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The How Now Stakes is a Group 3 sprint race run at Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse during mid to late-September each year. The How Now Stakes forms an integral part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and is open only to mares aged four-years-old and over.

The How Now Stakes shares the race card with the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m), which offers a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption to the winning stayer, along with the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).

Raced over 1200, the How Now Stakes is held under set weights with penalties conditions and offers $160,000 in total prize money.

One of the better recognised lead-up races to the How Now Stakes is the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) in August, run over 1200m. Savanna Amour (2017) was the last mare to complete the Cockram Stakes – How Now Stakes double. The Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) under the same conditions is also a good indicator of mares likely to remain in Melbourne to contest the How Now Stakes.

The 2020 How Now Stakes ran on Saturday September 19, 2020 and was won by Felicia. 

How Now Stakes
Date:	Saturday September 19, 2020
Track:	Caulfield Racecourse
Distance:	1200m
Race Type:	4YO&UP Mares SW+P
Status:	Group 3
Prize Money:	$160,000

2020 How Now Stakes Results

• 1st: #12 Felicia
• 2nd: #4 Broadwayandfourth
• 3rd: #7 Fiesta

Jockey Craig Williams made it a hat-trick of wins on Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Day saluting in the last aboard Felicia who drew clear over the final 100m for a powerful two length success second-up in the 2020 How Now Stakes results.

2020 How Now Stakes Odds

The spring’s top How Now Stakes 2020 betting odds and Group 3 Caulfield racing links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be provided below the week leading up to Naturalism Stakes Day.

2020 How Now Stakes Field

The How Now Stakes field attracts a line-up of quality mares each Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, many coming off a lead-up run at the same track / distance in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) a fortnight earlier.

Many mares often kick-off their spring campaigns in the How Now Stakes field first-up following autumn – winter preparations that may have included runs in tougher races including Brisbane’s Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m).

The official 2020 How Now Stakes Final Field & Barriers are released on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.

The How Now Stakes 2020 field features a quality line-up of 13 mares led in betting by Anthony & Sam Freedman’s Group 1 winner Lyre looking to return to winning form after a string of frustrating minor placings in tough company.

No	Last 10	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	1930x5659x	SPANISH WHISPER	Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes	Jye McNeil	9	58kg		99
2	16x50201x6	HUMMA HUMMA	John McArdle	Jamie Mott	13	57kg		99
3	397×041500	IN GOOD TIME	Tracey Bartley	Michael Rodd	2	56kg		93
4	x4846150x0	BROADWAYANDFOURTH	Mitchell Freedman	Ben Melham	1	56kg		77
5	x17118x30x	I AM ELOQUENT	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Damien Oliver	8	56kg		78
6	74x24423x2	LYRE	Anthony & Sam Freedman	Luke Currie	3	55kg		104
7	x080x2092x	FIESTA	Chris Waller	Michael Walker	10	55kg		98
8	552x0540x0	MISSILE MANTRA	Peter & Paul Snowden	Damian Lane	7	55kg		90
9	0x48313124	SHE’S A THIEF (NZ)	Michael Moroney	Daniel Stackhouse	6	55kg		86
10	3x2114x158	OUR CAMPANA	Peter G Moody	Luke Nolen	5	55kg		87
11	16821139×7	JENTICO	Tony & Calvin McEvoy	Billy Egan	4	55kg		83
12	11x35321x2	FELICIA	Dean Binaisse	Craig Williams	12	55kg		88
13	x0259x1214	BONS ABROAD	Kevin Corstens	Craig Newitt	11	55kg		70

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2020 How Now Stakes Nominations

Nominations for the How Now Stakes close the Monday leading-up to Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Day and will be published below.

The 2020 How Now Stakes nominations attracted a bumper 25 mares including the flying Diamond Effort chasing a sixth win on the trot following a first-up victory in the Group 3 The Heath and Group 1 winner Lyre coming off a second in the same lead-up.

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Ballot	Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	1930x5659x	SPANISH WHISPER	M	5	Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes	1	58kg		99
2	421x438P0x	FASCINO (NZ)	M	4	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	2	58kg		84
3	27x52x320x	EXHILARATES	M	4	James Cummings	3	57kg		96
4	16x50201x6	HUMMA HUMMA	M	5	John McArdle	4	57kg		99
5	180x1111x1	DIAMOND EFFORT	M	5	Clinton McDonald	5	57kg		104
6	11118×1	HOW WOMANTIC	M	4	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	6	57kg		89
7	397×041500	IN GOOD TIME	M	6	Tracey Bartley	7	56kg		93
8	x4846150x0	BROADWAYANDFOURTH	M	4	Mitchell Freedman	8	56kg		77
9	x17118x30x	I AM ELOQUENT	M	4	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	9	56kg		78
10	74x24423x2	LYRE	M	4	Anthony & Sam Freedman	10	55kg		104
11	x080x2092x	FIESTA	M	5	Chris Waller	11	55kg		98
12	3×56404728	MISS IANO	M	7	Mark C Webb	12	55kg		85
13	552x0540x0	MISSILE MANTRA	M	4	Peter & Paul Snowden	13	55kg		90
14	31x45145x3	FABRIC (NZ)	M	5	Danny O’Brien	14	55kg		84
15	0x48313124	SHE’S A THIEF (NZ)	M	5	Michael Moroney	15	55kg		86
16	3x2114x158	OUR CAMPANA	M	5	Peter G Moody	16	55kg		87
17	16821139×7	JENTICO	M	5	Tony & Calvin McEvoy	17	55kg		83
18	6326420×42	PARMIE	M	4	Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra	18	55kg		76
19	2550x882x5	LA TIGERESA	M	6	Jason Warren & Dean Krongold	19	55kg		82
20	5x372421x9	CLARICE CLIFFS	M	6	Greg Eurell	20	55kg		86
21	11x35321x2	FELICIA	M	4	Dean Binaisse	21	55kg		88
22	7x25116x60	THE CLOSER	M	5	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	22	55kg		78
23	31311×6	CORDILLA	M	4	Danny O’Brien	23	55kg		72
24	x0259x1214	BONS ABROAD	M	4	Kevin Corstens	24	55kg		70
25	299x110x25	MONETIZING	M	4	Brent Stanley	25	55kg		66

