Signup to Ladbrokes

Races.com.au Favourite Bookmaker!

SPRNGC

Copy Signup Code

Code for tracking purposes only

Chances are you're about to lose.

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au

Naturalism Stakes News

Naturalism Stakes Winner Half Yours Big 2025 Caulfield Cup Betting Market Mover

• The Bart Cummings Winner Just Fine Secures 2024 Melbourne Cup Bid
• Positivity Books 2024 Caulfield Cup Ticket with MRC Foundation Cup Win
• Caulfield Cup 2023 Odds Firm on Upset MRC Foundation Cup Winner Uncle Bryn
• Caulfield Cup 2021 Odds Firm on Naturalism Stakes Winner Nonconformist
• 2021 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Day: Caulfield Scratchings & Track Report

The Naturalism Stakes – recently known as the MRC Foundation Cup – is a Group 3 staying event held during September each year as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. The Naturalism Stakes draws considerable attention from both punters and trainers due to it offering the winner a ballot exemption for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) a month later.

2025 Naturalism Stakes Results

Stay tuned for the official 2025 Naturalism Stakes results and finishing order including which horse could have booked a Caulfield Cup ticket!

• 1st: #17e Half Yours ($2.60F)
• 2nd: #10 Berkshire Breeze
• 3rd: #14 Grand Pierro

The all-in 2025 Caulfield Cup odds on the progressive Tony & Calvin McEvoy trained Half Yours ($2.60F) have been more than halved with the horse now second favourite for the $5 million classic after his impressive romp home in the 2025 Naturalism Stakes results on Saturday.

Click here for the full story.

Raced over 2000m, the Naturalism Stakes provides horses with a good opportunity mid-campaign to adjust their distance. The Naturalism Stakes has in the past been used by milers who are keen to step up in distance, while it is also regularly targeted by top class stayers kicking off their spring preps.

Run under open quality handicap conditions, the $200,000 Naturalism Stakes attracts plenty talent and is now part of the support card on Underwood Stakes Day. The two other Group status races on the program are the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) for Cox Plate types, the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) that moved back to the card ahead of the 2025 edition and the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) for the Caulfield Guineas-bound three-year-olds.

The Naturalism Stakes acts as an effective lead-up race to many major events such as the mile and a half classic, the Caulfield Cup, and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) run at weight-for-age at Moonee Valley the weekend after Caulfield Cup Day.

The last horse to complete the Naturalism Stakes – Caulfield Cup double was the classy mare Jameka (2016).

The 2021 Naturalism Stakes form was franked with the winner Nonconformist going on to run second in both the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes and Caulfield Cup results that spring.

In 2022 the Naturalism Stakes winner Smokin’ Romans franked the form winning the Turnbull Stakes next start, while the third placed Gold Trip went on to salute in that year’s Melbourne Cup race on the first Tuesday of November.

The 2025 Naturalism Stakes ran on Saturday, September 20, 2025 as a Caulfield Cup lead-up and was won in an impressive 3.5 length demolition job by emerging stayer Half Yours ($2.60F).  

2025 Naturalism Stakes Betting

The updated Naturalism Stakes 2025 odds and betting links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be provided at Races.com.au the week of the race.

Orderofthegarter ($2.90 in 2020), Nonconformist ($4.40 in 2021) and Half Yours ($2.60 in 2025) are the latest favourites in Naturalism Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

There was a notable upset in 2023 with the previous year’s runner-up Uncle Bryn winning at Naturalism Stakes odds of $26 and again in 2024 with smart mare Positivity ($16).

2025 Naturalism Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 NATURALISM STAKES FORM GUIDE

2025 Naturalism Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Naturalism Stakes 2025 tips on the Caulfield Cup lead-up this spring.

• Each Way: #8 Mark Twain ($15 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Full field of Spring Cup hopefuls and this year’s Naturalism shapes up as a tough one for the punters. At 10/1 at time of publish, MARK TWAIN (16) has caught my eye as potential value even though he’s drawn wide. The Roger James & Robert Wellwood trained Kiwi raider is a son of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and should relish getting out over a more suitable trip third-up. Winner of the Listed Roy Higgins at HQ back in March, I’m happy to put a line through his first-up run across the Tasman when found out by a Heavy (10) Te Rapa track finishing dead last carrying plenty of weight over 1200m in what was more of a trial than anything. He was back down under up to Group 1 grade last Saturday in the Makybe Diva Stakes over the Flemington mile and at 80/1 crossed last to historic three-time champ Mr Brightside, albeit only five lengths beaten. That’s a very strong form race and he’s down in grade now against the stayers which puts him right in the mix. Comes back 2kg after his WFA effort, is on the quick back-up and Jamie Mott sticks in the saddle. Think he’ll be there late and happy to take him EACH WAY.

2025 Naturalism Stakes Field

The Naturalism Stakes field of final acceptances are released on the Wednesday leading up to Naturalism Stakes Day at Caulfield Racecourse and traditionally attracts a capacity 16-starter line-up of Caulfield Cup-bound horses.

Horse may come into the Naturalism Stakes field via a number of different spring lead-up races including the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) run over the mile at Moonee Valley a fortnight earlier.

The official 2025 Naturalism Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw will be published below as soon as released by Racing Victoria.

The Naturalism Stakes 2025 field features a capacity line-up of potential Caulfield Cup bound stayers including the clear favourite Half Yours who scratched out of Sydney’s 7 Stakes in favour of a run here.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2025 Naturalism Stakes Nominations

Nominations for the Naturalism Stakes in 2025 close the Monday leading-up to Underwood Stakes Day and will be published for punters below as soon as announced.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Naturalism Stakes History

Inaugurated in 1983, the Naturalism Stakes has become a key early form race to follow for Caulfield Cup horses during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

At its inception, the Naturalism Stakes was a Listed event. In 2009 it received an upgrade to Group 3 status and has retained that ever since.

Notable Naturalism Stakes winners include Celestial Show (2000), Zipping (2006), Mr O’Ceirin (2013), and Jameka (2016) who went on to win that season’s Caulfield Cup.

Naturalism Stakes results since 2000 are listed below.

From 2014 – 2024 the event ran as the MRC Foundation Cup.

Naturalism Stakes Results

This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team.