Australia Stakes

The Australia Stakes is a Group 2 sprint held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in late January as a lead-up to the Group 1 races run over the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

2024 Australia Stakes Results

  • 1st: #8 Veight
  • 2nd: #11 Southport Tycoon
  • 3rd: #3 Recommendation



The 2024 Australia Stakes is a Group 2 race held each year in late January at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne. Run over 1200m under weight-for-age conditions, this sprint race is worth $350,000 in prize money.

It is one of only a couple of Group 2 races held in January anywhere in the country and signals the return of regular black type racing to Melbourne.

The Australia Stakes serves as a nice campaign kick-off for sprinters heading towards tougher races during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

It is a key lead-up race into the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) run at Caulfield in February and Black Caviar (2012) followed by Streets Of Avalon (2021) are the last runners to do the double.

In 2022 the Australia Stakes winner Marabi franked the form winning the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Blue Diamond Stakes Day next start.

The Australia Stakes 2024 ran on Saturday January 27, 2024 at The Valley and was won in an exciting late burst up the middle by the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained favourite Veight ($2.15F). 

2024 Australia Stakes
Date: Saturday January 27, 2024
Track: Moonee Valley Racecourse
Distance: 1200m
Race Type: Weight-for-age
Status: Group 2
Prize Money: $350,000

2024 Australia Stakes Results

  • 1st: #8 Veight ($2.15F)
  • 2nd: #11 Southport Tycoon
  • 3rd: #3 Recommendation

Tony & Calvin McEvoy’s Caulfield Guineas runner-up from the spring, Grunt colt Veight ($2.15F), let it rip up the middle over the final 50m first-up to charge home and salute for the punters in the 2024 Australia Stakes results at The Valley.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 8 VEIGHT Tony & Calvin McEvoy Damian Lane 3 55kg $2.15F
2 11 SOUTHPORT TYCOON Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Craig Williams 0.2L 2 55kg $5
3 3 RECOMMENDATION Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 0.4L 7 58.5kg $3.20
4 1 CROSSHAVEN Ben, Will & JD Hayes Blaike McDougall 0.5L 6 58.5kg $16
5 2 CURRAN Lyn Tolson & Leonie Proctor Matthew Cartwright 2.5L 8 58.5kg $21
6 7 ZETHUS Stephen Brown Ms Mickaelle Michel 3.25L 1 58.5kg $31
7 6 STRUCK BY Travis Doudle Beau Mertens 7L 4 58.5kg $21
8 5 SNAPPER (NZ) Michael Moroney Jordan Childs 17L 5 58.5kg $41
4 SWEET RIDE Annabel Neasham Ms Jamie Kah 0
10 SCENTIFY Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Jye McNeil 0
9 BRAVE MEAD Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Luke Currie 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Australia Stakes Betting & Odds

The latest Australia Stakes 2024 odds and betting markets provided by Ladbrokes.com.au will be published below as soon as available for you to back your Australia Stakes betting tips at the best prices.

Marabi ($1.80 in 2022), Jigsaw ($3.10 in 2023), and Veight ($2.15 in 2024) are the last Australia Stakes betting favourites to get the job done.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2024 AUSTRALIA STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2024 Australia Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 AUSTRALIA STAKES FORM GUIDE

2024 Australia Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our exclusive Australia Stakes 2024 Tips on the autumn autumn lead-up in Melbourne this January.

  • To Win: #8 Veight ($2.20 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Sticking with the deserving favourite fresh who was a dual nominee before accepting for the Australia Stakes to kick off his next campaign. The talented Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Grunt colt has his first start at The Valley, but is unbeaten fresh so is expected to run well first-up. Two-from-three at the distance and comes in without an official lead-up trial. Last start back in November was fifth down the Flemington straight in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). Second over the mile in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) prior to that so has versatility and class in spades. Can win.

2024 Australia Stakes Field

The Australia Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of middle-distance sprinters that are usually kicking off their Melbourne Festival of Racing campaigns.

The Australia Stakes field features top gallopers that are more often than not Group 1 performed.

The 2024 Australia Stakes field is due for release on January 24th, 2024 and will be published in full below.

The Australia Stakes 2024 final field features a small but quality field of autumn-bound sprinters including Caulfield Guineas runner-up Veight and the in-form Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Recommendation up in grade.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 7273×20692 CROSSHAVEN Ben, Will & JD Hayes Blaike McDougall 9 58.5kg 94
2 1703×50232 CURRAN Lyn Tolson & Leonie Proctor Matthew Cartwright 11 58.5kg 95
3 11×2162312 RECOMMENDATION Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 10 58.5kg 99
4 322x4317x0 SWEET RIDE Annabel Neasham Ms Jamie Kah 8 58.5kg 94
5 7140x400x7 SNAPPER (NZ) Michael Moroney Jordan Childs 7 58.5kg 92
6 5135×44813 STRUCK BY Travis Doudle Beau Mertens 6 58.5kg 91
7 147x54366x ZETHUS Stephen Brown Ms Mickaelle Michel 2 58.5kg 94
8 114x1525x VEIGHT Tony & Calvin McEvoy Damian Lane 5 55kg 100
9 118x32132x BRAVE MEAD Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Luke Currie 3 55kg 81
10 1x1230x SCENTIFY Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Jye McNeil 1 55kg 77
11 1129x SOUTHPORT TYCOON Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Craig Williams 4 55kg 78

