Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The G3 Breeders’ Plate has long held a special place on the Australian racing calendar, offering an early chance for colts to secure a valuable stakes win. For this talented group of juveniles, it is the first opportunity to announce themselves as potential stallions and further 2-year-old feature race contenders, showcasing their precocity at the very start of the season.
Last year’s winner Incognito (Stay Inside) was the first runner for his G1 Golden Slipper winning sire, and the year prior was won by ill-fated King Kirk (Ole Kirk) who was also from his sire’s first crop.
Incognito | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The 2026 edition has drawn together ten colts with Anamoe, State Of Rest (Ire) and Hitotsu represented by first crop runners. Trapeze Artist has two runners and both were bred by Vieira Group being Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bottt-trained Flying Houdini and John Thompson-trained Lucky Eighteen.
"Going off their trials, Flying Houdini looks the most ready-made 2-year-old type," Bott said.
"But it's a big day for them and there's still a lot to happen. We've had multiple runners in them before and maybe the favoured runners haven't necessarily (done best).
"They're getting to the races very early in their careers, and it's a strong 1000 metres. It can change the dynamics off the back of what we've seen in their trials and at home."
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Last year’s field included fourth-placed Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) who has won three stakes races since including a last start win in the G3 Poseidon Stakes. Third-placed Reveangance (Hellbent) added the Golden Gift the start afterwards.
Placed behind King Kirk was North England (Farnan) who won the Golden Gift at his next start and added the G3 Kindergarten Stakes later that season.
The race was first run in 1906, when Boniform (NZ) claimed the inaugural edition. Since then, a host of outstanding youngsters have added their names to the honour roll, many of them later becoming influential stallions. Among them are Sky High, Eskimo Prince, Baguette, Luskin Star, Choisir, Charge Forward, Snitzel, Pierro and Capitalist.
In recent years, young sires such as Espionage, Dubious, and the ill-fated Sejardan, whose first crop has just turned two, have also graduated from the Breeders’ Plate to the stallion barn. Seven winners have gone on to complete the rare double by adding the Golden Slipper, namely Eskimo Prince, Baguette, Luskin Star, Sebring, Pierro, Vancouver and Capitalist.
Gai Waterhouse | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
The race has also become synonymous with the name of Gai Waterhouse. In 2014, she won it for the fourth year in succession when Vancouver was first home, adding to her earlier triumphs with Law (Denman), Whittington, Pierro, Sebring, Sparks (Thunder Gulch {USA}) and High Rolling. More recently, in partnership with Adrian Bott, she has continued that dominance with Espionage in 2023 and King Kirk in 2024.
Last year’s winning trainer Michael Freedman has two runners, Capitano (Bivouac) who was scratched from Melbourne’s Listed Maribyrnong Plate for this and Proverb (Written Tycoon) who was scratched in favour of running in Melbourne.
Both the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott yard and John Thompson have two runners each.
No.1 – Capitano, 2-year-old colt, Bivouac x Angasi (Street Cry {Ire})
Trainer: Michael Freedman
Jockey: Zac Lloyd
Barrier: 6
Breeder: Muir Woodside
Owners: James Harron Bloodstock Colts (Mgr: J Harron), TFI (Mgr: M King), Mrs B C Bateman, Bundarra Breeding and Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: T E Kennedy), G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd (Mgr: G J Diamond), Nine9Park Pty Ltd (Mgr: S A Dyson), M A De Stoop, Balius Farm (Mgr: Dr T Dieu), C A Romeo & The Northerly 25
Capitano as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales: James Harron Colt Partnership and Tony Fung Colts paid $200,000 from Glenbeigh Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree: The fourth and currently latest foal of four-time winner Angasi (Street Cry {Ire}) who has produced two winners. She is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Shoreham (Reset).
This is the family of dual Group 1 winner and sire Kermadec (NZ) as well as his Listed winning dam Hy Fuji (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}).
No.2 – Chasing Archer, 2-year-old colt, Hitotsu x Commonwealth (Foxwedge)
Trainer: Gary Nickson
Jockey: Winona Costin
Barrier: 8
Breeder: Dr I Duckworth
Owners: N R Freeman, Mrs J Freemen, P Rauzan & Mrs D Rauzan
Sales: Sold by Fairview Park Stud for $40,000 to N Freeman at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Chasing Archer as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree: A half-brother to 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale topper, at $825,000, and Listed Oxlade Stakes winner Megastar Heart (Star Turn), Chasing Archer is the third live foal of winning mare Commonwealth (Foxwedge). She had a colt by Hellbent this spring.
Chasing Archer’s third dam is Group 3 winner Mica’s Pride (Bite The Bullet {USA}), who is the dam of four stakes winners led by four-time Group 1 winner Criterion (NZ) who was sub-fertile at stud with only 17 live foals (8 winners) from three seasons at stud, and G1 Doomben Cup winner Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock).
No.3 – Comino, 2-year-old colt, Brutal (NZ) x Honey Blossom (Flying Artie)
Trainer: John Thompson
Jockey: Chad Schofield
Barrier: 7
Breeder: Equicom Syndicates
Owners: Aston Bloodstock (Mgr: W J Mula), Last Row (Mgr: J M Whelan), Mrs R J Mula, M J Tapper & Mrs J I Steel
Comino as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales: John Thompson and Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $180,000 for Comino from Middlebrook Valley Lodge’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree: The third foal for unraced mare Honey Blossom (Flying Artie) who is yet to have a runner and had a colt by State Of Rest (Ire) this spring. Honey Blossom is a half-sister to stakes placed Kardashing (Redoute’s Choice), while her dam Show Stealer (Tobougg {Ire}) won eight races and is a half-sister to G2 Todman Stakes winner Great Crusader (Our Maizcay).
