Moonga Stakes

The Moonga Stakes is a Group 3 race contested in October on Caulfield Cup Day over the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

2023 Moonga Stakes Results

  • 1st: #3 Buffalo River
  • 2nd: #11 Climbing Star
  • 3rd: #7 Cause For Concern



The Group 3 Moonga Stakes is a 1400m sprint held at Caulfield Racecourse during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Held under set weights plus penalties conditions, the Moonga Stakes is a race for horses aged four years and older.

The Moonga Stakes is held on one of the biggest race days of the year, Caulfield Cup Day.

Sharing the race schedule with the Moonga Stakes are a host of other Black-Type features. These include the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m), Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m), Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m), and the Group 3 Caulfield Classic.

Horses contesting the Moonga Stakes field may come off a lead-up run in a race like the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) for mares at Flemington a fortnight earlier.

The Moonga Stakes serves as a nice lead-up into the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) over the Flemington mile during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Boban (2013) was the last horse to complete the double when the Group 1 was known as the Kennedy Cantala Stakes.

The 2021 Moonga Stakes form was franked with the third place-getter Justacanta winning the Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes (1200m) next start.

The Moonga Stakes 2023 ran on Saturday October 21, 2023 as part of Caulfield Cup Day and was won by the Michael Moroney-trained eight-year-old Buffalo River ($3.50). 

Neds Moonga Stakes
Date: Saturday October 21, 2023
Track: Caulfield Racecourse
Distance: 1400m
Race Type: 4YO&UP SW+P
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $200,000

2023 Moonga Stakes Results

  • 1st: #3 Buffalo River ($3.50)
  • 2nd: #11 Climbing Star
  • 3rd: #7 Cause For Concern

Michael Moroney’s evergreen veteran Buffalo River ($3.50) was excellent off a front-running ride giving a lovely kick at the 200m to stick to the task with a dominant Group 3 victory in the 2023 Moonga Stakes results on Caulfield Cup Day.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 3 BUFFALO RIVER (USA) Michael Moroney Ms Celine Gaudray (a) 3 58kg $3.50
2 11 CLIMBING STAR (NZ) Phillip Stokes Craig Williams 1.25L 2 55kg $5
3 7 CAUSE FOR CONCERN Shawn Mathrick Ben Allen 1.65L 6 57kg $10
4 6 FENDER Brett Cavanough Damien Oliver 2.05L 5 57kg $31
5 1 MR MAESTRO (NZ) Andrew Forsman Damian Lane 3.3L 1 58.5kg $14
6 10 NUNTHORPE Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Blake Shinn 6.05L 7 55kg $2.50F
7 2 THE FORTUNE TELLER Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ms Jamie Kah 6.15L 4 58.5kg $12
5 UMGAWA Leon & Troy Corstens Harry Coffey 0
9 TIMES SQUARE (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ms Carleen Hefel (a) 0
4 CUBAN ROYALE Robert & Luke Price 0
8 ALTIVO (GB) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Moonga Stakes Betting Odds

The latest Moonga Stakes 2023 betting markets provided by Ladbrokes.com.au will be listed below complete with links for you to back your Moonga Stakes Tips in at the right price as soon as released the week of the race.

Buffalo River ($2.70 in 2021) was the last favourite in Moonga Stakes betting to win.

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

2023 Moonga Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 MOONGA STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Moonga Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Moonga Stakes 2023 Betting Tip on the Caulfield Cup Day support act this spring.

  • To Win: #10 Nunthorpe ($2.60 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Happy to tip the favourite here who is firming fast to make it three wins on the trot when the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained Playing God mare lines-up against the boys. This progressive four-year-old is rock-hard fit, is a past Group 2 place-getter, and has the confidence of back-to-back victories behind her. Both were against her own kind in easier grade, but they were at Caulfield where she now has an undefeated record. Drops back two kilos from her last victory. It is a tough field, but with Blake Shinn aboard think she can handle the test.

2023 Moonga Stakes Field

The 2023 Moonga Stakes field and barriers are released by Racing Victoria (RV) on the Wednesday leading-up to Caulfield Cup Day and will be provided in full below once announced.

The Moonga Stakes 2023 final field features a smart line-up of spring hopefuls led in betting by the in-form mare Nunthorpe from the Moody/Coleman stable.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 11149x520x MR MAESTRO (NZ) Andrew Forsman Damian Lane 2 58.5kg 90
2 32x3010x04 THE FORTUNE TELLER Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ms Jamie Kah 6 58.5kg 91
3 7x629x9014 BUFFALO RIVER (USA) Michael Moroney Ms Celine Gaudray (a) 5 58kg 99
4 13377×5620 CUBAN ROYALE Robert & Luke Price 11 58kg 95
5 7×66422243 UMGAWA Leon & Troy Corstens Harry Coffey 1 58kg 93
6 38531×8708 FENDER Brett Cavanough Damien Oliver 7 57kg 91
7 x451121734 CAUSE FOR CONCERN Shawn Mathrick Ben Allen 8 57kg 83
8 11x112x03 ALTIVO (GB) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 9 57kg 81
9 7307x1x87x TIMES SQUARE (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ms Carleen Hefel (a) 3 56kg 98
10 1153×211 NUNTHORPE Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Blake Shinn 10 55kg 84
11 22x689x298 CLIMBING STAR (NZ) Phillip Stokes Craig Williams 4 55kg 80

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Moonga Stakes Nominations

Early nominations for the Moonga Stakes in 2023 close the Monday of race week and will be updated here once confirmed.

