Hill Stakes

The $2 million Hill Stakes is a Group 2 staying event now held at Rosehill Gardens in October and has proved a nice recent guide to the Ladbrokes Cox Plate in Melbourne.

2023 Hill Stakes Results

  • 1st: #11 Montefilia
  • 2nd: #7 Hoo Ya Mal
  • 3rd: #6 Protagonist



The Hill Stakes is a Group 2 weight-for-age race held at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse in late September or early October and now offers an impressive $2 million in total prize money as of 2023.

Ahead of the 2023 edition the Hill Stakes distance was dropped from 2000m to 1900m with the event now taking place at Rosehill Gardens on its own feature race meeting.

The event makes a nice race for spring staying types starting to warm-up towards a possible Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival bid and a target race like the Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley at the end of October. Saintly (1996), however, was the last horse to do the Hill Stakes – Cox Plate double.

Horses may come into the Hill Stakes field via a lead-up run in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick – a double recently completed by Trusting (2011),  Hartnell (2016) and Think It Over (2021). Hartnell went on to run second to superstar mare Winx in the Cox Plate results of 2016 and third in that year’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

The Group 1 George Main Stakes previously served as a lead-up and Kolding (2020) was the last horse to complete the George Main Stakes –  Hill Stakes double, while in 2021 Think It Over improved on George Main third to win the Hill Stakes. In 2023 the George Main Stakes was moved to later in the month and renamed the King Charles III Stakes.

The Hill Stakes is also one of four lead-up races that offers a $500,000 bonus to any horse that can win it plus Rosehill’s $750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) on Golden Eagle Day. Think It Over (2021) was the latest horse to complete the Hill Stakes – Rosehill Gold Cup double.

Think It Over further franked the form out of the 2021 Hill Stakes enjoying an outstanding autumn the following year including his Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) success at 40/1 in 2022.

The 2021 Hill Stakes form was franked with the winner Cascadian continuing his spring campaign with a next-up win as the odds-on favourite in the Group 3 Craven Plate on Caulfield Cup Day. He would return the following autumn and run second in the All-Star Mile before winning the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in 2023.

This spring the $2 million Hill Stakes 2023 ran on Saturday October 7, 2023 over 1900m at Rosehill Gardens and was won by class Group 1 mare Montefilia ($3.40F) who saluted for the punters with a swooping run. 

2023 Hill Stakes
Date: Saturday October 7, 2023
Track: Rosehill Racecourse
Distance: 1900m
Race Type: Weight-for-age
Status: Group 2
Prize Money: $2,000,000

2023 Hill Stakes Results

  • 1st: #11 Montefilia ($3.40F)
  • 2nd: #7 Hoo Ya Mal
  • 3rd: #6 Protagonist

The now Chris Waller-trained Kermadec mare Montefilia ($3.40F) sliced into the clear a furlong out from the line before coming home with a swooping late run to salute for the punters in the 2023 Hill Stakes results and return to winning form for the first time since the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes in March of 2022.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 11 MONTEFILIA Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 2 57kg $3.40F
2 7 HOO YA MAL (GB) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 0.52L 6 59kg $4.80
3 6 PROTAGONIST (FR) Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons (a) 0.87L 1 59kg $6.50
4 2 ZEYREK (FR) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tommy Berry 1.94L 7 59kg $9.50
5 5 NO COMPROMISE (NZ) Chris Waller Tyler Schiller 2.07L 14 59kg $61
6 3 YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) Danny O’Brien Billy Egan 2.56L 12 59kg $15
7 12 HINGED Chris Waller Brett Prebble 2.68L 5 57kg $13
8 4 LUNCIES (GB) Kris Lees Tim Clark 2.89L 3 59kg $51
9 1 NUMERIAN (IRE) Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 3.5L 13 59kg $16
10 8 SKY LAB Paul Perry Ms Kathy O’Hara 3.73L 4 59kg $26
11 13 MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 4.06L 9 57kg $91
12 14 FIREBURN Gary Portelli Jason Collett 5.26L 11 56kg $15
13 10 MOUNT POPA (IRE) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Koby Jennings 6.75L 10 59kg $201
14 9 HOSIER (IRE) Mark Minervini Ms Rachel King 7.2L 8 59kg $21
16e IRONCLAD (GB) Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea 0
15e HEZASHOCKA (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Zac Lloyd (a) 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Hill Stakes Betting

Hill Stakes betting is traditionally led by gallopers coming off an earlier Sydney run in races held over the Randwick mile.

The latest Hill Stakes 2023 odds and betting links to the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au will be available below as soon as released.

Think It Over ($1.75 in 2021) and Montefilia ($3.40 in 2023) are the latest favourites in Hill Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 HILL STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Hill Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Hill Stakes 2023 Tips on the potential Group 1-bound gallopers to back and sack in the $2 million showdown.

