The How Now Stakes – known as the Ladbrokes Odds Boost 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.
Raced over 1200, the How Now Stakes is held under set weights with penalties conditions and offers $150,000 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 2017 How Now Stakes ran on Saturday September 23, 2017 and was known as the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes.
| How Now Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday September 23, 2017 |
| Track: | Caulfield Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Race Type: | 4YO&UP Mares SWP |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $150,000 |
2017 How Now Stakes Results
- 1st: #3 Savanna Amour
- 2nd: #4 Legless Veuve
- 3rd: #6 Ravi
Check out the official How Now Stakes 2017 Results below, the race won narrowly in an upset by $15 outsider Savanna Amour who came off a lead-up win in the Cockram Stakes and held off Legless Veuve ($16) for the win, while the favourite Ravi ($2.90) was far from disgraced just a quarter-length off the winner in a blanket finish.
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | SAVANNA AMOUR | Chris Meagher | Brad Rawiller | – | 11 | 58kg | $15 |
| 2 | 4 | LEGLESS VEUVE (NZ) | Stuart Webb | Luke Currie | 0.2L | 3 | 58kg | $16 |
| 3 | 6 | RAVI | Peter & Paul Snowden | Dwayne Dunn | 0.3L | 4 | 57kg | $2.90F |
| 4 | 7 | MISSROCK | Robbie Laing | Damien Oliver | 0.5L | 12 | 56kg | $4.60 |
| 5 | 1 | PROMPT RESPONSE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Stephen Baster | 0.6L | 1 | 58kg | $11 |
| 6 | 12 | NOW OR LATER (IRE) | Robert Smerdon | Ryan Maloney | 0.9L | 2 | 55kg | $21 |
| 7 | 9 | ELLICAZOOM | Neville Parnham | Steven Parnham | 1.65L | 10 | 56kg | $21 |
| 8 | 5 | FUHRYK | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Beau Mertens (a) | 2.65L | 5 | 57kg | $10 |
| 9 | 14 | DEJA BLUE | Robbie Griffiths | Jye McNeil | 2.75L | 7 | 55kg | $61 |
| 10 | 10 | I AM ZELADY | Phillip Stokes | Noel Callow | 4.5L | 6 | 55kg | $19 |
| 11 | 13 | SELITA | Mark Newnham | Luke Nolen | 5.5L | 9 | 55kg | $81 |
| 12 | 11 | MISS COVER GIRL | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 9L | 13 | 55kg | $20 |
| 13 | 2 | KENEDNA | Darren Weir | John Allen | 10.75L | 8 | 58kg | $61 |
| – | 16 | MODERN WONDER | Leon & Troy Corstens | Michael Walker | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 17e | SAVAJU (NZ) | Shaun Dwyer | Ms Nikita Beriman | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 8 | MISS GUNPOWDER | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Michael Dee | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 15 | MOONLITES CHOICE | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | – | 0 | – | – |
2017 How Now Stakes Odds
The spring’s top How Now Stakes 2017 betting odds and Group 3 Caulfield racing links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be provided below the week leading up to Naturalism Stakes Day.
2017 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 2017 How Now Stakes Final Field & Barriers are released on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The 2017 Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes Field has drawn a capacity line-up of 16 confirmed starters plus an emergency runner for the race registered as the How Now Stakes. Among the top contenders for the win are Missrock with work to do from a wide barrier, Ravi and the returning Miss Gunpowder.
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21x242212x | PROMPT RESPONSE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Stephen Baster | 1 | 58kg | 101 |
| 2 | 431311214x | KENEDNA | Darren Weir | John Allen | 10 | 58kg | 93 |
| 3 | 17731x1x71 | SAVANNA AMOUR | Chris Meagher | Brad Rawiller | 14 | 58kg | 99 |
| 4 | 110x15028x | LEGLESS VEUVE (NZ) | Stuart Webb | Luke Currie | 4 | 58kg | 92 |
| 5 | 11410x21x7 | FUHRYK | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Beau Mertens (a) | 6 | 57kg | 95 |
| 6 | 2451x493x1 | RAVI | Peter & Paul Snowden | TBA | 5 | 57kg | 102 |
| 7 | 5x19242x14 | MISSROCK | Robbie Laing | Damien Oliver | 15 | 56kg | 107 |
| 8 | 430x10210x | MISS GUNPOWDER | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Michael Dee | 11 | 56kg | 95 |
| 9 | 1122x2220x | ELLICAZOOM | Neville Parnham | Steven Parnham | 13 | 56kg | 82 |
| 10 | 70x2766x74 | I AM ZELADY | Phillip Stokes | Noel Callow | 7 | 55kg | 90 |
| 11 | 300x3097x0 | MISS COVER GIRL | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 16 | 55kg | 99 |
| 12 | 134x48x04x | NOW OR LATER (IRE) | Robert Smerdon | Ryan Maloney | 2 | 55kg | 95 |
| 13 | 4x26x52x35 | SELITA | Mark Newnham | Luke Nolen | 12 | 55kg | 81 |
| 14 | 101715763x | DEJA BLUE | Robbie Griffiths | Jye McNeil | 8 | 55kg | 83 |
| 15 | 6x4651512x | MOONLITES CHOICE | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | 3 | 55kg | 78 |
| 16 | 23x2908x42 | MODERN WONDER | Leon & Troy Corstens | Michael Walker | 17 | 55kg | 73 |
| 17e | 7x1702134x | SAVAJU (NZ) | Shaun Dwyer | Ms Nikita Beriman | 9 | 55kg | 71 |
2017 How Now Stakes Nominations
The 2017 How Now Stakes nominations were released by Racing Victoria on Monday September 18 and feature a bumper 29 mares including the returning Gai Waterhouse-trained Tattersall’s Tiara runner-up Prompt Response, Darren Weir’s Queensland Oaks fourth placegetter Kenedna and Team Snowden’s last start Group 3 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) winner Ravi.
