Beyond the Wire-Spring Fling Stakes
Where Every Race Has a Story.
The Spring Fling Stakes: Fourteen Roads to a Million
Saturday, October 24, 2026 | New South Wales, Australia
Grade I | $1,000,000 | 10 Furlongs | Firm Turf | Three-Year-Olds
Fourteen three-year-olds. Ten furlongs of firm Australian turf. One million dollars on the line.
Some arrive with graded stakes victories already on their résumés. Others have spent the season chasing that elusive breakthrough at racing’s highest level. A few have already met on the track, settling arguments that Saturday’s Spring Fling Stakes may reopen.
And then there are the late runners—horses capable of watching the field disappear into the distance before producing a finishing kick that changes everything.
At a mile and a quarter, early position matters. So does patience. But perhaps the most important question is which of these developing three-year-olds has the determination to finish what he starts.
The Spring Fling has attracted an intriguing mixture of accomplished distance runners, improving prospects, and horses whose best performances suggest they belong in this company.
Let’s meet the fourteen contenders.
1. Spice Your Spoon — The Millionaire Still Searching
Owner: dsteele | Breeder: deathgoat9 | 13/1
There is something unusual about a horse who has earned more than a million dollars with only two career victories.
Spice Your Spoon is exactly that horse.
The British-bred son of Dubawi has compiled four runner-up finishes and a third from eight starts, building a $1,036,839 bankroll while repeatedly challenging elite competition.
His Grade I résumé includes a second-place finish in the Japanese Derby at twelve furlongs and another runner-up effort in the Rosehill Classic, right here in New South Wales, at Saturday’s ten-furlong distance.
In the Rosehill, he was eleventh at the second call before working his way forward to finish second. In the Japanese Derby, he advanced from seventh to second.
Those performances demonstrate his ability to compete against strong fields, even when he has considerable ground to recover.
His latest appearance, however, produced a third-place finish in the Grade II Great Volt, and he has not won since January.
Spice Your Spoon has already proven he can earn a substantial paycheck.
Saturday offers an opportunity to prove he can take home the biggest prize.
2. Galimardal — The Derby Winner Looking for Redemption
Owner: stalbrabant | Breeder: duracing | 13/1
Galimardal returns just two weeks after a disappointing eleventh-place finish in the Grade I Melbourne Guineas.
But anyone judging this French-bred colt solely on that performance would be overlooking two significant victories.
In May, Galimardal captured the Grade II Dante’s Inferno at 10½ furlongs. Two months later, he added the Grade II Upper California Derby at 9½ furlongs, holding on for a narrow quarter-length victory.
That July win provides an important connection to Saturday’s field.
Sparingly, another Spring Fling entrant, finished third in the same race, 1¾ lengths behind the winner.
Galimardal has demonstrated the ability to race near the leaders and sustain his effort over middle distances. His problem has been reproducing those performances consistently.
He finished fifth in the Grade I Big Red Stakes at ten furlongs before his disappointing Melbourne Guineas effort.
Now he returns to a distance much closer to those of his biggest victories.
The question is whether his two Grade II successes represent his true ability—or whether his recent struggles signal a horse searching for his best form.
3. Exceeds Excess — A Familiar Opponent Returns
Owner: asrstar10 | Breeder: asr3 | 14/1
Exceeds Excess has already learned how difficult it can be to defeat one of Saturday’s opponents.
In August’s Grade II Guillaume at ten furlongs, the French-bred son of Siyouni was within a quarter-length of the lead at the third call.
But Wootton Pat proved too strong, winning by 2¾ lengths while Exceeds Excess settled for third, 3½ lengths behind the winner.
That defeat wasn’t without encouragement. Exceeds Excess recorded a 106.311 speed figure and demonstrated that he could compete in graded company at Saturday’s distance.
He had previously won a 9½-furlong allowance race in South Africa with a 102.301 figure.
His most recent start was less convincing, finishing sixth in the Grade II Night of Thunder at seven furlongs on yielding turf.
Returning to firm turf and ten furlongs could be more suitable.
And if Exceeds Excess finds himself alongside Wootton Pat again approaching the final turn, he’ll have an opportunity to change the ending of their previous meeting.
4. Twice Ina Bluemoon — Speed Meets an Unfamiliar Distance
Owner: lawdro | Breeder: lawdro12 | 7/1
Four wins in nine starts. A Grade II victory. A near miss in Grade I company.
Twice Ina Bluemoon has accomplished plenty in a relatively short career.