  • To Win: #11 Montefilia ($3.80 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Open edition of the now very lucrative Hill Stakes and it has been a long time between drinks for the favourite Montefilia. Still, after her eye-catching run last time out the now Chris Waller-trained Kermadec mare looks like she could be ready to return to winning form. We have to go back to March 22 to find her last victory when defeating Melbourne Cup winning mare Verry Elleegant home in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at the Rosehill track in the wet. She ran third to Cascadian in this race last year over the 2000m before a Caulfield Cup fourth. It is 1900m this year and she has the Spring Cups in sight again. Strong autumn included Group 1 seconds in the Ranvet and Tancred here. Right track, distance may be a little short, but she is fourth-up and rock hard fit. Big run when third to Just Fine in the Group 3 Kingston Town back on September 16. That form was franked with the winner proving all class to salute in the Group 1 The Metropolitan last weekend. Now it is Montefilia’s turn.

2023 Hill Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 HILL STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Hill Stakes Field

The Hill Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of gallopers each spring, many of which head south later during the carnival to contest the Melbourne majors like the Cox Plate.

The official 2023 Hill Stakes field of final acceptances and barrier draw will be released on the Wednesday leading-up to the race and will be published in full below.

The Hill Stakes 2023 final field features a bumper line-up of Caulfield and Melbourne Cup bound stayers led in betting by last year’s third placed mare Montefilia.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2023 Hill Stakes field and betting markets.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 50x426256x NUMERIAN (IRE) Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 15 59kg 110
2 x121735x45 ZEYREK (FR) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tommy Berry 7 59kg 107
3 6746×40311 YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) Danny O’Brien Billy Egan 14 59kg 106
4 22x22418x9 LUNCIES (GB) Kris Lees Tim Clark 3 59kg 105
5 07x20480x4 NO COMPROMISE (NZ) Chris Waller Tyler Schiller 16 59kg 105
6 102x100x24 PROTAGONIST (FR) Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons (a) 1 59kg 105
7 3223180×57 HOO YA MAL (GB) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 6 59kg 104
8 x67521x405 SKY LAB Paul Perry Ms Kathy O’Hara 4 59kg 103
9 0x6x824193 HOSIER (IRE) Mark Minervini Ms Rachel King 8 59kg 101
10 3x9x0050x8 MOUNT POPA (IRE) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Koby Jennings 10 59kg 101
11 0x5229x863 MONTEFILIA Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 2 57kg 113
12 8x26844x40 HINGED Chris Waller Brett Prebble 5 57kg 108
13 115x0x06x9 MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 9 57kg 104
14 x694341x88 FIREBURN Gary Portelli Jason Collett 11 56kg 101
15e 3x05420x80 HEZASHOCKA (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Zac Lloyd (a) 12 59kg 101
16e 402369×901 IRONCLAD (GB) Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea 13 59kg 100

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Hill Stakes Nominations

The early Hill Stakes nominations for 2023 close the Monday of race week and will be listed in full below once announced by Racing NSW.

The 2023 Hill Stakes nominations attracted a bumper line-up of potential Spring Cups-bound staying types led in all-in betting by the likes of Chris Waller’s Queen Of The Turf Stakes winning mare Atishu and the Edward Cummings-trained Duais who caught the eye with a last start third in Melbourne’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) behind Alligator Blood.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight True Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 291x2570x4 GOLD TRIP (FR) H 7 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 1 59kg 115
2 0x5229x863 MONTEFILIA M 6 Chris Waller 2 57kg 113
3 23x216Px52 ATISHU (NZ) M 6 Chris Waller 3= 57kg 111
4 880x43x793 DUAIS M 6 Edward Cummings 3= 57kg 111
5 50x426256x NUMERIAN (IRE) G 8 Annabel Neasham 5 59kg 110
6 3x3x907x00 EL BODEGON (IRE) G 5 Chris Waller 6= 59kg 109
7 42x1442x36 HOPE IN YOUR HEART M 5 Kerry Parker 6= 57kg 109
8 8x26844x40 HINGED M 5 Chris Waller 8 57kg 108
9 x121735x45 ZEYREK (FR) G 7 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 9 59kg 107
10 1111121×25 RIGHT YOU ARE G 7 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 10= 59kg 106
11 6746×40311 YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) G 6 Danny O’Brien 10= 59kg 106
12 x51761x573 OSIPENKO (NZ) H 4 Chris Waller 10= 58kg 106
13 22x22418x9 LUNCIES (GB) G 7 Kris Lees 13= 59kg 105
14 07x20480x4 NO COMPROMISE (NZ) G 7 Chris Waller 13= 59kg 105
15 102x100x24 PROTAGONIST (FR) G 7 Kris Lees 13= 59kg 105
16 52x131x8x0 DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) H 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 16= 59kg 104
17 3223180×57 HOO YA MAL (GB) G 5 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 16= 59kg 104
18 115x0x06x9 MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) M 5 Chris Waller 16= 57kg 104
19 x67521x405 SKY LAB G 6 Paul Perry 19= 59kg 103
20 x51210x048 LINDERMANN H 4 Chris Waller 19= 58kg 103
21 3x05420x80 HEZASHOCKA (NZ) G 6 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 21= 59kg 101
22 0x6x824193 HOSIER (IRE) G 7 Mark Minervini 21= 59kg 101
23 3x9x0050x8 MOUNT POPA (IRE) G 9 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 21= 59kg 101
24 x694341x88 FIREBURN M 4 Gary Portelli 21= 56kg 101
25 402369×901 IRONCLAD (GB) G 8 Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea 25 59kg 100
26 13183×4602 MISSION PHOENIX G 7 Joseph Pride 26 59kg 90

