McEwen Stakes

The McEwen Stakes is a Group 2 race held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in September as a lead-up to the Moir Stakes the following month.

2023 McEwen Stakes Results

  • 1st: #5 Imperatriz
  • 2nd: #2 Rothfire
  • 3rd: #1 Giga Kick



The McEwen Stakes is a Group 2 sprint held during September at Moonee Valley Racecourse. Raced over 1000 metres under weight for age conditions, the McEwen Stakes pays $300,000 in total prizemoney.

The McEwen Stakes is held on Feehan Stakes Day – also known as the Ladbrokes Cox Plate Qualifier Day – and shares its race program with the Group 2  John F. Feehan Stakes (1600m).

Most of the sprinters that contest the McEwen Stakes are kicking off their spring campaigns. Success in the McEwen Stakes is often followed by an attempt at the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m)  and or the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) both held back at The Valley over the spring.

In recent years the 2016 McEwen Stakes winner Wild Rain went on to run third in the Moir Stakes, while the year before the great grey Chautauqua (2015) completed the McEwen Stakes – Manikato Stakes double.

In 2020 the McEwen Stakes winning mare Bella Vella backed-up to run third in that season’s Moir Stakes results.

The 2021 McEwen Stakes form was franked with the winner The Inferno running second next-up in the Moir Stakes, while the third-placed mare September Run returned the following autumn to win the Group 1 William Reid Stakes in 2022.

The 2022 McEwen Stakes winner Rothfire franked the form with a second in that year’s Manikato.  Rothfire also returned in 2023 and placed in Brisbane’s Group 1 Kingsford Smith Stakes (3rd) and Stradbroke Handicap (2nd).

The 2022 McEwen Stakes form was further franked with the third-placed filly and that year’s Moir Stakes winner Coolangatta returning the next year to win Flemington’s Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning in 2023.

The McEwen Stakes 2023 ran on Saturday September 9, 2023 at The Valley and was won in stunning fashion by Mark Walker’s five-time Group 1 winning New Zealand mare Imperatriz ($3.90) first-up ahead of the spring majors setting a new track record. 

2023 McEwen Stakes
Date: Saturday September 9, 2023
Track: Moonee Valley Racecourse
Distance: 1000m
Race Type: Weight For Age
Status: Group 2
Prize Money: $300,000

2023 McEwen Stakes Results

  • 1st: #5 Imperatriz ($3.90)
  • 2nd: #2 Rothfire
  • 3rd: #1 Giga Kick

Mark Walker’s talented Kiwi expat Imperatriz ($3.90) blitzed her first-up run of the spring with the last start Group 1 William Reid Stakes winner from the autumn relishing another run at The Valley to let down late and charge past last year’s The Everest hero Giga Kick for a big 2.5 length win in the McEwen Stakes 2023 results.

Click here to read more on the outstanding win by the speedy Imperatriz in the 2023 McEwen Stakes.

2023 McEwen Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 5 IMPERATRIZ Mark Walker Michael Dee 7 56.5kg $3.90
2 2 ROTHFIRE Robert Heathcote Blake Shinn 2.5L 5 58.5kg $5
3 1 GIGA KICK Clayton Douglas Craig Williams 2.6L 6 58.5kg $1.95F
4 3 ZOUSTYLE Tony Gollan Damien Oliver 3.85L 2 58.5kg $11
5 4 ACROMANTULA Daniel & Ben Pearce Damian Lane 5.35L 3 58.5kg $16
6 7 HOW’S THE SERENITY Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 5.55L 1 56.5kg $101
7 6 SERADESS Mark & Levi Kavanagh Ms Jamie Kah 5.65L 4 56.5kg $31

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 McEwen Stakes Betting

The season’s best Mitty’s McEwen Stakes 2023 betting odds will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

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

2023 McEwen Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 MCWEN STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 McEwen Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider McEwen Stakes 2023 Tips on the important sprint lead-up this September.

  • To Win: #1 Giga Kick ($1.95 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Does last year’s The Everest champion come out and win first-up this spring as the odds-on favourite? Looks that way. The McEwen features a small but top-notch field of sprint stars, but Giga Kick is the standout fresh looking to kick off where he left off. The now four-year-old son of Scissor Kick has just shy of $9.6 million in the bank, and he can add notably to that this prep. At his last two starts back in the winter he won the interstate Group 1 All Aged Stakes – Doomben 10,000 double. He has a lovely record fresh and can beat this field in his first go at The Valley.

2023 McEwen Stakes Field

The official McEwen Stakes 2023 Final Field & Barriers are released by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday leading-up to Feehan Stakes Day, the line-up of sprinters to be published in full below.

The 2023 McEwen Stakes field features a diminutive but imposing field of sprint stars led in betting by last year’s The Everest hero Giga Kick racing first-up.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 1115x3211x GIGA KICK Clayton Douglas Craig Williams 6 58.5kg 116
2 5285x2132x ROTHFIRE Robert Heathcote Blake Shinn 5 58.5kg 111
3 x2332x506x ZOUSTYLE Tony Gollan Damien Oliver 2 58.5kg 103
4 3452213×31 ACROMANTULA Daniel & Ben Pearce Damian Lane 3 58.5kg 99
5 148x11121x IMPERATRIZ Mark Walker Michael Dee 7 56.5kg 116
6 1x70x2455x SERADESS Mark & Levi Kavanagh Ms Jamie Kah 4 56.5kg 98
7 77x118x2x8 HOW’S THE SERENITY Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 1 56.5kg 98

