Sky High Stakes

The Group 3 Sky High Stakes takes place each year in March at Rosehill Racecourse on Coolmore Classic Day during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

2024 Sky High Stakes Results

  • 1st: #3 Lindermann
  • 2nd: #6 Kalapour
  • 3rd: #5 Stockman



The Sky High Stakes is a Group 3 race held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse on Coolmore Classic Day in March during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Contested over 2000m the set weights plus penalties race is open to horses aged three-years-old and above and offers a lucrative $350,000 in total prize money.

Coolmore Classic Day is headlined by the fillies and mares facing off in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) and the meeting is host to a number of other Group status races. Other highlights on the card including the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m), Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m), Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m), and the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) for Golden Slipper Stakes hopefuls.

A nice lead-up into the Sky High Stakes is the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) – now Verry Elleegant Stakes – over a mile in late February.

In 2015 Hartnell ran second in the Chipping Norton Stakes before winning the Sky High Stakes. The 2017 Sky High Stakes winner Tavago also backed-up off a Chipping Norton Stakes run (5th). More recently, Chris Waller’s mare Toffee Tongue improved on an eighth in the Chipping Norton to win the Sky High at $14.

In 2022 the Sky High Stakes winner Stockman atoned for his dead-last (10th) in the Chipping Norton to win the lucrative Group 3 event.

In 2024 the Verry Elleegant Stakes again produced the Sky High Stakes winner with Lindermann third in his Group 1 lead-up before dominating the Group 3 by over four lengths.

The stayers that face off in the Sky High Stakes field are traditionally heading towards longer distance features over the autumn including the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) run at Royal Randwick in April. Country Tyrone (2006) was the last horse to complete the Sky High Stakes – Sydney Cup double.

The Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) – formerly The BMW – is another elite level option for Sky High Stakes graduates and in 2015 Who Shot Thebarman ran fourth in both races before a second in the Sydney Cup. That year Hartnell (2015) completed the Sky High Stakes – The BMW double. In 2016 Who Shot Thebarman returned to finish third in the Sky High Stakes, second in The BMW and fourth in the Sydney Cup.

In 2021 the Sky High Stakes winner Toffee Tongue ran second next-up in the Tancred Stakes results and later finished runner-up in the winter’s Group 1 Doomben Cup in Brisbane.

The 2022 Sky High Stakes form was franked with the winner Stockman also finishing second in that year’s Tancred Stakes quinella, while the runner-up Mount Popa went on to place third in the following month’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

The Sky High Stakes 2024 ran on Saturday March 16, 2024 at Rosehill Gardens and was won in a demolition job by Chris Waller’s down-in-grade Group 1 winner Lindermann ($1.90F) who saluted by over four lengths as the odds-on pick. 

2024 Sky High Stakes
Date: Saturday March 16, 2024
Track: Rosehill Racecourse
Distance: 2000m
Race Type: Set Weights + Penalties
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $350,000

2024 Sky High Stakes Results

  • 1st: #3 Lindermann ($1.90F)
  • 2nd: #6 Kalapour
  • 3rd: #5 Stockman

Chris Waller’s Rosehill Guineas winner Lindermann ($1.90F) finally returned to winning form with a powerhouse four-length romp home relishing a drop in grade to salute as the well-backed favourite in the 2024 Sky High Stakes results ahead of bigger things to come in the autumn.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 3 LINDERMANN Chris Waller James McDonald 3 58kg $1.90F
2 6 KALAPOUR (IRE) Kris Lees Kerrin McEvoy 4.24L 6 55.5kg $17
3 5 STOCKMAN (NZ) Joseph Pride Reece Jones 5.11L 7 55.5kg $8.50
4 8 ATHABASCAN (FR) John O’Shea Tommy Berry 7.05L 1 55.5kg $4.80
5 4 JUST FINE (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Regan Bayliss 9.38L 4 58kg $6
6 9 HOPEFUL (FR) Annabel Neasham Chad Schofield 11.18L 2 55kg $21
7 2 EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ) Ciaron Maher Dylan Gibbons (a) 29.18L 5 58kg $17
1 ARAPAHO (FR) Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King 0
7 MURAMASA Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Tyler Schiller 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Sky High Stakes Betting Odds

The autumn’s latest Sky High Stakes 2024 betting odds and market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be available below the week of the race.

