Blamey Stakes

The Blamey Stakes is a Group 2 race held at Flemington on Australian Guineas Day.

2023 Blamey Stakes Results

  • 1st: #10 Nonconformist
  • 2nd: #6 Pounding
  • 3rd: #5 Bankers Choice



The Blamey Stakes is a Group 2 set weight and penalties race held at Flemington Racecourse in late February or early March as part of Australian Guineas Day at HQ. Raced over a 1600m distance, the Blamey Stakes is worth $300,000 in prize money during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival. Good lead-up races to the Blamey Stakes include the Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1400m) and the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m).

The Blamey Stakes now runs as the key support race at the Australian Guineas Day meeting having previously been run the weekend later on ‘Super Saturday’ alongside the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and the Group 1 Australian Cup.

Dual Blamey Stakes champion Fifty Stars (2019, 2020) was the last horse to do the Blamey Stakes – Australian Cup double in 2020. Fifty Stars also returned in 2021 and narrowly missed out on a third victory when runner-up to Star Of The Seas.

It can prove a lead-up for horses heading up to Sydney for ‘The Championships’ races including the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) and the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on the first two Saturdays of April at Royal Randwick.

Some of the gallopers in the Blamey Stakes field may also secure a run in the $4.8 million The All-Star Mile race held a fortnight later, a race the 2021 Blamey winner Star Of The Seas finished sixth in next-up.

The 2022 Blamey Stakes form was franked with the runner-up Zaaki going on to win The All-Star Mile next start before a second in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Zaaki went on to place in a host of other Group 1 status races before a successful title defence that spring in the Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington over the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The 2023 Blamey Stakes ran on Saturday March 4, 2023 at Flemington and was won in a big first-up upset by the Grahame Begg-trained Nonconformist ($19). 

Blamey Stakes 2023
Date: Saturday March 4, 2023
Track: Flemington Racecourse
Distance: 1600m
Race Type: Open Set Weights & Penalties
Status: Group 2
Prize Money: $300,000

2023 Blamey Stakes Results

  • 1st: #10 Nonconformist ($19)
  • 2nd: #6 Pounding
  • 3rd: #5 Bankers Choice

Grahame Begg’s 2021 Caulfield Cup runner-up Nonconformist ($19) was back to his best fresh scoring a big two-length upset in the 2023 Blamey Stakes results first-up on Australian Guineas Day.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 10 NONCONFORMIST Grahame Begg Harry Coffey 6 55kg $19
2 6 POUNDING Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 2.25L 10 57kg $11
3 5 BANKERS CHOICE (NZ) Michael Moroney John Allen 2.75L 9 57kg $20
4 4 GENTLEMAN ROY Ben & JD Hayes Mark Zahra 3.5L 8 57kg $2.80F
5 11 RIYAZAN (IRE) Lisa Jones Daniel Stackhouse 3.6L 1 55kg $201
6 7 UNCLE BRYN (GB) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Blake Shinn 3.9L 7 56kg $6.50
7 12 LUNAR FLARE Grahame Begg Michael Dee 4.4L 12 55kg $61
8 2 SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Damian Lane 4.6L 3 59kg $26
9 1 TUVALU Lindsey Smith Jarrod Fry 4.7L 5 59kg $4.20
10 3 CALLSIGN MAV (NZ) Danny O’Brien Jamie Mott 5.45L 2 59kg $41
11 8 BEAR STORY (IRE) Clinton McDonald Ben Melham 5.85L 13 56kg $21
12 13 HEZASHOCKA (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Damien Oliver 7.6L 14 55kg $12
13 9 SO SI BON Ben & JD Hayes Jye McNeil 8.1L 4 55kg $41
14 14 PORT PHILIP (IRE) Julius Sandhu Beau Mertens 10.1L 11 55kg $101

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Blamey Stakes Betting Odds

The Blamey Stakes 2023 betting odds complete with links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be available for punters below during the autumn.

Fifty Stars ($2.70 in 2020) for his second success became the latest favourite in Blamey Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

There was a notable upset in 2023 with Nonconformist winning at Blamey Stakes odds of $19.

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

2023 Blamey Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 BLAMEY STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Blamey Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Blamey Stakes 2023 Tips on the Group 2 at Flemington this Australian Guineas Day.

