Result: Mazu won The Shorts 2026 for Joe Pride and Rachel King, from Joliestar and King's Secret.
The Shorts is a $1 million Group 2 sprint over 1100m at Royal Randwick in Sydney. The 2026 edition was run on Saturday 19 September 2026, and it's one of the key lead-ups to The Everest, with last year's winner Joliestar back to defend her title against a field full of Group 1 sprinters.
The Shorts 2026: race details
Date: Saturday 19 September 2026
Track: Royal Randwick, Sydney (right-handed turf)
Distance: 1100m
Grade: Group 2
Conditions: Set weights plus penalties, 3YOs and upwards
Prizemoney: $1,000,000
Race time: Race 9, 4:35pm AEST
2025 winner: Joliestar
Field: 12 runners
The Shorts 2026 final field and barriers
Mazu drew the inside gate with Rachel King, market leader Headwall was in barrier 5, and defending champion Joliestar drew wide in 11 with James McDonald. Everest-bound Ninja carried the topweight of 57kg from barrier 9.
1. Ninja — Michael Freedman · Tommy Berry · barrier 9 · 57kg
2. Joliestar — Chris Waller · James McDonald · barrier 11 · 56kg
3. Headwall — Matthew Smith · Zac Lloyd · barrier 5 · 56kg
4. Jokers Grin — Chris Waller · Adam Hyeronimus · barrier 3 · 56kg
5. Mazu — Joe Pride · Rachel King · barrier 1 · 56kg
6. Spicy Martini — Toby Edmonds · Taylor Marshall · barrier 8 · 56kg
7. Marhoona — Michael Freedman · Kerrin McEvoy · barrier 2 · 56kg
8. Grafterburners — Kelly Schweida · Jason Collett · barrier 6 · 55kg
9. King's Secret — Joe Pride · Andrew Adkins · barrier 4 · 55kg
10. Mal Coupe — Stephen O'Halloran · Tyler Schiller · barrier 7 · 55kg
11. Brave One — Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes · Dylan Gibbons · barrier 10 · 55kg
12. Flying For Fun — Bryce Heys · Mollie Fitzgerald (a) · barrier 12 · 54kg
The Shorts 2026: the main contenders
Headwall
Matthew Smith's seven-year-old gelding was the early favourite after running 2nd to Tempted in the Group 2 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on 5 September, beaten 0.41 lengths. He won the Concorde in 2025 before an injury ended that campaign, and he has seven wins from 19 starts. Zac Lloyd rode from barrier 5.
Joliestar
Last year's winner was the highest-rated horse in the field. Chris Waller's six-year-old mare won the Expressway Stakes, the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes and the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes in the autumn, then ran 3rd in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. She resumed here after two trials, with more than $9.2 million in prizemoney.
Ninja
Michael Freedman's four-year-old gelding won the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on 8 August and has already been locked into The Everest. He has won five of nine starts, including the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes, and Tommy Berry rode.
Jokers Grin
The 2025 winner of the $5 million Quokka in Perth, where he beat Headwall, returned first-up for Chris Waller. He has won nine of 13 starts and won a Warwick Farm barrier trial on 18 August.
Mazu
Joe Pride's eight-year-old has earned more than $10.8 million and knows Randwick well. He won the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April and ran 3rd in this race in 2024. He drew barrier 1.
Also in the field
Spicy Martini won the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June, beating Sepals. Marhoona won the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill in March and has won all three of her starts at 1100m.
The Shorts 2026 odds
In the market before the race, Headwall was the $3.30 favourite, with defending champion Joliestar at $3.90 and Ninja at $5.
What is The Shorts?
The Shorts is a Group 2 sprint over 1100m at Royal Randwick, run at set weights plus penalties for three-year-olds and upwards and worth $1 million. First run in 1867, it is one of the oldest races on the Sydney calendar and is now a key lead-up to The Everest, the world's richest turf race.
How much prizemoney is The Shorts worth?
The Shorts is worth $1,000,000. The winner collects $580,000, with prizemoney paid down to 10th place.
1st: $580,000
2nd: $190,000
3rd: $96,000
4th: $42,000
5th: $21,000
6th to 8th: $10,000 each
9th and 10th: $8,000 each
What are the weights in The Shorts?
The Shorts is run at set weights plus penalties. Most of the 2026 field carried 55kg or 56kg, with Ninja the topweight on 57kg and Flying For Fun the lightest on 54kg. Apprentices cannot claim their usual allowance.
Why The Shorts matters for The Everest
The Shorts is run four weeks before The Everest (1200m) at Randwick, which is on Saturday 17 October 2026. It gives Everest-bound sprinters a race-day hit-out over a slightly shorter trip. Redzel (2017) and Classique Legend (2020) both won The Shorts before winning The Everest the same spring, and Joliestar used last year's win as her Everest lead-up.
