The feature race at Canberra this Sunday is the Canberra Cup (2000m), where the market says it’ll be an open contest. Travolta heads the market at $3.00 with Sam Hawkens closely following and the market suggests if neither of those two horses win it will be a lottery.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2026 Canberra Cup.
2026 Canberra Cup Runner Preview:
1. Travolta: Loomed to win the Parramatta Cup but just couldn’t quite get there when third. Hard fit now, he commands respect.
2. Campaldino: SCR
3. Piggyback: SCR
4. Athabascan: SCR
5. Star Of India: SCR
6. Nellie Leylax: Has been just fair in two runs back and better suited here up in trip but keen to oppose.
7. Sam Hawkens: I want to give Sam Hawkens another look. To the eye, he was just fair when resuming in the Parramatta Cup but he does look a horse with eyes on one race, the Sydney Cup. That said, he kept chasing and was pretty good late. Better set up here, he’ll take beating.
8. Flying Bandit: 1400m straight to 2000m I find interesting. He is a good horse, promising stayer, will be very strong late…just depends what start he concedes.
9. Touristic: I think this horse is absolutely flying…just needs wet ground and he’s in the mix.
10. Unlimited: SCR
11. Knights Armour: Looks to have returned well but needs it easier.
12. Geemes: I would assume Geemes has eyes on a race like the Albury Cup but I think she has returned super and wouldn’t be shocked if she pinched first four. She resumed in the Midway and was quite good late without threatening behind Starphistocated. I’d include her in exotics.
13. Burgundy Girl: Strong win in the Prelude but this looks way too hard.
14. Scarli Japali: Not up to these.
15. Gatchan: Needs it easier.
16. Tabor: Flying but this looks too hard.
17. Pro Velocity (First Emergency): Looks outclassed.
2026 Canberra Cup $100 Betting Strategy:
$20 Win / $80 Place Sam Hawkens
Canberra Cup Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRAVOLTA (GB) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 10 | 58kg |
| 6 | NELLIE LEYLAX (IRE) | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Ms Alysha Collett | 2 | 56.5kg |
| 7 | SAM HAWKENS (IRE) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Dylan Gibbons | 9 | 54.5kg |
| 8 | FLYING BANDIT | Kerry Parker | Jay Ford | 1 | 54kg |
| 9 | TOURISTIC (GB) | Peter Snowden | Andrew Adkins | 16 | 54kg |
| 11 | KNIGHTS ARMOUR | Ross Lavis | Ms Rebecca Bronett Prag (a) | 4 | 54kg |
| 12 | GEEMES | Mitchell Beer & George Carpenter | Regan Bayliss (late alt) | 8 | 54kg |
| 13 | BURGUNDY GIRL | Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden | Ms Jessica Brookes (a) | 15 | 54kg |
| 14 | SCARLI JAPALI | Anthony Warren | Ms Coriah Keatings (a) | 12 | 54kg |
| 15 | GATCHAN | Norm Gardner | Mathew Cahill | 13 | 54kg |
| 16 | TABOR (NZ) | Joe Cleary | Quayde Krogh | 5 | 54kg |
| 17e | PRO VELOCITY (NZ) | Geoffrey Crothers | Ms Amy McLucas (late alt) | 6 | 54kg |
Canberra Cup Odds
2026 Canberra Cup Speed Map
At the time of writing (Friday night), there are a stack of dual acceptors, so the speed map could be a mess. As it stands, Campaldino should get complete front end control, with Nellie Leylax likely landing box seat. Outside that pair, I can’t see much front end pressure.
