Australia and New Zealand Preview for November 14, 2026

Group One racing for spring ends this weekend in Melbourne with what has become the carnival closer, the CF Orr Stakes. It’s not as rich as some of the major features, but it gives a number of sprinters a chance to finish the season off in style.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Cup carnival comes to its conclusion in Christchurch, New Zealand, with the eponymous two-mile feature and the 2000 Guineas, while New South Wales racing moves up the coast to Newcastle for the Hunter.

Here are some suggestions for playing the big races on both sides of the Tasman Sea at the weekend.

Riccarton, NZ, Race 9, 10:10 p.m. Friday ET

NZ 2000 Guineas (G1), 1,600 meters (about 1 mile), $394,000, three-year-olds

• $10 win/$30 show: #6 Thunder In Motion ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 1,6 with 1,6,9 with 1,2,3,5,6,9,10 ($20)

You don’t often see the betting this wide open for a set weights, 10-horse three-year-old race. That’s because no sophomore has stepped forward to assert itself yet as top of the tree – in part because some of the leading chances in early spring have fallen by the wayside with injury.

The favorite on the U.S. morning line is #10 Sword Of Stars (5-2), a filly from Te Akau Racing Stables, which has won this race seven times. She has won her last two, the most recent being the War Decree (G3) on Oct. 24. However, the horses she beat, Platinum La Danse and So Fear, in last week’s 1000 Guineas finished well behind the other filly in this race, #9 Dashing Dixie (9-1), so the odds may be quite different come race time – Dashing Dixie is currently the favorite in New Zealand.

Fillies do have a good record in this race – not surprising given that many of the best males bred in New Zealand end up in Hong Kong, which doesn’t want to race fillies. But racing to date in New Zealand doesn’t suggest the males are lagging behind.

The key lead-up is often the Sarten Memorial (G2) at Te Rapa, this year won by #2 Coniston (17-2), with #5 Rip Tide (11-1) fourth and #3 Raymond (9-1) fifth (and last week’s 1000 Guineas winner Angels Halo eighth). Raymond in particular should appreciate the bigger track, and all three look like good chances.

Also likely to be well supported are recent Ellerslie winner #1 Excite (4-1) and #7 Kumara Straight (6-1), first and second in his only starts. But I’m going with another lightly-raced horse in #6 Thunder In Motion (7-1). Beaten on debut, he scored a very impressive victory last start over #8 High Rock (19-1). Thunder In Motion looks very exciting, and it would be nice to see him live up to that potential.

Riccarton, NZ, Race 11, 11:18 p.m. Friday ET

New Zealand Cup (G3), 3,200 meters (about 2 miles), $253,000, three-year-olds and up

• $10 win/$30 show: #1 Athabascan ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 1,6 with 1,6,13 with 1,3,6,7,8,10,13,16 ($20)

This is being contested for the 163rd time, making it older than all three U.S. Triple Crown races. As the Group 3 status shows, it doesn’t carry the same prestige as it once did, but it’s still a nice prize – nice enough for Australian trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton to send #1 Athabascan (8-1) over. 

Athabascan disappointed in a Benchmark 96 at Flemington Nov. 3 but before that ran well in the St Leger (G3) and Metropolitan (G2), and a return to that form will make him hard to beat, even with topweight; he’ll probably start lower than his morning-line odds.

Also over from Australia is #10 Tajanis (16-1); his form isn't as strong as Athabascan’s, but he did run third over two miles in the Sandown Cup in May.

The morning-line favorite is #8 Just Charlie (5-1), from the stable of Kevin Myers, a four-time winner of this race. He was made favorite after winning last week’s Metropolitan Trophy from #9 Lombardi (22-1) and #7 Court of Appeal (15-2); however, this also happened last year, and he finished down the track. Whether he can successfully back up this year is therefore questionable.

One that might be worth watching is last year’s runner-up #6 Notabadspillane (16-1). He returned to form when winning at Ellerslie Oct. 24, and this is arguably no stronger. #3 Rosso (7-1) and #13 The Precursor (9-1) will also have supporters, while #16 With Grace (16-1) is going for her fifth win in a row in what will be her toughest test to date.

It’s an even race, but I have to go with the proven ability of Athabascan.

Sandown, Melbourne, Race 8, 12:25 a.m. Saturday ET

CF Orr (G1), 1,400 meters (about 7 furlongs), $703,000, three-year-olds and up

• $10 win/$30 show: #5 Beiwacht ($40)
• $2 trifecta: 1,5 with 1,2,5 with 1,2,3,5,8 ($24)

Moved from late summer to this slot in recent years, the Orr Stakes is a great way to finish off the Group 1 racing for the Melbourne spring, and it’s brought together a very good field.