  • To Win: #4 Gentleman Roy ($3.30 at time of publish) 

Can’t go past the favourite and early market mover Gentleman Roy who should really be vying for a third win on the trot. Fresh the consistent So You Think six-year-old a black-type win at Sandown with a big weight before rising in grade to finish first in the Group 1 C.F. Orr. He lost top honours in that after a successful protest by runner-up Jacquinot and was relegated to second. Presents rock-hard fit third-up and Mark Zahra retains the ride. He has a great record at the distance (8:4-2-0) and brilliant strike-rate at Flemington (4:3-1-0). The stable won last Saturday’s Blue Diamond Stakes and are in as fine a form as this horse. Back don’t sack.

2023 Blamey Stakes Field

The Blamey Stakes field attracts some of the top milers that are currently on the racing circuit. As a relatively major autumn feature race held towards the end of the Melbourne-based action that time of year, the Blamey Stakes field is usually filled out with quality types that could be Sydney bound next race.

Following a run in the Blamey Stakes field, horses may head to Royal Randwick in April’s ‘The Championships’ for a shot at something like the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) that the 2018 Blamey Stakes winner Palentino ran fourth in or the lucrative Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

The 2023 Blamey Stakes field and barriers are set for release on Wednesday March 1, 2023 and will be published in full below.

A bumper 14 autumn milers make-up the Blamey Stakes 2023 final field at Flemington this weekend with betting led by the Ben & JD Hayes-trained Gentleman Roy who comes off an official Group 1 CF Orr Stakes second having lost his first position upon protest. 

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 1211x312x7 TUVALU Lindsey Smith Jarrod Fry 5 59kg 111
2 9x921177x8 SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ethan Brown 3 59kg 109
3 80x61052x0 CALLSIGN MAV (NZ) Danny O’Brien Jamie Mott 2 59kg 109
4 21x2146x12 GENTLEMAN ROY Ben & JD Hayes Mark Zahra 8 57kg 107
5 6x770261x6 BANKERS CHOICE (NZ) Michael Moroney John Allen 9 57kg 104
6 2512582111 POUNDING Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 10 57kg 102
7 x6220151x8 UNCLE BRYN (GB) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Blake Shinn 7 56kg 104
8 x332652x1x BEAR STORY (IRE) Clinton McDonald Ben Melham 13 56kg 100
9 0423573412 SO SI BON Ben & JD Hayes Jye McNeil 4 55kg 98
10 122x87670x NONCONFORMIST Grahame Begg Harry Coffey 6 55kg 106
11 428x1x27x0 RIYAZAN (IRE) Lisa Jones Daniel Stackhouse 1 55kg 100
12 156x46612x LUNAR FLARE Grahame Begg Michael Dee 12 55kg 105
13 132120423x HEZASHOCKA (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Damien Oliver 14 55kg 104
14 2x6111123x PORT PHILIP (IRE) Julius Sandhu 11 55kg 84

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Blamey Stakes Nominations

Nominations for the Blamey Stakes in 2023 close the Monday of race week and will be updated in full below once announced.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 1211x312x7 TUVALU G 5 Lindsey Smith 1 59kg 111
2 9x921177x8 SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) G 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 2 59kg 109
3 80x61052x0 CALLSIGN MAV (NZ) G 6 Danny O’Brien 3 59kg 109
4 156x46612x LUNAR FLARE M 7 Grahame Begg 4 55kg 105
5 21x2146x12 GENTLEMAN ROY G 6 Ben & JD Hayes 5 57kg 107
6 6x770261x6 BANKERS CHOICE (NZ) G 5 Michael Moroney 6 57kg 104
7 8x013534x7 SIRILEO MISS M 5 Symon Wilde 7 55kg 98
8 2512582111 POUNDING G 4 Peter G Moody 8 57kg 102
9 546x1699x0 DALASAN H 6 Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas 9 56kg 103
10 x6220151x8 UNCLE BRYN (GB) G 5 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 10 56kg 104
11 x332652x1x BEAR STORY (IRE) H 5 Clinton McDonald 11 56kg 100
12 17x41x UNITED NATIONS (IRE) H 4 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 12 56kg 90
13 0423573412 SO SI BON G 9 Ben & JD Hayes 13 55kg 98
14 122x87670x NONCONFORMIST G 6 Grahame Begg 14 55kg 106
15 428x1x27x0 RIYAZAN (IRE) G 8 Lisa Jones 15 55kg 100
16 x132302523 MUNHAMEK (GB) G 7 Nick Ryan 16 55kg 84
17 132120423x HEZASHOCKA (NZ) G 5 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 17 55kg 104
18 0x52643126 BELTORO G 5 Robert Hickmott 18 55kg 84
19 2x6111123x PORT PHILIP (IRE) G 5 Julius Sandhu 19 55kg 84
20 33×115 ATTRITION C 3 Mitchell Freedman 20 52kg 72

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Blamey Stakes History

First won by Prince Cortauld in 1955, the Blamey Stakes was originally a weight-for-age race until 1980. Between 1955 and 1972, the Blamey Stakes was a 10 furlong (2000m) before changing to 1600m.

