The Australian season that was: 2025/26 summary

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Snitzel is the Champion Sire

For the fifth time, the late-Snitzel has been crowned Champion Sire of Australia. The son of Redoute’s Choice died in June 2025 and his final crop of foals, born 2025, will be yearlings in the upcoming season.

He concluded the season with 146 winners from 292 runners, with those winners successful in 227 races. Across the season, his progeny earned $26,030,662.

At the elite level, Snitzel sired six individual Group 1 winners in 2025/26. Lazzura won the G1 Coolmore Classic, Baraqiel won the G1 AJ Moir Stakes, Transatlantic won the G1 Toorak Handicap, and last year’s G1 Golden Slipper winner Marhoona who won the G1 Galaxy Handicap.

All up, he had 17 individual stakes winners in the season, who won 28 stakes races, and his highest earner was Lady Shenandoah who added $2,553,250 to her career tally.

Snitzel also took out the Champion 2YO Sire for the season. The two of the five juvenile Group 1 races went his way Campione D’Italia winning the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes and Fireball winning the G1 Champagne Stakes. Fireball’s $2,035,000 contributed approximately half of his season earnings in that realm.

Champion First Season Sire in Australia

Home Affairs was a dominant winner of the Champion First Season Sire Title for 2025/26 with his progeny earning $4,969,325 across the season. His 20 winners (17 in Australia) were led by G1 Golden Slipper winner Guest House. Guest House contributed $3,275,500 to Home Affair’s total for the season.

Impressively, Home Affairs almost won the Champion 2YO Sire for the season, only just pipped at the post by Snitzel whose juvenile progeny earned $4,988,245 this season.

Wild Ruler was second by winners with 11 Australian 2-year-old winners for the season, while Stay Inside sired the most 2-year-old stakes winners of the first season cohort at three.

Champion Second Season Sire in Australia

This battle went down to the wire with Bivouac coming out on top at the season’s end with progeny earnings over $6,621,860, just in front of Wootton Bassett (GB) whose progeny earned $6,518,995 for the season.

Farnan on $5,741,703 and Ghaiyyath (Ire) on $5,621,998 fought valiantly until the final day of the season.

Bivouac ended the season with 48 winners of 75 races, and he sired six individual stakes winners who took out eight stakes races. Fireball Miss claimed the G1 Queensland Oaks, while Beiwacht won both the G1 Golden Rose and G1 All-Aged Stakes.

Beiwacht was Bivouac’s highest earner for the season, contributing $1,830,700 to Bivouac’s season tally.

Australian Champion Broodmare Sire

Fastnet Rock claimed his third consecutive Champion Australian Broodmare Sire title. Daughters of the outstanding stallion produced 317 winners from 687 runners, including 15 individual stakes winners of 22 stakes races. Their total earnings for the season were $36,475,681.

His top performer out of his daughters was Joliestar (Zoustar), ex Jolie Bay, who earned $4,498,500 in the season with wins in the G1 TJ Smith Stakes and G1 Canterbury Stakes.

Danehill (USA) sons took out the top three places with Redoute’s Choice in second and Exceed And Excel in third.

Champion 3-Year-Old Sire

Street Boss (USA) won the Champion 3YO Sire Title. He had a marvellous crop of 3-year-olds with a trio of Group 1 winners. Tentyris won a pair of Group 1 races, the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and G1 Lightning Stakes, the G1 Australian Derby winner was Green Spaces, and Tempted won the G1 Surround Stakes.

He also sired the G1 Futurity Stakes winner Pericles from an older crop.

With his 3-year-olds, Street Boss had 34 winners from 56 runners and earnings of $9,660,223. His four 3-year-old stakes winners won ten stakes races between them. I Am Invincible and Snitzel were third and fourth, while Champion Second Season Sire Bivouac finished in fourth.

Table 1: Champion Sires for Australia 2025/26

Waller’s crew dominates NSW tables

Trainer Chris Waller won his 16th Sydney Metro Trainer’s title in succession this season, and his crew took out all the other titles with James McDonald winning Metro Jockey and apprentice Sienna Grima winning the Apprentice Title in a last dash at the line from Braith Nock. Nock won the NSW Apprentice Jockey Premiership for the season.

“To be able to do it in, not even a full season, because I came near the start of the year, so to be able to get close and even win is something I hadn't really dreamed of,” Grima told racenet.com.au.

“Chris (Waller) has been really great giving me a ton of support, Darren (Beadman) has been the same, helping me with the rides every time. And to get support off other trainers as well, which has been a wonderful thing.”

Waller won 22 Group 1 races across Australia in the season, beating his own record of 19 set in 2024/25. James McDonald won 17 Group 1 races to break the jockey’s record for Group 1 wins that had been held by Malcolm Johnston (16) since 1979/80.

Waller was crowned Champion Australian Trainer winning 379 races across the country with his runners earning over $80 million.

