Looking for this year’s Kevin Heffernan Stakes betting odds, field and tips? The experts at Neds have everything you need!
Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Results
The official 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
- #1 Tom Kitten
- #3 Feroce
- #2 Veight
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Tom Kitten ($3F) returned to winning form in style at Caulfield on Saturday, powering home to claim victory for the punters in the 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes results with a trademark late surge that reminded punters why he’s one of the most reliable weight-for-age performers in training. Settling back in the field before building momentum approaching the bend off a perfectly timed ride by Craig Williams, the classy Godolphin galloper let down strongly in the straight, running down the front-running Feroce to score a narrow but convincing win – his first since last autumn’s All-Star Mile – and signal he’s in for another lucrative autumn campaign.
| 1. Tom Kitten (8) J: Craig Williams59kg 5453xT: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 3. Feroce (2) J: Damian Lane59kg 6380xT: Dominic Sutton | ||
| 2. Veight (1) J: Luke Currie59kg 0x0x2T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy | ||
| 7. Plymouth (7) J: Ben Allen59kg 6120xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 5. Sandpaper (6) J: Jamie Mott59kg 70261T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 8. Jennilala (4) J: Thomas Stockdale57kg 24004T: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 6. Hughes (3) J: Harry Coffey59kg x5062T: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 4. Zou Sensation (5) J: Jamie Melham59kg 12341T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Tips
Our exclusive Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 tips will be listed here the week of the race and a full betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
Run over 1,400 metres (increased from 1,300m in 2021), the Kevin Heffernan Stakes is a Group 3 race formerly taking place at Sandown Racecourse in the spring before moving to the autumn ahead of the 2026 edition.
With a $200,000 prize purse, it attracts some of best sprinting distance runners from Australia, with some international entrants coming off a Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival preparation from the year before.
In 2021 the Kevin Heffernan Stakes and Zipping Classic Day card was moved to late November at Caulfield Racecourse where it remained for the 2022 edition. The 2023 Kevin Heffernan Stakes ran on the first Saturday in December, while in 2024 the event took place on the last Saturday in November.
There was no 2025 race held before it returned in 2026 moving to early February in the autumn on Rubiton Stakes Day at Caulfield.
Starting out as a Listed Race, this race was upgraded to Group 3 status in 2013. The Kevin Heffernan Stakes is a weight-for-age event.
The Kevin Heffernan Stakes previously proved a key form race to follow into bigger events the following autumn and spring including in 2021 when the following year’s 2020 fourth placed Streets Of Avalon returned to win the Group 2 Australia Stakes – Group 1 CF Orr Stakes double. Streets Of Avalon also ran third in the 2021 Kevin Heffernan before his The All-Star Mile placing behind Zaaki in 2022.
In 2025, Tom Kitten won the Kevin Heffernan Stakes breaking a winning drought going back to the previous autumn’s All-Star Mile.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Track Location: Caulfield Racecourse (since 2021)
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 1,400 metres (since 2021)
- Weight Conditions: Weight for age
- Qualification: Three-year-olds
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Prize Purse: $200,000
- Inaugural Race: 2001
- 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Winner: Tom Kitten
Kevin Heffernan Stakes Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Kevin Heffernan 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 Kevin Heffernan Stakes |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Kevin Heffernan Stakes. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Kevin Heffernan Stakes. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Kevin Heffernan 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 Kevin Heffernan 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 Kevin Heffernan Stakes to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Kevin Heffernan Stakes to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Kevin Heffernan 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 Kevin Heffernan Stakes, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on the Kevin Heffernan 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 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win The Kevin Heffernan Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Kevin Heffernan Stakes in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up form in similar grade races, any past runs at the track and proven Group horses.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Kevin Heffernan Stakes winner include:
- Spring Champions – Look for horses that recently did well the previous spring.
- Weight For Age – The weight for age conditions may favour younger or older horses. Look for a proven performer which is carrying an amount of weight advantageous to their hopes.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Favourites
Favourites in 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes betting include Anthony & Sam Freedman’s reigning All-Star Mile champion Tom Kitten and the consistent Zou Sensation coming off a mid-December win in Flemington’s Listed Kensington Stakes.
Kemalpasa ($3.70 in 2020) and Tom Kitten ($3 in 2026) are the latest Kevin Heffernan Stakes favourites to win.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Field
The official 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes field of final acceptances is released the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full here.
The Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 final field features a small but exciting line-up of WFA stars including reigning All-Star Mile champ Tom Kitten and the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Veight coming off a second fresh in the Group 2 Australia Stakes.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Tom Kitten
J: Craig Williams
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
x5453x | G | 8 | 59kg | |
|
2. Veight
J: Luke Currie
T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |
90x0x2 | G | 1 | 59kg | |
|
3. Feroce
J: Damian Lane
T: Dominic Sutton |
x6380x | G | 2 | 59kg | |
|
4. Zou Sensation
J: Jamie Melham
T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
612341 | G | 5 | 59kg | |
|
5. Sandpaper
J: Jamie Mott
T: Bjorn Baker |
070261 | G | 6 | 59kg | |
|
6. Hughes
J: Harry Coffey
T: Gavin Bedggood |
6x5062 | G | 3 | 59kg | |
|
7. Plymouth
J: Ben Allen
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
06120x | G | 7 | 59kg | |
|
8. Jennilala
J: Thomas Stockdale
T: Gavin Bedggood |
824004 | M | 4 | 57kg |
Kevin Heffernan Stakes Race Day 2026
The 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes takes place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Caulfield Racecourse. The key races on the card include the:
- Group 2 $300,000 Rubiton Stakes (1100m),
- Group 2 $350,000 Blue Diamond Prelude Fillies (1100m),
- Group 3 $350,000 Blue Diamond Prelude Colts & Geldings (1100m),
- Group 2 $300,000 Autumn Stakes (1400m),
- Group 3 $200,000 Peter Le Grand Stakes (formerly the Kevin Hayes Stakes) (1100m), and the
- Group 3 $200,000 TS Carlyon Cup (1600m) run in 2026 as the MRC Foundation Cup.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Barrier Draw
The 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Kevin Heffernan Stakes Field section.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Nominations
Nominations for the 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes close the Monday of race week and will be published in full below.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2317×48152 | AHHA AHHA | M | 4 | Clinton McDonald | 73 |
| 2 | 4223111526 | ENCHANTED JENNI (NZ) | M | 4 | Lucy Yeomans | 71 |
| 3 | x316x6380x | FEROCE (NZ) | G | 4 | Dominic Sutton | 106 |
| 4 | 13116×5062 | HUGHES | G | 6 | Gavin Bedggood | 94 |
| 5 | 607×824004 | JENNILALA | M | 6 | Gavin Bedggood | 98 |
| 6 | 40355×0048 | PASCERO | G | 7 | Carly Thomas | 76 |
| 7 | 463x06120x | PLYMOUTH | G | 4 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 96 |
| 8 | x1x1200x38 | RED GALAXY | G | 5 | Greg Eurell | 79 |
| 9 | 4x50x32345 | RISE AT DAWN (NZ) | G | 5 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 104 |
| 10 | 515×070261 | SANDPAPER | G | 6 | Bjorn Baker | 105 |
| 11 | 5×88349772 | STEPARTY | G | 5 | Paul Preusker | 101 |
| 12 | 1573x5453x | TOM KITTEN | G | 5 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 114 |
| 13 | 21x090x0x2 | VEIGHT | G | 5 | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 109 |
| 14 | x10x86276x | WELWAL (GB) | G | 7 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 103 |
| 15 | 1114612341 | ZOU SENSATION | G | 6 | Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | 105 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Weights
Weight for age conditions apply to this race. Final 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes weights will be announced by 4:00 PM on the Monday of race week with weights on the final acceptances to be published in our above Kevin Heffernan Stakes Field section.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Acceptances
2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes final acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Kevin Heffernan Stakes Field section.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Jockeys
The final riders must be announced by 1:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week, and the official 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes jockeys will be published in our above Kevin Heffernan Stakes Field section.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes 2026 Scratchings
2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
Kevin Heffernan Stakes Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Kevin Heffernan 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 |
Kevin Heffernan Stakes Race Number 2026
The 2026 Kevin Heffernan Stakes race number is scheduled as Caulfield Race 7 at 3:40pm (AEDT) on Saturday, February 7, 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Caulfield Racecourse.
Kevin Heffernan 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 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 KEVIN HEFFERNAN STAKES FORM GUIDE
Kevin Heffernan Stakes Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Kevin Heffernan 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) broadcast
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Kevin Heffernan Stakes Winners
Winners of the Kevin Heffernan Stakes going back to 2001 displayed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tom Kitten | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Craig Williams | 59 kgs | 1:22.05 |
| 2025 (Race Not Held) | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2024 | Welwal | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Luke Currie | 59 kgs | 1:26.36 |
| 2023 | King Magnus | Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | Thomas Stockdale | 59 kgs | 1:26.66 |
| 2022 | Crosshaven | Ben & JD Hayes | Mark Zahra | 59 kgs | 1:24.09 |
| 2021 | Sinawann | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Craig Williams | 59 kgs | 1:22.14 |
| 2020 | Kemalpasa | Richard & Chantelle Jolly | Craig Williams | 59 kgs | 1:16.71 |
| 2019 | Teleplay | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr. | Ben Melham | 57 kgs | 1:17.26 |
| 2018 | Cool Passion | Tony McEvoy | Kerrin McEvoy | 57 kgs | 1:16.59 |
| 2017 | Jungle Edge | Mick Bell | Kevin Forrester | 59 kgs | 1:17.49 |
| 2016 | Lucky Hussler | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 59 kgs | 1:16.43 |
| 2015 | Famous Seamus | Noel Mayfield-Smith | Kerrin McEvoy | 59 kgs | 1:18.04 |
| 2014 | Fast ‘n’ Rocking | David Hayes | Dwayne Dunn | 59 kgs | 1:17.67 |
| 2013 | Lankan Rupee | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 58.5 kgs | 1:09.70 |
| 2012 | Mid Summer Music | Peter Moody | Steven Arnold | 57 kgs | 1:17.13 |
| 2011 | Soul | Peter Snowden | Mark Zahra | 59 kgs | 1:18.97 |
| 2010 | Avenue | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 57 kgs | 1:19.26 |
| 2009 | Lucky Secret | Tony Vasil | Nash Rawiller | 59 kgs | 1:16.74 |
| 2008 | Captain Bax | Kris Lees | Michael Rodd | 59 kgs | 1:18.47 |
| 2007 | Gibraltar Campion | Lee Freedman | Craig Newitt | 51 kgs | 1:11.83 |
| 2006 | Tesbury Jack | Julie Scott | Darren Gauci | 57.5 kgs | 1:08.97 |
| 2005 | Bomber Bill | Maureen Harry | Peter Mertens | 58 kgs | 1:17.58 |
| 2004 | Brannigan | John Hawkes | Corey Brown | 52 kgs | 1:17.51 |
| 2003 | Super Groove | Tony Noonan | Steven King | 57.5 kgs | 1:11.04 |
| 2002 | Century Kid | Graeme Rogerson | Jim Cassidy | 57.5 kgs | 1:10.13 |
| 2001 | Chattanooga | Mick Price | Noel Callow | 57.5 kgs | 1:10.11 |