Looking for this year’s Zeditave Stakes betting odds, field and race day tips? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Zeditave Stakes 2026 Results
The official 2026 Zeditave Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
The progressive Michael Freedman-trained Wootton Bassett colt, Pallaton ($3.50), improve on his lead-up fourth in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes to salute in the 2026 Zeditave Stakes results second-up at Caulfield. Jockey Craig Williams produced a beautiful ride on the smart three-year-old who travelled sweetly on-speed throughout before coming from second on the turn to move up on the inside on the home straight and draw clear for a 1.5 length victory over last year’s Blue Diamond winner Devil Night. Freedman named the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on March 7 as the hopeful next-up target for the up-and-coming sprinter.
- #3 Pallaton
- #1 Devil Night
- #6 Beskar
| 3. Pallaton (2) J: Craig Williams56kg 621×4T: Michael Freedman | ||
| 1. Devil Night (7) J: Michael Dee59.5kg x564xT: M, W & J Hawkes | ||
| 6. Beskar (1) J: Damian Lane56kg 0x68xT: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 5. Wise Inlaw (3) J: Zac Spain56kg 1236xT: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 2. Rosberg (6) J: Ben Melham57.5kg 19xT: Clinton McDonald | ||
| 7. Redders (4) J: Lachlan Neindorf56kg 818×1T: Danny O’brien | ||
| 4. Esmahli (5) J: Luke Currie56kg 1311T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
Zeditave Stakes 2026 Tips
Our insider 2026 Zeditave Stakes tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview published on the Neds Blog.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2026 BLUE DIAMOND STAKES DAY PREVIEW & TIPS
Run over 1,200 metres in February at Caulfield Racecourse on Blue Diamond Stakes Day, the Zeditave Stakes attracts a variety of three-year-old sprinters from around Australia.
Starting out as a Listed Race, this race was upgraded to Group 3 in 2014 and currently offers $200,000 in prize money.
The Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) also held at Caulfield around a month prior makes an excellent lead-up into the Zeditave Stakes.
The best out of the Zeditave Stakes may continue onto Sydney later in the autumn targeting a race like the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) held at Randwick in April.
The race was previously restricted to colts and geldings but is now back open to three-year-old fillies also.
Zeditave Stakes 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday, February 21, 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: 1989
- 2026 Zeditave Stakes Winner: Pallaton
Zeditave Stakes Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Zeditave 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 Zeditave Stakes |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Zeditave Stake |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Zeditave Stakes. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Zeditave 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 Zeditave 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 Zeditave Stakes to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Zeditave Stakes to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Zeditave 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 Zeditave Stakes, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on the Zeditave 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 Zeditave Stakes Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Zeditave Stakes in 2026
The best way to pick which horse will win the Zeditave Stakes in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up autumn racing form, assess the barriers, consider the weight the horse will carry and look for the proven Group performers.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Zeditave Stakes winner include:
- Non-Maidens: Three-year-olds with previous winning form have a strong strike-rate in the Zeditave Stakes.
- Magic Millions: Any three-year-olds that ran well in the Magic Millions Carnival in Queensland during the summer are worth watching in the Zeditave during the autumn.
- Sack Don’t Back: The favourites have a poor recent strike-rate in the race so laying the punters’ pick can prove profitable.
Zeditave Stakes Favourites 2026
Favourites in 2026 Zeditave Stakes betting include the well tested Michael Freedman-trained Pallaton coming off a fourth fresh to Oak Hill in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes and resuming Blue Diamond Stakes winner from last autumn Devil Night.
Overshare ($3.80 in 2018), Oxley Road ($2.50 in 2021), and Tropicus ($3.30 in 2025) are the latest Zeditave Stakes favourites to win.
Zeditave Stakes 2026 Field
The official 2026 Zeditave Stakes field of final acceptances is announced the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The 2026 Zeditave Stakes final field features a small but exciting field of three-year-old sprinters including Devil Night resuming for the autumn.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Devil Night
J: Michael Dee
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
5x564x | C | 7 | 59.5kg | |
|
2. Rosberg
J: Ben Melham
T: Clinton McDonald |
19x | C | 6 | 57.5kg | |
|
3. Pallaton
J: Craig Williams
T: Michael Freedman |
5621x4 | C | 2 | 56kg | |
|
4. Esmahli
J: Luke Currie
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
1311 | C | 5 | 56kg | |
|
5. Wise Inlaw
J: Zac Spain
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
41236x | G | 3 | 56kg | |
|
6. Beskar
J: Damian Lane
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
40x68x | G | 1 | 56kg | |
|
7. Redders
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Danny O'brien |
3818x1 | G | 4 | 56kg |
Zeditave Stakes Race Day 2026
The 2026 Zeditave Stakes takes place at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday, February 21, 2026, as part of the 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes Day program. Eight Group status races run at the meeting including a trio of Group 1 events the action headlined by the:
- Group 1 $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m),
- Group 1 $750,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), and the
- Group 1 $750,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m).
Zeditave Stakes Barrier Draw 2026
The 2026 Zeditave Stakes barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Zeditave Stakes Field section.
