G1 – 1200m – Turf
| 1 | Arkansaw Kid | Talented Australian sprinter in the powerful Hayes Brothers stable. Finished a narrow second to Jigsaw two starts ago in November. Has a solid first-up record and always a danger. |
| 2 | Crocetti | Won this race last year. Then finished second in G3 1200m before travelling to Australia where he finished last in valuable The Quokka (1200m). Was sidelined for eight months before 4.6L dead-heat 8th of 15 in G1 1200m at Trentham on 3 January. Capable. |
| 3 | Jigsaw | Australian visitor who ended a long run of outs in spectacular fashion with victories in his past three races, including a 1200m G2 and then the valuable Meteorite (1200m) in Cranbourne in November. First-up here and hard to beat. |
| 4 | Sterling Express | Has won eight from 21 starts and has an excellent first-up record with three wins from four attempts. Last start finished 4th of 14 in G1 1600m in September. Won a 1100m trial on 11 January. Respect. |
| 5 | Platinum Attack | Has shown good ability with six wins from 18 starts. Was kept safe in the markets when 6th of 15, beaten 4.3L, in G1 1200m on 3 January. Is consistent but this is harder. |
| 6 | Sacred Satono | Finished 2nd in a 1100m trial on 11 January after last racing in G3 1100m in November when finished 10th of 12 after being unable to get clear running in the straight. Before that finished last in G1 1400m. Others better. |
| 7 | Tardelli | Was big odds at last start on 3 January when 4.4L 7th in G1 1200m. Has been okay at lower level races but needs big improvement to impress here. |
| 8 | Master Fay | Drew wide in the G1 The Telegraph (1200m) on 3 January and only battled to finish 5.3L 10th of 15. Finished last in this race in 2025. Too tough. |
| 9 | Espionage | Talented former Australian sprinter now trained in New Zealand and was good in first-up run for new stable when 3rd of 12 over 1200m from outside barrier on 1 January. Can be placed. |
| 10 | Reward Smile | Was big odds but had little luck when coming from well back to finish 1.4L 4th of 12 over 1200m on 1 January. Won the start before but this is a big rise in class. |
| 11 | Sweynesday | Has won his past two to give him a record of five wins and three seconds from eight starts. Raced three wide without cover to score by 0.2L last start on 1 January. Is on the improve. |
| 12 | Alabama Lass | Brilliant mare who finished second in this race last year and then won a G3 and Listed before venturing to Australia. Led but weakened to finish last in G1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) in September last time. First-up here and can claim first G1. |
| 13 | Ardalio | Has three G3 victories among her four wins from nine races. She finished 4.6L dead-heat 8th of 15 at her first G1 attempt on 3 January over 1200m. Needs improvement. |
