Looking for this year’s Thousand Guineas Prelude betting odds, tips and form? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 Results
The official 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
- #9 Icelady
- #10 Saintly Dancer
- #5 Profligate
The 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude results at Caulfield unveiled an exciting new contender for next month’s Group 1 feature, with Icelady ($7.50) producing a breakthrough performance for Ciaron Maher to claim her maiden victory at Group 2 level. The daughter of Maurice made the most of a positive ride from Ethan Brown, rolling forward to control the race before proving too strong late, defeating stablemate Saintly Dancer by three-quarters of a length, with favourite Profligate finishing third. The impressive win secured Icelady her first black-type success and locked in a shot at the 2026 Thousand Guineas (1600m), a race connections believe will suit her perfectly. Following the Caulfield triumph, Neds reacted by dramatically shortening her Thousand Guineas odds from $51 into $15, signalling growing confidence behind the rapidly improving filly.
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude Race Replay
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude Odds & Finishing Order
Thousand Guineas Prelude odds 2026 at Neds give punters an early read on one of Caulfield’s most influential spring races for three‑year‑old fillies, with markets reacting quickly to sharp trials, strong metro form lines and runners already shaping as genuine Thousand Guineas contenders. The Thousand Guineas Prelude betting 2026 picture is traditionally fast‑moving, and this year’s early prices are centred around fillies showing proven 1200–1400m strength, powerful late sectionals and clear improvement through their first spring runs. As key lead‑ups unfold and stables lock in their Group 1 plans, expect steady market shifts and fresh value opportunities. Locking in the right position in the Thousand Guineas Prelude odds 2026 is a smart early play for punters looking to stay ahead of the Caulfield action.
The latest Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 odds followed by the official race finishing order after the event will be available below.
Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 Results
| 9. Icelady (7) J: Ethan Brown 56kg 422×2 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 10. Saintly Dancer (4) J: John Allen 56kg 216 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 5. Profligate (3) J: Jordan Childs 56kg 12×4 T: Grahame Begg | ||
| 6. Portinari (10) J: Blake Shinn 56kg x8243 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 8. Tolaga Bay (8) J: Michael Dee 56kg 1×1 T: Mark Walker | ||
| 14. Joely (9) J: Craig Williams 56kg 1 T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | ||
| 2. Rebel Tuesday (2) J: Lachlan Neindorf 57kg 14×00 T: Phillip & Tommy Stokes | ||
| 4. Aethera (5) J: Damian Lane 56kg 1×9 T: Danny O’brien | ||
| 11. Burning Heartz (6) J: Joe Bowditch 56kg 14x T: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 12. Mystical Realm (1) J: Thomas Stockdale 56kg 14 T: Ciaron Maher |
Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 Tips
Our exclusive Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 tips will be available here the week of the race and a full betting preview on the Neds Blog.
| 6. Portinari (10) J: Blake Shinn 56kg x8243 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
| 8. Tolaga Bay (8) J: Michael Dee 56kg 1×1 T: Mark Walker |
| 11. Burning Heartz (6) J: Joe Bowditch 56kg 14x T: Gavin Bedggood |
Run over 1,400 metres, the Thousand Guineas Prelude is a Group 2 race currently taking place at Caulfield Racecourse in mid-September during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival on Underwood Stakes Day.
Formerly registered as the Tranquil Star Stakes in honour of former great mare and dual Cox Plate champion Tranquil Star (1942, 1944) the event has been run and won since 1983.
The race is run at set weights plus penalties and is open only to three-year-old fillies. Offering $300,000 in prize money as of 2021 the Thousand Guineas Prelude has been won by many great fillies over the years including Miss Finland (2006), Ortensia (2008) and Booker (2017).
It recently took place on Caulfield Cup Day alongside the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) for Melbourne Cup hopefuls before moving to its own feature race meeting at Sandown in September for the 2025 edition and then returning to Caulfield in 2026.
By winning this race fillies are exempt from the ballot for the Thousand Guineas that now runs over a mile in November.
The Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) is the likely target for the best out of the Prelude and Irish Lights (2009) the last to do the double.
Ole Dancer (2nd in 2025) was the last Thousand Guineas winner to come via a lead-up run in the Prelude.
Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Track Location: Caulfield Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 1,400 metres
- Weight Conditions: Set weights with penalties
- Qualification: Three-year-old fillies
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 2
- Prize Purse: $300,000
- Inaugural Race: 1983
- 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude Winner: Icelady
Thousand Guineas Prelude Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Thousand Guineas Prelude, we’ve included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s Thousand Guineas Prelude |
|---|---|
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Thousand Guineas Prelude. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Thousand Guineas Prelude, 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 Thousand Guineas Prelude, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Thousand Guineas Prelude to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Thousand Guineas Prelude to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Thousand Guineas Prelude 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 Thousand Guineas Prelude, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How to Bet on the Thousand Guineas Prelude in 2026
- Log in at neds
- 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 Thousand Guineas Prelude Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Thousand Guineas Prelude in 2026
The best way to pick which horse will win the Thousand Guineas Prelude in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up spring racing the form, assess the barriers, and consider their previous record at the track.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Thousand Guineas Prelude winner include:
- Local Legends – Melbourne-trained fillies, usually those with winning form at 1400 metres or more, are your best chance.
- Best Lead Up – Fillies that contested tougher Group 1 races during the autumn like the Blue Diamond Stakes for two-year-olds make a good bet.
Thousand Guineas Prelude Favourites 2026
Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 favourites include Xtravagant filly Profligate coming off a fourth fresh at big odds in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes, Lindsay Park’s progressive daughter of Home Affairs Portinari who ran third in that same key lead-up and the undefeated Mark Walker-trained Tolaga Bay.
Instant Celebrity ($2.80 in 2020) was the last Thousand Guineas Prelude favourite to win.
Thousand Guineas Prelude Field 2026
The official 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude final field of acceptances is announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The Thousand Guineas Prelude 2026 final field features a cracking line-up of potentially Group 1-bound fillies including the undefeated Mark Walker-trained Tolaga Bay drawn out wide, Group 2 winner Grinzinger Heart with the outside alley to overcome and the progressive Ciaron Maher-trained Icelady.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Grinzinger Heart (14) Scratched: | |||||
|
2. Rebel Tuesday
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
114×00 | F | 2 | 57kg | |
| 3. Leopard Shark (10) Scratched: | |||||
|
4. Aethera
J: Damian Lane
T: Danny O’brien |
1×9 | F | 5 | 56kg | |
|
5. Profligate
J: Jordan Childs
T: Grahame Begg |
12×4 | F | 3 | 56kg | |
|
6. Portinari
J: Blake Shinn
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
9×8243 | F | 10 | 56kg | |
| 7. Almost An Angel (9) Scratched: | |||||
|
8. Tolaga Bay
J: Michael Dee
T: Mark Walker |
1×1 | F | 8 | 56kg | |
|
9. Icelady
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
422×2 | F | 7 | 56kg | |
|
10. Saintly Dancer
J: John Allen
T: Ciaron Maher |
216 | F | 4 | 56kg | |
|
11. Burning Heartz
J: Joe Bowditch
T: Gavin Bedggood |
14x | F | 6 | 56kg | |
|
12. Mystical Realm
J: Thomas Stockdale
T: Ciaron Maher |
14 | F | 1 | 56kg | |
| 13. Double Dodger (8) Scratched: | |||||
|
14. Joely
J: Craig Williams
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
1 | F | 9 | 56kg | |
Thousand Guineas Prelude Race Day 2026
The 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude takes place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, as one of the key support races on Underwood Stakes Day. The meeting’s other Group status races are the:
- Group 1 $1,000,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m),
- Group 1 $1,000,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m),
- Group 3 $300,000 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m),
- Group 3 $200,000 How Now Stakes (1200m), and the
- Group 3 $200,000 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).
Thousand Guineas Prelude Barrier Draw 2026
The 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Thousand Guineas Prelude Field section.
Thousand Guineas Prelude Nominations 2026
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude nominations close at 12:00 PM on the Monday of race week.
Thousand Guineas Prelude Weights 2026
Set weights plus penalties apply to this race. Final 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude weights will be announced by 4:00 PM on the Monday of race week.
Ferivia (58kg in 2025) was the last Thousand Guineas Prelude topweight to win.