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

How Now Stakes History

The How Now Stakes was inaugurated in 1999, with Snippet’s Lass taking out the race that year. While the How Now Stakes doesn’t hold the long and storied history of other Caulfield events, it still stands up on its own as a respectable and worthy event.

In 2005 there was a dead heat between Sarah Michelle and Brindabella. In the same year, the How Now Stakes was upgraded from a listed race to a Group 3 event, a status it has retained since.

The How Now Stakes has been known by a variety of names throughout its short history. These include the Cranbourne Diahatsu Stakes, Dubai Convention Bureau Stakes, Dubai International Stakes and Emirates Racing Association Stakes. In 2006, the How Now Stakes returned to its correct name. Then in 2013, the race became known as the Sportingbet Sprint Series Heat 2, a name that it continued to hold throughout 2014.

Notable How Now Stakes winners include Piavonic (2000), Valentine Miss (2010), Catkins (2013) and Secret Agenda (2016) who went on to win the following year’s Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide. How Now Stakes results since 2000 are listed below.

How Now Stakes Results

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2020 How Now Stakes	1st	Felicia	1 minute 10.20 seconds
	2nd	Broadwayandfourth
	3rd	Fiesta
2019 How Now Stakes	1st	Manicure	1 minute 10.41 seconds
	2nd	Angelic Ruler
	3rd	Dawn Dawn
2018 How Now Stakes	1st	Winter Bride	1 minute 9.94 seconds
	2nd	Ellicazoom
	3rd	Platinum Angel
2017 How Now Stakes	1st	Savanna Amour	1 minute 9.42 seconds
	2nd	Legless Veuve
	3rd	Ravi
2016 How Now Stakes	1st	Secret Agenda	1 minute 12.2 seconds
	2nd	Every Faith
	3rd	Exclusive Lass
2015 How Now Stakes	1st	Politeness	1 minute 10.7 seconds
	2nd	Griante
	3rd	Jessy Belle
2014 How Now Stakes	1st	Girl Guide	1 minute 10.3 seconds
	2nd	A Time For Julia
	3rd	Shamal Wind
2013 How Now Stakes	1st	Catkins	1 minute 12.5 seconds
	2nd	Hi Belle
	3rd	Flash Of Doubt
2012 How Now Stakes	1st	Detours	1 minute 10.4 seconds
	2nd	Classy Chloe
	3rd	Mrs Onassis
2011 How Now Stakes	1st	Sister Madly	1 minute 10.3 seconds
	2nd	Valentine Miss
	3rd	Lone Rock
2010 How Now Stakes	1st	Valentine Miss	1 minute 9.3 seconds
	2nd	I’m A Hussy
	3rd	Red Flair
2009 How Now Stakes	1st	Velocitea	1 minute 11.4 seconds
	2nd	Neroli
	3rd	Dollops
2008 How Now Stakes	1st	Vivacious Spirit	1 minute 10.5 seconds
	2nd	Benatar
	3rd	Vormista
2007 How Now Stakes	1st	Miss Judgement	1 minute 9.8 seconds
	2nd	Juste Momente
	3rd	Flying Object
2006 How Now Stakes	1st	Queen Of The Hill	1 minute 10.9 seconds
	2nd	Megadeal
	3rd	Nuclear Free
2005 How Now Stakes	=1st	Sarah Michelle	1 minute 13.9 seconds
	=1st	Brindabella
	3rd	Little Chloe
2004 How Now Stakes	1st	Strikeline	1 minute 10.5 seconds
	2nd	Solar Antiquity
	3rd	Skewiff
2003 How Now Stakes	1st	Lovely Jubly	1 minute 9.0 seconds
	2nd	Infinite Grace
	3rd	Astaroth
2002 How Now Stakes	1st	Taimana	1 minute 9.8 seconds
	2nd	Calming
	3rd	Galapagos Girl
2001 How Now Stakes	1st	Miss Power Bird	1 minute 11.3 seconds
	2nd	Purple Groove
	3rd	Dynamic Love
2000 How Now Stakes	1st	Piavonic	1 minute 10.3 seconds
	2nd	Nova Clause
	3rd	Clemens Belle