The Winston Griffiths Classic now a staple feature for three-year-olds seeking redemption after missing out on earlier Classic events, provided the ideal platform for the Gary Subratie-trained Stardom to regain lost ground and re-establish his standing among his three-year-old colleagues.
Contested over furlongs, the event culminated in a thrilling, down-to-the-wire finish that kept racing fans on the edge of their seats.
Although 11 horses were originally entered to compete, the field was reduced to 10 following the late withdrawal of Minniehaha.
Below is The Quick Galloper’s detailed analysis of the top performances in this major three-year-old showcase.
FIRST: STARDOM
In the pre-race analysis for the Winston Griffiths Classic, The Quick Galloper highlighted Stardom’s roller-coaster campaign:
"Began his classic season in fine fashion, securing a victory in the pre-classic Kingston Stakes over 7 ½ furlongs, then placed second in the 2000 Guineas. His form took a sharp turn for the worse in both the St Leger and the Derby, but The Quick Galloper is willing to throw out those recent setbacks and give Stardom another chance to rebound, especially with the addition of fresh equipment to refocus him. Selections: The Galloper takes a stab with Stardom to win the Winston Griffiths Classic."
Delivering a complete reversal of his traditional running style, Stardom broke away alertly and sat right on the heels of the pacesetters rather than trailing far off the tempo as he had in prior starts. Approaching the three-furlong pole, jockey Dane Dawkins made a bold tactical move, seizing the lead and bringing Stardom into the home stretch in front, a positioning strategy previously unseen from the colt. When challenged strongly in the final furlong by I Love Birdie, the newly refocused Stardom dug deep to prevail by length. The victory stands as another indicator of trainer’s Gary Subratie big-race acumen and offers a sweet moment of redemption for Stardom’s connections.
SECOND: I LOVE BIRDIE
This late-developing bay colt continues to prove his mettle against top-tier opposition. After running a remarkable third in the Jamaica Derby, when finishing just lengths behind London Spirit and Maverick, I Love Birdie backed up that effort with a second career victory 14 days later, cementing his reputation as a formidable stayer who does his best work late in races. In the Winston Griffiths Classic, I Love Birdie stayed true to form: unhurried early, he launched a sustained late rally and issued a fierce challenge down the lane, ultimately falling just short of catching Stardom. Looking ahead, his main obstacle will not be stamina or talent, but rather the scarcity of extended, long-distance routes on the current racing calendar to fully suit his running style.
THIRD: TIA MARIA
As one of only two fillies in the field, Tia Maria turned in a commendable effort stepping up against the colts. Coming off a fifth-place finish in the 10-furlong Jamaica Oaks, a race restricted strictly to fillies, she dug deep to secure third spot, securing a lucrative purse payout for her connections in this open Classic contest.
FOURTH: ANOTHER WOW
The other filly in the line-up, Another Wow, pulled off a genuine surprise by finishing fourth. Outrunning her pre-race odds, her primary objective moving forward will be going through her conditions. Another Wow now races in the non-winners of three category.
FIFTH: SENOR BISCOTTI
Senor Biscotti delivered another consistent, if unspectacular, effort. He continues his trend of landing in the top six across almost every major three-year-old Classic fixture this season without quite breaking into the top tier.
SIXTH: FIDELITY
Fidelity’s three-year-old campaign remains largely underwhelming, yielding just two wins from 18 career starts. Having skipped the primary Classic races, he, like many of his peers in the division, will now shift focus toward completing his conditions. Fidelity is the winner of two races.
SEVENTH: BIGGER BOSS
It was another non-factor effort from this bay colt. To put it bluntly, Bigger Boss has suffered through an uninspiring three-year-old season, failing to make any meaningful impact when tested against quality opposition.
EIGHTH: MAVERICK
Maverick’s performance was easily the biggest disappointment of the race. Coming off a agonisingly close second-place finish in the Jamaica Derby, where he lost by the narrowest of margins, much more was expected from him over this -furlong distance. Instead, he was never in contention at any point in the run. Boasting just one victory from five career starts, his connections will now likely lower their expectations and target conditional races to get his career back on track.
NINTH: EYE OF THE TIGER
True to his natural instincts, Eye of the Tiger bounded out to set the early pace. However, once he surrendered the lead rounding the final turn, he faltered severely in the straight. He is a pure sprinter at heart and should be kept exclusively to shorter distances rather than stretched out over middle-distance routes.
DID NOT FINISH: DARWIN
Failed to complete the course after pulling up during the contest.
LATE NON-STARTER: MINNIEHAHA
Withdrawn shortly before the race, reducing the starting field to 10 runners.
THE QUICK GALLOPER’S VERDICT
The 2026 Winston Griffiths Classic ultimately belonged to sharp tactical adjustments and determined execution. Gary Subratie’s decision to re-equip Stardom and re-engineer his running style paid immediate dividends, after mid-season hiccups in the St Leger and Derby. While I Love Birdie solidifies his reputation as one of the division’s finest distance stayers, and will now contend with a schedule light on extended routes.