Master Of Wine ($2.20 in 2020) and four-length champ Lindermann ($1.90 in 2024) are the latest favourites in Sky High Stakes betting to salute.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2024 SKY HIGH STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2024 Sky High Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 SKY HIGH STAKES FORM GUIDE

2024 Sky High Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Sky High Stakes 2024 Tips on the important autumn lead-up event this season.

  • To Win: #3 Lindermann ($2.15 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Despite a significant dry spell since his dominant Rosehill Guineas win last year, Chris Waller’s Lindermann emerges as the favorite for the Sky High Stakes. His perfect record at Rosehill (two wins from two starts) inspires confidence, and his recent third-place finish in the prestigious Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes showcases his continued quality. Now in his third run back from a break, he appears primed for a strong showing. The drop in competition level and a favourable barrier draw (number four) further enhance his chances. With James McDonald in the saddle, Lindermann is a clear contender for victory.

2024 Sky High Stakes Field

The Sky High Stakes field attracts a class line-up of stayers each autumn and many of the runners are heading towards the Sydney Cup over two miles at Royal Randwick.

The official 2024 Sky High Stakes field and barriers are set for release on Wednesday March 13, 2024 and will be published in full below.

Chris Waller’s 2023 Rosehill Guineas winner Lindermann looking to return to winning form heads betting on the Sky High Stakes 2024 final field at Rosehill this weekend.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 77114x0x75 ARAPAHO (FR) Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King 6 58kg 109
2 00x77201x0 EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ) Ciaron Maher Dylan Gibbons (a) 7 58kg 108
3 10x0488x63 LINDERMANN Chris Waller James McDonald 4 58kg 107
4 061x1110x8 JUST FINE (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Regan Bayliss 5 58kg 106
5 9840194×07 STOCKMAN (NZ) Joseph Pride Reece Jones 9 55.5kg 104
6 x3L73310x0 KALAPOUR (IRE) Kris Lees Kerrin McEvoy 8 55.5kg 103
7 900x1116x8 MURAMASA Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Tyler Schiller 1 55.5kg 103
8 x9911872x6 ATHABASCAN (FR) John O’Shea Tommy Berry 2 55.5kg 99
9 x0020x006x HOPEFUL (FR) Annabel Neasham Chad Schofield 3 55kg 94

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Sky High Stakes Nominations

Early nominations for the Sky High Stakes in 2024 close the Monday ahead of the race and will be provided below once confirmed.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight True Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 77114x0x75 ARAPAHO (FR) G 7 Bjorn Baker 1 58kg 109
2 00x77201x0 EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ) G 6 Ciaron Maher 2 58kg 108
3 10x0488x63 LINDERMANN G 4 Chris Waller 3= 58kg 107
4 x143x275x5 BUCKAROO (GB) H 5 Chris Waller 3= 55kg 107
5 061x1110x8 JUST FINE (IRE) G 6 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 5 58kg 106
6 9840194×07 STOCKMAN (NZ) G 7 Joseph Pride 6 55.5kg 104
7 x3L73310x0 KALAPOUR (IRE) G 7 Kris Lees 7= 55.5kg 103
8 900x1116x8 MURAMASA G 4 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 7= 55.5kg 103
9 811179×053 BOLD MAC (NZ) G 6 Chris Waller 7= 55kg 103
10 x9911872x6 ATHABASCAN (FR) G 5 John O’Shea 10= 55.5kg 99
11 x03340x242 MANKAYAN (IRE) G 8 Ciaron Maher 10= 55kg 99
12 14x78x3135 ZENNZELLA M 4 Ciaron Maher 12 54.5kg 97
13 0x854150x9 SUIZURO G 4 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 13 55kg 94
14 31x2343x4 CIRCLE OF FIRE (GB) H 4 Ciaron Maher 14 55kg 79
15 x0020x006x HOPEFUL (FR) G 7 Annabel Neasham 15 55kg 94

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Sky High Stakes History

The Sky High Stakes has been run and won since 1989 and the first edition of the race was won by Eye Of The Sky. Since then plenty of star stayers have won the event including Hartnel (2015) and Sir John Hawkwood (2016).

