Horse Racing

The St George Stakes is a Group 2 thoroughbred race held mid-way through the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival on Blue Diamond Stakes Day in February at Caulfield.

The St George Stakes is a middle distance race run over 1800m under weight-for-age conditions and is worth $200,000. It is the first weight-for-age race at the carnival run over a distance greater than 1400m and so attracts a quality field of runners seeking a bit more distance.

There are an incredible eight group races held at the meeting including three Group 1 events, the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and the Futurity Stakes (1600m). The other Group 2 races on the day are the Autumn Stakes (1400m), Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) and the Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m). Finally there is one Group 3 race, the Mannerism Stakes (1400m).

In 2011 the date for the St George Stakes is the 26th February, 2011.

Horses running in the St George Stakes may have previously contested the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes two weeks prior. The St George Stakes is also an ideal lead-up to the premier weight-for-age race of the carnival, the $1million Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) held a fortnight later on Flemington’s Super Saturday of Racing. The St George Stakes has been a terrific guide to the Australian Cup over the years with many champions of the Australian turf winning both races including Pompeii Ruler (2007), Lonhro (2004), Northerly (2002 & 2003), Istidaad (1999), Dane Ripper (1998), Durbridge (1994 & 1995) and Let’s Elope (1992).

The St George Stakes 2012 will be run on Saturday February 25th, 2012.

St George Stakes History

The St George Stakes is one of the older Australian thoroughbred races having first run in 1900 when Parthian claimed victory. It began as a Principal race run over nine furlongs and continued under the same status and distance right up until 1973 when Australia adopted the metric system and converted the race distance to 1800m. Through that time there was only one year when the St George Stakes was not held, 1921.

In 1979 the St George Stakes was elevated to Group 2 status and the race length was dramatically shortened to 1200m for one year. The following year in 1980 the distance reverted back to 1800m. In 1982 the distance deceased to 1600m, then in 1983 it was run over 1800m, in 1984 it shortened again to 1600m for four years until 1988 when it went back to the distance it remains today 1800m, except for one year in 1995 it was run over 2000m.

Recent St George Stakes Winners