Gilgai Stakes 2026 Betting Tips, Predictions & Favourites

Punters need to take SKYBIRD (5) on faith at this point in her career, but when she’s at her best, she is good enough to blow this field away.

The 6YO mare has five wins from 20 starts, and although beaten when running sixth last start at Sandown, that came at Group 1 level behind My Gladiola in the Moir Stakes, and that form has been somewhat franked since.

She is a past winner down the Flemington straight, and she has yet to finish worse than third at the track. The straight track is her biggest asset, and barrier 5 should get her a good run through the field.

There is some trepidation in betting markets, but she’s the class runner of the field at her best, and this could be her grand return to form before the bigger races during the carnival heat up.

Our Gilgai Stakes predictions include WAR MACHINE (1) at double-figure odds. He’s another Group 1 winner with class on his side, and we’re hoping he gets back to his best form on Saturday.

He showed glimpses of his best form when placing at Caulfield behind Oliveanotherday, and although 14th behind Angel Capital last start in the Sir Rupert Clarke, we’re prepared to forgive that effort in a race that didn’t suit him.

We’re not sure if the inside barrier works in his favour down the straight, but it could help switch him on. He’s lacking focus when trying to come around runners, so he could hug the rail on an ideal surface and kick clear over the final 100m.

LOSESOMEWINMORE (7) is a straight-track specialist who scored a quality win last start in the Bobbie Lewis Quality. Six of his eight career wins have come down the Flemington straight, and although this is a tough field, he’s good enough to handle it.

He got the better of a good field last start when bursting through runners late. He got the better of Oliveanotherday, who has since run well in the Manikato Stakes, and the form checks out.

Craig Williams knows this horse well, and we projected his odds to be somewhere around the $8 mark. Punters get value odds, and he’s one of the better double-figure runners racing at Flemington this week.

Punters get value odds with our Gilgai Stakes SRM, which includes our three selected runners.

• Top 3 – No. 15 Skybird
• Top 5 – No. 2 War Machine 
• Top 5 – No. 5 Losesomewinmore

We have Skybird Top 3, War Machine Top 5, and Losesomewinmore Top 5, which pays $12.00 for our three-runner SRM.

We’re taking the $12 odds for our same-race multi, and although there are many chances to win, Skybird, War Machine, and Losesomewinmore, all have a great chance to figure in the finish. The odds are worth taking, and they only have to run close to the winner for punters to collect.