Last year the race was won by #1 Jimmysstar (2-1) from #3 Angel Capital (2-1), and both should perform well. At his best, you’d take Jimmysstar to come out on top again, but he’s become a little harder to follow lately, so I’m a little on the fence with him.

At his last start, Jimmysstar was beaten by #2 Pericles (4-1). He’s sometimes a frustrating horse as well because he places more than he wins, but you can’t ignore his last start, and he also loves seven furlongs. Another to watch is the mare #8 Shadhaver (11-2); she’s won her last two, but she’s mainly been racing her own sex, and this is a big step up.

The only question is whether you want to take the likely microscopic win odds. If you have a lot to spend, it may be the equivalent of buying money, but for those who don’t, exotics are probably the way to go.

In my mind, the one to beat is #5 Beiwacht (5-1). He won the All-Aged (G1) and the Memsie (G1) earlier this year, both at this trip, and he ran well for third in the Golden Eagle (G1) at 7 1/2 furlongs. Back to his favorite journey, he’s the one they’ll probably all have to catch.

Newcastle, New South Wales, Race 8, 12:45 a.m. Saturday ET

Newcastle Hunter (Listed), 1,300 meters (about 6 1/2 furlongs), $703,000, three-year-olds and up

• $10 win/$30 show: #7 Infancy ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 6, 7 with 6,7,12 with 2,3,6,7,9,12 ($16)

Run under handicap conditions, this valuable 6 1/2 furlong race is very open. The morning-line favorite is at 7-1, and though there are horses at shorter odds in local markets, it’s undoubtedly one which will provide value if you can strike it.

That favorite is #9 Accredited (7-1), following a first-up third at Randwick on Nov. 3. His trainer, Joseph Pride, is one of the most astute trainers in New South Wales, and he should be ready for a strong run.

Newcastle is the home track of trainer Kris Lees, who regularly has success in Sydney, and he has a strong chance in the form of #7 Infancy (11-1). She ran very well behind top-class mare Lazzura in The Invitation (G2), and if she brings that form to this event, she’ll be very hard to beat.

Former New Zealander #6 Sweynesday (15-2) is another with strong claims. A Group 1 placegetter in his homeland, he finished second in the Rising Fast (G3) Oct. 31 and is gradually getting towards peak form. Now with Annabel and Rob Archibald, he has a nice barrier and looks ready for a big run.

Trainer Ciaron Maher can’t be ignored at the moment, and he’s turning up with #12 She’s An Artist (8-1). She won last start in a Benchmark 88 event in Sydney, and with just 117 pounds, she’s at a great spot in the weights.

#2 General Salute (11-1) and #3 King of Roseau (15-1) have both been running well of late. General Salute won at his seasonal debut before finishing fifth in the Alan Brown (G3), but has a bit of weight to carry. King of Roseau was sixth to Pericles in the Russell Balding (G2) last start, which is great form for this, but his weight and a horror barrier draw of 16 won’t help him.

There are a lot of chances here, but I’m going for a hometown victory with Infancy.

Sandown, Melbourne, Race 9, 1:05 a.m. Saturday ET

Zipping Classic (G2), 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles), $527,000, three-year-olds and up

• $10 win/$30 show: #2 Kingswood ($40)
• $2 trifecta: 2,5 with 2,5,10 with 2,5,6,9,10 ($24) 

This could be a contest between two horses that finished close behind Melbourne Cup winner Point of Law at their most recent starts. 

#5 Juja Kibo (5-2) is the morning-line favorite after a superb spring campaign that has netted victories in the Metropolitan (G2) and Moonee Valley Cup (G2) and a third in the Melbourne Cup to Point of Law. He has to come back half a mile in distance for this event, and it’s at weight-for-age, but he is in great form and can easily give trainer Ciaron Maher yet another major success this spring.

Maher notably trained five of the first six home in the Melbourne Cup; he has a useful second string in this with Melbourne Cup 10th place getter #6 Middle Earth (11-1).

Left behind in Maher’s wake was a five-horse army from the Irish stable of Joseph O’Brien, whose best horse in the Cup finished fourth. One O’Brien horse that didn’t get a run in the Cup was #10 Small Fry (5-1); he needed to win the lead-up Geelong Cup (G3) Oct. 21 but was beaten into second by Point of Law. He’ll be fresher than Juja Kibo and thus should have a great chance.

Chris Waller’s team has still scored some notable victories this spring, mostly through star mare Autumn Glow, and he turns up with a decent chance in the form of #9 Travolta (4-1). He won the Listed Sydney Gold Cup in good style last start, but he will need to improve further to win here.

The most notable chance outside Juja Kibo and Small Fry is #2 Kingswood (7-2). He caused a 26-1 surprise against a strong field in the Caulfield Cup (G1), after having finished fourth in the Might and Power (G1) the start before. He’s not as well off at the weights here as in the Caulfield Cup, but a similar run will take him very close. He’s my tip.