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Hill Stakes History

First held in 1921 and won by Beauford, the Hill Stakes was originally a 10 furlong race which was then changed to 1750m up until 1990 and again in 2001. In 2011 the race began to be run over 2000m. The race was not held in 2007 however there have been plenty of double winners in this event including Phar Lap.

In 2021 the Hill Stakes prize money was doubled to $1 million in stakes.

Hill Stakes double winners: Desert War (2005-06), Toi Port (1963-64), Redcraze (1956-57), Hydrogen (1952-53), Yaralla (1942-43), Gold Rod (1938-39), Chatham (1933-34), Peter Pan III (1932, 35), Phar Lap (1930-31), Limerick (1927-28), and The Hawk (1923,25).

In 2023 the Hill Stakes was moved from Randwick over 2000m to Rosehill over 1900m with stakes increased to an impressive $2 million.

Recent Hill Stakes Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Hill Stakes
1st Montefilia 1 minute 55.88 seconds (Held over 1900m)
2nd Hoo Ya Mal
3rd Protagonist
2022
Hill Stakes
1st Cascadian 2 minutes 6.61 seconds
2nd Numerian
3rd Montefilia
2021
Hill Stakes
1st Think It Over 2 minutes 3.12 seconds
2nd Shared Ambition
3rd Cepheus
2020
Hill Stakes
1st Kolding 2 minutes 1.26 seconds
2nd Avilius
3rd Fierce Impact
2019
Hill Stakes
1st Verry Elleegant 2 minutes 5.03 seconds
2nd Samadoubt
3rd Life Less Ordinary
2018
Hill Stakes
1st Ace High 2 minute 2.57 seconds
2nd It’s Somewhat
3rd Egg Tart
2017
Hill Stakes
1st Classic Uniform 1 minute 49.98 seconds (over 1800m)
2nd Embley
3rd Mackintosh
2016
Hill Stakes
1st Hartnell 2 minutes 4.11 seconds
2nd Who Shot Thebarman
3rd Storm The Stars
2015
Hill Stakes
1st Preferment 2 minutes 6.81 seconds
2nd Magic Hurricane
3rd Complacent
2014
Hill Stakes
1st Junoob 2 minutes 6.12 seconds
2nd Criterion
3rd Bagman
2013
Hill Stakes
1st Moriarty 2 minutes 3.62 seconds
2nd Glencadam Gold
3rd Masked Marvel
2012
Hill Stakes
1st Lamasery 2 minutes 6.25 seconds
2nd Mourayan
3rd Lights Of Heaven
2011
Hill Stakes
1st Trusting 2 minutes 2.93 seconds
2nd Hawk Island
3rd Tullamore
2010
Hill Stakes
1st Descarado 1 minute 56.48 seconds
2nd Triple Honour
3rd Purple
2009
Hill Stakes
1st Miss Marielle 1 minute 56.13 seconds
2nd Pacino
3rd Roman Emperor
2008
Hill Stakes
1st Fiumicino 1 minute 57.38 seconds
2nd Dealer Principal
3rd Hurrah
2007
Hill Stakes
Race Not Held  
2006
Hill Stakes
1st Desert War 1 minute 56.28 seconds
2nd Eremein
3rd Grand Zulu
2005
Hill Stakes
1st Desert War 1 minute 56.67 seconds
2nd Portland Singa
3rd Dizelle
2004
Hill Stakes
1st Natural Blitz 1 minute 56.62 seconds
2nd Vouvray
3rd Just Polite
2003
Hill Stakes
1st Excellerator 1 minute 56.84 seconds
2nd Platinum Scissors
3rd Carnegie Express
2002
Hill Stakes
1st Dress Circle 1 minute 56.63 seconds
2nd Bedouin
3rd Republic Lass
2001
Hill Stakes
1st Mulan Princess 1 minute 47.02 seconds
2nd Altiero
3rd Dottoressa
2000
Hill Stakes
1st Pasta Express 1 minute 57.83 seconds
2nd Pravda
3rd Padfoot Charlie

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