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Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival 2026 | Tips, Dates & Group 1 Guide
The Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival is the headline block of NSW racing, running from February through to mid-April across Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick. Built around the $5 million Golden Slipper and capped off by the two-day Championships at Randwick, the carnival features more than 20 Group 1 races and the best middle-distance, sprinting and three-year-old form of the Australian autumn.
Below you’ll find the full 2026 Sydney Autumn Carnival schedule, key race previews, betting markets and best bookmakers for autumn racing. For our latest tips, visit our horse racing tips hub. For the Melbourne autumn program, see our Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival guide.
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Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival Structure
The carnival is built around three key race meetings:
- Rosehill Guineas Day — mid-March. Features the Rosehill Guineas, George Ryder Stakes, The Galaxy, Vinery Stud Stakes and Ranvet Stakes.
- Golden Slipper Day — late March at Rosehill. Headlined by the $5m Golden Slipper (1200m for 2YOs), plus the Tancred Stakes (2400m WFA) and a deep card of supporting Group races.
- The Championships — two Saturdays in April at Royal Randwick. Day 1 is headlined by the Doncaster Mile, Australian Derby and TJ Smith Stakes; Day 2 by the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Sydney Cup and All Aged Stakes.
Group 1 Races at the Sydney Autumn Carnival
The full Group 1 program at the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival:
| Race | Distance | Conditions | Venue | Raceday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Slipper Stakes | 1200m | 2YO | Rosehill | Golden Slipper Day |
| Doncaster Mile | 1600m | 3YO+ | Randwick | Day 1, The Championships |
| Australian Derby | 2400m | 3YO | Randwick | Day 1, The Championships |
| Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 2000m | 3YO+ WFA | Randwick | Day 2, The Championships |
| Sydney Cup | 3200m | 3YO+ Handicap | Randwick | Day 2, The Championships |
| TJ Smith Stakes | 1200m | 3YO+ WFA | Randwick | Day 1, The Championships |
| All Aged Stakes | 1400m | 3YO+ WFA | Randwick | Day 2, The Championships |
| Coolmore Classic | 1500m | F&M Handicap | Rosehill | Mid-March |
| Ranvet Stakes | 2000m | WFA | Rosehill | Late March |
| Rosehill Guineas | 2000m | 3YO SW | Rosehill | Late March |
| Tancred Stakes | 2400m | WFA | Rosehill | Late March |
| Golden Rose lead-in: Randwick Guineas | 1600m | 3YO SW | Randwick | Early March |
| Canterbury Stakes | 1300m | WFA | Randwick | Early March |
| Chipping Norton Stakes | 1600m | WFA | Randwick | Late Feb |
| George Ryder Stakes | 1500m | WFA | Rosehill | Golden Slipper Day |
| The Galaxy | 1100m | Handicap | Rosehill | Rosehill Guineas Day |
| Coolmore Legacy Stakes | 1600m | F&M WFA | Randwick | Day 2, The Championships |
| Surround Stakes | 1400m | 3YO Fillies SW | Randwick | Late Feb |
| Vinery Stud Stakes | 2000m | 3YO Fillies SW | Rosehill | Golden Slipper Day |
| Sires Produce Stakes | 1400m | 2YO SW | Rosehill | Rosehill Guineas Day |
| Champagne Stakes | 1600m | 2YO SW | Randwick | Day 2, The Championships |
| Australian Oaks | 2400m | 3YO Fillies SW | Randwick | Day 2, The Championships |
The Championships at Randwick
The Championships are the two-day grand final of the Australian autumn, concocted by the ATC to rival the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Day 1 and Day 2 are separated by a week, with $20m+ in combined prize money across the two Saturdays and the world’s best milers, sprinters, stayers and three-year-olds all in the same 10-day window.
- Day 1: Doncaster Mile, Australian Derby, TJ Smith Stakes, Inglis Sires.
- Day 2: Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Sydney Cup, All Aged Stakes, Australian Oaks, Coolmore Legacy Stakes.
Sydney Autumn Carnival Betting Markets
Autumn is one of the heaviest betting blocks of the year after the Melbourne Cup Carnival, with fixed-odds win and place, early speculative futures, and exotics all well-priced across the major Australian bookmakers. Popular markets include:
- Golden Slipper Futures — all-in markets open from late summer.
- Championships Day 1 & Day 2 Quaddies — see our Quaddie calculator guide.
- Same Race Multis — see our Same Race Multi guide.
- Each-Way & Exotics — place, quinella, exacta, trifecta and First 4 across all Group 1s.
Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival FAQs
When is the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival?
The Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival runs from February through to mid-April each year across Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick, with The Championships at Randwick providing the two-day finale in early-to-mid April.
What is the richest race at the Sydney Autumn Carnival?
The $5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m, two-year-olds) at Rosehill is the richest race of the carnival and the richest race for juveniles in the world.
What are The Championships?
The Championships are the two-day autumn showpiece run at Royal Randwick, featuring 10 Group 1 races across consecutive Saturdays — headlined by the Doncaster Mile and Australian Derby on Day 1, and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Sydney Cup on Day 2.
Where is the Sydney Autumn Carnival held?
The carnival is split between Rosehill Gardens (western Sydney) for the build-up and Golden Slipper Day, and Royal Randwick (eastern Sydney) for the Championships finale.
Looking for the best bookmakers to bet on the Sydney Autumn Carnival?
At BettingPro.com.au, we rank the best Australian online betting sites for horse racing throughout the autumn. For a full comparison, see our best horse racing betting sites in Australia guide.
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Exclusive 365AUCODE referral code: bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers.18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival 2026 Results
- Golden Slipper 2026 result — won by Guest House
- Sydney Cup 2026 result — won by Changingoftheguard