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The Light Fingers Stakes is a Group 2 race held at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney every February worth $300,000 in total prize money as of 2024.

Run over a distance of 1200m, the Light Fingers Stakes is open to three-year-old fillies and is contested with set weights. It takes place on Apollo Stakes Day during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and is accompanied by three other Group status races with the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m), and Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m).

The race is named in honour of New Zealand bred mare Light Fingers who won the Melbourne Cup in 1965 and was the first Cup winner for legendary trainer Bart Cummings.

Many of the fillies in the Light Fingers Stakes field are kicking off their autumn campaigns, and some may have run in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at the track during the spring including in 2016 – 2017 when Global Glamour won both races, and in 2017-18 when Alizee repeated the same double.

The 2024 Light Fingers Stakes winner Kimochi (2nd in 2023) was the latest to have had a Flight Stakes run the year prior.

Fillies out of the race often continue on to contest later season features including the recently upgraded Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on Verry Elleegant Stakes Day and even the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in March.

Nakeeta Jane (2019) was the last filly to complete the Light Fingers – Surround Stakes double.

Fangirl (2022) was the last filly to complete the Light Fingers – Vinery Stud Stakes double.

The 2022 Light Fingers Stakes form was further franked with the Light Fingers – Vinery double winner Fangirl returning in the spring for a second in the $10 million Golden Eagle.

In 2023 the Light Fingers Stakes winner In Secret won first-up having claimed Flemington’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) over the Melbourne Cup Carnival the spring before.

In Secret went on to frank the Light Fingers Stakes 2023 form with a third in the Surround Stakes at her next start before winning Melbourne’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m). The Surround Stakes winner in 2023 meanwhile was Light Fingers runner-up Sunshine In Paris.

The Light Fingers Stakes 2024 ran on Saturday February 17, 2024 at Royal Randwick and saw the Gary Portelli-trained Kimochi ($6.50) dig deep for her first Group status win. 

2024 Light Fingers Stakes
Date:	Saturday February 17, 2024
Track:	Royal Randwick Racecourse
Distance:	1200m
Race Type:	3YO Fillies Set Weights 56kg
Status:	Group 2
Prize Money:	$300,000

2024 Light Fingers Stakes Results

• 1st: #1 Kimochi ($6.50)
• 2nd: #3 Learning To Fly
• 3rd: #5 Kristilli

After a string of frustrating runner-up finishes last spring, Gary Portelli’s filly Kimochi finally shed her bridesmaid tag in dramatic fashion. In a thrilling Light Fingers Stakes 2024 victory, the $6.50 shot held off the fast-finishing Learning To Fly in a heart-pounding first-up battle. This win marks a well-deserved breakthrough for the talented filly and sets the stage for an exciting autumn campaign.

Click here to read more on the deserving Light Fingers Stakes 2024 win by Kimochi.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Light Fingers Stakes Betting Odds

The Light Fingers Stakes 2024 odds and betting market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be provided below the week of Apollo Stakes Day.

In Secret ($1.95 in 2023) was the last favourite in Light Fingers Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

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

2024 Light Fingers Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 LIGHT FINGERS STAKES FORM GUIDE

2024 Light Fingers Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Light Fingers Stakes 2024 Tips on the Apollo Stakes Day event this summer – autumn racing season.

• To Win: #1 Kimochi ($9 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Godolphin’s Brave Smash filly Kimochi emerges as a potential value pick, offering a chance to finally shed her bridesmaid label and claim a deserved Group 2 victory. The consistent filly has built a remarkable streak of eight second or third-place finishes in her nine career starts, demonstrating her talent and competitiveness. Last spring, she impressed in the Princess Series, recording a string of three frustrating runner-up finishes, culminating in the prestigious Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m). Undeterred, she continued her strong form southward, placing second in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas. Her recent eye-catching trial at Warwick Farm behind the promising Learning To Fly further confirms her current fitness and readiness. While consistency has been her hallmark, she now looks primed to take that final step and secure her first victory in a Group status race. Her combination of proven ability, strong recent form, and potentially underrated status makes her an intriguing option in this competitive field.

