Looking for his year’s Manfred Stakes betting odds, tips and field? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Manfred Stakes 2026 Results
The official 2026 Manfred Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
- #1 Space Rider
- #2 Job Done
- #6 Salty Pearl
Price and Kent Jnr have done it again! Space Rider ($15) made a mockery of his double-figure odds on Saturday, returning with a statement victory in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes at Caulfield. The son of Zoustar looked every bit a Group 1 star in the making, overcoming a messy tactical map to round up the leaders and draw clear in authoritative fashion. It was a clinical first-up performance that showcased the perfect blend of Zoustar speed and genuine stamina. With a high-impact return now under his belt, the stable has their eyes firmly set on the Australian Guineas on February 28, where Space Rider looks the horse to beat.
| 1. Space Rider (9) J: Ethan Brown57kg 1740xT: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 2. Job Done (7) J: Thomas Stockdale57kg 4x113T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 6. Salty Pearl (3) J: Ben Allen56.5kg 3341xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 9. Custom (4) J: Jamie Melham55kg x162xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. Naifah (8) J: Jordan Childs55kg 15723T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 4. Express Class (5) J: Patrick Moloney57kg 136x9T: Gerard Moloney | ||
| 7. Miss Ole (2) J: Ben Melham55kg 511x5T: Clinton McDonald | ||
| 10. Conscience (6) J: Luke Cartwright55kg 1x4x3T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 3. Romantic Encounter (1) J: Luke Currie57kg 120xT: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
Manfred Stakes 2026 Tips
Our exclusive 2026 Manfred Stakes tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2026 MANFRED STAKES DAY PREVIEW & TIPS
Run over 1,200 metres on the Australia Day long weekend in Melbourne the Manfred Stakes takes place at Caulfield Racecourse and is open only to three-year-old horses.
In 2023 the event ran over 1300m at Sandown, and in 2025 it took place at Sandown Lakeside.
The Group 3 showdown is run at set weights plus penalties and offers $200,000 in prize money.
If a horse does well in the Manfred Stakes, they are likely to enter the C S Hayes Stakes a couple of weeks later. Some horses that performed in this race and are looking to increase their distance may even find themselves entered into the Australian Guineas in the following month.
In 2020 the Manfred Stakes winner Super Seth had earlier taken out the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and he went on to place second in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) next-up on Blue Diamond Stakes Day against the older horses.
The 2021 Manfred Stakes form was franked with the winner Portland Sky winning the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) next-up in a dead-heat.
The 2023 Manfred Stakes winner Jacquinot franked the form winning the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at his next start.
Manfred Stakes 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday, January 24, 2026
- Track Location: Caulfield Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 1,200 metres
- Weight Conditions: Set weights (plus penalties)
- Qualification: Three-year-olds
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Operator: Melbourne Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $200,000
- Inaugural Race: 1968
- 2026 Manfred Stakes Winner: Space Rider
Manfred Stakes Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Manfred 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 Manfred Stakes |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Manfred Stakes. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Manfred Stakes. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Manfred 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 Manfred 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 Manfred Stakes to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Manfred Stakes to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Manfred 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 Manfred Stakes, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on the Manfred 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 Manfred Stakes Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Manfred Stakes in 2026
The best way to pick which horse will win the Manfred Stakes in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up autumn racing form, assess the barriers and look for past Group performers in the mix.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Manfred Stakes winner include:
- Seasons Beginnings – This will be the first run of the autumn season for a lot of horses. Your pick is between horses coming out of a spell that had a strong summer season or those who have already had an early season run and shown ability. Generation (2022), Jacquinot (2023), Brave Mead (2024), Royal Insignia (2025) and Space Rider (2026) are the last Manfred Stakes winners to win first-up.
- Group 1 Performers – Any proven Group 1 horses down in grade often do well in this race.
Manfred Stakes Favourites 2026
Favourites in 2026 Manfred Stakes betting include Ciaron Maher’s resuming Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic winner Salty Pearl and consistent Snitzel gelding Job Done.
Generation ($1.85 in 2022) and Jacquinot ($2.10 in 2023) are the last Manfred Stakes favourites to win.
There was a notable upset in the 2026 Manfred Stakes results with Space Rider saluting at $15.
