having his 50th career start.
Buffalo River ($2.70 in 2021) and Private Eye ($2.05 in 2025) are the latest Moonga Stakes favourites to win.
Private Eye also ran in the 2026 edition as the $2.50 favourite only to go down a head to the second elect War Machine ($3.70).
Moonga Stakes 2026 Field
The official Moonga Stakes 2026 field of final acceptances is announced the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The Moonga Stakes (Harry White Stakes) 2026 final field features a quality line-up of sprinters led in betting by Joe Pride’s evergreen nine-year-old Private Eye coming off a third to gun 4YO Skyhook when giving weight away in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Private Eye
J: Blake Shinn
T: Joseph Pride |
65×273 | G | 2 | 59kg | |
|
2. War Machine
J: Mark Zahra
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
x30x30 | G | 4 | 59kg | |
|
3. Willaidow
J: Rachel King
T: Marc & Mitchell Conners |
10645x | G | 6 | 58.5kg | |
|
4. Hughes
J: Jett Stanley
T: Gavin Bedggood |
27115x | G | 8 | 58.5kg | |
|
5. Here To Shock
J: Daniel Stackhouse
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
270×64 | G | 7 | 58kg | |
|
6. Zou Sensation
J: Ben Allen
T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
x50573 | G | 5 | 58kg | |
|
7. El Rocko
J: John Allen
T: John Mcardle |
6467×0 | G | 1 | 58kg | |
|
8. Cartoon Graveyard
J: Craig Newitt
T: John Keys |
20521x | G | 3 | 58kg | |
|
9. Amenable
J: Michael Dee
T: Grahame Begg |
x48x34 | G | 9 | 57kg |
Moonga Stakes Race Day 2026
The 2026 Moonga Stakes (known in 2026 as the Harry White Stakes) is held as part of Caulfield Cup Day on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The action at the meeting is headlined by the stayers facing off in the Group 1 $6.55 million Caulfield Cup (2400m). Other feature races on the card include the:
- Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m),
- Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m),
- Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m),
- Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m),
- Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m), and the
- Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m).
Moonga Stakes 2026 Barrier Draw
The 2026 Moonga Stakes barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and will be published in our above Moonga Stakes Field section.
Moonga Stakes 2026 Nominations
2026 Moonga Stakes nominations close at 12:00 PM on the Monday of race week.
Moonga Stakes 2026 Weights
Set weights plus penalties apply to this race. Final 2026 Moonga Stakes weights will be announced by 4:00 PM on the Monday of race week and will be published in our above Moonga Stakes Field section.
War Machine (59kg in 2026) was the last Moonga Stakes topweight to win.
2026 Moonga Stakes Topweights:
- No. 1 Private Eye (59kg)
- No. 2 War Machine (59kg)
Moonga Stakes 2026 Acceptances
2026 Moonga Stakes final acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Moonga Stakes Field section.
Moonga Stakes 2026 Jockeys
The final riders’ announcement is at 1:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week and the official 2026 Moonga Stakes jockeys will be published in our above Moonga Stakes Field section.
Moonga Stakes Scratchings 2026
2026 Moonga Stakes scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Moonga Stakes Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Moonga Stakes prize money is worth $240,000 in total, distributed from places first through to eighth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $144,000 |
| 2nd | $43,200 |
| 3rd | $21,600 |
| 4th | $10,800 |
| 5th | $6,000 |
| 6th | $4,800 |
| 7th | $4,800 |
| 8th | $4,800 |
Moonga Stakes Race Number 2026
The 2026 Moonga Stakes race number is scheduled as Caulfield Race 5 at 2:35pm (AEDT) on Saturday, October 17, 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Caulfield Racecourse.
Moonga Stakes 2026 Form Guide
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 Moonga Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances.
Moonga Stakes Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Moonga Stakes live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Free to air television: Channels 78 (and 68 in regional areas), 7 Network
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Moonga Stakes Winners
Winners of the Moonga Stakes going back to the race’s inauguration in 1988 can be found in the table below.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2026 | War Machine | Private Eye | Hughes | 1:22.48 |
| 2025 | Private Eye | Warnie | Steparty | 1:24.15 |
| 2024 | Mighty Ulysses | Buffalo River | Pinstriped | 1:26.17 |
| 2023 | Buffalo River | Climbing Star | Cause For Concern | 1:23.41 |
| 2022 | Aegon | Bandersnatch | Lady Of Honour | 1:25.1 |
| 2021 | Buffalo River | King Magnus | Justacanta | 1:24.4 |
| 2020 | Wild Planet | Morrissy | Fifty Stars | 1:24.8 |
| 2019 | Streets Of Avalon | Variation | Royal Meeting | 1:23.9 |
| 2018 | Sircconi | Dreamforce | Perast | 1:24.9 |
| 2017 | Ulmann | Burning Front | Echo Effect | 1:23.4 |
| 2016 | Voodoo Lad | Takedown | Turnitaround | 1:24.5 |
| 2015 | Vashka | Under The Louvre | Coronation Shallan | 1:23.2 |
| 2014 | Lucky Hussler | Under The Louvre | Generalife | 1:23.4 |
| 2013 | Boban | Strawberry Boy | Galah | 1:23.8 |
| 2012 | Whateverwhenever | King’s Rose | Mcclintock | 1:23.7 |
| 2011 | Love Conquers All | Albert The Fat | Pinwheel | 1:21.9 |
| 2010 | Rothera | Sniper’s Bullet | Jungle Ruler | 1:25.8 |
| 2009 | McClintock | Rightfully Yours | Kiloton | 1:22.7 |
| 2008 | Royal Discretion | Turffontein | Stickpin | 1.23.6 |
| 2007 | Lord Of The Dance | Polish Clown | Solar Secret | 1:22.6 |
| 2006 | Perfectly Ready | Live In Vain | Caprizzi Strip | 1:22.3 |
| 2005 | Volitant | Yell | Shadow | 1:21.3 |
| 2004 | Amtrak | Pink Fit | Monahan Tweed | 1:24.6 |
| 2003 | Thorn Park | Lord Volksraad | Regal Roller | 1:22.5 |
| 2002 | Assertive Lad | El Nino | Prince Rubiton | 1:22.9 |
| 2001 | Flavour | Inspire | Make Mine Magic | 1:24.8 |
| 2000 | Cellar | Hire | Weasel Will | 1:21.8 |
| 1999 | Another Neptune | Strident | Weasel Will | 1:23.5 |
| 1998 | Buster Jones | Blazing Steel | Bezeal Bay | 1:24.3 |
| 1997 | Monets Cove | Delsole | Confiscate | 1:22.6 |
| 1996 | Mamzelle Pedrille | Hero Wind | Hunza Court | 1:24.6 |
| 1995 | Royal Blue | Taos | Social Rule | 1:24.2 |
| 1994 | Star Dancer | Chemin De Fer | Sportsbeat | 1:23.2 |
| 1993 | Cogitate | Cocky Beau | Unequalled | 1:22.7 |
| 1992 | Rough Habit | Rare Chance | Black Rouge | 1:30.0 |
| 1991 | Steineck | Pontormo | Prince Ormenium | 1:23.8 |
| 1990 | Royal Pay | Sioux Chief | Procol Harum | 1:27.3 |
| 1989 | Heavenly View | Better Loosen Up | Acid Print | 1:23.2 |
| 1988 | Vo Rogue | Prismatic Star | Jet Fighter | 1:23.1 |