The 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival draws to a close on Champions Day.
The Champions Stakes headlines the meeting, while the Champions Mile and Champions Sprint provide plenty of additional quality and intrigue across the afternoon.
The Champions Mile will be highlighted by superstar mare Autumn Glow, while Everest heroine Tempted adds enormous appeal to the Champions Sprint, ensuring there is no shortage of star power across the three feature events.
Read on for our Flemington best bets.
Sent off well in the market of the Debutant Stakes at Caulfield last month, Soldi hit the line to beat Royal Press by a nose. With natural improvement, she need only handle the straight to be in the finish again this week.
| 4. Soldi (9) 56kg1 | |||
| Claiming her maiden victory on debut; won by a nose in the LR Debutante Stakes at Caulfield on October 14 over 1000m defeating Royal Press with 56kg at $3.80. | |||
Fiorenot returned to action with a fine performance to salute in BM84 company at Caulfield in September, while he was only bested by an impressive Buccleuch last time out. Kept fresh, getting out to the mile and onto the big Flemington track this week should suit.
| 2. Fiorenot (4) 60kg25×12 | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming ran on from midfield and won by a head in a Bm84 at Caulfield on September 19 over 1400m defeating He’ll Rip with 57kg at $12. Last start 2nd of 12 in a Bm84 at Caulfield on October 14 over 1440m, 0.8 len behind Buccleuch carrying 59.5kg at $15. | |||
While yet to contest a race in Australia, Defiantly has turned in some outstanding performances in some of Europe’s top staying events this year, and was last seen winning the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay in France by more than five lengths. He’ll be right at home over 2600m at Flemington and anything close to his best would see him too good for this field.
| 1. Defiantly (9) 59.5kg4211x | |||
| Is first-up after a break of 11 weeks and has been in the money when fresh before. Finished off last preparation post a big 5.5 len win. Deauville G2 Pr Kergolay August 23 over 3000m slow track defeating Santorini Star carrying 59kg at $5.60. Previously first up; ran last of 16 at Cork April 24 over 2112m, 18 len behind Final Voyage carrying 63.5kg at $7.50. | |||
Pallaton mustered an eye-catching turn of speed to run on and win in BM100 company at Caulfield first up this time, but he settled too far off the pace in a race that wasn’t run to suit last time out. Fitter third-up, he drops in class into this race and is a winner down the straight previously.
| 5. Pallaton (5) 55kg07×16 | |||
| Third-up today. Resuming ran on from midfield and won by a nose in a Bm100 at Caulfield on September 19 over 1100m defeating Ndola with 56kg at $8. Second-up got back early 6th of 10 in the G2 Caulfield Sprint on October 17 over 1000m, 4 len behind Cavalry Girl carrying 55.5kg at $6.50. | |||
Soverato has improved with each of three runs back this time, and after hitting the line to fill the minors behind the likes of Unleeshing up at Randwick early last month, she proved too good for a strong field, including Shockletz in the Tesio Stakes here at Flemington on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day. In peak order, she’s proven at the track and trip and is drawn to receive a lovely run from a low draw.
| 4. Soverato (2) 57kg5×731 | |||
| Form hard to fault. At the latest run came from midfield and won by 0.5 len in the G3 Tesio Stakes at this track on October 24 over 2040m defeating Shockletz with 54kg at $4.80. The run before that 3rd of 17 in a Bm94 at Randwick on October 3 over 1600m, on a slow track; 2.25 len behind Unleeshing with 52kg at $71. | |||
Tempted has been nothing short of outstanding this year – she remains unbeaten in six starts, and she capped that with an incredible performance to win The Everest three weeks ago, knocking off Ka Ying Rising. Joliestar meanwhile added races like the Canterbury Stakes and TJ Smith Stakes to her CV in the autumn, and she steps out this week third up and following an eye-catching performance that saw her hitting the line for third in The Everest. I don’t have a lot between the two mares, so I am going to box the pair together in a quinella.