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2024 Australia Stakes Nominations

Early entries for The Valley’s Group 2 Australia Stakes close the Monday leading-up to the event and will be updated below once announced.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 118x32132x BRAVE MEAD C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 81
2 7273×20692 CROSSHAVEN G 6 Ben, Will & JD Hayes 94
3 1703×50232 CURRAN G 6 Lyn Tolson & Leonie Proctor 95
4 411x9740x KING COLORADO C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 96
5 13553x404x NUGGET (GB) G 7 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 105
6 11×2162312 RECOMMENDATION G 4 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 99
7 1x1230x SCENTIFY C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 77
8 7140x400x7 SNAPPER (NZ) G 6 Michael Moroney 92
9 1129x SOUTHPORT TYCOON C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 78
10 5135×44813 STRUCK BY G 6 Travis Doudle 91
11 322x4317x0 SWEET RIDE H 4 Annabel Neasham 94
12 114x1525x VEIGHT C 3 Tony & Calvin McEvoy 100
13 147x54366x ZETHUS G 5 Stephen Brown 94

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Australia Stakes History

Formerly called the Carlyon Stakes until 2010, the Moonee Valley Racing Club changed the race name to the Australia Stakes to celebrate Australia Day.

This race is not to be confused with the Group 1 William Reid Stakes, which was previously called the Australia Stakes, and is now once again called the William Reid Stakes and runs in March.

Originally a Listed race and known as the Carlyon Stakes, this race earned Group 3 status in 1990 until 1994 when it was again elevated to Group 2 status.

The Australia Stakes has been won by plenty of outstanding horses over the years including recent champions such as Black Caviar (2010 & 2012) and Malaguerra (2017).

Recent Australia Stakes Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2024
Australia Stakes
1st Veight 1 minute 9.64 seconds
2nd Southport Tycoon
3rd Recommendation
2023
Australia Stakes
1st Jigsaw 1 minute 9.75 seconds
2nd Turaath
3rd Calypso Reign
2022
Australia Stakes
1st Marabi 1 minute 11.42 seconds
2nd Sinawann
3rd Turaath
2021
Australia Stakes
1st Streets Of Avalon 1 minute 10.06 seconds
2nd Viridine
3rd Tavisan
2020
Australia Stakes
1st Scales Of Justice 1 minute 9.77 seconds
2nd Hey Doc
3rd Embrace Me
2019
Australia Stakes
1st Whispering Brook 1 minute 9.84 seconds
2nd Fell Swoop
3rd Land of Plenty
2018
Australia Stakes
1st Thronum 1 minute 10.48 seconds
2nd Mr Sneaky
3rd Stellar Collision
2017
Australia Stakes
1st Malaguerra 1 minute 9.29 seconds (Equal Track Record)
2nd Black Heart Bart
3rd Sirbible
2016
Australia Stakes
1st Holler 1 minute 10.96 seconds
2nd Churchill Dancer
3rd Rebel Dane
2015
Australia Stakes
1st Mourinho 1 minute 9.9 seconds
2nd It Is Written
3rd Dissident
2014
Australia Stakes
1st Richie’s Vibe 1 minute 10.96 seconds
2nd Moment Of Change
3rd It Is Written
2013
Australia Stakes
1st Sea Lord 1 minute 10.5 seconds
2nd Pinwheel
3rd Outlandish Lad
2012
Australia Stakes
1st Black Caviar 1 minute 09.4 seconds
2nd Zedi Knight
3rd Doubtful Jack
2011
Australia Stakes
1st Whitefriars 1 minute 09.6 seconds
2nd Undeniably
3rd Typhoon Tracy
2010
Australia Stakes
1st Black Caviar 1 minute 10.1 seconds
2nd Here De Angels
3rd La Rocket
2009
Carlyon Stakes
1st Lucky Secret 1 minute 11.2 seconds
2nd Light Fantastic
3rd Von Costa De Hero
2008
Carlyon Stakes
1st Let Go Thommo 1 minute 10.8 seconds
2nd Maldivian
3rd Casino Prince
2007
Carlyon Stakes
1st El Segundo 1 minute 11.2 seconds
2nd Cocinero
3rd Super Elegant
2006
Carlyon Stakes
1st California Dane 1 minute 9.8 seconds
2nd Virage De Fortune
3rd Casual Pass
2005
Carlyon Stakes
1st Super Elegant 1 minute 10.5 seconds
2nd Strikeline
3rd Ruben
2004
Carlyon Stakes
1st Vocabulary 1 minute 11.5 seconds
2nd Super Elegant
3rd Confederate Kid
2003
Carlyon Stakes
1st Yell 1 minute 10.3 seconds
2nd Libidinious
3rd Pernod
2002
Carlyon Stakes
1st Royal Code 1 minute 11 seconds
2nd Intelligent Star
3rd Ustinov
2001
Carlyon Stakes
1st Piavonic 1 minute 11.8 seconds
2nd Ateates
3rd Le Zagaletta
2000
Carlyon Stakes
1st Slavonic 1 minute 12.1 seconds
2nd Sports
3rd Le Zagaletta

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