Looking for this year’s Standish Handicap betting tips, form guide and field? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
The Standish Handicap is a Group 3 sprint down the famous Flemington ‘Straight Six’ in January each summer in Melbourne.
Formerly run on New Year’s Day, the event was moved to mid-January in 2022, and prize money is currently set at $200,000. The popular 1200m showdown serves as a nice lead-up into the tougher races of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival including Caulfield’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) held in February.
Starting out as a Principal race, this feature was upgraded to Group 3 in 1980.
Two-time Standish Handicap winner Halvorsen franked the form out of the 2022 edition going on to finish runner-up in both Melbourne’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) and Adelaide’s Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) that same year.
It is now part of Melbourne’s Summer Sprint Series running as the third event in the four-race series. The other races in the series are the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington, Listed Christmas Stakes at Caulfield and the Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The Standish Handicap winner is now also exempt from that autumn’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) held at the same track and distance in March.
Standish Handicap 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday January 10, 2026
- Track Location: Flemington Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 1,200 metres
- Weight Conditions: Weight for age
- Qualification: Open (maidens ineligible)
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Operator: Victoria Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $250,000
- Inaugural Race: 1884
- 2026 Standish Handicap Winner: TBD
Standish Handicap 2026 Results
The official 2026 Standish Handicap results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday January 10, 2026.
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
Standish Handicap Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Standish Handicap, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type Of Bet In This Year’s Standish Handicap |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Standish Handicap. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Standish Handicap. Pays less than a win bet, but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Standish Handicap, 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, within the Standish Handicap, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Standish Handicap to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Standish Handicap to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Standish Handicap 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 Standish Handicap, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on the Standish Handicap in 2026
- Log in at neds.com.au
- 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 Standish Handicap Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win The Standish Handicap in 2026?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Standish Handicap in 2026 is to take into account their previous lead-up form down the famous Flemington straight, earlier summer racing performances in similar grade races and the best six-furlong sprinters.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Standish Handicap winner include:
- Summer Success – Horses coming off earlier lead-up wins in easier summer races have a good record in the Standish.
- Straight Six – This race can is held down the iconic ‘Straight Six’ at Flemington so looking for proven straight track performers at HQ is key.
Standish Handicap Favourites 2026
Favourites in 2026 Standish Handicap betting will be updated here the week of the race.
Sirius Suspect ($2.90 in 2021) and Sghirripa ($2.05 in 2024) are the latest Standish Handicap favourites to win.
Standish Handicap 2026 Field
The official Standish Handicap 2026 field of final acceptances is due for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be published below once announced.
Standish Handicap 2026 Tips
Favourite: TBD
Best Bet: TBD
Best Roughie: TBD
Our insider 2026 Standish Handicap tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2026 STANDISH HANDICAP DAY PREVIEW & TIPS
Standish Handicap Race Day 2026
Standish Handicap Day 2026 is set for Saturday January 10, 2026, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne.
Standish Handicap Barrier Draw 2026
The 2026 Standish Handicap barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Standish Handicap Field section.
Standish Handicap Nominations 2026
2026 Standish Handicap Nominations close at 12 PM on the Monday of race week.
Standish Handicap Weights 2026
Handicap conditions apply to this race. Final 2026 Standish Handicap weights are announced at 4 PM on the Monday of race week with weights on the final acceptances to be published in our above Standish Handicap Field section.
2026 Standish Handicap Topweight:
- TBC
Standish Handicap Acceptances 2026
2026 Standish Handicap final acceptances must be declared before 9 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Standish Handicap Field section.
Standish Handicap Jockeys 2026
The final riders must be announced by 12 PM on the Wednesday of race week and the official 2026 Standish Handicap jockeys will be published in our above Standish Handicap Field section.
Standish Handicap Scratchings 2026
2026 Standish Handicap scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday the 10th of January 2026.
Standish Handicap Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Standish Handicap prize purse is worth $200,000 in total, distributed from places first through to eighth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $120,000 |
| 2nd | $36,000 |
| 3rd | $18,000 |
| 4th | $9,000 |
| 5th | $5,000 |
| 6th | $4,000 |
| 7th | $4,000 |
| 8th | $4,000 |
Standish Handicap Race Number 2026
The 2026 Standish Handicap race number is TBC for Saturday the 10th of January 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Flemington Racecourse.
Standish Handicap Form Guide 2026
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 Standish Handicap Form Guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 STANDISH HANDICAP FORM GUIDE
Standish Handicap Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Standish Handicap live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Free to air television: Channels 78 (and 68 in regional areas)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Standish Handicap Winners
Winners of the Standish Handicap going back to the year 2000 are displayed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | It’sourtime | Danny O’Brien | Billy Egan | 58 kgs | 1:10.08 |
| 2024 | Sghirripa | Shane & Cassic Oxlade | Craig Newitt | 54.5 kgs | 1:09.07 |
| 2023 | Snapper | Michael Moroney | Jye McNeil | 54 kgs | 1:09.73 |
| 2022 | Halvorsen | Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | Jamie Kah | 56 kgs | 1:08.66 |
| 2021 | Sirius Suspect | Saab Hasan | Jamie Kah | 54 kgs | 1:09.27 |
| 2020 | Halvorson | Robbie Griffiths | Andrew Mallyon | 54 kgs | 1:10.54 |
| 2019 | Whispering Brook | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | 55.5 kgs | 1:09.18 |
| 2018 | Lord Of The Sky | Robbie Laing | Damien Oliver | 59 kgs | 1:08.98 |
| 2017 | Odyssey Moon | Robert Smerdon | Noel Callow | 58 kgs | 1:10.54 |
| 2016 | Durendal | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Damian Lane | 55.5 kgs | 1:09.42 |
| 2015 | Decircles | Danny O’Brien | Stephen Baster | 54 kgs | 1:09.07 |
| 2014 | Flamberge | Peter Moody | Vlad Duric | 54.5 kgs | 1:09.99 |
| 2013 | Adamantium | Danny O’Brien | Craig Newitt | 54 kgs | 1:08.21 |
| 2012 | Catapulted | Mark Kavanagh | Michael Rodd | 59 kgs | 1:07.66 |
| 2011 | Ahdashim | Gerald Ryan | Craig Williams | 54.5 kgs | 1:09.16 |
| 2010 | Royal Ida | Luke Oliver | Damien Oliver | 57 kgs | 1:11.14 |
| 2009 | King Hoaks | Allison Bennett | Darren Gauci | 53.5 kgs | 1:10.34 |
| 2008 | Publishing | John Sadler | Sebastian Murphy | 53 kgs | 1:09.37 |
| 2007 | Watchyerback | Brent Gray | Vlad Duric | 56.5 kgs | 1:09.01 |
| 2006 | Honalee | Mark Kavanagh | Dwayne Dunn | 54 kgs | 1:03.48 |
| 2005 | Super Impressive | Lee Freedman | Steven Arnold | 58 kgs | 1:09.80 |
| 2004 | Blessum | Danny O’Brien | Stephen Baster | 52 kgs | 1:09.27 |
| 2003 | Super Impressive | Lee Freedman | Patrick Payne | 58 kgs | 1:10.32 |
| 2002 | Let’s Planet | Michael Moroney | Stephen Baster | 51 kgs | 1:09.70 |
| 2001 | Iglesia | Russell Cameron | Steven Arnold | 55 kgs | 1:07.16 |
| 2000 | Upright | John Hawkes | Darren Gauci | 56 kgs | 1:09.62 |