The Australian-bred son of Zoustar won the German 2000 Guineas at a mile in April, recording a 106.556 speed figure. Before that, he missed winning the Grade I This Is Our Time Stakes at 7½ furlongs by only a head.
And in his latest appearance, he finished third in the Grade III Melbourne Trial with an impressive 111.763 figure.
That recent speed makes him dangerous.
But Saturday introduces a significant question.
Can Twice Ina Bluemoon carry his ability all the way to ten furlongs?
His three route starts have all come at a mile, and his greatest success has generally occurred at shorter distances.
There is no denying his talent. But against horses already proven at ten, eleven, and twelve furlongs, he’ll be asked to demonstrate something he has not yet shown on the racetrack.
5. Wootton Pat — A Return to the Scene of His Defeat
Owner: pato12 | Breeder: argentino4 | 9/1
Wootton Pat has already won two Grade II races at ten furlongs this season.
That alone makes him a serious Spring Fling contender.
In April, the Irish-bred son of Wootton Bassett captured the Griffen. Then, in August, he delivered an even stronger performance in the Guillaume, producing a 109.830 speed figure and winning by 2¾ lengths.
Exceeds Excess was among those left behind that afternoon.
But Wootton Pat’s most recent race introduces another important connection.
On September 19, he competed in the Grade II Early Months Stakes here in New South Wales, over the same ten-furlong distance as Saturday’s race.
He finished fifth, beaten 4¼ lengths.
The winner?
Orphan Teardrops.
Wootton Pat had moved into fourth by the third call, just 2¼ lengths behind the leader, but couldn’t sustain his challenge.
Now he returns to the same track and distance, seeking to reverse that result.
He has the graded victories and the speed figures to do it.
But he also knows exactly how dangerous one of his opponents can be.
6. Ryans Chaos — Five Victories and a Growing Reputation
Owner and breeder: beamnreasn | 9/1
Ryans Chaos has won five of his nine career starts, including four consecutive victories earlier this year.
The son of Ghaiyyath has demonstrated versatility across a variety of route distances, winning at nine, 9½, and 11½ furlongs.
His most significant victory came in August’s Grade II Shimko Classic in Japan, where he rallied from fifth at the second call to win by three-quarters of a length.
He followed that with a second-place finish in the Grade II O’Neal at twelve furlongs on yielding turf, recording a 104.472 speed figure.
Another Spring Fling entrant, Once and Future, finished eighth in that same race.
Ryans Chaos has shown he can settle behind the leaders, move into contention, and finish with authority.
Saturday’s ten furlongs should present no obvious distance concern based on his successful route record.
What remains to be seen is whether he can reproduce his best performances against a Grade I field.
7. Orphan Teardrops — The Closer Who Refuses to Stay Beaten
Owner and breeder: vaguy11 | 6/1
If there is one performance in this field that deserves to be examined twice, it belongs to Orphan Teardrops.
On September 19, in the Grade II Early Months Stakes, he was last of fourteen runners at the first call, 10½ lengths behind.
At the second call, he was thirteenth—fifteen lengths from the lead.
Even at the third call, he remained eleventh, 8½ lengths behind.
Then came the stretch.
Somehow, Orphan Teardrops caught the leaders and won by a neck, recording a 113.194 speed figure.
That is the highest figure among the performances supplied for this field.
And it happened over the same New South Wales course and ten-furlong distance he’ll face Saturday.
It wasn’t an isolated display of closing ability. In August, he won the Scab Sal Turf Route at 9½ furlongs by 8¾ lengths after racing well behind the leaders early.
With six wins and five seconds from fourteen starts, Orphan Teardrops has become one of the most accomplished horses in the field.
But his running style creates a fascinating question.
Can he afford to surrender that much ground against fourteen Grade I contenders?
A clear stretch could make him devastating.
A crowded one could leave him with too much to overcome.
8. Barry Houdini — The Emerging Threat
Owner and breeder: moleroom | 15/1
Barry Houdini has quietly put together one of the more interesting recent records in the Spring Fling field.
The British-bred gelding has won his last three starts, including back-to-back stakes victories at nine furlongs.
In July, he captured the Pompous Project Turf Route with a 105.343 speed figure.
Then, in September, he won the Commander Paul Turf Route, recording a career-best 108.718.
Both victories required him to settle behind the leaders before producing a winning stretch run.
He has now won five of nine career starts, including four of six on turf.
But Saturday represents a major increase in class.
