A Group 1 sprint race, the 2026 Moir Stakes is a preview of the upcoming Spring Racing Carnival.

The race will be held on Saturday, September 5, with the race time TBD. It will be held at Sandown Racecourse in Victoria.

Quick Picks

Our pick: Giga Kick to win

Value bet: My Gladiola each-way

Long shot: Cavalry Girl each-way

Betting Preview

A top-level, elite Australian sprint race, the 2026 Moir Stakes is contested over a distance of 1,000 metres and offers a $750,000 prize pot. It is open to horses aged 3 years and older and is run under weight-for-age conditions.

If phrases like weight-for-age or Group class are unfamiliar, our horse racing terms explained guide covers the jargon.

The temporary shift from Moonee Valley to Sandown Hillside adds a major tactical aspect. Sandown is a more flowing course and could reward sustained speed and a clean run more than the Valley’s traditionally sharp, position-sensitive sprint.

The race is seen as the ideal starting point for sprinters heading towards the Manikato Stakes (1,200m) and VRC Sprint Classic (1,200m), which is why there are many eyes on the betting markets for this one.

With the wider Spring card taking shape too, it is worth checking today's racing tips for the rest of the meeting.

With that decent prize pot up for grabs, many notable horses are scheduled to go to post in this upcoming race. A new winner will be crowned this year, with 2025 winner Baraqiel not involved after being forced to retire earlier in the year following injury at the G1 William Reid Stakes.

Betting Markets to Watch

The current betting odds indicate the race is a two-horse contest, with a third potentially in the mix. Giga Kick and Natural Fling are considered the early joint-favourites , with My Gladiola seen as the most likely to challenge them.

Giga Kick is a favourite as he is a proven Group 1-class racer. Trained by Clayton Douglas, Giga Kick’s ability to absorb pressure and produce a decisive final burst makes him the benchmark if he returns close to his best.

However, questions have been raised by racegoers and pundits about his sharpness over a fast 1,000m race and whether he can start quickly.

And those concerns are perhaps why there has been an early showing in Natural Fling within the odds, the only three-year-old in this year’s race. The filly has the profile to do well here – she is a mobile sprinter that has quick acceleration and pace that suits the Moir Stakes. Plus, she enjoyed a sensational four-length victory in the Quezette Stakes (Grade 3) last month.

The problem around Natural Fling, though, is that this race is a step-up in grade, and she’s going to be running against established Grade 1 horses.

My Gladiola is a highly talented mare who enters this race in positive form after an impressive preparation. In fact, she beat Giga Kick in an 800m trial race at Sandown last week. So, she does has the potential to challenge those at the top, but with it being her first elite race back after a break and against race-fit rivals, she is a slightly longer shot.

Our Prediction

Check the latest horse racing betting odds at Sportsbet.Our main prediction is for Giga Kick to be the likely winner ; he’s proven at this level and should be close to his best.

We think there’s value in My Gladiola in the each-way , as this being her first-up race following a break could be damaging to her chances of winning.

A long shot is Cavalry Girl in the each-way . She comes into the race in good form after a third straight win in the G3 Carlyon Stakes over the same Sandown 1,000m. A Group 1 race that has a deep weight-for-age class could prove too much here, but she is definitely one to watch.

If you are newer to punting on the gallops, our guide on how to bet on horses walks through each-way and win bets before you back any of these runners.