The 2023 Moonga Stakes nominations are extended until 10:00am (AEDT) Tuesday 17/10/2023.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 702419×011 AIN’TNODEELDUN G 6 Anthony & Sam Freedman 92
2 7x629x9014 BUFFALO RIVER (USA) G 8 Michael Moroney 99
3 x451121734 CAUSE FOR CONCERN G 4 Shawn Mathrick 83
4 22x689x298 CLIMBING STAR (NZ) M 4 Phillip Stokes 80
5 13377×5620 CUBAN ROYALE G 9 Robert & Luke Price 95
6 38531×8708 FENDER G 7 Brett Cavanough 91
7 3932111324 FLASH FLOOD G 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 93
8 11149x520x MR MAESTRO (NZ) G 4 Andrew Forsman 90
9 1153×211 NUNTHORPE M 4 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 84
10 32x3010x04 THE FORTUNE TELLER G 4 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 91
11 7307x1x87x TIMES SQUARE (FR) M 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 98
12 7×66422243 UMGAWA G 5 Leon & Troy Corstens 93

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Moonga Stakes History

The Moonga Stakes was inaugurated in 1982 and has since undergone a huge amount of name changes. Initially a Principal race, the Moonga Stakes was granted Group 3 status in 1994.

The Moonga Stakes is one of those races that receives sponsorship for its name in most years. During its short history, the Moonga Stakes has been named in honour of two different race horses, Vo Rogue and Northerly. Listed below are the various name changes the Moonga Stakes has undergone over the years.

Period Race Name
2012 onwards Moonga Stakes
2009-11 Betfair Stakes
2007-08 Jayco Cup
2005-06 Harrolds 101 Stakes
2004 Melbourne Racing Club Stakes
2003 Farewell To Northerly Stakes
2001-02 Melbourne Racing Club Stakes
2000 Ansett Australia Stakes
1998-99 IGA Supermarkets Stakes
1997 Tablerite Stakes
1996 Vo Rogue Stakes
1995 Richard Ellis Plate
1993-94 The Myer Stakes
1987-92 Richard Ellis Plate

Notable Moonga Stakes winners include Vo Rogue (1988), Rough Habit (1992), Assertive Lad (2002) and Boban (2013). Moonga Stakes results since 2000 are listed below.

Moonga Stakes Results

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Moonga Stakes
1st Buffalo River 1 minute 23.41 seconds
2nd Climbing Star
3rd Cause For Concern
2022
Moonga Stakes
1st Aegon 1 minute 25.19 seconds
2nd Bandersnatch
3rd Lady Of Honour
2021
Moonga Stakes
1st Buffalo River 1 minute 24.43 seconds
2nd King Magnus
3rd Justacanta
2020
Moonga Stakes
1st Wild Planet 1 minute 24.83 seconds
2nd Morrissy
3rd Fifty Stars
2019
Moonga Stakes
1st Streets Of Avalon 1 minute 23.94 seconds
2nd Variation
3rd Royal Meeting
2018
Moonga Stakes
1st Sircconi 1 minute 24.97 seconds
2nd Dreamforce
3rd Perast
2017
Moonga Stakes
1st Ulmann 1 minute 23.44 seconds
2nd Burning Front
3rd Echo Effect
2016
Moonga Stakes
1st Voodoo Lad 1 minute 25.54 seconds
2nd Under The Louvre
3rd Coronation Shallan
2015
Moonga Stakes
1st Vashka 1 minute 23.27 seconds
2nd Under The Louvre
3rd Coronation Shallan
2014
Moonga Stakes
1st Lucky Hussler 1 minute 23.5 seconds
2nd Under The Louvre
3rd Generalife
2013
Moonga Stakes
1st Boban 1 minute 23.8 seconds
2nd Strawberry Boy
3rd Galah
2012
Moonga Stakes
1st Whateverwhenever 1 minute 23.7 seconds
2nd King’s Rose
3rd McClintock
2011
Moonga Stakes
1st Love Conquers All 1 minute 21.9 seconds
2nd Albert The Fat
3rd Pinwheel
2010
Moonga Stakes
1st Rothera 1 minute 25.8 seconds
2nd Sniper’s Bullet
3rd Jungle Ruler
2009
Moonga Stakes
1st McClintock 1 minute 22.7 seconds
2nd Rightfully Yours
3rd Kiloton
2008
Moonga Stakes
1st Royal Discretion 1 minute 23.6 seconds
2nd Turffontein
3rd Stickpin
2007
Moonga Stakes
1st Lord Of The Dance 1 minute 22.6 seconds
2nd Polish Clown
3rd Solar Secret
2006
Moonga Stakes
1st Perfectly Ready 1 minute 22.3 seconds
2nd Live In Vain
3rd Caprizzi Strip
2005
Moonga Stakes
1st Volitant 1 minute 21.3 seconds
2nd Yell
3rd Shadow
2004
Moonga Stakes
1st Amtrak 1 minute 24.6 seconds
2nd Pink Fit
3rd Monahan Tweed
2003
Moonga Stakes
1st Thorn Park 1 minute 22.5 seconds
2nd Lord Volksraad
3rd Regal Roller
2002
Moonga Stakes
1st Assertive Lad 1 minute 22.9 seconds
2nd El Nino
3rd Prince Rubiton
2001
Moonga Stakes
1st Flavour 1 minute 24.8 seconds
2nd Inspire
3rd Make Mine Magic
2000
Moonga Stakes
1st Cellar 1 minute 21.8 seconds
2nd Hire
3rd Weasel Will

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