2024 Light Fingers Stakes Field

The Light Fingers Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of the autumn’s best three-year-old fillies, many of which are first-up off spring races including the Thousand Guineas in Melbourne.

The official Light Fingers Stakes 2024 field and barriers will be announced on Wednesday February 14, 2024 and published in full below.

The 2024 Light Fingers Stakes final field features a quality line-up of Group 1-bound fillies including James Cummings’ last start Thousand Guineas runner-up Kimochi and the returning Learning To Fly who races for the first time since pulling up lame after severe interference in the Golden Slipper nearly a year ago.

No	Last 10	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Probable Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	13x322232x	KIMOCHI	Gary Portelli	Jason Collett	3	56kg			96
2	42x11169x	TIZ INVINCIBLE	Ciaron Maher	James McDonald	12	56kg			92
3	111Lx	LEARNING TO FLY	Annabel Neasham	Chad Schofield	13	56kg			90
4	35x43911x	MUMBAI MUSE	Michael Freedman	Tommy Berry	4	56kg			87
5	21x08x4	KRISTILLI	Annabel Neasham	Zac Lloyd (a)	8	56kg			84
6	15x188x	AUTUMN BALLET	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Adam Hyeronimus	1	56kg			83
7	2x522x120x	FACILE	Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou	Tim Clark	2	56kg			80
8	189x05121x	WEST OF DALBY	Benjamin Smith	Brock Ryan	11	56kg			79
9	32x1165x	ARCTIC GLAMOUR	Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou	Kerrin McEvoy	7	56kg			77
10	7x1122x	BALLROOM BELLA	Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou	Tyler Schiller	10	56kg			71
11	24x4012x	KIND WORDS	Kris Lees	Sam Clipperton	5	56kg			70
12	56x331x123	STEFI MAGNETICA	Bjorn Baker	Joshua Parr	9	56kg			67
13	181	I’M A STEEL	Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones	Dylan Gibbons (a)	6	56kg			61

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Light Fingers Stakes Nominations

The 2024 Light Fingers Stakes nominations will be published here once released by Racing NSW on Monday February 12, 2024.

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Ballot	Weight	True Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	111Lx	LEARNING TO FLY	F	3	Annabel Neasham	1	56kg			90
2	11x007121x	ZARDOZI	F	3	James Cummings	2	56kg			102
3	21x08x4	KRISTILLI	F	3	Annabel Neasham	3	56kg			84
4	13x322232x	KIMOCHI	F	3	Gary Portelli	4	56kg			96
5	42x11169x	TIZ INVINCIBLE	F	3	Ciaron Maher	5	56kg			92
6	x9838x2261	INFATUATION	F	3	Bjorn Baker	6	56kg			79
7	35x43911x	MUMBAI MUSE	F	3	Michael Freedman	7	56kg			87
8	15x188x	AUTUMN BALLET	F	3	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	8	56kg			83
9	2x522x120x	FACILE	F	3	Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou	9	56kg			80
10	32x1165x	ARCTIC GLAMOUR	F	3	Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou	10	56kg			77
11	189x05121x	WEST OF DALBY	F	3	Benjamin Smith	11	56kg			79
12	56x331x123	STEFI MAGNETICA	F	3	Bjorn Baker	12	56kg			67
13	7x1122x	BALLROOM BELLA	F	3	Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou	13	56kg			71
14	24x4012x	KIND WORDS	F	3	Kris Lees	14	56kg			70
15	2x19140x6	FRENCH ENDEAVOUR	F	3	Matthew Smith	15	56kg			74
16	313	BALLET D’ESPRIT	F	3	Michael Freedman	16	56kg			64
17	181	I’M A STEEL	F	3	Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones	17	56kg			61
18	1×3	THE HAWKESBURY	F	3	Clarry Conners	18	56kg			62

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Light Fingers Stakes History

The Light Fingers Stakes was classified as a Listed race from 1983 until 1985 before it was granted Group 2 status in 1986. However, in 1987 the race status was changed to Group 3. In 1991 the Light Fingers Stakes regained it’s Group 2 status and has held it ever since.