Manfred Stakes 2026 Field
The official 2026 Manfred Stakes field of final acceptances is announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The 2026 Manfred Stakes final field features a small but quality line-up of potential Australian Guineas bound three-year-olds including the resuming Ciaron Maher trained Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic winner Salty Pearl drawn in gate three.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Space Rider
J: Ethan Brown
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
x1740x | C | 9 | 57kg | |
|
2. Job Done
J: Thomas Stockdale
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
14x113 | G | 7 | 57kg | |
|
3. Romantic Encounter
J: Luke Currie
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
120x | C | 1 | 57kg | |
|
4. Express Class
J: Patrick Moloney
T: Gerard Moloney |
136x9 | G | 5 | 57kg | |
| 5. Cyber Link (7) Scratched: | |||||
|
6. Salty Pearl
J: Ben Allen
T: Ciaron Maher |
x3341x | F | 3 | 56.5kg | |
|
7. Miss Ole
J: Ben Melham
T: Clinton McDonald |
511x5 | F | 2 | 55kg | |
|
8. Naifah
J: Jordan Childs
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
x15723 | F | 8 | 55kg | |
|
9. Custom
J: Jamie Melham
T: Ciaron Maher |
3x162x | F | 4 | 55kg | |
|
10. Conscience
J: Luke Cartwright
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
1x4x3 | F | 6 | 55kg | |
Manfred Stakes Race Day 2026
The 2026 Manfred Stakes takes place on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Caulfield Racecoure. The other key events on the program include the:
- Group 3 Blue Diamond Fillies Preview (1000m), and the
- Listed Blue Diamond Colts & Geldings Preview (1000m).
Manfred Stakes Barrier Draw 2026
The 2026 Manfred Stakes barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and will be published in our above Manfred Stakes Field section.
Manfred Stakes Nominations 2026
2026 Manfred Stakes nominations close at 12:00 PM on the Monday of race week.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x231x3341x | SALTY PEARL | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 1 | 56.5kg | 86 | ||
| 2 | 8x111367x | JIMMY RECARD | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 2 | 58.5kg | 85 | ||
| 3 | 1x1432x | PLANET RED | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 3 | 57kg | 98 | ||
| 4 | 120x | ROMANTIC ENCOUNTER (NZ) | C | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 4 | 57kg | 77 | ||
| 5 | 14×113 | JOB DONE | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 5 | 57kg | 74 | ||
| 6 | 0x29x15723 | NAIFAH | F | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 6 | 55kg | 74 | ||
| 7 | 511×5 | MISS OLE | F | 3 | Clinton McDonald | 7 | 55kg | 72 | ||
| 8 | 14x1740x | SPACE RIDER | C | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 8 | 57kg | 72 | ||
| 9 | 136×9 | EXPRESS CLASS | G | 3 | Gerard Moloney | 9 | 57kg | 71 | ||
| 10 | 7373x162x | CUSTOM | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 10 | 55kg | 70 | ||
| 11 | 67x53218x1 | EXPULSION | F | 3 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 11 | 55kg | 67 | ||
| 12 | 25x3x15115 | SURPRISATIC | G | 3 | Brent Stanley | 12 | 57kg | 66 | ||
| 13 | 1x4x3 | CONSCIENCE | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 13 | 55kg | 66 | ||
| 14 | 9x135x | EXIT | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 14 | 55kg | 66 | ||
| 15 | 1 | CYBER LINK | C | 3 | Greg Eurell | 15 | 57kg | 64 | ||
| 16 | 1 | YUKAINA | G | 3 | Mitchell Freedman | 16 | 57kg | 63 | ||
| 17 | 2×1 | ASAKURA | G | 3 | Mitchell Freedman | 17 | 57kg | 62 | ||
| 18 | 9×1 | NORDIC STRIKE | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 18 | 57kg | 62 | ||
| 19 | 11 | COCO DE LUXE | F | 3 | Craig Weeding | 19 | 55kg | 62 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Manfred Stakes Weights 2026
Set weights plus penalties apply to this race. Final 2026 Manfred Stakes weights are announced at 4:00 PM on the Monday of race week with weights on the final acceptances to be published in our above Manfred Stakes Field section.