His recent victories have come in ordinary stakes and allowance company. The Spring Fling asks him to compete against Grade I and Grade II performers who have already proven themselves at the championship level.
Still, there is something appealing about a horse arriving with three consecutive wins and improving speed figures.
At 15/1, Barry Houdini may be one of the more intriguing outsiders.
9. King Frankio — The Consistent Challenger Seeking His Breakthrough
Owner: crash7 | Breeder: rubber5 | 7/1
King Frankio has spent much of 2026 knocking on the door of graded stakes success.
In March, he won an allowance race at 8½ furlongs by 4¾ lengths.
He then finished second in the Grade III Crown Roys, second in the Grade II Hollywood Mile, and third in the Grade II Hall of Fame Stakes.
Those three graded performances produced speed figures of 104.262, 107.582, and 107.631.
But his last two appearances have been less encouraging.
He finished eighth in the Boston Derby and seventh in the Night of Thunder.
The Japanese-bred colt carries an interesting pedigree featuring Caravaggio, Kingman, and Frankel.
Yet his racing record raises a question similar to the one facing Twice Ina Bluemoon: his best performances have come at shorter route distances, and Saturday will be his first attempt at ten furlongs.
King Frankio has repeatedly demonstrated that he belongs in graded competition.
Now he must prove that a longer distance can help him finally reach the winner’s circle at that level.
10. Hermod Woot — The Horse Who Knows This Course
Owner: daniel | Breeder: daniel1 | 10/1
Hermod Woot arrives with four victories from seven career starts and a particularly interesting connection to New South Wales.
On July 4, he competed in a ten-furlong allowance race at Saturday’s track.
He took command early, opened a commanding advantage by the third call, and won by an astonishing 12½ lengths.
His speed figure was 108.736.
Six weeks later, he traveled to Germany for the Grade III Furstenberg, also at ten furlongs.
This time, he settled behind the leaders before taking over in the stretch and winning by two lengths with a 108.585 figure.
Those performances show two different ways to win at the Spring Fling distance.
The son of Wootton Bassett has already demonstrated both early speed and the ability to rally.
His graded résumé is not as extensive as some of his opponents’, but his recent form is compelling.
And unlike several contenders, he doesn’t have to answer whether he can handle this particular track and distance.
He’s already delivered one of his most impressive performances here.
11. Moonlight Forever — Searching for His Earlier Form
Owner: teece5 | Breeder: joffre | 17/1
Moonlight Forever began the year looking like a developing distance prospect.
In March, he finished second in the Grade I Sydney Derby at twelve furlongs.
Two months later, he finished third in the Grade I Adelaide Derby, again at twelve furlongs.
Those performances helped him accumulate more than $550,000 in career earnings.
But his recent form has been disappointing.
He finished seventh in the French Grand Prix, sixth in the Great Volt, and fifth in the Hanging Chad, his latest race, where he was beaten 17¾ lengths at fourteen furlongs.
The Great Volt provides a direct comparison with Spice Your Spoon, who finished third that afternoon while Moonlight Forever was sixth.
Saturday’s ten furlongs represents a significant shortening from his recent assignments.
Could that help him rediscover his earlier form?
Possibly. But his recent results leave him with more questions to answer than most of his opponents.
12. Angel of Bone — A Late Arrival With Something to Prove
Owner: ksparrow | Breeder: ksparrow1 | 17/1
Angel of Bone may not have the graded stakes résumé of the leading contenders, but his latest performance deserves attention.
On October 9, the Irish-bred gelding won an 8½-furlong allowance race in Berkshire, recording a 110.258 speed figure.
He was sixth at the second call, six lengths behind, before advancing to fourth and then sweeping past the leaders to win by 3½ lengths.
That was an impressive finishing effort.
Earlier this season, he also won a nine-furlong allowance race in New South Wales by 2¾ lengths.
His four victories in nine starts suggest ability, but his record also includes a disappointing effort at fourteen furlongs on good turf.
The question is whether his recent improvement can carry him into Grade I company at ten furlongs.
At 17/1, he’s being asked to make a considerable leap.
But his latest speed figure suggests he deserves more than a passing glance.
13. Once and Future — From Residency Pride to Individual Glory
Owner: sremel9 | Breeder: sremel75 | 8/1
On August 15, Once and Future carried the colors of the Empire State Residency (ESR) into the EQUINICS Super Impose Plate in Queensland, Australia.
Representing his residency in the Grade II competition, the Irish-bred son of Camelot delivered an impressive performance over ten furlongs, finishing second by just one length while recording a 112.506 speed figure.
