Horse Racing

The Group 2 WH Stocks Stakes is held very early on as part of the illustrious Victorian Spring Racing Carnival. Taking place in September at Moonee Valley on Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes Day, the WH Stocks is a 1600m middle distance event. Worth over $200 000 it is for four-year-old mares and is run under weight-for-age conditions.

The only other races solely for mares held earlier in the carnival are the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) and the Group 2 Lets Elope Stakes (1400m) and a few runners may have previously contested these shorter distanced events.

The Stocks Stakes is an excellent lead up to events like the Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) on Caulfield Cup day in October, or the Group 3 Inglis Mile (1600m) on Cox Plate Day. The race usually attracts a field of handy mares and quality winners include Tuesday Joy (2008), She’s Archie (2004), Hula Wonder (2000) and Arctic Scent (1996).

WH Stocks Stakes History

The inaugural race in 1973 was won by Mellition. It began as a principal race run over 1600m and then became a listed event in 1979. Over a decade later it was elevated to Group 3 status before finally becoming a Group 2 event in 2005. For the first seven years, the race was known as the Dallas Handicap. Then from 1980 onwards it became the W H Stocks Stakes.

Recent Stocks Stakes Winners