Sweet Embrace Stakes

Looking this year’s Sweet Embrace Stakes betting odds, field and form guide? The tipsters at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.

Sweet Embrace Stakes 2026 Results

The official 2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, February 28, 2026. 

Ciaron Maher’s improving Trapeze Artist filly Spicy Miss ($4.40) is into the Golden Slipper field as a live chance after breaking her maiden status at her third start in Saturday’s 2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes results. Given a peach of a ride by the in-form Zac Lloyd, she hit the front on the home straight and relished the 1200m charging home to hang on for a narrow but convincing win and firm from $21 to $15 in all-in Golden Slipper betting.

Sweet Embrace Stakes 2026 Tips

Our insider Sweet Embrace Stakes 2026 tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview published on the Neds Blog.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2026 VERRY ELLEEGANT STAKES DAY PREVIEW & TIPS

Run over 1,200 metres in late February or early March on Verry Elleegant Stakes Day (formerly Chipping Norton Stakes Day), the Sweet Embrace Stakes is a Group 2 race, held during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

With a $300,000 prize purse, the set weights clash is open to two-year-old fillies and offers the winner a ballot exemption for the Group 1 $5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) later in the autumn. 

Crystal Lily (2010) followed by Fireburn (2022) were the last fillies to successfully complete the Sweet Embrace Stakes – Golden Slipper Stakes double.

Fireburn also won that year’s Group 1 Inglis Sires’ (1400m) and finished second to She’s Extreme, who was runner-up in the Sweet Embrace and Sires’, in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m). She’s Extreme further franked the Sweet Embrace Stakes form that spring with a number of elite level placings and her Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) success at Flemington.

Manaal (2024) was the last filly to complete the Sweet Embrace Stakes – Inglis Sires’ double.

The 2025 Sweet Embrace Stakes proved a strong form race, with winner Within The Law going on to place in a string of top‑level events — including seconds in both the Group 1 Champagne Stakes and Group 1 Flight Stakes.

Sweet Embrace Stakes 2026 – Quick Information

• Race Day: Saturday, February 28, 2026
• Track Location: Randwick Racecourse
• Track Surface: Turf
• Track Direction: Right-handed
• Race Distance: 1,200 metres
• Weight Conditions: Set weights
• Qualification: Two-year-old (fillies only)
• Type: Thoroughbred
• Grade: Group 2
• Operator: Australian Turf Club
• Prize Purse: $300,000
• Inaugural Race: 1979
• 2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes Winner: Spicy Miss

Sweet Embrace Stakes Betting 2026

There are many different ways to bet on the Sweet Embrace 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 Sweet Embrace Stakes
Win Bet	Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Sweet Embrace Stakes.
Place Bet	Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Sweet Embrace Stakes. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds.
Each-Way Bet	If your runner finishes 1st in the Sweet Embrace 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, within the Sweet Embrace Stakes, in order to win the Quinella.
Exacta Bet	You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Sweet Embrace Stakes to win the Exacta.
Trifecta Bet	You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Sweet Embrace Stakes to win the Trifecta.
First Four	You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Sweet Embrace 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 Sweet Embrace Stakes, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie.

How To Bet on The Sweet Embrace Stakes in 2026

1. Join up at neds.com.au
2. Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
3. Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
4. Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Sweet Embrace Stakes Betting above).
5. Select the horse(s) for the race.

Which Horse Will Win the Sweet Embrace Stakes

The best way to pick which filly will win the Sweet Embrace Stakes in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up autumn form, assess the barriers and look for any past Group performers. 

Additional factors to consider when picking the Sweet Embrace Stakes winner include:

• Silver Lead-Up – The Silver Slipper Stakes has proved a nice guide to the Sweet Embrace in recent years.
• Last Start Winners – A number of recent Sweet Embrace Stakes winners came off a last-start victory including Four Moves Ahead (2021) and Fireburn (2022).