Notable recent Light Fingers Stakes winners include subsequent Surround Stakes champ Nakeeta Jane (2018), Alizee (2018), Global Glamour (2017) who won the previous spring’s Flight Stakes – Thousand Guineas double, Sweet Idea (2014), Sea Siren (2012), and More Joyous (2010).

In 2020 the Light Fingers Stakes trifecta featured all Godolphin-raced Group 1 fillies with Flit (Thousand Guineas) defeating Lyre (Blue Diamond Stakes) and Kiamichi (Golden Slipper).

See below for the Light Fingers Stakes results dating back to 2000.

Recent Light Fingers Stakes Winners

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2024 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Kimochi	1 minute 9.35 seconds
	2nd	Learning To Fly
	3rd	Kristilli
2023 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	In Secret	1 minute 10.20 seconds
	2nd	Sunshine In Paris
	3rd	Cinderella Days
2022 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Fangirl	1 minute 9.88 seconds
	2nd	Espiona
	3rd	Jamaea
2021 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Every Rose	1 minute 10.75 seconds
	2nd	Never Talk
	3rd	Away Game
2020 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Flit	1 minute 10.17 seconds
	2nd	Lyre
	3rd	Kiamichi
2019 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Nakeeta Jane	1 minute 9.12 seconds
	2nd	Madam Rouge
	3rd	Pohutukawa
2018 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Alizee	1 minute 10.06 seconds
	2nd	Shumookh
	3rd	Torvill
2017 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Global Glamour	1 minute 09.70 seconds
	2nd	Foxplay
	3rd	Spright
2016 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Perignon	1 minute 9.9 seconds
	2nd	Kangarilla
	3rd	Tempt Me Not
2015 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Adrift	1 minute 9.4 seconds
	2nd	First Seal
	3rd	Slightly Sweet
2014 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Sweet Idea	1 minute 9.09 seconds
	2nd	Gypsy Diamond
	3rd	Champagne Cath
2013 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Bennetta	1 minute 10.16 seconds
	2nd	Ichihara
	3rd	Dear Demi
2012 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Sea Siren	1 minute 16.3 seconds
	2nd	Streama
	3rd	Hallowell Belle
2011 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Obsequious	1 minute 09.5 seconds
	2nd	Red Tracer
	3rd	Parables
2010 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	More Joyous	1 minute 9.80 seconds
	2nd	Trim
	3rd	Sweepstaking
2009 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Rock Me Baby	1 minute 11.39 seconds
	2nd	Samantha Miss
	3rd	Glowlamp
2008 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Forensics	1 minute 10.56 seconds
	2nd	Sliding Cube
	3rd	Seething Duck
2007 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Gold Edition	1 minute 9.07 seconds
	2nd	Montana Sunset
	3rd	Montmelo
2006 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Street Smart	1 minute 9.9 seconds
	2nd	Regal Cheer
	3rd	Paulini
2005 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Trezevant	1 minute 10 seconds
	2nd	One In A Million
	3rd	But I’m Serious
2004 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Sharp	1 minute 8.72 seconds
	2nd	Generosa
	3rd	Hinting
2003 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Only Glory	1 minute 11.22 seconds
	2nd	Chuckle
	3rd	Bumptious
2002 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Ancient Song	1 minute 10.98 seconds
	2nd	Hosannah
	3rd	Shouq
2001 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Lady Mulan	1 minute 9.61 seconds
	2nd	Maitland Gold
	3rd	Belle Du Jour
2000 Light Fingers Stakes	1st	Camena	1 minute 9.6 seconds
	2nd	Miss Zoe
	3rd	Hut

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