Aussie G1 – Do Geldings Win all the Good Races?

The European racing and bloodstock world have been shocked by the decision of France Galop to allow geldings into their richest race the Arc De Triomphe starting in 2027, but in a land where geldings can run in everything, such as Australia, does it mean they win all the best races?

The answer to that question is no.

If you google ‘geldings allowed into Arc’ you will see plenty of editorial highlighting the negative possibilities resulting from this decision, but looking at it from an Australian perspective it’s hard to come to that conclusion.

In Australia, most young horses with some sort of commercial pedigree are kept as colts until such time as their lack of ability or lack of trainability requires them to be gelded.

As a result, there are very few G1 winning two or three year-old geldings and this year there was just one, the SA Derby winner Wigmore (NZ).

Below is the break up by sex of our current season Aussie G1 winners – 61 in total.

The reality is the really good colts that win at G1 level at two and three are usually retired to stud paving the way for mares to dominate many of the all aged WFA events as older horses.

Autumn Glow, Via Sistina (IRE) and Aeliana won eight of these races between them this year and exciting three year-old filly Sheza Alibi looms to do similar next season.

While Via Sistina has ridden off into the sunset and is currently at Yulong’s Ace Stud in the UK in foal to Dubawi, Autumn Glow and Aeliana will be back.

The only geldings to win more than one G1 race were Half Yours (Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup) and Ceolwulf (NZ) (King Charles II Stakes, Champions Mile).

Since 2010, the Australian Horse of the Year title has been won 11 times by mares and during that time only one stallion got the gong and that was Anamoe in 2023. The only other stallion this century to win it was Lonhro.

The list below features all the colts and stallions that won at G1 level this season.