Looking for this year’s top HDF McNeil Stakes betting info and field guide? The expert tipsters at Neds have put together everything you need to know.
2026 HDF McNeil Stakes Odds
The 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes odds are already drawing attention as punters assess which rising three‑year‑olds are ready to fire early in the spring. Early HDF McNeil Stakes odds 2026 at Neds typically favour colts and fillies with strong juvenile form, sharp 1200m credentials and stables known for producing early‑season improvers. With fresh horses resuming, second‑up runners primed to elevate, and major yards unveiling new carnival prospects, HDF McNeil Stakes betting 2026 offers punters a valuable first look at the emerging talent pool. Tracking trial form, barrier draws and market firmers is key to spotting early overs before the field locks in and the spring narrative begins to take shape.
The latest HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 odds followed by the official race finishing order after the event will be available below.
HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 Tips
Our insider tips on the 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes will be detailed here the week of the Group 3 spring lead-up and a full Memsie Stakes Day betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
The H.D.F. McNeil Stakes is a Group 3 race run and won at Caulfield Racecourse in early September as part of Melbourne’s Memsie Stakes Day card each spring.
The event is a 1200m sprint run at set weights plus penalties for three-year-olds and offers $200,000 in prize money. The race was inaugurated in 1989 and gained its current Group 3 status in 1999.
Plenty of nice race horses have won the H.D.F. McNeil Stakes over the race’s history including Danzero (1994), La Baraka (1997), that year’s Golden Slipper winning filly Miss Finland (2006), international Group 1 hero Scenic Blast (2007), champion sprinter Starspangledbanner (2009), and that year’s subsequent Caulfield Guineas champ Super Seth (2019).
The McNeil Stakes serves as a nice lead-up for 3YOs heading towards tougher Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival assignments including the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington over the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Merchant Navy (2017) was the last horse to complete the HDF McNeil Stakes – Coolmore Stud Stakes double.
The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) is another key target for HDF McNeil Stakes horses and Super Seth (2019) was the last to win both events.
Three-year-olds in the HDF McNeil Stakes field may also be using the event as a potential lead-up into the world’s richest turf race with Sydney hosting the $20 million The Everest the following month at Royal Randwick.
Jacquinot (2022) won the McNeil Stakes and Sydney’s Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes before a fifth in that year’s The Everest results.
Veight (2023) won the McNeil Stakes followed by a second in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas that spring, Group 1 Australian Guineas second the following autumn and 2024 Group 1 George Ryder Stakes victory in Sydney.
The 2024 McNeil Stakes form was firmly franked by the winner Growing Empire who went on to place in a host of Group 1 spring majors including the Manikato Stakes (2nd), The Everest (3rd) and Coolmore Stud Stakes (3rd).
HDF Mcneil Stakes 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday, August 29, 2026
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Surface: Turf
- Distance: 1200m
- Weight Class: Set Weights plus Penalties
- Qualification: Three-year-olds
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Operator: Melbourne Racing Club
- Purse: $200,000
- Inaugural Race: 1989
- 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes Winner: TBC
HDF Mcneil Stakes 2026 Results
The official 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
HDF Mcneil Stakes Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the HDF McNeil 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 HDF McNeil Stakes |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s HDF McNeil Stakes |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s HDF McNeil Stakes. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the HDF McNeil 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 HDF McNeil 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 HDF McNeil Stakes to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the HDF McNeil Stakes to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the HDF McNeil 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 HDF McNeil Stakes, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on The HDF McNeil Stakes in 2026
- Login at Neds
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out the form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the HDF McNeil Stakes in 2026
Which horse will win the HDF McNeil Stakes in 2026 comes down to a number of key form factors including the barriers, form over the 1200m distance and their previous Group race experience in the lead-up.
When selecting the HDF McNeil Stakes winner it is also important to consider:
- Group Performers: Three-year-olds with a proven Group race record and any past Group 1 performers down in grade do well in the HDF McNeil Stakes especially any horses that ran in the Blue Diamond Stakes as a 2YO.
- Boys’ Club: The colts and geldings make the best bet in the HDF McNeil Stakes with Lady Of Harrods (2012) the last filly to beat home the boys in the event.
HDF McNeil Stakes Favourites 2026
The favourites in HDF McNeil Stakes betting for 2026 will be updated here the week of the race.
Growing Empire ($2.50 in 2024) was the last HDF McNeil Stakes favourite to win.
HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 Field
The official 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes field of final acceptances is made public on the Wednesday of race week and will be available right here.
HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 Race Day
The HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 takes place as part of Caulfield’s 2026 Memsie Stakes Day on Saturday, August 29, 2026. The other Group status races on the program are the:
- $750,000 Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m),
- $200,000 Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) which is known as the Courtza Stakes in 2026, and the
- $200,000 Group 3 The Heath 1100 Stakes (1200m).