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21x242212x | PROMPT RESPONSE | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 1 | 58kg | 101 |
| 2 | 431311214x | KENEDNA | M | 4 | Darren Weir | 2 | 58kg | 93 |
| 3 | 17731x1x71 | SAVANNA AMOUR | M | 4 | Chris Meagher | 3 | 58kg | 99 |
| 4 | 110x15028x | LEGLESS VEUVE (NZ) | M | 4 | Stuart Webb | 4 | 58kg | 92 |
| 5 | 11410x21x7 | FUHRYK | M | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 5 | 57kg | 95 |
| 6 | 2451x493x1 | RAVI | M | 5 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 6 | 57kg | 102 |
| 7 | 74x563530x | SELENIA | M | 4 | Robbie Griffiths | 7 | 57kg | 76 |
| 8 | 5x19242x14 | MISSROCK | M | 4 | Robbie Laing | 8 | 56kg | 107 |
| 9 | 430x10210x | MISS GUNPOWDER | M | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 9 | 56kg | 95 |
| 10 | 1122x2220x | ELLICAZOOM | M | 4 | Neville Parnham | 10 | 56kg | 82 |
| 11 | 395x5134x6 | MERRIEST | M | 4 | Danny O’Brien | 11 | 56kg | 80 |
| 12 | 138x12121x | SNITTY KITTY | M | 4 | Henry Dwyer | 12 | 56kg | 90 |
| 13 | 70x2766x74 | I AM ZELADY | M | 6 | Phillip Stokes | 13 | 55kg | 90 |
| 14 | 300x3097x0 | MISS COVER GIRL | M | 6 | Darren Weir | 14 | 55kg | 99 |
| 15 | 134x48x04x | NOW OR LATER (IRE) | M | 5 | Robert Smerdon | 15 | 55kg | 95 |
| 16 | 7xL3711236 | DULVERTON | M | 5 | Robert Smerdon | 16 | 55kg | 83 |
| 17 | 580x7334x7 | JALAN JALAN | M | 5 | Colin Little | 17 | 55kg | 77 |
| 18 | 4x26x52x35 | SELITA | M | 6 | Mark Newnham | 18 | 55kg | 81 |
| 19 | 101715763x | DEJA BLUE | M | 5 | Robbie Griffiths | 19 | 55kg | 83 |
| 20 | 1x165512x1 | FRAGONARD | M | 4 | James Cummings | 20 | 55kg | 80 |
| 21 | 6x4651512x | MOONLITES CHOICE | M | 4 | Darren Weir | 21 | 55kg | 78 |
| 22 | 0x08x340x8 | ALMIGHTY GIRL | M | 5 | Joseph Pride | 22 | 55kg | 84 |
| 23 | 23x2908x42 | MODERN WONDER | M | 4 | Leon & Troy Corstens | 23 | 55kg | 73 |
| 24 | 15×4021103 | LOVANI | M | 4 | Robert Smerdon | 24 | 55kg | 78 |
| 25 | 2110x9036x | LEOTIE | M | 4 | Henry Dwyer | 25 | 55kg | 73 |
| 26 | 043135215x | STORMSABREWING (NZ) | M | 5 | Henry Dwyer | 26 | 55kg | 74 |
| 27 | 10813×2851 | ADALITA | M | 5 | Grahame Begg | 27 | 55kg | 72 |
| 28 | 1129x4x23x | LOVE DAYS | M | 5 | Clinton McDonald | 28 | 55kg | 68 |
| 29 | 7x1702134x | SAVAJU (NZ) | M | 4 | Shaun Dwyer | 29 | 55kg | 71 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 How Now Stakes |
1st | TBD | TBD |
| 2nd | TBD | ||
| 3rd | TBD | ||
| 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 | ||