Jacquinot (59.5kg in 2023) and Space Rider (57kg in 2026) are the latest Manfred Stakes topweights / equal topweights to win.
2026 Manfred Stakes Topweights:
- No. 1 Space Rider (57kg)
- No. 2 Job Done (57kg)
- No. 3 Romantic Encounter (57kg)
- No. 4 Express Class (57kg)
- No. 5 Cyber Link (57kg)
Manfred Stakes Acceptances 2026
Final 2026 Manfred Stakes acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Manfred Stakes Field section.
Manfred Stakes Jockeys 2026
The final riders must be announced by 1:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week with the official 2026 Manfred Stakes jockeys to be published in our above Manfred Stakes Field section.
Manfred Stakes Scratchings 2026
2026 Manfred Stakes scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
Manfred Stakes Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Manfred 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 |
Manfred Stakes Race Number 2026
The 2026 Manfred Stakes race number is scheduled as Caulfield Race 8 at 4:25pm (AEDT) on Saturday, January 24, 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Caulfield Racecourse.
Manfred 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 Manfred Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE 2026 MANFRED STAKES FORM GUIDE
Manfred Stakes Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Manfred 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
Manfred Stakes Winners
Winners of the Manfred Stakes going back to the year 2000 are displayed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Space Rider | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr. | Ethan Brown | 57 kgs | 1:10.09 |
| 2025 | Royal Insignia | Grahame Begg | Jamie Mott | 57 kgs | 1:11.06 |
| 2024 | Brave Mead | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Blake Shinn | 58 kgs | 1:09.59 |
| 2023 | Jacquinot | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr. | Damian Lane | 59.5 kgs | 1:17.67 |
| 2022 | Generation | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Jye McNeil | 58.5 kgs | 1:09.86 |
| 2021 | Portland Sky | Matt Laurie | Luke Currie | 58.5 kgs | 1:09.50 |
| 2020 | Super Seth | Anthony Freedman | Mark Zahra | 59.5 kgs | 1:12.83 |
| 2019 | Tin Hat | James Cummings | Damian Lane | 56 kgs | 1:08.79 |
| 2018 | Cliff’s Edge | Darren Weir | John Allen | 58 kgs | 1:08.93 |
| 2017 | Legless Veuve | Stuart Webb | Mark Zahra | 56 kgs | 1:10.82 |
| 2016 | Puritan | Jason Warren | Nicholas Hall | 56 kgs | 1:10.27 |
| 2015 | Java | Anthony Freedman | Damien Oliver | 56 kgs | 1:18.28 |
| 2014 | Bull Point | Gai Waterhouse | Damien Oliver | 57 kgs | 1:09.70 |
| 2013 | Mirage | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 56 kgs | 1:09.54 |
| 2012 | Mosheen | Robert Smerdon | Danny Nikolic | 57 kgs | 1:10.70 |
| 2011 | Enjin Number Nine | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Glen Boss | 55.5 kgs | 1:16.66 |
| 2010 | Denman | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 58.5 kgs | 1:22.89 |
| 2009 | Nicconi | David Hayes | Brad Rawiller | 56 kgs | 1:24.98 |
| 2008 | Turffontein | Anthony Cummings | Larry Cassidy | 56.5 kgs | 1:24.41 |
| 2007 | Haradasun | Tony Vasil | Nash Rawiller | 59 kgs | 1:22.69 |
| 2006 | Thin And Crispy | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 54.5 kgs | 1:23.40 |
| 2005 | Niconero | Tony McEvoy | Nash Rawiller | 56.5 kgs | 1:23.84 |
| 2004 | Keep The Faith | Tony McEvoy | Patrick Payne | 56 kgs | 1:35.38 |
| 2003 | Conspectus | Mick Price | Noel Callow | 56 kgs | 1:38.56 |
| 2002 | Don Eduardo | Lee Freedman | Damien Oliver | 54 kgs | 1:37.14 |
| 2001 | Academy Dancer | David Hall | Brett Prebble | 54 kgs | 1:35.54 |
| 2000 | Freemason | John Hawkes | Darren Gauci | 57.5 kgs | 1:37.03 |