Racing
Ladbrokes Blog: 2026 Standish Handicap Day Preview
Feature racing returns to Flemington for the first time in 2026 for the Standish Handicap this Saturday.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
First contested way back in 1884, the Standish Handicap has been won by many starts of the turf throughout its storied existence and a fittingly smart field of sprinters is engaged again this year.
You can find my 2026 Standish Handicap tips amongst my complete Flemington best bets below.
Race 1 - Benchmark 70 Handicap (1600m) – 12:20pm AEDT
No. 1 Jenni Gone Bonkers
Jenni Gone Bonkers takes winning form into another winnable race on Standish Handicap Day.
The Maurice filly has hardly put a hoof wrong this time in, winning two of three starts and only just missing behind Ruska Roma at Listed level on the other occasions.
She's around a month between starts but is proven on fresh legs.
Bet Now: Flemington Race 1
Race 2 - Honouring Our Jockeys Plate (2000m) – 12:50pm AEDT
No. 2 Touchdown
Another in-form horse that looks tough to beat on Standish Handicap Day is Touchdown.
Four wins from five starts is what this talented gelding has already managed this time in, and he continues to improve with racing.
Out to the 2000m and on the big Flemington track this week, he looks perfectly placed again in my opinion.
Bet Now: Flemington Race 2
Race 3 - Jockey Celebration Sprint (1100m) – 1:25pm AEDT
No. 5 Audio Pop Cam
Audio Pop Cam broke back into winning form last time out and I am going to stick with her at HQ this week.
Audio Pop Cam won on debut at Pakenham back in July but was sent for a break after failing to beat a runner home at The Valley.
Having clearly needed her first run back this time to tune up, she was eye-catching in BM56 grade last time out.
This is a reasonable rise in class, but she's got plenty of upside, drops in the weights and can get some cover from a central draw before calling on her turn of foot.
Bet Now: Flemington Race 3
Race 4 - Off The Track Trophy (1800m) – 2pm AEDT
No. 2 Suntora
Suntora rates as a key winning chance again this week.
Having recorded consecutive and dominant victories over 1800m and 2000m respectively in November and December, Suntora produced another fine performance to only just be denied by Sun Gift in a photo at Cranbourne last time out.
She's hard fit, dropping back down to the 1800m looks to suit and she can go straight to the lead from barrier 2 and give them something to chase.
Bet Now: Flemington Race 4
Race 5 - National Jockeys Trust Trophy (1600m) – 2:35pm AEDT
No. 5 Extreme Virtue
If not to bad luck, Extreme Virtue would have finished a lot closer at Cranbourne last time out.
Prior to that run, the daughter of Extreme Choice was competitive around some decent horses in two runs back from a break, finishing on the placegetters' heels at Cranbourne when resuming most notably.
She steps out this week a fit horse and is drawn to find a nice position in the run this time. With better luck, I'm confident she can fight out the finish.
Bet Now: Flemington Race 5
Race 6 - Jockey Assistance Program Sprint (1000m) – 3:15pm AEDT
No. 1 Gallant Son
Gallant Son resumes in a winnable race this week.
The Written Tycoon entire hasn't been seen at the races since April, but he was a consistent performer in strong company last time in, only just missing in a couple of black type sprints before ending his campaign a credible fourth in the Group 2 Tobin Bronze.
He's trialled up beautifully ahead of this prep and boasts an ability edge over a lot of these rivals.
Bet Now: Flemington Race 6
Race 7 - Henry Byron Moore Handicap (1600m) – 3:55pm AEDT
No. 12 Knobelas
Knobelas is third up into a nice race at Flemington.
The Mick Price & Mick Kent Jnr-trained mare couldn't have been more impressive when resuming to win easily in BM70 company back in November, while she was last seen hitting the line to only just miss at Caulfield Heath.
Out to the mile at Flemington looks perfect for her, she takes weight from every other horse in the field, and she can record another Saturday metro victory.
Bet Now: Flemington Race 7
Race 8 - Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) – 4:35pm AEDT
No. 5 Hedged
Hedged returned to winning form in the Listed Christmas Stakes at Sandown last month and can go on with it.
The Capitalist gelding has always boasted above-average talent, but he has mixed his form a little in recent preparations.
Having been freshened after finishing midfield in the Ladbrokes Meteorite, his performance at Sandown last time out was amongst his best to date, and with a fitness edge over several key rivals this week, he rates as a great chance of winning again.
Bet Now: Flemington Race 8
Race 9 - Victorian Jockeys Association Trophy (1200m) – 5:15pm AEDT
No. 1 Rue De Royale
Rue De Royale is another last-start winner I'm keen to stick with on Standish Handicap Day.
Rue De Royale stripped fitter via a couple of credible performances at Ballarat and Caulfield Heath when resuming this time, before returning here to Flemington on New Year's Eve to record an eye-catching win.
He's hard fit this week, proven down the straight and with luck in the run, he too can go on with it.
Bet Now: Flemington Race 9
Race 10 - George Watson Handicap (1400m) – 5:55pm AEDT
No. 5 Stealth Of Night
Stealth Of Night chases a hat-trick in the last at Flemington.
The Night Of Thunder mare couldn't have done a lot more without winning on Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup Day fresh from a spell in November, while she's been excellent in saluting in a pair of BM70 races at Sandown since.
She's in peak order this week, she's yet to finish worse than second and she can build on that increasingly impressive winning record this week.