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude Topweight:
- No. 1 Grinzinger Heart (58kg)
Thousand Guineas Prelude Acceptances 2026
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude final acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be available in our above Thousand Guineas Prelude Field section.
Thousand Guineas Prelude Jockeys 2026
The final riders’ announcement is at 1:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week with official 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude jockeys to be published in our above Thousand Guineas Prelude Field section.
Thousand Guineas Prelude Scratchings 2026
2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
Thousand Guineas Prelude Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude prize purse is worth $300,000 in total, distributed from places first through to eighth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $180,000 |
| 2nd | $54,000 |
| 3rd | $27,000 |
| 4th | $13,500 |
| 5th | $7,500 |
| 6th | $6,000 |
| 7th | $6,000 |
| 8th | $6,000 |
Thousand Guineas Prelude Race Number 2026
The 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude race number is scheduled as Caulfield Race 4 at 1:50pm (AEST) on Saturday, September 19, 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Caulfield Racecourse.
Thousand Guineas Prelude 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 Thousand Guineas Prelude Form Guide following final acceptances.
Thousand Guineas Prelude Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Thousand Guineas Prelude 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)
Streaming: Racing.com
Radio: Radio Sport National
Mobile: Neds App
Thousand Guineas Prelude Winners
Winners of the Thousand Guineas Prelude going back to 1999 are displayed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Icelady | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 56 kg | 1:23.26 |
| 2025 | Ferivia | Phillip Stokes | Lachlan Neindorf | 58 kg | 1:23.59 |
| 2024 | Too Darn Lizzie | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 56 kg | 1:25.86 |
| 2023 | Coeur Volante | Michael Moroney | Blake Shinn | 58 kg | 1:23.53 |
| 2022 | Boogie Dancer | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 56 kg | 1:27.63 |
| 2021 | Bon’s A Pearla | Kevin Corstens | Jason Maskiell | 56 kg | 1:24.88 |
| 2020 | Instant Celebrity | Phillip Stokes | Craig Williams | 56 kg | 1:25.28 |
| 2019 | Acting | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Tommy Berry | 55 kg | 1:23.94 |
| 2018 | Smart Melody | Kris Lees | Brenton Avdulla | 56.5kg | 1:22.73 |
| 2017 | Booker | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Dwayne Dunn | 55kg | 1:23.42 |
| 2016 | Legless Veuve | Stuart Webb | Mark Zahra | 55.5kg | 1:25.20 |
| 2015 | Miss Gunpowder | Phillip Stokes | Craig Williams | 55kg | 1:23.27 |
| 2014 | Afleet Esprit | David Hayes | Damien Oliver | 56.5kg | 1:24.54 |
| 2013 | Gregers | David Hayes | Chad Schofield | 56kg | 1:29.54 |
| 2012 | Lady Of Harrods | Russell Cameron | Steven Arnold | 57kg | 1:24.98 |
| 2011 | Bliss Street | Daniel Morton | Steven Arnold | 57.5kg | 1:24.48 |
| 2010 | Divorces | Peter Snowden | Mark Zahra | 54kg | 1:24.26 |
| 2009 | Irish Lights | David Hayes | Glen Boss | 54kg | 1:26.18 |
| 2008 | Ortensia | Tony Noonan | Danny Nikolic | 54kg | 1:26.02 |
| 2007 | Gabbidon | Gary Kennewell | Stathi Katsidis | 55.5kg | 1:23.90 |
| 2006 | Miss Finland | David Hayes | Craig Williams | 56.5kg | 1:24.39 |
| 2005 | Doubting | Mick Price | Steven King | 57.5kg | 1:27.47 |
| 2004 | Hollow Bullet | John McArdle | David Taggart | 54kg | 1:24.39 |
| 2003 | Hinting | Bill Mitchell | Brett Prebble | 56kg | 1:22.96 |
| 2002 | La Bella Dame | Mick Price | Danny Nikolic | 54kg | 1:24.28 |
| 2001 | Haste Ye Back | Leon Corstens | Brett Prebble | 56kg | 1:25.00 |
| 2000 | So Gorgeous | Dan O’Sullivan | Nash Rawiller | 57.5kg | 1:22.96 |
| 1999 | Miss Pennymoney | Jim Conlan | Patrick Payne | 54.5kg | 1:22.58 |