Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Racing Victoria have lifted the curtain off of their 2026 spring carnival racing program, with the G1 Caulfield Cup starring on an all black-type card on October 17. The state’s spring carnival program will run from August 29 to November 29, and will feature 22 Group 1 races.
Caulfield Cup’s all-feature card
The 150th running of the Caulfield Cup in October will headline a 10-race card of black-type features, after the G3 Blue Sapphire Stakes has been moved forward from its original spot on November 28. The raceday also features the G1 Thousand Guineas, won in 2025 by Ole Dancer (Ole Kirk), amongst a card of eight Group races and two Listed events. One of those is the Listed Gothic Stakes, which will return to a distance of 1400 metres.
| Caulfield Cup | Group 1 | $6 million |
| Thousand Guineas | Group 1 | $1.5 million |
| Caulfield Sprint | Group 2 | $302,500 |
| Tristarc Stakes | Group 2 | $302,500 |
| Blue Sapphire Stakes | Group 3 | $256,500 |
| Caulfield Classic | Group 3 | $241,600 |
| Ethereal Stakes | Group 3 | $241,600 |
| Harry White Stakes | Group 3 | $241,600 |
| Gothic Stakes | Listed | $200,750 |
| Alinghi Stakes | Listed | $200,750 |
Table: The 2026 G1 Caulfield Cup day race card
“The Spring Racing Carnival programs are the culmination of extensive consultation with stakeholders who each presented their views on the optimum pattern of races and prizemoney,” said RV Head of Racing Paul Bloodworth.
"The Spring Racing Carnival programs are the culmination of extensive consultation with stakeholders." - Paul Bloodworth
“This is a unique year with The Valley offline throughout and Caulfield undergoing a major renovation following their Cup. That’s been a catalyst for a raft of changes this spring.”
The Caulfield Cup will also have a prize pool of $6 million, up from $5 million in 2025 when won by Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}).
Paul Bloodworth | Image courtesy of Paul Bloodworth
“The 150th Caulfield Cup will fittingly headline an all black type program,” Bloodworth said. “And with its increase to a record $6 million in prizemoney, we expect the race to attract strong local and international interest.”
“Melbourne Racing Club’s 150th celebration, MRC150, provides an opportunity to recognise the Club’s history and is a fitting time to return to traditional race dates which reinstate proven pathways to Spring feature races and to bring back Group 1 racing to Sandown,” said Melbourne Racing Club CEO Tanya Fullarton.
"Melbourne Racing Club’s 150th celebration... is a fitting time to return to traditional race dates." - Tanya Fullarton
“This has been strongly endorsed by racing participants and enthusiasts.”
Tanya Fullarton | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
New home for Moir and Manikato
With Moonee Valley’s renovation expected to be completed by August 2027, the G1 Moir Stakes and the G1 Manikato Stakes are amongst the key races getting new homes for the 2026 spring carnival.
The 106th running of the G1 Cox Plate will take place at Flemington on October 24, while the Moir will run at Sandown on September 5 and the Manikato will run at Caulfield on September 27. Joining the Manikato at Caulfield will be the G3 JRA Cup, which is returning to its original September running position.
Moonee Valley development | Image courtesy of Moonee Valley Racing Club
| Moir Stakes | Group 1 | Location transfer | September5 | Sandown |
| Manikato Stakes | Group 1 | Location transfer | September 27 | Caulfield |
| JRA Cup | Group 3 | Date transfer | September 27 | Caulfield |
| Fillies Classic | Group 2 | Date transfer, rises to 2000m | March 20 | Caulfield |
| Zipping Classic | Group 2 | Date transfer | November 14 | Sandown |
| Sapphire Stakes | Group 3 | Date transfer | October 17 | Caulfield |
| Sandown Cup | Listed | Date transfer | November 28 | Sandown |
| Kilmore Cup | Listed | Distance rise from 1600m to 2000m | November 22 | Kilmore |
Table: Victorian spring carnival key changes for 2026
Sandown will also play host to feature Saturdays on November 14 and 28 whilst Caulfield undergoes its planned resurfacing. The latter raceday will see the return of the G3 Sandown Stakes and Listed Sandown Cup, the latter of which will be moving to the spring from June.
The G2 Zipping Classic has been also moved forward two weeks to the Sandown meeting on November 14, which Bloodworth says will support trainers better in setting horses up for the autumn.
Sandown Racecourse | Image courtesy of Austadiums
“The move of the Zipping Classic back to Sandown on 14 November allows trainers more time to spell and prepare their horses for our autumn features, whilst reigniting its connection to the Melbourne Cup,” he said.
"The move of the Zipping Classic... reignit(es) its connection to the Melbourne Cup." - Paul Bloodworth
For those trainers aiming for the first Tuesday in November, there will be three golden ticket races at Flemington for the G1 Melbourne Cup in the 2026 spring, with the G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Cox Plate day also offering ballot exempt access.