Key lead-up races to The Shorts
Concorde Stakes (Group 2, 1000m, Randwick) — Headwall ran 2nd in 2026
Missile Stakes (Group 2, 1200m, Randwick) — won by Ninja in 2026
Barrier trials — many Shorts runners resume here, including Joliestar and Jokers Grin in 2026
The Shorts trends and stats
Mares
Mares have won the last two editions: I Am Me in 2024 and Joliestar in 2025. Two more mares, Spicy Martini and Marhoona, were in this year's field alongside Joliestar and Flying For Fun.
Favourites
I Am Me won as the $2.60 favourite in 2024, but last year the $2.15 favourite Private Harry ran 5th and Joliestar won at $4.80.
Chris Waller and James McDonald
James McDonald has ridden the last two winners, I Am Me (2024) and Joliestar (2025). Chris Waller has won two of the last four with Nature Strip (2022) and Joliestar (2025), and had two runners this year.
Back-to-back winners
No horse has won The Shorts in consecutive years since King's Favourite in 1976 and 1977. Joliestar was trying to be the first in almost 50 years.
The Shorts past winners
2025: Joliestar — Chris Waller / James McDonald
2024: I Am Me — Ciaron Maher / James McDonald
2023: Private Eye — Joe Pride
2022: Nature Strip — Chris Waller
2021: Eduardo — Joe Pride
2020: Classique Legend — Les Bridge / Kerrin McEvoy
2019: Pierata
2018: Ball Of Muscle
2017: Redzel
2016: Takedown
2015: Rebel Dane
2014: Terravista
2013: Sessions
2012: Pampelonne
2011: Love Conquers All
2010: Hot Danish
2009: Gold Trail
2008: Fritz's Princess
2007: Not run (equine influenza)
2006: Bentley Biscuit
Most successful horses, trainers and jockeys in The Shorts
Horses
Gigandra won The Shorts three times (1912, 1914 and 1915). Greenstead (1919, 1921), Calmest (1926–27), Winnipeg (1941, 1944), Nagpuni (1953–54) and King's Favourite (1976–77) each won it twice.
Trainers
Joe Pride won with Eduardo (2021) and Private Eye (2023) and had Mazu and King's Secret in this year's field. Chris Waller won with Nature Strip (2022) and Joliestar (2025) and had Joliestar and Jokers Grin this time.
Jockeys
James McDonald has won the last two runnings and rode Joliestar again in 2026.
History of The Shorts
The Shorts was first run in 1867, won by Gunilda, making it one of Australia's oldest sprint races. It was a Principal Race until 1978, a Listed race from 1979, Group 3 from 1994 and has been a Group 2 since 2008. The race was run over six furlongs until 1971 and has been 1100m since 1972, apart from 2010 and 2011 when it was run over 1200m. It was held at Rosehill in 2011 and was not run in 2007 because of the equine influenza outbreak. Prizemoney rose to $1 million as The Shorts became a lead-up to The Everest.
Memorable editions of The Shorts
2025: Joliestar sets up her Everest
Joliestar resumed without a lead-up run, raced deep around the turn and still beat Briasa by 1¼ lengths at $4.80, with stablemate Generosity 3rd. Favourite Private Harry ran 5th.
2024: I Am Me by a head
Ciaron Maher's mare won as the $2.60 favourite under James McDonald, holding off Stefi Magnetica by a head with Mazu 3rd.
2022: Nature Strip
The champion sprinter won The Shorts on his way to another Everest campaign for Chris Waller.
2017 and 2020: Everest double
Redzel and Classique Legend both used The Shorts as the springboard to winning The Everest.
What else is on The Shorts day?
The Shorts is Race 9 on a strong Randwick card that also includes the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m), the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) for three-year-old fillies, the Sunrise Stakes (1600m), the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) and the Nick Moraitis Trophy (1100m). On the same afternoon in Melbourne, Caulfield hosts the Underwood Stakes and the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
How to watch The Shorts
GET TO THE TRACK! Tickets are available through the Australian Turf Club. But if you can't, here's where to watch:
Pay TV: Sky Racing and Sky Thoroughbred Central
Streaming: Kayo
Free-to-air: check Seven and 7plus for Randwick coverage
The Shorts FAQs
When was The Shorts 2026?
Saturday 19 September 2026 at Royal Randwick, Sydney, as Race 9 at 4:35pm AEST.
What distance is The Shorts?
1100m.
How much is The Shorts worth?
$1,000,000, with $580,000 to the winner.
Who won The Shorts in 2025?
Joliestar, trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald, at $4.80. Briasa ran 2nd and Generosity 3rd.
Is The Shorts a Group 1?
No. The Shorts is a Group 2 race, although it is worth $1 million and attracts Group 1 sprinters.
Is The Shorts a lead-up to The Everest?
Yes. It is run four weeks before The Everest at Randwick, and Redzel and Classique Legend both won The Shorts before winning The Everest.
Has any horse won The Shorts back-to-back?
Yes, but not since King's Favourite in 1976 and 1977. Calmest and Nagpuni also won it in consecutive years.
Which horse has won The Shorts the most?
Gigandra, with three wins in 1912, 1914 and 1915.
What are the conditions of The Shorts?
Set weights plus penalties for three-year-olds and upwards, over 1100m at Randwick.