Looking for this year’s Chairman’s Stakes betting odds, field and form guide? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Chairman’s Stakes 2026 Results
The official 2026 Chairman’s Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
- #1 Big Sky
- #2 Invincible Son
- #8 La Gitana
Big Sky ($1.60F) delivered exactly what punters were hoping for in the 2026 Chairman’s Stakes results at Caulfield, producing a dominant three-length win that confirmed his status as one of the country’s most exciting emerging talents. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-prepared Bivouac colt bounced straight to the front under Ben Melham, showing his trademark early speed before cruising through the run and putting the race away with ease in the straight, eased down well before the line. The performance only strengthened the buzz created by his sharp Flemington debut and propelled him straight to the top of early Blue Diamond Stakes markets, with the stable adamant there’s still plenty of improvement to come as he continues to develop.
| 1. Big Sky (2) J: Ben Melham 59kg 1T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 2. Invincible Son (1) J: Jamie Melham 57kg 3T: Robbie Griffiths | ||
| 8. La Gitana (3) J: Damian Lane 55kg T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 9. Orchid Sky (6) J: Michael Dee 55kg T: Patrick Kearney | ||
| 4. Lady Of Five (5) J: Adin Thompson 55kg 12xT: Peter & Will Hulbert | ||
| 5. Mirador (7) J: Luke Currie 55kg 2T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 3. Captive Rock (4) J: Thomas Stockdale 57kg T: Simon Zahra |
Chairman’s Stakes 2026 Tips
Our exclusive 2026 Chairman’s Stakes tips will be published here the week of the race and a full betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2026 CHAIRMAN’S STAKES DAY PREVIEW & TIPS
| 1. Big Sky (2) J: Ben Melham 59kg 1T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
| 5. Mirador (7) J: Luke Currie 55kg 2T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
| 8. La Gitana (3) J: Damian Lane 55kg T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
Run over 1,000 metres in late January or early February at Caulfield Racecourse (Sandown Lakeside in 2025) in Melbourne, the Chairman’s Stakes is short-distance sprint offering $200,000 and open only to juvenile horses.
Starting out as a Listed Race, this race was upgraded to Group 3 in 2014. The race serves as a key lead-up into the Group 1 $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) held in late February and Extreme Choice (2016) was the last two-year-old to do the double.
It has previously been held at both Caulfield and Sandown.
Chairman’s Stakes 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday, January 31, 2026
- Track Location: Caulfield Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 1,000 metres
- Weight Conditions: Set weights (plus penalties)
- Qualification: Two-year-olds
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Operator: Melbourne Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $200,000
- Inaugural Race: 1990
- 2026 Chairman’s Stakes Winner: Big Sky
Chairman’s Stakes Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Chairman’s 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 Chairman’s Stakes |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Chairman’s Stakes. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Chairman’s Stakes. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Chairman’s 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 Chairman’s 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 Chairman’s Stakes to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Chairman’s Stakes to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Chairman’s 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 Chairman’s Stakes, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on the Chairman’s Stakes 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 Chairman’s Stakes Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Chairman’s Stakes in 2026
The best way to pick which horse will win the Chairman’s Stakes in 2026 is to take into account any lead-up form, proven Black-Type performers and those with a past start at the track.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Chairman’s Stakes winner include:
- Favourites – The favourites have a dominant record in the Chairman’s Stakes with 11 of the past 16 saluting.
- Fillies – Eleven of the past 17 Chairman’s Stakes winners were fillies, most recently Inkaruna (2025).
Chairman’s Stakes Favourites 2026
Favourites in Chairman’s Stakes 2026 betting include Bivouac colt Big Sky coming off a big Flemington win on debut and promising Ole Kirk filly Jadzia.
From 2010-26 eleven Chairman’s Stakes favourites saluted for the punters most recently with Loving Gaby ($3.50 in 2019), Enthaar ($1.24 in 2021), Coleman ($2.10 in 2024), and Big Sky ($1.60 in 2026)
Chairman’s Stakes 2026 Field
The official Chairman’s Stakes 2026 field of final acceptances is announced the Wednesday prior to the race and will be published in full below.
The Chairman’s Stakes 2026 final field features a smart line-up of promising Blue Diamond types including Bivouac colt Big Sky coming off a winning Flemington debut by nearly three lengths.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Big Sky
J: Ben Melham
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
1 | C | 2 | 59kg | |
|
2. Invincible Son
J: Jamie Melham
T: Robbie Griffiths |
3 | C | 1 | 57kg | |
|
3. Captive Rock
J: Thomas Stockdale
T: Simon Zahra |
C | 4 | 57kg | ||
|
4. Lady Of Five
J: Adin Thompson
T: Peter & Will Hulbert |
12x | F | 5 | 55kg | |
|
5. Mirador
J: Luke Currie
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
2 | F | 7 | 55kg | |
| 6. Expensive Taste (3) Scratched: | |||||
| 7. Jadzia (6) Scratched: | |||||
|
8. La Gitana
J: Damian Lane
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
F | 3 | 55kg | ||
|
9. Orchid Sky
J: Michael Dee
T: Patrick Kearney |
F | 6 | 55kg | ||
Chairman’s Stakes Race Day 2026
Chairman’s Stakes Day 2026 takes place at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, January 31, 2026. The other key support act on the card is the Group 3 $200,000 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1300m) for the mares.
Chairman’s Stakes Barrier Draw 2026
The 2026 Chairman’s Stakes barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Chairman’s Stakes Field section.