HDF Mcneil Stakes 2026 Barrier Draw
The official 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes barrier draw takes place the week of the race and will be published in our above HDF McNeil Stakes Field section.
HDF Mcneil Stakes 2026 Nominations
2026 HDF McNeil Stakes nominations will be announced on the Monday of race week at midday (local time) with the full list of early entries to be published below.
HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 Weights
The HDF McNeil Stakes is contested at set weights plus penalties. 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes weights on the final acceptors will be published in our above HDF McNeil Stakes Field section.
2026 HDF McNeil Stakes Topweight:
- TBC
HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 Acceptances
The HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 final acceptances close the Wednesday of race week and will be available in full in our above HDF McNeil Stakes Field section.
HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 Jockeys
Jockeys for the HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 must be declared following acceptances and will be available in our above HDF McNeil Stakes Field section.
HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 Scratchings
Scratchings for the HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 must be declared by 7:30AM on race day morning, Saturday, August 29, 2026.
HDF McNeil Stakes Prize Money 2026
The 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes prize money is set at a total of $200,000 with prize money paid from first 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 |
HDF McNeil Stakes Race Number 2026
The 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes race number is TBC for Saturday, August 29, 2026. A total of ten races runs at Caulfield Racecourse on Memsie Stakes Day.
HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 Form Guide
The final form guide will be available the Wednesday of race week. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances.
How to Watch the HDF McNeil Stakes 2026 Live
You can watch or listen to the 2026 HDF McNeil Stakes live, across the following mediums:
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Free to air television: 7 Network; Cannels 78 (and 68 in regional areas)
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
HDF McNeil Stakes Winners
Winners of the HDF McNeil Stakes going back to the year 1989 are displayed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | Second | Third | Time |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Tycoon Star | McGaw | Jimmy Recard | 1:10.00 |
| 2024 | Growing Empire | Wonder Boy | Stay Focused | 1:10.38 |
| 2023 | Veight | Legacies | Little Brose | 1:09.4 |
| 2022 | Jacquinot | Aft Cabin | Tijuana | 1:11.9 |
| 2021 | Bruckner | Artorious | Heresy | 1:10.4 |
| 2020 | Immortal Love | Flying Award | Tagaloa | 1:10.8 |
| 2019 | Super Seth | King Of Hastings | Sebrakate | 1:10.9 |
| 2018 | Native Soldier | The August | Seabrook | 1:09.7 |
| 2017 | Merchant Navy | Booker | Muraahib | 1:10.8 |
| 2016 | Defcon | Highland Beat | Wazzeme | 1:11.4 |
| 2015 | Gold Symphony | Ready For Victory | Demonstrate | 1:10.5 |
| 2014 | Chivalry | Nordic Empire | Awesome Rock | 1:10.2 |
| 2013 | Fast ‘n’ Rocking | Prince Harada | Thermal Current | 1:10.8 |
| 2012 | Lady Of Harrods | Kabayan | Shamexpress | 1:10.2 |
| 2011 | Golden Archer | Cross Of Gold | Vatican | 1:09.0 |
| 2010 | Sistine Angel | Servant | Intencion | 1:13.4 |
| 2009 | Starspangledbanner | Tollesprit | Eclair Fastpass | 1:10.2 |
| 2008 | Sugar Babe | Whogotbeyou | Cardinal Virtue | 1:10.4 |
| 2007 | Scenic Blast | Pins On Parade | Marching | 1:10.6 |
| 2006 | Miss Finland | Haradasun | Due Sasco | 1:10.6 |
| 2005 | Danerich | Line Account | Izanami | 1:06.7 |
| 2004 | Tahni Girl | Classiconi | Oratorio | 1:04.1 |
| 2003 | Cahula | Cross Current | Abdullah | 1:05.4 |
| 2002 | Bel Esprit | Yell | Before Too Long | 1:01.9 |
| 2001 | Tully Dane | Raja Lane | King of Prussia | 1:05.6 |
| 2000 | Rapid Man | Little Dozer | Homewrecker | 1:06.1 |
| 1999 | Honour Thy Name | Fappianos Son | Miss Pennymoney | 1:06.1 |
| 1998 | Theatre | Jumalique | Major Fun | 1:03.9 |
| 1997 | La Baraka | Towkay | Guineas | 1:04.1 |
| 1996 | Valourina | Investigation | Checmour | 1:03.9 |
| 1995 | Gold Ace | Sykes | Street Talk | 1:03.6 |
| 1994 | Danzero | Linbird | Hurricane Sky | 1:04.6 |
| 1993 | Sequalo | Lady Jakeo | King Kora | 1:05.2 |
| 1992 | Snippet’s Girl | Simonstad | Forever Intrigue | 1:07.1 |
| 1991 | Tierce | Naturalism | Business Beat | 1:05.6 |
| 1990 | Manitor | The Curragh | Clubman | 1:06.6 |
| 1989 | Goold Old Ted | Street Ruffian | Parotime | 1:06.9 |