St Gotthard has drawn barrier six for Saturday’s $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington, with James McDonald aboard, while Ciaron Maher’s The Next Episode will jump from the widest gate in 14.
A field of 14 three-year-olds was confirmed for the Group 1 sprint over the straight 1200m, according to the official Racing Australia fields for Derby Day on Saturday 31 October. The Coolmore is race six on the card, with a 3:40pm AEDT start, and the track was rated a Good 4 at acceptances.
St Gotthard, trained by Chris Waller, will wear blinkers for the first time, Bets.com.au’s Derby Day field guide listed in its gear changes. The colt is a younger brother to Switzerland, who won the race for Waller in 2024.
Waller chasing a seventh Coolmore
Waller has trained six winners of the race since 2013: Zoustar, Brazen Beau, Japonisme, September Run, Home Affairs and Switzerland. His second runner, Steel Will, is a half-brother to 2020 winner September Run and drew barrier 10 for Jye McNeil.
Kris Lees’ Under Focus has the rail in barrier one with Blake Shinn, and Peter Snowden’s The Machine Gun is next to him in gate two for William Pike.
Read more: “I Wouldn’t Swap the Ride on St Gotthard for Anything”: J-Mac Makes Huge Golden Rose Call
The Next Episode, ridden by Mark Zahra, will have his stallion chain removed for the first time and must work from barrier 14. Bjorn Baker’s Paradoxium (Jason Collett) drew 13 and Nick Ryan’s Doubt Time, also in blinkers for the first time, drew 12.
Fillies get the 2kg drop
Three fillies carry 55kg, 2kg less than the colts and geldings: Natural Fling (barrier eight, Damian Lane), Pembrey (nine, Craig Williams) and Satono Glow (four, Ben Melham).
Ben Melham takes the ride on Satono Glow after Jamie Melham was suspended and ruled out of the Derby Day mount.
Read more: Jamie Melham Suspended, to Miss Satono Glow Ride on Derby Day
Four of the past five winners have been colts: Tentyris (2025), Switzerland (2024), Ozzmosis (2023) and Home Affairs (2021). In Secret, a filly, won in 2022.
Coolmore Stud Stakes 2026 field and barriers
- Barrier 1: Under Focus – Kris Lees (trainer), Blake Shinn, 57kg
- Barrier 2: The Machine Gun – Peter Snowden (trainer), William Pike, 57kg
- Barrier 3: Marffiano – Ben, Will and JD Hayes (trainer), Luke Currie, 57kg
- Barrier 4: Satono Glow (NZ) – John O’Shea and Tom Charlton (trainer), Ben Melham, 55kg
- Barrier 5: Stretan Ruler – Phillip and Tommy Stokes (trainer), Jamie Mott, 57kg
- Barrier 6: St Gotthard – Chris Waller (trainer), James McDonald, 57kg
- Barrier 7: Mbube – Lloyd Kennewell (trainer), Billy Egan, 57kg
- Barrier 8: Natural Fling – Tony and Calvin McEvoy (trainer), Damian Lane, 55kg
- Barrier 9: Pembrey – Tony Gollan (trainer), Craig Williams, 55kg
- Barrier 10: Steel Will – Chris Waller (trainer), Jye McNeil, 57kg
- Barrier 11: Alibaba – Ken and Kasey Keys (trainer), Craig Newitt, 57kg
- Barrier 12: Doubt Time – Nick Ryan (trainer), Michael Dee, 57kg
- Barrier 13: Paradoxium – Bjorn Baker (trainer), Jason Collett, 57kg
- Barrier 14: The Next Episode – Ciaron Maher (trainer), Mark Zahra, 57kg
Full fields for the nine-race Derby Day card are also listed by Racenet. The Group 1 Victoria Derby follows at 4:20pm and the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at 5pm AEDT.
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