History made as Anton takes back-to-back Best in Show wins at Sydney Royal

Australia’s premier dog event has crowned its 2026 Best in Show, with Poodle Voila Raising The Stakes, affectionately known as Anton, taking out the prestigious title at the ADVANCE™ Sydney Royal Dog Show on Sunday afternoon.
 
After 10 days of competition and judging, 4-year-old Anton, who hails from Geebung, QLD, proved his exceptional pedigree, poise and presence, becoming the first dog since 1934 to claim the Best in Show title for two consecutive years.
 
The highly anticipated competition saw more than 2,500 promising canines compete across more than 1,000 classes, before the best in each breed were narrowed down to seven outstanding finalists.

Anton is exhibited by Mr J Bennett and L G Wright who were overjoyed with the win.
 
“We’ve done it twice now, which is surreal. You dream of something like this, but you never really expect it to happen, we just feel so lucky today,” Mr Bennett said.
 
“To come back and do it again is incredibly special. It’s not something that happens often, so we’re just taking it all in.”
 
At just four years old, Anton has already built an extraordinary show career, with his sights now set on the international stage.
 
“He’s only four, and we’re actually taking him to Italy to compete at the World Show, it’s like the Olympics for dogs, so it’s pretty special,” Mr Bennett said.

In addition to the Confirmation competition, which judges dogs against their breed standard, the Show also features Obedience, Agility, and Sweepstakes classes, celebrating the agility, skill and strong bond between dogs and their handlers.
 
The Sydney Royal Easter Show also proudly recognises the contribution of dogs beyond the show ring, through the annual Canine Hero Awards, celebrating those animals that have made an extraordinary impact in their communities. 
 
The ADVANCE™ Sydney Royal Dog Show remains a highlight of the Sydney Royal Easter Show, continuing a proud tradition of excellence while celebrating the important role dogs play in Australian life.