Sweet Embrace Stakes Favourites 2026

Favourites in 2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes betting include the Tony Gollan-trained Prague filly Pembrey coming off a winning debut by 5.44 lengths at Eagle Farm, the progressive Ciaron Maher-trained Spicy Miss who has run second in both her earlier Black-Type runs, and her stablemate Ciaron’s Star who broke her maiden status last time out in the Pierro Plate.

Four Moves Ahead ($2.70 in 2021) and Manaal ($2.05 in 2024) are the latest Sweet Embrace Stakes favourites to win.

Sweet Embrace Stakes 2026 Field

The official 2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes field of final acceptances is announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.

The Sweet Embrace Stakes 2026 final field features a smart line-up of fillies including the Tony Gollan-trained Queensland raider Pembrey coming off a huge Eagle Farm win on debut and the promising Group 3 placed Spicy Miss for Ciaron Maher drawn wide.

Randwick R4

Final Race time: 

	Entrant	Last 6	Sex	Barrier	Weight
	1. By Choice J: Tim Clark T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	153	F	6	56.5kg
	2. Spicy Miss J: Zac Lloyd T: Ciaron Maher	2x2	F	7	56.5kg
	3. Lumbini J: Adam Hyeronimus T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	12	F	3	56.5kg
	4. Ciaron's Star J: Jason Collett T: Ciaron Maher	31	F	5	56.5kg
	5. Screen Icon J: Chad Schofield T: John P Thompson	2x7	F	8	56.5kg
	6. Pembrey J: James McDonald T: Tony Gollan	1	F	4	56.5kg
	7. Pearl Of Dubai (12)  Scratched:
	8. Hardanger J: Tommy Berry T: Michael Freedman	33	F	2	56.5kg
	9. Cherry Bomshell (8)  Scratched:
	10. Scintillation (1)  Scratched:
	11. Gone To Gowings (4)  Scratched:
	12. Zoo Dazzler (13)  Scratched:
	13. Sumac J: Jay Ford T: Lee & Cherie Curtis		F	1	56.5kg

View Results

Sweet Embrace Stakes Race Day 2026

The 2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes takes place on 2026 Verry Elleegant Stakes Day at Royal Randwick on Saturday, February 28, 2026. The Group 1 $1,000,000 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) – formerly the Chipping Norton Stakes – is the marquee event on the program that also features the running of the:

• Group 1 $750,000 Surround Stakes (1400m),
• Group 2 $300,000 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m),
• Group 2 $300,000 Skyline Stakes (1200m), and the
• Group 3 $250,000 Liverpool City Cup (1300m).

Sweet Embrace Stakes Barrier Draw 2026

The 2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and will be published in our above Sweet Embrace Stakes Field section. 

Sweet Embrace Stakes Nominations 2026

2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes nominations close at 11 AM on the Monday of race week. 

2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes nominations extended until 11:00am (AEDT) – 24/02/2026

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Hcp Rating
1	153	BY CHOICE	F	2	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
2	51	CHERRY BOMSHELL	F	2	Annabel & Rob Archibald
3	31	CIARON’S STAR	F	2	Ciaron Maher
4	0x3	DOUBELLA	F	2	Richard & Will Freedman
5	4	GONE TO GOWINGS	F	2	Clarry Conners
6	33	HARDANGER	F	2	Michael Freedman
7	12	LUMBINI	F	2	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
8	2×4	PEARL OF DUBAI	F	2	Peter Snowden
9	1	PEMBREY	F	2	Tony Gollan
10	1	SCINTILLATION	F	2	John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
11	2×7	SCREEN ICON	F	2	John Thompson
12	2×2	SPICY MISS	F	2	Ciaron Maher
13		SUMAC	F	2	Lee & Cherie Curtis
14	9	ZOO DAZZLER	F	2	Anthony & Sam Freedman

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Sweet Embrace Stakes Weights 2026

Set weights apply to this race. The weight is set at 55.5 kilograms. Final weights are announced at 4 PM on the Tuesday of race week with the official 2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes weights on the final acceptances to be published in our above Sweet Embrace Stakes Field section. 

Sweet Embrace Stakes Acceptances 2026

2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes final acceptances must be declared before 9 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Sweet Embrace Stakes Field section. 

