Australia Stakes

The Australia Stakes is a Group 2 sprint held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in late January as a lead-up to the Group 1 races run over the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

2023 Australia Stakes Results

  • 1st: #5 Jigsaw
  • 2nd: #8 Turaath
  • 3rd: #7 Calypso Reign



The 2023 Australia Stakes is a Group 2 race held each year in late January at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne. Run over 1200m under weight-for-age conditions, this sprint race is worth $350,000 in prize money.

It is one of only a couple of Group 2 races held in January anywhere in the country and signals the return of regular black type racing to Melbourne.

The Australia Stakes serves as a nice campaign kick-off for sprinters heading towards tougher races during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

It is a key lead-up race into the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) run at Caulfield in February and Black Caviar (2012) followed by Streets Of Avalon (2021) are the last runners to do the double.

In 2022 the Australia Stakes winner Marabi franked the form winning the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Blue Diamond Stakes Day next start.

The Australia Stakes 2023 ran on Saturday January 28, 2023 at The Valley and was won by the Cindy Alderson-trained favourite Jigsaw ($3.10F). 

2023 Australia Stakes
Date: Saturday January 28, 2023
Track: Moonee Valley Racecourse
Distance: 1200m
Race Type: Weight-for-age
Status: Group 2
Prize Money: $350,000

2023 Australia Stakes Results

  • 1st: #5 Jigsaw ($3.10F)
  • 2nd: #8 Turaath
  • 3rd: #7 Calypso Reign

The in-form Cindy Alderson-trained Manhattan Rain four-year-old Jigsaw ($3.10F) was too good for his rivals rising in class to post his fourth straight win with a dominant 2.5 length success in the 2023 Australia Stakes results at The Valley.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 5 JIGSAW Cindy Alderson Daniel Moor 2 58.5kg $3.10F
2 8 TURAATH (GB) Maddie Raymond Damian Lane 2.5L 7 56.5kg $4.60
3 7 CALYPSO REIGN David Jolly Craig Williams 4L 6 58.5kg $7
4 6 SNAPPER (NZ) Michael Moroney Jye McNeil 6.25L 5 58.5kg $3.70
5 2 WESTERN EMPIRE (NZ) John Leek (Jnr) Mark Zahra 8.25L 4 58.5kg $14
6 3 IRONCLAD (GB) Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea Ms Jamie Kah 15.25L 1 58.5kg $10
7 1 SUPERSTORM John Leek (Jnr) Jamie Mott 17.75L 3 58.5kg $26
4 BEAU ROSSA Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea Ms Jamie Kah 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Australia Stakes Betting & Odds

The latest Australia Stakes 2023 odds and betting markets provided by Ladbrokes.com.au will be published below as soon as available for you to back your Australia Stakes betting tips at the best prices.

Marabi ($1.80 in 2022) and Jigsaw ($3.10 in 2023) are the last Australia Stakes betting favourites to get the job done.

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

2023 Australia Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 AUSTRALIA STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Australia Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our exclusive Australia Stakes 2023 Tips on the autumn autumn lead-up in Melbourne this January.

  • To Win: #1 Superstorm ($17 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Going for an upset in a far from vintage edition of the Australia Stakes and taking on the in-form favourite (Jigsaw) with this returning double-figure hopeful. The Bob Peters-raced Superstorm is now with John Leek Jnr at Pakenham and is first-up on Saturday at The Valley where he won the Group 2 Feehan Stakes back in 2021 over the mile. Huge and one of the genuine middle-distance stars that campaign headlined by his Group 1 Cantala Stakes win over the Flemington mile. Didn’t race at all last year so he’s been off a while. Has he come back okay? We’ll find out on Saturday but at the price happy to go out on a limb and saying he can win this even at half his best form.

2023 Australia Stakes Field

The Australia Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of middle-distance sprinters that are usually kicking off their Melbourne Festival of Racing campaigns. The Australia Stakes field features top gallopers that are more often than not Group 1 performed.

The 2023 Australia Stakes field is due for release on January 25th, 2023 and will be published in full below.

The Australia Stakes 2023 field features just eight final acceptors led by the Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw chasing a fourth win on the trot.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2023 Australia Stakes field and betting markets.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 36x413316x SUPERSTORM John Leek (Jnr) Jamie Mott 3 58.5kg 112
2 1x112x55x7 WESTERN EMPIRE (NZ) John Leek (Jnr) Mark Zahra 4 58.5kg 109
3 x170x34023 IRONCLAD (GB) Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea Ms Jamie Kah 1 58.5kg 103
4 x47x00x470 BEAU ROSSA Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea Ms Jamie Kah 8 58.5kg 100
5 511867×111 JIGSAW Cindy Alderson Daniel Moor 2 58.5kg 100
6 1180×89171 SNAPPER (NZ) Michael Moroney Jye McNeil 5 58.5kg 96
7 0x1211144x CALYPSO REIGN David Jolly Craig Williams 6 58.5kg 95
8 x5346x510x TURAATH (GB) Maddie Raymond Damian Lane 7 56.5kg 101

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Australia Stakes Nominations

