The 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival concluded at Flemington on Saturday, 7 November, with Birdman, Autumn Glow and Point Barrow winning the three Group 1 races on Champions Stakes Day.

The nine-race programme featured $9 million in prize money across the Champions Sprint, Champions Mile and TAB Champions Stakes, bringing four days of major racing at Flemington to a close.

Chris Waller trained the winners of both the Champions Mile and Champions Stakes, while Anthony and Sam Freedman secured the Champions Sprint with Point Barrow.

The results also completed several significant spring campaigns, with the meeting producing new Group 1 records and further developments for the Australian breeding industry.

Champions Stakes Day 2026 Group 1 Results

The three Group 1 races were contested over 1200, 1600 and 2000 metres.

Each race carried $3 million in prize money.

The Champions Sprint was held over Flemington’s straight course, followed by the Champions Mile and the final Group 1 of the Carnival, the TAB Champions Stakes.

Birdman Wins the 2026 TAB Champions Stakes

Birdman claimed the Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes over 2000 metres, defeating Cosmic Crusader, with Sir Delius finishing third.

Ridden by Ben Melham, the Chris Waller-trained gelding recorded his third Group 1 victory of 2026, following earlier wins in the Doomben Cup and Underwood Stakes.

The result also reversed the finishing order of the Cox Plate on 24 October, when Cosmic Crusader defeated Birdman at Flemington.

The two horses had previously finished first and second in the Underwood Stakes, with Birdman winning that race.

Their three meetings provided a recurring form connection during the spring, culminating in Saturday’s Champions Stakes result.

Birdman’s victory was his eighth from 27 career starts and increased his prize money beyond $5 million.

Birdman’s breeding and ownership

Birdman is an Irish-bred son of Free Eagle out of Carol, a daughter of Acclamation.

He began his racing career in Ireland before transferring to Chris Waller’s Australian stable.

His ownership group includes current and former Carlton footballers Patrick Cripps and Marc Murphy.

The Champions Stakes added another Group 1 victory to his racing record and completed a spring campaign that included major performances at Caulfield and Flemington.

For Waller, the result marked his fourth consecutive victory in the Champions Stakes.

Autumn Glow Extends Her Record in the Champions Mile

Autumn Glow won the Group 1 Champions Mile over 1600 metres, defeating stablemate Lindermann by 1¼ lengths. Buckaroo finished third, completing a trifecta for trainer Chris Waller.

James McDonald rode the five-year-old mare in her first race at Flemington and first start outside Sydney.

The result took Autumn Glow’s career record to 15 wins from 16 starts, including six Group 1 victories.

She had previously won the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Randwick during the spring, completing the King Charles III Stakes and Champions Mile double in the same season.

The Champions Mile result was also Waller’s fifth victory in the race.

Autumn Glow’s pedigree and sales history

Autumn Glow is by The Autumn Sun out of Via Africa, a daughter of South African stallion Var.

Via Africa won three Group 1 races in South Africa and is also the dam of Golden Rose winner In The Congo.

Autumn Glow was sold for $600,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale to Silverdale Farm and Shrone Bloodstock.

She subsequently entered the ownership of interests associated with Arrowfield Stud and Hermitage Thoroughbreds.

Her Champions Mile victory increased her career earnings beyond $14.5 million, adding another Group 1 result to an established international thoroughbred family.

Point Barrow Wins the 2026 Champions Sprint

Point Barrow claimed the Group 1 Champions Sprint over 1200 metres, defeating Plaintiff by a neck, with Skybird finishing third.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained mare was ridden by Mark Zahra.

The victory followed two Group 3 wins at Caulfield, giving Point Barrow three consecutive successes during her spring preparation.

It was her eighth win from 13 career starts and her first at Group 1 level.

The result also gave Zahra his third Champions Sprint victory and his second consecutive win in the event, following his success aboard Giga Kick in 2025.

A Group 1 result with bloodstock significance

Point Barrow is by Blue Point out of Take Pride, a daughter of Reward for Effort.

She was purchased for $400,000 by Freedman Racing at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Her Champions Sprint victory has added significance for her immediate family, with a younger half-brother by Hellbent scheduled to be offered at the 2027 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The colt is catalogued as Lot 667 in the Yarraman Park Stud draft.

The result creates a direct connection between a Flemington Group 1 winner and an upcoming Australian yearling sale.

Full Champions Stakes Day 2026 Race Winners

Nine races were conducted at Flemington on Saturday.

The programme included the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2600 metres and the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes over 2000 metres, alongside the three Group 1 features.

The Inglis Banner also provided a result for the two-year-old racing programme, with Soldi recording her second victory from two starts.

Melbourne Cup Carnival 2026 Concludes With Strong Attendance

The Victoria Racing Club reported attendance of 70,414 for Champions Stakes Day.

Across the four Flemington meetings, total Carnival attendance reached 307,889, the highest figure recorded since 2017.

The 2026 Carnival began with Victoria Derby Day on 31 October, followed by Melbourne Cup Day on 3 November and Crown Oaks Day on 5 November.

Major results included Point Of Law’s Melbourne Cup victory, Proxima Dea’s Crown Oaks success and the three Group 1 winners on Champions Stakes Day.

The final meeting completed a spring racing programme featuring major results across sprinting, middle-distance and staying events.

Further information about the Carnival is available in Jig Racing’s Spring Racing Carnival 2026 guide.

Champions Stakes Day Results and Race Replays

The Victoria Racing Club has published the official meeting results and race highlights, including the three Group 1 contests.

The completed races also provide further records for future form analysis, with race replays and sectional information available through Australian racing services.

Jig Racing covers Australian thoroughbred racing throughout the year, including selected race previews, form analysis and Blackbook content.

Information about member access is available through the Jig Racing membership packages.

Official meeting results and highlights are available from the Victoria Racing Club Champions Stakes Day page.