Horse Racing

The 2016 Gilgai Stakes is a Group 2 event worth $200,000 held at Flemington Racecourse on the first Sunday of October. The Gilgai Stakes was known as the Rupert Steele Stakes prior to 1999.

Hosted during the heart of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, the Gilgai Stakes is a sprinting contest held over 1200m and contested under set weight conditions. Open to all horses, the Gilgai Stakes provides great form indication leading into the remainder of the spring carnival races.

Hosted on a massive day of racing, Turnbull Stakes Day, the Gilgai Stakes shares the race card with eight other black type events. These include:

• Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m)
• Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m)
• Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1400m)
• Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m)

The Gilgai Stakes is an exciting event that has a following of its own. The demanding straight at Flemington ensures only the greatest horses pass the post first – but not before a serious contest for position in the final stages of the thrilling sprint.

Those horses that perform well in the Gilgai Stakes often move on to similar events later in the Spring carnival, such as the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) on Emirates Stakes Day. Horses that run in the Gilgai Stakes field often come via races such as the Group 2 McEwen Stakes. Horses of a variety of abilities compete in the Gilgai Stakes, enhancing its reputation for thrilling and often unpredictable finishes.

The Gilgai Stakes 2016 will be run on Saturday Sunday October 2, 2016.

2016 Gilgai Stakes Field

The Gilgai Stakes 2016 field and barriers were released on Wednesday September 28 and feature nine hopefuls led by the Robert Smerdon-trained Stradbroke Handicap winner Under The Louvre who is also accepted for a Saturday run in Sydney’s Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m).

See below for the complete 2016 Gilgai Stakes & Barrier Draw and read a full race preview by following the link.

2016 Gilgai Stakes Betting

The latest Gilgai Stakes 2016 betting odds are listed below, fixed win pricing available at Ladbrokes.com.au by clicking the odds on your Gilgai Stakes tips.

2016 Gilgai Stakes Nominations

The Gilgai Stakes 2016 nominatons were taken by Racing Victoria on Monday September 26 and feature a bumper 21 entries including Chautauqua and Lukcy Hussler who are more likely to run in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

View the official 2016 Gilgai Stakes Nominations now.

Gilgai Stakes History

The Gilgai Stakes was inaugurated in 1984, with Royal Troubador seizing victory in the first edition of the race. Since that day, the Gilgai Stakes has been run annually without fail. Plenty of horses have gone on from the Gilgai Stakes to other great results. In 2008, Swick went from a victory in the Gilgai Stakes to win the Patinack Farm Classic (now the Darley Classic). In 2009, All Silent won the same race after placing second in the Gilgai Stakes results.

Redelva had a streak of three second places in 1989, 1990 and 1991, all faster than his only win in 1988. Temple Of Boom won with a great run in 2011, and Spirit Of Boom was able to maintain the pedigree’s success with a third in 2012 and a second in 2013.

Notable winners of the Gilgai Stakes include Placid Ark (1987), Redelva (1988), Hareeba (1994) and Hay List (2010). Gilgai Stakes results since 2000 can be found below.

Gilgai Stakes Results