Zeditave Stakes Nominations 2026
2026 Zeditave Stakes nominations close at 12:00 PM on the Monday of race week.
2026 Zeditave Stakes nominations extended until 10:00am (AEDT) – 17/02/2026
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1x80x3 | BEL MERCI | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 75 |
| 2 | 4x | CAVALRY SCOUT | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 60 |
| 3 | 1x4x38 | CONSCIENCE | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 66 |
| 4 | 215x564x | DEVIL NIGHT | C | 3 | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | 101 |
| 5 | 1×1 | EDUCATED | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 68 |
| 6 | 1311 | ESMAHLI | C | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 73 |
| 7 | 40x35621x4 | PALLATON | C | 3 | Michael Freedman | 86 |
| 8 | 6x3818x1 | REDDERS | G | 3 | Danny O’Brien | 66 |
| 9 | 19x | ROSBERG | C | 3 | Clinton McDonald | 75 |
| 10 | 3127×2 | SHINJINA | F | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 64 |
| 11 | 1 | TRAPPER JOHN (NZ) | G | 3 | Clinton McDonald | 65 |
| 12 | 5x41236x | WISE INLAW | G | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 68 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Zeditave Stakes Weights 2026
Set weights plus penalties apply to this race. Final weights are announced at 4:00 PM on the Monday of race week with the official 2026 Zeditave Stakes weights on the final acceptors to be published in our above Zeditave Stakes Field section.
Finance Tycoon (58.5kg in 2022) was the last Zeditave Stakes topweight to win.
2026 Zeditave Stakes Topweight:
- No. 1 Devil Night (59.5kg)
Zeditave Stakes Acceptances 2026
2026 Zeditave Stakes final acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Zeditave Stakes Field section.
Zeditave Stakes Jockeys 2026
The final riders must be announced by 1:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week with the official 2026 Zeditave Stakes jockeys to be published in our above Zeditave Stakes Field section.
Zeditave Stakes Scratchings 2026
2026 Zeditave Stakes scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Zeditave Stakes Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Zeditave 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 |
Zeditave Stakes Race Number 2026
The 2026 Zeditave Stakes race number is scheduled as Caulfield Race 2 at 12:45pm (AEDT) on Saturday, February 21, 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Caulfield Racecourse.
Zeditave 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 Zeditave Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 ZEDITAVE STAKES FORM GUIDE
Zeditave Stakes Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Zeditave Stakes race 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
Zeditave Stakes Winners
Winners of the Zeditave Stakes going back to the year 2000 are displayed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Pallaton | Michael Freedman | Craig Williams | 56 kgs | 1:09.45 |
| 2025 | Tropicus | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 56 kgs | 1:09.69 |
| 2024 | Raikoke | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr. | Ben Melham | 56 kgs | 1:10.03 |
| 2023 | Recommendation | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | John Allen | 56 kgs | 1:10.19 |
| 2022 | Finance Tycoon | Danny O’Brien | Damian Lane | 58.5 kgs | 1:09.39 |
| 2021 | Oxley Road | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 56 kgs | 1:09.99 |
| 2020 | He’ll Haunt Us | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Damien Oliver | 57 kgs | 1:09.28 |
| 2019 | Terbium | Phillip Stokes | John Allen | 55 kgs | 1:09.97 |
| 2018 | Overshare | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | 57 kgs | 1:09.16 |
| 2017 | Benz | Gordon Richards | Blake Shinn | 55 kgs | 1:08.71 |
| 2016 | Santa Ana Lane | Anthony Freedman | Ben Melham | 55 kgs | 1:09.53 |
| 2015 | Rommel | Neville Parnham | Chris Parnham | 57.5 kgs | 1:10.36 |
| 2014 | Not Listenin’tome | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | James McDonald | 55 kgs | 1:09.26 |
| 2013 | Happy Galaxy | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | 56 kgs | 1:10.69 |
| 2012 | Instinction | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 57.5 kgs | 1:09.37 |
| 2011 | Eclair Mystic | Robert Smerdon | Chris Symons | 55.5 kgs | 1:10.69 |
| 2010 | Denman | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 57.5 kgs | 1:08.66 |
| 2009 | Time Thief | Lee Freedman | Dwayne Dunn | 54 kgs | 1:10.03 |
| 2008 | Bundle O’ Gold | Paul Seater | Dwayne Dunn | 55 kgs | 1:09.66 |
| 2007 | Haradasun | Tony Vasil | Nash Rawiller | 56 kgs | 1:09.50 |
| 2006 | Minson | Michael Hibbs | Craig Williams | 56 kgs | 1:10.86 |
| 2005 | Not A Single Doubt | Tony Vasil | Kerrin McEvoy | 57.5 kgs | 1:10.00 |
| 2004 | St Elmo’s Fire | Brian Mayfield-Smith | Danny Nikolic | 57.5 kgs | 1:10.00 |
| 2003 | Innovation Girl | Brian Mayfield-Smith | Nash Rawiller | 55.5 kgs | 1:08.35 |
| 2002 | Barkada | Lee Freedman | Patrick Payne | 56.5 kgs | 1:08.24 |
| 2001 | Desert Eagle | Mathew Ellerton | Patrick Payne | 56.5 kgs | 1:08.84 |
| 2000 | Pins | Clarry Conners | Shane Dye | 58 kgs | 1:09.12 |