Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026: Field, Tips, Odds & Betting Guide

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is the premier weight-for-age race of the Sydney Autumn Carnival, run over 2000 metres at Randwick as the headline event of The Championships. With a $5 million prize pool, it attracts the best middle-distance horses from Australia and abroad, making it one of the most important races on the national calendar.

Run under weight-for-age conditions, the race is designed to identify the best horse, rather than the best handicapped horse. Every runner competes on equal terms based on age and sex, placing the emphasis squarely on class, race fitness and tactical execution. At 2000 metres, it sits at the perfect middle-distance trip, blending speed and stamina, and often bringing together horses from mile and staying backgrounds.

Randwick’s spacious layout and long home straight ensure that horses get their chance, but tempo and positioning remain critical. Genuine pressure is often applied, particularly with high-quality on-speed runners in the field, while strong closers are given the opportunity to build momentum down the long straight. As a result, the race regularly produces high-rating performances and genuine Group 1 contests.

The honour roll of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes reads like a who’s who of Australian racing. Champions such as Winx, who won the race three times, along with stars like Addeybb, Lonhro and Might And Power, have all used the race to cement their legacy at the elite level.

The modern identity of the race is closely tied to Winx, who owned the Queen Elizabeth Stakes from 2017 to 2019. Three straight wins, all dominant in their own way, underlined just how perfectly the race setup suited her. Her 2019 victory, the final start of her career, turned the race into a global moment and cemented the Queen Elizabeth Stakes as a true championship contest at weight-for-age.

WATCH: Winx win the 2019 Queen Elizabeth – her final race.

As the centrepiece of The Championships, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes consistently delivers world-class racing, deep betting markets and a true test of middle-distance excellence at weight-for-age.