It was a strong showing for ESR, but the victory remained just out of reach.
His next appearance, September’s Grade II O’Neal, was less successful. Racing over twelve furlongs on yielding turf, Once and Future finished eighth, well behind fellow Spring Fling entrant Ryans Chaos, who took second.
Now the scene shifts back to Australia, and the distance returns to ten furlongs.
This time, Once and Future isn’t competing for an EQUINICS residency result. He’s chasing something of his own: a Grade I victory in the $1 million Spring Fling Stakes.
For owner sremel9 and the Empire State Residency supporters who followed his EQUINICS performance, Saturday offers another opportunity to cheer him home.
He came within one length of delivering a victory for ESR.
Can he now deliver one for himself?
14. Sparingly — The Gelding With Six Victories
Owner and breeder: dunracing | 8/1
Sparingly has won six of twelve career starts and brings a Grade III victory into the Spring Fling.
His biggest success came in May’s Virginia Turf Cup at 9½ furlongs on good turf, where he won by 2½ lengths with a 103.927 speed figure.
He followed that with a third-place finish in the Grade II Upper California Derby.
The winner that afternoon was Galimardal, who defeated Sparingly by 1¾ lengths.
But Sparingly’s most recent performance was disappointing. He finished ninth in the Grade II Boston Derby, seven lengths behind the winner.
His six victories demonstrate that he knows how to win, and his earlier success at 9½ furlongs suggests Saturday’s distance is within reach.
The challenge will be returning to his best form against a field containing several horses who have recently recorded faster performances.
And with Galimardal returning to oppose him, Sparingly has an opportunity to settle another unfinished argument.
The Race Within the Race
The Spring Fling’s most intriguing tactical question may be what happens when the field turns for home.
Orphan Teardrops is the obvious horse to watch from behind. His remarkable Early Months victory demonstrated just how much ground he can recover in the closing stages.
But he won’t be the only horse looking to finish strongly.
Spice Your Spoon has repeatedly advanced through large fields in major races. Ryans Chaos has demonstrated a similar ability to rally, while Once and Future has produced his best performances after settling behind the early leaders.
Barry Houdini and Angel of Bone also arrive with recent victories built around effective late moves.
Meanwhile, Hermod Woot has demonstrated the versatility to win from the front or from behind.
Twice Ina Bluemoon brings dangerous speed, but faces the unanswered question of whether that speed will last ten furlongs.
And Wootton Pat, already a two-time Grade II winner at the distance, has an opportunity to show that his latest defeat was merely a temporary setback.
With so many horses capable of making their best moves late, the final furlong could become a contest of timing as much as talent.
Beyond the Wire’s Contenders
The Horse to Beat — Orphan Teardrops (6/1)
His 113.194 speed figure, extraordinary closing victory, and proven success over this exact track and distance make him our leading contender. The concern is how much ground he’ll concede before making his move.
The Main Challenger — Hermod Woot (10/1)
Four victories from seven starts, consecutive wins at ten furlongs, and a 12½-length victory at New South Wales make him a serious threat. His ability to win using different running styles adds to his appeal.
The Proven Distance Threat — Wootton Pat (9/1)
Two Grade II victories at ten furlongs cannot be overlooked. He has already beaten Exceeds Excess and now seeks to reverse his September defeat against Orphan Teardrops.
The Dangerous Alternative — Once and Future (8/1)
His 112.506 performance in the Super Impose Plate and narrow Grade I defeat in the Queen’s Dish suggest he has the talent to win at this level if he rebounds from his latest effort.
The Longshot Worth Watching — Barry Houdini (15/1)
Three consecutive victories, improving speed figures, and a strong finishing style make him an interesting outsider, even with the substantial class increase.
Fourteen Roads. One Finish Line.
For some of these horses, Saturday represents another opportunity to capture a Grade I title that has remained just beyond reach.
For others, it represents the chance to announce their arrival among the elite three-year-old turf runners.
Spice Your Spoon has already earned more than a million dollars without winning a graded stakes race. Galimardal wants to rediscover the form that carried him to two Grade II victories. Wootton Pat and Exceeds Excess renew an earlier rivalry, while Sparingly gets another opportunity against Galimardal.
And somewhere behind the leaders, Orphan Teardrops may once again be waiting for the moment when the race begins to come back to him.
Fourteen horses will enter the starting gate in New South Wales.
Only one will emerge as the Spring Fling champion.
We’ll see you… Beyond the Wire.