This is the family of R.Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Real Surreal (Real Saga).
No.4 – Fuji, 2-year-old colt, I Am Invincible x Modern Wonder (Snitzel)
SCRATCHED
No.5 – Flying Houdini, 2-year-old colt, Trapeze Artist – Misplaced (Fastnet Rock)
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Regan Bayliss
Barrier: 2
Breeder: Vieira Group
Owners: RedFox Racing (Mgr: Mrs T Rook), Redfox Misplaced (Mgr: Mrs T Rook), Mrs T Rook, M Horan & R Williams
Flying Houdini as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sales: Widden Stud sold him to RedFox Racing for $60,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: Flying Houdini is a full sister to last season’s R.Listed Inglis Nursery Stakes winner Where’s The Circus. Their dam, Misplaced (Fastnet Rock), has also produced seven winners including R.Listed Inglis 2YO Classic-placed Can’t Find Snippy (Snippetson), who is the dam of Listed Phelan Ready Stakes-placed Elusive Capital (Capitalist).
No.6 – Lead The Charge, 2-year-old colt, Starspangledbanner x Frontalis (Redoute’s Choice)
Trainer: John Sargent
Jockey: Molly Bourke
Barrier: 10
Breeder: A Ng
Owners: Topline Thoroughbreds, J G Sargent, Mrs S A Sargent, J A Coleman, S P Dignan, I L Wall, D Carter, Mrs S Carter, M J Burns, Hi Viz Racing, M Barrett, Mrs J Barrett, Mrs K E Collins, M Bolster, M Glover, Miss P H Reid, J A Young, Ms C K Harris, Mrs B Smit & D Southwood
Lead The Charge as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sales: Coolmore Stud offered him at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where John Sargent Racing and Topline Thoroughbreds paid $75,000 for him.
Pedigree: A winner over 1800 metres, Frontalis (Redoute’s Choice) is responsible for three winners from seven to race. She is due to foal to St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) this spring. Two of her three winners are stakes placed being G3 TL Baillieu Handicap-placed Waverley (No Nay Never {USA}) and G3 Newcastle Spring Stakes-placed French Ruler (Nicconi).
Frontalis is a half-sister to Listed winner Ocean Law (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) from the international family of five-time Group 1 winner and sire Spinning World (USA).
No.7 – Lucky Eighteen, 2-year-old colt, Trapeze Artist x La Rose (Vancouver)
Trainer: John Thompson
Jockey: Braith Nock
Barrier: 1
Breeder: Vieira Group
Owners: Ms Y Tang, H Huang & M W Tsang
Lucky Eighteen as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sales: Yanling Tang and Huang Hanwen paid $60,000 for Lucky Eighteen from Widden Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree: The third foal of unraced La Rose (Vancouver), Lucky Eighteen is followed by a yearling colt by Sweet Ride and his dam is back in foal to Sweet Ride for this spring’s result.
La Rose is a half-sister to Listed winner Jennifer Lynn (High Chaparral {Ire}) out of Listed winner Espurante (Flying Spur). This is the family of Listed Gimcrack Stakes winner Hussousa (Husson {Arg}).
No.8 – Nonu (NZ), 2-year-old colt, Anamoe x Easifar (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai)
Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Jason Collett
Barrier: 3
Breeder: Mrs S Hole & Llanhennock Trust
Owners: Bjorn Baker Racing (Mgr: B Baker), Ridgmont (Mgr: M Cunningham), S J Dash, B T Ennals, C Hauff, L R Taylor, K Salagic, B E Risetto, S R Bache, J Davison, J A Forrest, Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: J I Clarke), R G Mulcaster, M Shore, D S Cohen & Ms R Woodward.
Nonu (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Sales: A NZ$600,000 graduate of Wentwood Grange’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft, Nonu was bought by Bjorn Baker Racing, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) and Ridgmont.
Pedigree: Nonu is the first foal of Listed BRC Princess Stakes winner Easifar (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) who won three races. She has a yearling filly by Proisir and is due to Super Seth this spring.
Easifar is a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Readytogorightnow (More Than Ready {USA}) from the family of G1 Queensland Oaks winner Miss Danehill (Danehill {USA}) and Group 2 winner and eight-times Group 1-placed Pentastic (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).
No.9 – Proverb, 2-year-old colt, Written Tycoon x Shines Her Light (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA})
SCRATCHED
No.10 – Stasis, 2-year-old colt, State Of Rest (Ire) x Matronymic (Russian Revolution)
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Adam Hyeronimus
Barrier: 4
Breeder: Kia Ora Stud
Owners: J G Falcke, Ms P A Bourke, Mrs S J Smith, N Q Crew 2026 (Mgr: P J McKaig), B L Pollitt, J Gross, J Sekulovski, Mrs J Butler, J F Sheehan & Mrs P Sheehan
Stasis as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales: His trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds bought him from Newgate Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $250,000.
Pedigree: Stasis is the first foal of winning mare Matronymic (Russian Revolution) who has a yearling colt by Captivant and missed for her 2026 result.
Matronymic is a half-sister to Listed Oxlade Stakes-placed Maotai (Not A Single Doubt) from Listed winner and G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas-placed Fascination Street (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}). Fascination Street is a full sister to juvenile Listed Ryder Stakes victrix Lamington Vegas (NZ).
