War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign.
The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper.
War Machine announced himself as one of the country’s leading sprinters last winter with a dominant win in the Stradbroke Handicap, followed by an equally impressive first-up victory in the Gilgai Stakes.
Those performances secured him a slot in The Everest, though heavy conditions later in the spring curtailed his campaign.
The Hayes team have since given the gelding a patient build-up, highlighted by two pleasing jump-outs at Werribee.
“He’s very good and he’s exactly where we want him,” JD Hayes said.
“His fresh form down the straight is excellent and he’s trialled up nicely heading into this run.”
With an official rating of 114, War Machine will remain in weight-for-age company moving forward.
“We’ll assess him after Friday and then look towards races like the Futurity or the Newmarket,” Hayes said.
“He’s got a great record down the straight, so that’s always something we’ll keep in mind.”
Interest in the race has been strong across leading betting providers ahead of the feature sprint.
The post War Machine to target G2 Australia Stakes first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
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