| 6. Tempted (9) 56.5kg1×111 | |||
| On a six run winning streak. At the latest run ran on from midfield and won by a head in a G1 The Everest at Randwick on October 17 over 1200m on a rain affected track defeating Ka Ying Rising carrying 56.5kg at $6.50. The race before that won by 3 len in the G2 Premiere Stakes at Randwick on October 3 over 1200m in soft going defeating Savvy Hallie with 56.5kg at $1.60. | |||
| 7. Joliestar (10) 56.5kgx3x23 | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up made some head-way from midfield; 2nd of 11 in a G2 The Shorts at Randwick on September 19 over 1100m, neck behind Mazu carrying 56kg at $3.70. Second run from a spell 3rd of 12 in a G1 The Everest at Randwick on October 17 over 1200m, on a slow track; 0.6 len behind Tempted with 56.5kg at $19. Racing well. | |||
Clearly, Autumn Glow one of the two, if not the best horse currently prepared in Australia, and she steps out this weekend following another dominant victory in the King Charles III Stakes. I think she’ll be winning, but that price is too short for me, so I’ll take her as my winner in another Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with Buckeroo running into the Top 3. Buckeroo is yet to strike in four runs back from a break, but he steps out this week a fit horse and following a sharp performance for second in the Crystal Mile on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day. While I don’t think he’s a threat to Autumn Glow, I think he’s got most of the remainder of this field covered.
Same Race Multi selections:
- 8 Autumn Glow (Win)
- 3 Buckeroo (Top 3)
| 3. Buckaroo (7) 59kgx5502 | |||
| Most recently made ground from midfield; 2nd of 11 in the G2 Crystal Mile at this track on October 24 over 1600m, 0.5 len behind Surfin’ Bird carrying 57kg at $4.60. The start before that ran second last of 13 in the G1 Turnbull Stakes at this track on October 3 over 2000m, on rain affected going; 28 len behind Cosmic Crusader with 55kg at $17. | |||
| 8. Autumn Glow (2) 57kg3×111 | |||
| On a three run winning streak. At the latest run favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 2.25 len in the G1 King Charles Iii Stakes at Randwick on October 17 over 1609m on a soft track defeating Ceolwulf with 57kg at $1.26. The run before that favourite; won by 1.3 len in the G2 7 Stakes at Randwick on September 19 over 1600m defeating Aeliana with 57kg at $1.16. | |||
Omni Man has been a consistent performer for the Joseph O’Brien yard through fourteen starts since debuting, and he’s found form around some world class horses this year. He made his Australian debut in the Ladbrokes Geelong Cup a couple of weeks ago and produced an eye-catching turn of foot to run on late for third, beaten two lengths by Point Of Law but making up plenty of ground. That form has obviously been franked, and 2000m at Flemington looks ideal for Omni Man.
| 9. Omni Man (6) 59kg543×3 | |||
| Second-up. First-up after two months 3rd of 13 in the G3 Geelong Cup on October 21 over 2400m, 2 len behind Point Of Law carrying 54kg at $15. Previously second-up ran last of 8 in the LR Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown on May 10 over 1609m, 12 len behind Catalina Delcarpio carrying 61kg at $19. | |||
Having only just been denied first and second up this time, Educated was sent out to Seymour at her latest start and hit the line to win over 1100m and in BM74 company. This is undoubtedly a harder race, but there’s no knock on her condition or ability, and with Celine Gaudray retaining the ride from a central alley, he’ll get his chance to make it two in a row.
| 6. Educated (8) 59.5kg6×221 | |||
| Recent form sound. Most recently favourite; won by a head in a Bm74 at Seymour on October 11 over 1100m on a rain affected track defeating Electric Elvis with 58.5kg at $3. The race before that came from midfield; 2nd of 8 in a Bm78 at Sandown-Hillside on September 2 over 1000m, slow going neck behind Snow Mercy carrying 55.5kg at $1.60. | |||
Best – Race 3 No. 1 Defiantly
Next Best – Race 5 No. 4 Soverato
Value – Race 8 No. 9 Omni Man