Chairman’s Stakes Nominations 2026
2026 Chairman’s Stakes nominations close at 12 PM on the Monday of race week.
2026 Chairman’s Stakes nominations extended until 10:00am (AEDT) – 27/01/2026
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | BIG SKY | C | 2 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 68 |
| 2 | CAPTIVE ROCK | C | 2 | Simon Zahra | ||
| 3 | EXPENSIVE TASTE | F | 2 | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | ||
| 4 | 3 | INVINCIBLE SON | C | 2 | Robbie Griffiths | 63 |
| 5 | 4 | ISLE OF MONA | F | 2 | Nick Ryan | 61 |
| 6 | JADZIA | F | 2 | Grahame Begg | ||
| 7 | 527 | KO PHANGAN | C | 2 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 63 |
| 8 | LA GITANA | F | 2 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | ||
| 9 | 12x | LADY OF FIVE | F | 2 | Peter & Will Hulbert | 67 |
| 10 | 2 | MIRADOR | F | 2 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 63 |
| 11 | ORCHID SKY | F | 2 | Patrick Kearney | ||
| 12 | TOUGH ROMANCE | C | 2 | Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Chairman’s Stakes Weights 2026
Set weights plus penalties apply to this race. Final 2026 Chairman’s Stakes weights are announced at 4 PM on the Monday of race week with weights on the final acceptances to be published in our above Chairman’s Stakes Field section.
In 2023 the Chairman’s Stakes topweights Zulfiqar (59kg) and Veecee (59kg) ran one-two.
Coleman (59kg in 2024) and Big Sky (59kg in 2026) are the latest Chairman’s Stakes topweights to win.
2026 Chairman’s Stakes Topweight:
- No. 1 Big Sky (59kg)
Chairman’s Stakes Acceptances 2026
Final 2026 Chairman’s Stakes acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Chairman’s Stakes Field section.
Chairman’s Stakes Jockeys 2026
The final 2026 Chairman’s Stakes jockeys must be announced by 1:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Chairman’s Stakes Field section.
Chairman’s Stakes Scratchings 2026
2026 Chairman’s Stakes scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Chairman’s Stakes Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Chairman’s Stakes 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 |
Chairman’s Stakes Race Number 2026
The 2026 Chairman’s Stakes race number is scheduled as Caulfield Race 6 at 3:10pm (AEDT) on Saturday, January 31, 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Caulfield Racecourse.
Chairman’s 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 Chairman’s Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 CHAIRMAN’S STAKES FORM GUIDE
Chairman’s Stakes Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Chairman’s Stakes 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
Chairman’s Stakes Winners
Winners of the Chairman’s Stakes going back to 2000 are displayed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Big Sky | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | Ben Melham | 59 kgs | 0:58.06 |
| 2025 | Inkaruna | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Daniel Moor | 55 kgs | 0:56.86 |
| 2024 | Coleman | Matt Laurie | Ben Melham | 59 kgs | 0:56.71 |
| 2023 | Zulfiqar | James Cummings | Ben Melham | 59 kgs | 0:59.33 |
| 2022 | Sebonack | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Jy McNeil | 57 kgs | 0:57.44 |
| 2021 | Enthaar | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Mark Zahra | 57 kgs | 0:57.28 |
| 2020 | Mildred | Grahame Begg | Jordan Childs | 57 kgs | 0:59.79 |
| 2019 | Loving Gaby | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Damian Lane | 54 kgs | 0:57.69 |
| 2018 | Ennis Hill | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Stephen Baster | 54 kgs | 0:57.02 |
| 2017 | Formality | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Craig Williams | 54 kgs | 0:58.10 |
| 2016 | Extreme Choice | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | 58 kgs | 0:57.09 |
| 2015 | Thurlow | Robert Smerdon | Craig Williams | 56 kgs | 0:56.43 |
| 2014 | Nayeli | Gai Waterhouse | Vlad Duric | 54 kgs | 1:03.88 |
| 2013 | Metastasio | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 55 kgs | 1:04.37 |
| 2012 | Mama’s Choice | David Hayes | Dwayne Dunn | 54 kgs | 1:04.70 |
| 2011 | Atomic | Lee Freedman | Ben Melham | 55.5 kgs | 0:56.72 |
| 2010 | Crystal Lily | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Brett Prebble | 55 kgs | 1:02.67 |
| 2009 | Headway | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 53 kgs | 1:04.10 |
| 2008 | Whisper Bay | David Hayes | James Winks | 54 kgs | 0:57.69 |
| 2007 | Gibraltar Campion | Lee Freedman | Corey Brown | 53 kgs | 1:11.37 |
| 2006 | Ulfah | David Hayes | Craig Williams | 52 kgs | 1:09.89 |
| 2005 | Under The Floor | Lee Freedman | Damien Oliver | 54 kgs | 1:10.76 |
| 2004 | Tirade | Mathew Ellerton | Glen Boss | 54 kgs | 1:10.98 |
| 2003 | Vengeance Of Rain | Bradley Marzato | Danny Nikolic | 54.5 kgs | 1:09.78 |
| 2002 | Yell | John Hawkes | Darren Gauci | 54.5 kgs | 1:04.39 |
| 2001 | Spitz | Lee Freedman | Peter Mertens | 54.5 kgs | 1:04.34 |
| 2000 | Road To Success | John Salanitri | Danny Nikolic | 54.5 kgs | 1:05.71 |