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 McEwen Stakes Nominations

Nominations for the Mitty’s McEwen Stakes in 2023 are taken on the Monday of race week.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 3452213×31 ACROMANTULA G 6 Daniel & Ben Pearce 99
2 1115x3211x GIGA KICK G 4 Clayton Douglas 116
3 77x118x2x8 HOW’S THE SERENITY M 6 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 98
4 148x11121x IMPERATRIZ M 5 Mark Walker 116
5 822213×804 RATTLE AND BANG G 6 Dean Binaisse 77
6 5285x2132x ROTHFIRE G 6 Robert Heathcote 111
7 1x70x2455x SERADESS M 5 Mark & Levi Kavanagh 98
8 x01110412x SHE DANCES M 4 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 85
9 x2332x506x ZOUSTYLE G 8 Tony Gollan 103

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

McEwen Stakes History

Registered as the Ian McEwen Trophy, the McEwen Stakes was inaugurated in 1995, making it a relatively young race. The McEwen Stakes was named in honour of Ian McEwen, a former secretary for the Moonee Valley Racing Club. For the very first year it ran, the race was referred to as the Anniversary Trophy.

Between 1995 and 1997 the race ran as an unlisted event. Following an upgrade in 1997, the race was listed until 2005. In 2006, a further upgrade saw the McEwen Stakes run as a Group 3 event for six years. From 2013 onwards, the McEwen Stakes is Group 2 event.

The McEwen Stakes has always been run over 1000m (excepting the year 2000 when it was run over 1200m) and has always been held at Moonee Valley (with the exception of the inaugural edition, when it was held at Caulfield).

Plenty of impressive horses have ran in the race throughout the years. Notable McEwen Stakes winners include Sequalo (1995), Testa Rossa (2000), Mistegic (2002), Miss Andretti (2006), Buffering (2011), and the ‘Grey Flash’ Chautauqua (2015).

In 2018 the McEwen Stakes winner Nature Strip – subsequent winner of the 2021 The Everest race – set a new record winning in a slick 56.95 seconds.

His record was beaten in 2023 with Imperatriz flashing home in a new track record of 56.68 seconds.

McEwen Stakes results since 2000 are listed below.

McEwen Stakes Results

Year Place Horse Time
2023
McEwen Stakes
1st Imperatriz 1 minutes 56.68 seconds (R)
2nd Rothfire
3rd Giga Kick
2022
McEwen Stakes
1st Rothfire 0 minutes 58.90 seconds
2nd Zoustyle
3rd Coolangatta
2021
McEwen Stakes
1st The Inferno 0 minutes 59.48 seconds
2nd Portland Sky
3rd September Run
2020
McEwen Stakes
1st Bella Vella 0 minutes 58.02 seconds
2nd Ashlor
3rd Brooklyn Hustle
2019
McEwen Stakes
1st Faatinah 0 minutes 58.40 seconds
2nd Bons Away
3rd Eduardo
2018
McEwen Stakes
1st Nature Strip 0 minutes 56.95 seconds (R)
2nd Houtzen
3rd Shoals
2017
McEwen Stakes
1st Russian Revolution 0 minutes 58.14 seconds
2nd Heatherly
3rd Houtzen
2016
McEwen Stakes
1st Wild Rain 0 minutes 58.8 seconds
2nd Furnaces
3rd Heatherly
2015
McEwen Stakes
1st Chautauqua 0 minutes 58.2 seconds
2nd Flamberge
3rd Furnaces
2014
Ajax Stakes
1st Angelic Light 0 minutes 57.5 seconds
2nd Lankan Rupee
3rd Eloping
2013
McEwen Stakes
1st Kuroshio 0 minutes 57.8 seconds
2nd Moment Of Change
3rd General Truce
2012
McEwen Stakes
1st Bel Sprinter 0 minutes 57.3 seconds
2nd Platelet
3rd Snitzem
2011
McEwen Stakes
1st Buffering 0 minutes 58.5 seconds
2nd Crystal Lily
3rd Atomic Force
2010
McEwen Stakes
1st Hay List 0 minute 59.6 seconds
2nd Catapulted
3rd Reward For Effort
2009
McEwen Stakes
1st Nicconi 0 minute 57.4 seconds
2nd Morgan Dollar
3rd Secret Flyer
2008
McEwen Stakes
1st Kaphero 0 minute 59.4 seconds
2nd Morgan Dollar
3rd Lucky Secret
2007
McEwen Stakes
1st Here De Angels 0 minute 57.4 seconds
2nd Gold Edition
3rd Dr Nipandtuck
2006
McEwen Stakes
1st Miss Andretti 0 minute 58.8 seconds
2nd Sassbee
3rd Cargo Cult
2005
McEwen Stakes
1st Strikeline 0 minute 59.8 seconds
2nd Truly Wicked
3rd Titanic Jack
2004
McEwen Stakes
1st Edgeton 1 minute 01.8 seconds
2nd Reactive
3rd Mistegic
2003
McEwen Stakes
1st Yell 0 minute 59.6 seconds
2nd The Big Chill
3rd Dantana
2002
McEwen Stakes
1st Mistegic 1 minute 0.2 seconds
2nd Shaye Spice
3rd Aragonce
2001
McEwen Stakes
1st Strategic Image 0 minute 58.4 seconds
2nd Sports
3rd Ateates
2000
McEwen Stakes
1st Testa Rossa 1 minute 13.4 seconds
2nd Sports
3rd Chattanooga

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Z...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pr...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

Pride Of Jenni was enormous running her rivals ragged with a blistering...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results:...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s 2024 Golden Slipper field after a gutsy...

Magic Night Winner Drifting Fi...

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Drifting did plenty right to win the 2024 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results:...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

Celestial Legend put the writing on the wall for a huge year ahead with the...

Race Results

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Zougotcha Dives Late to Salute

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Race Previews

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

Fields & Form

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

2024 Randwick Guineas Field & Odds Update: Militarize Set to Strike Second-Up