The race is named in honour of Sky High who won the Golden Slipper Stakes as a two-year-old in 1960 and the next year’s Epsom Handicap. It was first run as an unlisted race until 1992 when it gained Listed status and then Group 3 status later in 2014. Before 2014 it took place over 1900m and the distance was increased to the current 2000m in 2015. For one year in 2008 it took place at Canterbury Park and in 2016 the Sky High Stakes was changed from a quality handicap clash to a set weights plus penalties event.

There was an international Sky High Stakes winner in 2023 when the William Haggas-trained UK visitor Protagonist travelled down under to outstay the Aussies.

Recent Sky High Stakes Winners

See below for the full Sky High Stakes results and winners dating back to the year 2000.

Year Place Horse Time
2024
Sky High Stakes
1st Lindermann 2 minutes 01.55 seconds
2nd Kalapour
3rd Stockman
2023
Sky High Stakes
1st Protagonist 2 minutes 01.43 seconds
2nd Zeyrek
3rd Sunshine Rising
2022
Sky High Stakes
1st Stockman 2 minutes 05.20 seconds
2nd Mount Popa
3rd Great House
2021
Sky High Stakes
1st Toffee Tongue 2 minutes 01.03 seconds
2nd Spirit Ridge
3rd Mirage Dancer
2020
Sky High Stakes
1st Master Of Wine 2 minutes 11.45 seconds
2nd Mustajeer
3rd Carif
2019
Sky High Stakes
1st Red Cardinal 2 minutes 8.37 seconds
2nd Rodrico
3rd Goathland
2018
Sky High Stakes
1st Auvray 2 minutes 3.72 seconds
2nd Libran
3rd Mackintosh
2017
Sky High Stakes
1st Tavago 2 minutes 3.8 seconds
2nd Antonio Giuseppe
3rd Allergic
2016
Sky High Stakes
1st Sir John Hawkwood 2 minutes 3.2 seconds
2nd Messene
3rd Who Shot Thebarman
2015
Sky High Stakes
1st Hartnell 2 minutes 2.6 seconds
2nd Opinion
3rd Hawkspur
2014
Sky High Stakes
1st Entirely Platinum 1 minute 55.7 seconds
2nd Midsummer Sun
3rd Desert Jeuney
2013
Sky High Stakes
1st Julienas 1 minute 56 seconds
2nd Lunayir
3rd Le Roi
2012
Sky High Stakes
1st Single 1 minute 56 seconds
2nd Southern Skye
3rd Flumicino
2011
Sky High Stakes
1st Older Than Time 1 minute 59.10 seconds
2nd Luen Yat Forever
3rd Syreon
2010
Sky High Stakes
1st Bellagio Wynn 1 minute 56.94 seconds
2nd Hadaaf
3rd Cousin Wal
2009
Sky High Stakes
1st Kettledrum 1 minute 56.76 seconds
2nd Brave Lancer
3rd Twin Wing
2008
Sky High Stakes
1st Nuclear Sky 1 minute 56.23 seconds
2nd Musket
3rd Bundoran Breeze
2007
Sky High Stakes
1st Coalesce 1 minute 57. 22 seconds
2nd Grand Zulu
3rd Prince Of Midnight
2006
Sky High Stakes
1st County Tyrone 1 minute 58.93 seconds
2nd No Wine No Song
3rd October Son
2005
Sky High Stakes
1st Seul Amour 1 minute 57.31 seconds
2nd Sunday Service
3rd Havana Wind
2004
Sky High Stakes
1st Daniel’s The Man 1 minute 56.12 seconds
2nd County Tyrone
3rd Striking Victory
2003
Sky High Stakes
1st National Treasure 1 minute 55.7 seconds
2nd Natural Blitz
3rd County Tyrone
2002
Sky High Stakes
1st Restless 1 minute 56.09 seconds
2nd Grampians
3rd Spirit Of Westbury
2001
Sky High Stakes
1st Bello Signor 1 minute 54.05 seconds
2nd The Druidess
3rd Cheverny
2000
Sky High Stakes
1st Spysept 1 minute 59.13 seconds
2nd Bombast
3rd Yippyio

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