Early entries for The Valley’s Group 2 Australia Stakes close the Monday leading-up to the event and will be updated below once announced.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 36x413316x SUPERSTORM G 6 John Leek (Jnr) 1 58.5kg 112
2 1x21411x GOLDEN MILE C 3 James Cummings 2 55kg 108
3 1x112x55x7 WESTERN EMPIRE (NZ) G 5 John Leek (Jnr) 3 58.5kg 109
4 x170x34023 IRONCLAD (GB) G 7 Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea 4 58.5kg 103
5 x47x00x470 BEAU ROSSA G 5 Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea 5 58.5kg 100
6 511867×111 JIGSAW G 4 Cindy Alderson 6 58.5kg 100
7 x5346x510x TURAATH (GB) M 6 Maddie Raymond 7 56.5kg 101
8 6x230x706x OXLEY ROAD H 5 Peter G Moody 8 58.5kg 98
9 1180×89171 SNAPPER (NZ) G 5 Michael Moroney 9 58.5kg 96
10 144138×174 UMGAWA G 4 Leon & Troy Corstens 10 58.5kg 88
11 0x1211144x CALYPSO REIGN G 6 David Jolly 11 58.5kg 95
12 6960×32035 EXETER G 6 Gavin Bedggood 12 58.5kg 74
13 20x1112x3x STAR PATROL G 4 Clinton McDonald 13 58.5kg 89

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Australia Stakes History

Formerly called the Carlyon Stakes until 2010, the Moonee Valley Racing Club changed the race name to the Australia Stakes to celebrate Australia Day. This race is not to be confused with the Group 1 William Reid Stakes, which was previously called the Australia Stakes, and is now once again called the William Reid Stakes and runs in March.

Originally a Listed race and known as the Carlyon Stakes, this race earned Group 3 status in 1990 until 1994 when it was again elevated to Group 2 status. The Australia Stakes has been won by plenty of outstanding horses over the years including recent champions such as Black Caviar (2010 & 2012) and Malaguerra (2017).

Recent Australia Stakes Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Australia Stakes
1st Jigsaw 1 minute 9.75 seconds
2nd Turaath
3rd Calypso Reign
2022
Australia Stakes
1st Marabi 1 minute 11.42 seconds
2nd Sinawann
3rd Turaath
2021
Australia Stakes
1st Streets Of Avalon 1 minute 10.06 seconds
2nd Viridine
3rd Tavisan
2020
Australia Stakes
1st Scales Of Justice 1 minute 9.77 seconds
2nd Hey Doc
3rd Embrace Me
2019
Australia Stakes
1st Whispering Brook 1 minute 9.84 seconds
2nd Fell Swoop
3rd Land of Plenty
2018
Australia Stakes
1st Thronum 1 minute 10.48 seconds
2nd Mr Sneaky
3rd Stellar Collision
2017
Australia Stakes
1st Malaguerra 1 minute 9.29 seconds (Equal Track Record)
2nd Black Heart Bart
3rd Sirbible
2016
Australia Stakes
1st Holler 1 minute 10.96 seconds
2nd Churchill Dancer
3rd Rebel Dane
2015
Australia Stakes
1st Mourinho 1 minute 9.9 seconds
2nd It Is Written
3rd Dissident
2014
Australia Stakes
1st Richie’s Vibe 1 minute 10.96 seconds
2nd Moment Of Change
3rd It Is Written
2013
Australia Stakes
1st Sea Lord 1 minute 10.5 seconds
2nd Pinwheel
3rd Outlandish Lad
2012
Australia Stakes
1st Black Caviar 1 minute 09.4 seconds
2nd Zedi Knight
3rd Doubtful Jack
2011
Australia Stakes
1st Whitefriars 1 minute 09.6 seconds
2nd Undeniably
3rd Typhoon Tracy
2010
Australia Stakes
1st Black Caviar 1 minute 10.1 seconds
2nd Here De Angels
3rd La Rocket
2009
Carlyon Stakes
1st Lucky Secret 1 minute 11.2 seconds
2nd Light Fantastic
3rd Von Costa De Hero
2008
Carlyon Stakes
1st Let Go Thommo 1 minute 10.8 seconds
2nd Maldivian
3rd Casino Prince
2007
Carlyon Stakes
1st El Segundo 1 minute 11.2 seconds
2nd Cocinero
3rd Super Elegant
2006
Carlyon Stakes
1st California Dane 1 minute 9.8 seconds
2nd Virage De Fortune
3rd Casual Pass
2005
Carlyon Stakes
1st Super Elegant 1 minute 10.5 seconds
2nd Strikeline
3rd Ruben
2004
Carlyon Stakes
1st Vocabulary 1 minute 11.5 seconds
2nd Super Elegant
3rd Confederate Kid
2003
Carlyon Stakes
1st Yell 1 minute 10.3 seconds
2nd Libidinious
3rd Pernod
2002
Carlyon Stakes
1st Royal Code 1 minute 11 seconds
2nd Intelligent Star
3rd Ustinov
2001
Carlyon Stakes
1st Piavonic 1 minute 11.8 seconds
2nd Ateates
3rd Le Zagaletta
2000
Carlyon Stakes
1st Slavonic 1 minute 12.1 seconds
2nd Sports
3rd Le Zagaletta

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