Scoring Up

The Tasmanian Sweepstakes has long been one of the early measuring sticks for Tasmania’s best two-year-olds, with its honour roll featuring a number of horses who have gone on to achieve outstanding success.

Previous winners of the colts and geldings division include Zyuganov Leis, Ignatius and Beautide, while the fillies honour roll is headed by Shez Ryleymak, who went on to claim both the Group 1 Vicbred Final and Group 1 Tasmanian Oaks.

The 2026 editions, staged at Hobart on Sunday, again produced two promising winners, with Bettor Than Ready taking the colts and geldings final and Victorian-owned filly Stolen One proving too strong for her rivals in the fillies division.

Bettor Than Ready lives up to favouritism

Bettor Than Ready went into the colts and geldings final as a red-hot favourite, but things did not go entirely to plan for driver Tiarna Ford.

Starting from barrier one, Bettor Than Ready was crossed early by Calzo Sniper, leaving Ford with some work to do aboard the son of Bettor’s Wish.

Ford was able to manoeuvre away from the pegs approaching the home turn and, once clear, Bettor Than Ready quickly put Calzo Sniper away.

Stablemate Lotseven then emerged with a late challenge, but Bettor Than Ready continued to fight strongly all the way to the line.

There was one final moment of concern when the youngster appeared to jump at a shadow virtually on the winning post, but fortunately for his connections, he already had the race safely in his keeping.

The victory provided another return on an astute yearling purchase.

Bettor Than Ready was bought by Leigh Baker for $27,500 at last year’s Nutrien Tasmanian Yearling Sale after being selected by Hall of Fame trainer Neville Webberley.

Stolen One controls fillies final

The fillies division went to Victorian-owned Stolen One, a daughter of Lather Up who made the trip across Bass Strait specifically for the Sweepstakes series.

Owner Mitchell Frost sent the filly to trainer-driver Jordan Chibnall, and the move quickly paid dividends.

Stolen One finished runner-up in the opening heat before producing an impressive victory in the second round to book her place in the final.

Chibnall wasted little time taking control of the decider, finding the front early before dictating terms.

From there, Stolen One was never seriously threatened.

She dashed home in a slick 56.6-second final half-mile, leaving her rivals with little opportunity to make ground and scoring by 3.6 metres from $16 chance Vinjetta.

Following the victory, Chibnall told Tasracing that she had tinkered with Stolen One’s headgear during the series, with the adjustments helping the filly produce her best when it mattered most

Nominations open for 2027

While the Tasmanian Sweepstakes is open to any two-year-old, horses must be nominated for the series as yearlings.

That means planning for next season has already begun, with nominations now open for the 2027 Tasmanian Sweepstakes at a fee of $300.

With names such as Beautide, Ignatius and Shez Ryleymak featuring on its honour roll, the Sweepstakes has repeatedly provided an early glimpse of some of Tasmania’s future stars.

The performances of Bettor Than Ready and Stolen One suggest the 2026 winners could be two more names worth following.