Sweet Embrace Stakes Jockeys 2026

The final riders must be announced by 12 PM on the Wednesday of race week with the confirmed 2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes jockeys to be published in our above Sweet Embrace Stakes Field section. 

Sweet Embrace Stakes Scratchings 2026

2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2026. 

Sweet Embrace Stakes Prize Money 2026

The 2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes prize purse is worth $300,000 in total, distributed from places first through to tenth.

Place	Prize Money
1st	$170,000
2nd	$56,000
3rd	$27,250
4th	$13,250
5th	$7,200
6th	$4,000
7th	$3,700
8th	$3,700
9th	$3,700
10th	$3,700

Sweet Embrace Stakes Race Number 2026

The 2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes race number is scheduled as Randwick Race 4 at 2:15pm (AEDT) on Saturday, February 28, 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Randwick Racecourse.

Sweet Embrace Stakes 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 Sweet Embrace Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances. 

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 SWEET EMBRACE STAKES FORM GUIDE

Sweet Embrace Stakes Live 2026

You can watch or listen to the 2026 Sweet Embrace Stakes live, across the following mediums.

Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)

Radio: Radio Sport National

Streaming: Racing NSW

Sweet Embrace Stakes Winners

Winners of the Sweet Embrace Stakes going back to the year 2000 are displayed in the table below. If you would like to see results going back to 1979, please check our Sweet Embrace Stakes winners’ page.

Year	Winner	Trainer/s	Jockey	Weight	Time
2026	Spicy Miss	Ciaron Maher	Zac Lloyd	56.5kg	1:09.95
2025	Within The Law	Bjorn Baker	Jason Collett	55.5kg	1:09.51
2024	Manaal	Michael Freedman	Tommy Berry	55.5kg	1:10.37
2023	Lazzago	Chris Waller	Hugh Bowman	55.5kg	1:10.76
2022	Fireburn	Gary Portelli	Jason Collett	55.5kg	1:15.18
2021	Four Moves Ahead	John Sargent	Nash Rawiller	55.5kg	1:10.50
2020	Hungry Heart	Chris Waller	James McDonald	55.5kg	1:09.64
2019	Anaheed	Peter & Paul Snowden	Tim Clark	55.5kg	1:09.72
2018	Seabrook	Mick Price	Hugh Bowman	55.5kg	1:10.96
2017	One More Honey	John Thompson	Jay Ford	55.5kg	1:12.28
2016	Scarlet Rain	Gai Waterhouse	Kathy O’Hara	55.5kg	1:09.52
2015	Always Allison	Chris Waller	Glyn Schofield	55.5kg	1:10.78
2014	Believe Yourself	Gerald Ryan	Jason Collett	55.5kg	1:11.20
2013	Romantic Moon	John O’Shea	James McDonald	55.5kg	1:10.08
2012	Jade Marauder	Chris Waller	Hugh Bowman	55.5kg	1:11.27
2011	Shared Reflections	Gai Waterhouse	Nash Rawiller	55.5kg	1:09.52
2010	Crystal Lily	Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra	Damien Oliver	55.5kg	1:09.05
2009	Headway	Peter Moody	Chris Munce	55.5kg	1:11.14
2008	Stripper	David Payne	Jeff Lloyd	55.5kg	1:11.03
2007	Chinchilla Rose	Steele Ryan	Stathi Katsidis	55.5kg	1:10.14
2006	Universal Queen	Bede Murray	Danny Beasley	55.5kg	1:11.44
2005	Carry On Cutie	Graeme Rogerson	Jim Cassidy	55.5kg	1:10.49
2004	Burning Sands	Graeme Rogerson	Jim Cassidy	55.5kg	1:11.85
2003	Legally Bay	John Hawkes	Rod Quinn	55.5kg	1:10.00
2002	Victory Vein	Bede Murray	Danny Beasley	55.5kg	1:09.89
2001	Ha Ha	Gai Waterhouse	Brian York	55.5kg	1:10.97
2000	Dynamic Love	John Wallace	Glen Colless	55.5kg	1:11.70