“There is a massive amount of horses, staff, jockeys, service providers, it's a massive organisation and everyone plays their little part in it,” Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said.

“I mean it, everyone plays their part in it, because Chris is a relentless worker and he does a lot of it himself. Plenty of people get accolades for him but he is the driving force.”

Chasing down records in Melbourne

Craig Williams celebrated his 10th Melbourne Jockey’s Premiership and is chasing down Billy Duncan and Roy Higgins who both have 11. Ciaron Maher won his sixth Melbourne Trainer’s title, with three of those in partnership with David Eustace.

“It’s one of the goals we set every year (premiership), we have many goals obviously, and when you’re in the position, close to it,” Williams said.

“You start planning around it and that’s what we did… it’s worked out, so Larysa (wife) and I are heading over to Ukraine now to deliver our humanitarian aid. You go from completing another goal to realising not everyone has the same life as we all have … it makes you put perspective on things but makes me be grateful.

“I love my job, I can do a sport, my children grow up in a safe country, it’s something I’m really grateful for.”

Ciaron Maher was second on the overall Australian Trainer’s table with his runners earning $55.7 million. The Victorian Trainer’s Premiership was won by Ciaron Maher and the Victorian Jockey Premiership went to Jamie Mott.

Gollan closing in on McLachlan

Trainer Tony Gollan won his 13th Brisbane Trainer’s title this season and is closing in on the record of 16 held by Bruce McLachlan. But Gollan sees plenty of room to improve the way the stable is getting results. He also won the Queensland title.

“This year we have done some things well, some things not so well. I am proud of 13 in a row, I think it was only 14 years ago that I moved to Brisbane. But I really think we can be better again as a stable,” Gollan told racenet.com.au.

“I don't think I got the winter carnival right this year. I had an average winter carnival, our horses raced well enough but we just didn't get the chocolates for varying reasons. I have had a good reflection on that, post carnival.

“But at the end of this season we have churned a lot of winners out and we have put a lot of prizemoney into the pockets of owners. We can improve, we are only just starting to scratch the surface. I want to win more big races.”

Ben Thompson won both the Queensland and Brisbane Jockey’s Premiership while the apprentice titles went to Maddie Mankelow (state) and Jace McMurry (metro).

WA races were tight at the end

Head trainer for Peters Investments, Michael Grantham won his first Perth Trainer’s Title this season with 60 wins in a close battle with Grant and Alana Williams who concluded the season with 59 metro wins. Grant and Alana Williams won the WA Trainer’s Premiership with 92 wins to Grantham’s 90.

William Pike won a record 15th Perth Jockey’s title, despite missing part of the season with a heel injury. He continues to live up to the fan saying of ‘back Pike, drink what you like’. He also won the Australian Champion Jockey title with 203.5 wins.

Apprentice Holly Nottle became the fastest apprentice reach 100 wins in her career in March this year, hitting the benchmark in 291 days, and beating the previous record of 335 days set by Lucy Fiore. She takes out the Australian Apprentice Jockey Premiership as well as the WA one.

“I was just trying to find my feet as an apprentice jockey at first and work out what racing was all about,” Nottle told Racing WA.

“I definitely didn’t think my riding career would start the way it has, it’s all happened quite fast, but it’s been a great journey. I’ve amazed myself on how far I’ve come in the short amount of time.”

Four for Stubby who isn't done yet

Jockey Jason Holder took out his fourth Adelaide Jockey’s Premiership this season and the South Australian title and it’s all his mum’s fault.

“My mum loves racing, I got it from my Mum's side,” Holder told racenet.com.au.

“She used to take me to the races. I was just mesmerised by the jockeys and what they were wearing when they went out on the horses. She got me in contact with Leon Macdonald, and I was going to school and doing Sunday work.”

Now 50, Holder’s previous titles were in 1995/96, 2003/04 and 2015/16. He has over 2260 wins and has also ridden in Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong and Mauritius.

“When you spread your wings a little bit, and get opportunities, it's always good to come back home. It's just gone so quickly. I can still remember my first city winner. I've got good memories, and I've never lost track of where I've been and what I've done.”

He’ll continue riding in 2026/27 and only commits to riding three times a week.

“Now that I'm a bit older, I have a mature mindset, and I can regroup a lot better than I used to. If I have a bad day, I just feel flat and can bounce back the next day. But back in the day, it was probably my weakness.

“I love podcasts. I listen to different athletes, their experiences and (about) staying positive. If your preparation is good – just back it – and that's what I've been doing lately.”

The trainer’s titles went to Garret Lynch for the South Australian Premiership and Phillip Stokes for the Adelaide Premiership. Alysha Warren won the South Australian Apprentice title and Caitlin Tootell won the Adelaide Apprentice Premiership.

Table 2: Season Premierships for 2025/26