The feature race at Yarra Valley this Sunday is the Yarra Valley Cup (1950m), where the field and market says it’ll be an open contest.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2026 Yarra Valley Cup.
2026 Yarra Valley Cup Runner Preview:
1. Go Daddy: Go Daddy ran fourth to Magnaspin at Caulfield last time. He got back off speed and kept chasing with purpose without really threatening, but the run was a definite pass mark. Better set up here, I think he’s one for exotics.
2. Wymark: Tried hard in the Wangaratta Cup but to my eye, he had his chance. Not sure what upside there is left and he has been up a while.
3. New York Hurricane: Got the great ride off speed and duly saluted in the Wangaratta Cup, knuckling down strongly when it mattered. Maps ideally, in form, commands respect.
4. Jimi Hendrix: Jimi Hendrix should be better for the first up run, which came two weeks back over the mile at Flemington where he just found them a bit sharp but he stayed on and was quite good in defeat. Fitter and up in trip, good upside to come, he’s the each way speck.
5. Wineglass Bay: Good late without threatening in the Launceston Cup. Not up to these for mine.
6. Mr Waterville: Total forgive in the Lord Reims after sitting wide no cover. First up run was a beauty, I am not dismissing him.
7. Sir Chartwell: Just fair at Randwick and not going well enough to trouble this lot.
8. Black Storm: SCR
9. Gregolimo: Flying without winning. Tried his guts out in the Wangaratta Cup but just found one better in New York Hurricane. Should press forward and prove hard to get past.
10. My Brothers Keeper: He looked dangerous at Flemington last time but just whacked late behind Ambassadorial. If he can get a drag into the race, he’s dangerous against these.
11. Sunsets: Wide no cover in the Ambassadorial race mentioned above. He tried hard but the hard run just told. Better run in transit. he’s dangerous.
12. Quamby: Not troubling these.
2026 Yarra Valley Cup $100 Betting Strategy:
$20 Win/$80 Place Jimi Hendrix
Yarra Valley Cup Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GO DADDY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Jye McNeil | 4 | 59kg |
| 2 | WYMARK (NZ) | Gavin Bedggood | Beau Mertens | 5 | 58.5kg |
| 3 | NEW YORK HURRICANE | Liam Howley | Ms Alana Kelly | 1 | 57.5kg |
| 4 | JIMI HENDRIX (IRE) | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 10 | 57kg | |
| 5 | WINEGLASS BAY (IRE) | John Blacker | Jackson Radley (a) | 7 | 57kg |
| 6 | MR WATERVILLE (IRE) | Clayton Douglas | Craig Newitt | 8 | 56kg |
| 7 | SIR CHARTWELL (FR) | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 3 | 56kg | |
| 8 | BLACK STORM | Tim Fitzsimmons | 12 | 55.5kg | |
| 9 | GREGOLIMO (FR) | Glen Thompson | Teo Nugent | 6 | 54.5kg |
| 10 | MY BROTHERS KEEPER | Stephen V Brown | Patrick Moloney | 11 | 54.5kg |
| 11 | SUNSETS | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Ms Emily Pozman (a) | 9 | 54kg |
| 12 | QUAMBY | Sylvia Thompson | Ms Linda Meech | 2 | 54kg |
Yarra Valley Cup Odds
2026 Yarra Valley Cup Speed Map
Gregolimo looks the most likely leader. Quamby could settle forward as well with a clean jump. Outside that, I can’t see much early pressure and don’t see a tempo where they will go hard.