The Blamey Stakes is a popular race for horses to win more than once with several horses managing the double victory including Sailor’s Guide (1957,58), Dhaulagiri (1961-62), Tobin Bronze (1966-67), Hyperno (1980-81), Vo Rogue (1988-89), Better Loosen Up (1990-91) , Durbridge (1994-95) and Fifty Stars (2019-20).

Recent Blamey Stakes Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Blamey Stakes
1st Nonconformist 1 minute 35.53 seconds
2nd Pounding
3rd Bankers Choice
2022
Blamey Stakes
1st Inspirational Girl 1 minute 39.12 seconds
2nd Zaaki
3rd Corner Pocket
2021
Blamey Stakes
1st Star Of The Seas 1 minute 35.11 seconds
2nd Fifty Stars
3rd Buffalo River
2020
Blamey Stakes
1st Fifty Stars 1 minute 34.54 seconds
2nd Secret Blaze
3rd Admiral’s Joker
2019
Blamey Stakes
1st Fifty Stars 1 minute 35.81 seconds
2nd So Si Bon
3rd Cool Chap
2018
Blamey Stakes
1st Humidor 1 minute 36.84 seconds
2nd Cool Chap
3rd Hellova Street
2017
Blamey Stakes
1st Palentino 1 minute 35.44 seconds
2nd Tosen Stardom
3rd Harlem
2016
Blamey Stakes
1st He Or She 1 minute 34.9 seconds
2nd The United States
3rd Stratum Star
2015
Blamey Stakes
1st Suavito 1 minute 35.97 seconds
2nd Sertorius
3rd Kourkam
2014
Blamey Stakes
1st Lidari 1 minute 38.1 seconds
2nd Foundry
3rd Sertorius
2013
Blamey Stakes
1st (DH) Puissance De Lune 1 minute 36.4 seconds
1st (DH) Budriguez
3rd Wall Street
2012
Blamey Stakes
1st Green Moon 1 minute 35.8 seconds
2nd Pied A Terre
3rd Wall Street
2011
Blamey Stakes
1st Whobegotyou 1 minute 36.5 seconds
2nd Dao Dao
3rd Fanjura
2010
Blamey Stakes
1st Lord Tavistock 1 minute 36.3 seconds
2nd Vigor
3rd Dao Dao
2009
Blamey Stakes
1st Lord Tavistock 1 minute 36.37 seconds
2nd Vigor
3rd Dao Dao
2009
Blamey Stakes
1st Largo Lad 1 minute 38.1 seconds
2nd Playright
3rd Just Look
2008
Blamey Stakes
1st The Fuzz 1 minute 36.9 seconds
2nd Barlinnie
3rd Orange County
2007
Blamey Stakes
1st Apache Cat 1 minute 37.7 seconds
2nd Bon Hoffa
3rd Molotov
2006
Blamey Stakes
1st Rosden 1 minute 33.8 seconds
2nd Great Is Great
3rd Roman Arch
2005
Blamey Stakes
1st Grey Song 1 minute 33.9 seconds
2nd Roman Arch
3rd Gallic
2004
Blamey Stakes
1st Gold Wells 1 minute 36.2 seconds
2nd Lord Erin
3rd Pretorius
2003
Blamey Stakes
1st Walk On Air 1 minute 35.1 seconds
2nd Mr Murphy
3rd Mr Magoo
2002
Blamey Stakes
1st Tears Royal 1 minute 37.2 seconds
2nd Weasel Will
3rd Consular
2001
Blamey Stakes
1st Market Price 1 minute 37.4 seconds
2nd Emission
3rd Second Coming
2000
Blamey Stakes
1st Oliver Twist 1 minute 35.2 seconds
2nd Royal Voyage
3rd Noircir

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