One of the key races at Ipswich this Saturday is the Eye Liner Stakes (1350m), where the market suggests it is one of the more open betting contests on the program. The Listed feature carries $200,000 in prizemoney and has attracted a quality field of sprinters and milers looking to add black-type success to their résumés.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for 2026 Eye Liner Stakes.
2026 Eye Liner Stakes Runner Preview:
1. Regal Zeus: Better suited over further but with front end control, he’ll run a bold race at a price.
2. Cifrado: Cifrado is one of the better bets across Australia for the weekend IMO. He wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Stradbroke, and that is where he would have been if he had another stride in the BRC Sprint, just missing when second to Abounding. He’s flying, he’ll be strong late…unless there is a savage up/in bias I am very keen.
3. Bosustow: Total forgive first up, Blinkers back on and fitter…I say he’s dangerous.
4. Payline: SCR
5. Zou Sensation: SCR
6. Rockribbed: Hasn’t fired a shot this prep. Not for me.
7. Cote Atlantique: SCR
8. Melody Again: Melody Again might well be using this as a barrier trial for the Tiara next Saturday but she has class and it is going to carry her a long way. She ran a beauty in the Dark Jewel at Scone last time, working home powerfully from the back. Will need luck but will motor late.
9. Boomtown Boss: His racing pattern is awful. Drawn wide…do they roll the dice and go forward? Or take their medicine. If it’s the latter, I feel he has none.
10. Metalart: I will have something each way on 10 Metalart because if he wins and I didn’t have something on…good lord. He’s pretty much had three barrier trials to start this prep, the latest in the Moreton Cup where he was back near last and in a sit/sprint, was never a factor. He’s flying IMO and can run well at odds with a positive ride.
11. Midnight Dynamite: SCR
12. Dance To The Boom: Dance To The Boom was met with market support at odds when resuming in the Helen Coughlan three weeks ago. She got into a decent spot in transit and tried hard but just couldn’t quite finish it off. Fitter, her best is good enough.
13. Sha Of Gomer: He looks cast.
14. Esjay: Flying to start the prep but the wheels are falling off.
15. Restonica: Had his chance behind Soothsayer last start. Not for me.
16. Soothsayer: Super win last time, he’s in career best form but for mine, I think he’s up against it here.
17. John Rambo (First Emergency): He’s very dangerous. First up for Tony Gollan, trialled well and 1350m fresh signals clear intent.
18. Redford (Second Emergency): Okay in defeat last start at Randwick and will be strong late here. Knockout hope.
19. Castillian (Third Emergency): Think if he gets a run, he will run well, but will be better in two weeks time.
20. La Roja (Fourth Emergency): Unlikely to run here.
2026 Eye Liner Stakes $100 Betting Strategy:
$100 Win Cifrado at $12
2026 Eye Liner Stakes Speed Map
Regal Zeus loves to roll on speed and from gate one, likely holds up. Outside him, I can’t see much early front end pressure. Midnight Dynamite will press forward but at the time of writing this preview (Wednesday afternoon), there is no rider booked, so doubt he runs. There are a few runners drawn wide who will likely take a chance.
Eye Liner Stakes Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | REGAL ZEUS | John McArdle | Michael Rodd | 1 | 60.5kg |
| 2 | CIFRADO | Rex Lipp | Boris Thornton | 8 | 60kg |
| 3 | BOSUSTOW | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Robbie Dolan | 6 | 59.5kg |
| 6 | ROCKRIBBED | Tony Gollan | Ryan Maloney | 10 | 58.5kg |
| 8 | MELODY AGAIN | Liam Ruddy | Martin Harley | 3 | 56kg |
| 9 | BOOMTOWN BOSS | Tony Gollan | Ben Thompson | 13 | 56kg |
| 10 | METALART | Kelly Schweida | Taylor Marshall | 12 | 55.5kg |
| 12 | DANCE TO THE BOOM | Bjorn Baker | Jake Bayliss | 4 | 54kg |
| 13 | SHA OF GOMER | Jeff Dunn | Anthony Allen | 7 | 54kg |
| 14 | ESJAY | Pat Webster | Justin P Stanley | 18 | 54kg |
| 15 | RESTONICA | Pat Webster | Mark Du Plessis | 16 | 53kg |
| 16 | SOOTHSAYER | Michael Freedman | Daniel Moor | 14 | 53kg |
| 17e | JOHN RAMBO | Tony Gollan | Ms Cejay Graham | 2 | 53kg |
| 18e | REDFORD | Stuart Kendrick | Ron Stewart | 5 | 53kg |
| 19e | CASTILLIAN (NZ) | Tony Gollan | Ms Emily Lang (a) | 9 | 53kg |
| 20e | LA ROJA | Peter Snowden | Kyle Wilson-Taylor (late alt) | 11 | 54kg |
Eye Liner Stakes Odds
