2026 Moir Stakes Day Tips & Preview

CIGNETTI (3) has returned well for the Busuttin and Young Team with a first-up win to his name at Sale a few weeks ago. 

He crossed from the wide barrier and led into the straight, punching clear over the final furlong to put away a decent sized field and go 1.75 lengths clear. 

Blake Shinn retaining the ride is a big plus and another slightly wet track will be right up his alley from a nice inside alley this time. 

RUSSIAN DUCHESS (4) looks to be a mare with a bit of upside. 

She was fast into stride on the synthetic at Ballarat last start upon settling midfield, finding some nice cover into the turn before putting her foot down to go on and win by a length. 

This is tougher again, but I thought she worked through the gears well and the booking of Craig Williams is also worth noting. 

BEAST MODE (1) hasn’t won for a while but has spent a good chunk of his prep racing in tougher Group 3 contests. 

The Hayes-trained gelding was fast into stride a few weeks ago in the Carlyon Stakes, plugging away up on the speed where he was ultimately no match for Cavalry Girl, beaten 2.5 lengths. 

Keep in mind he was competing on a Heavy 8 that day, so coming back in grade should help this time around. Blake Shinn sticks and he’ll be just as hard to catch in the late stages. 

CRUISERWEIGHT (3) didn’t make the cut last week at Caulfield as one of the emergencies, but there’s no doubt he’ll be hard to beat on Saturday with close to six weeks between runs since his last assignment. 

This talented four-year-old trained by the Hayes boys saw his unbeaten run end at Caulfieldwhen he went down as the favourite, overracing early and never really adjusting to a tempo that didn’t suit.   

To his credit, he plugged on fairly to finish fourth, but after being caught wide early without cover and forced to settle closer to the speed, this looks like a much more winnable assignment fourth-up with an encouraging jump out win between runs. 

PORTINATI (10) should have some fans after running on late for fourth in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes a fortnight ago at Caulfield. 

She was a long way back at the turn angling out wide, running on well to close the gap over the late stages after she was shifted off her line briefly at the 250m mark. 

Stripping fitter now with three runs under her belt and a nice soft gate offering her every opportunity to find cover this time, she should be suited getting out over 1300m for the first time. 

BLIND RAISE (3) returns to the races for the Busuttin and Young Team hoping to replicate his debut win at this trace in early April. 

The son to Ace High put the writing on the wall with a tidy two-length win, going on to claim the Listed ANZAC Day Stakes at Flemington by the same margin a few weeks later. 

He was out of his depth in the Group 2 Sires’ Produce at Eagle Farm last time out where he was up on the speed early and seen weakening badly after overcoming a wide gate. 

Whether 1300m is a little on the short side for him fresh is a fair question, but the gate and Shinn are two big factors working in his favour. 

EVAPORATE (2) was entitled to run third in the PB Lawrence Stakes a few weeks ago, given he was forced to round up the field early from the wide gate in order to find the front. 

The son to Per Incanto ran out of petrol tickets when it mattered, beaten 1.5 lengths by Cosmic Crusader, who has since gone on to run third in last week’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes. 

Fitter now second-up and well-suited over a slightly longer trip, he’ll be very hard to beat with a much better gate to his name. 

GIGA KICK (1) is the pick on sheer class and ability.

We haven’t seen him since the All Aged Stakes during the autumn when he was beaten just over four lengths, a race that never really went to plan after settling a long way back from the speed and failing to run on. 

Form around the winner Beiwacht really stands out on the resume though, and although it’s going on close to a year since his last win, he did go within half a length of Joliestar when second in the TJ Smith Stakes the start prior. 

Off two good jump outs leading in, he maps to settle in the back half of the field and save his best for the finish. 

Check out our full 2026 Moir Stakes Tips & Predictions!

WARNIE (3) is very dangerous I feel coming off a massive first-up effort behind Shadhavar in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes at Caulifled. 

Ciaron Maher’s gelding was away cleanly and settled dead last in running, eventually working his way to the outside down the straight where he was seen quickening well to finish 1.5 lengths fourth. 

The son to Highland Reel ate in the margin over the final 50m and has a likable second-up record to his name. It’s been a while since he tasted a win, but the extra distance, plus Mark Zahra’s experience in the saddle, only strengthen his claims. 

MR VERSE (13) is third-up and ready to peak now out over the mile. 

It’s been just over 12 months since he won a race and he does have a tendency to mix his form, but his latest effort at Rosehill was good without winning, working home strongly from the tail to finish 1.5 lengths off. 

He’s been dealt another slightly wide gate, but down at the weights with Craig Williams booked to ride, it should offer him every chance to switch off early in the hopes of saving his very best for the finish.