Chelmsford Stakes

The Chelmsford Stakes is a Group 2 mile race run at Royal Randwick in September as a lead-up to the season's Group 1 races.

2023 Chelmsford Stakes Results

  • 1st: #6 Navajo Peak
  • 2nd: #8 Major Beel
  • 3rd: #1 Think It Over



The Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes is a 1600m mile race held at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse during the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. It is the first mile weight-for-age race held during the carnival and attracts a star-studded field of Group 1 gallopers each season.

Worth a lucrative $300,000 in prize money as of 2023 the Chelmsford Stakes makes a solid lead-up for horses heading towards races like the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick in early October.

The ideal lead-up race to the event is the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) and many horses will go on to race in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) – now known as the King Charles III Stakes and held on The Everest Day in mid-October. Samadoubt (2019) was the last horse to do the Winx Stakes – Chelmsford Stakes double.

In 2023 Navajo Peak improved on a first-up 13th in the Winx Stakes to score a major Chelmsford Stakes upset at 40/1.

The Chelmsford Stakes Day card also features the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m), Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m).

The Chelmsford Stakes has been won by many star horses over the years including four-time Cox Plate hero Winx (2017).

The 2021 Chelmsford Stakes form was franked with the winner Think It Over running a next-up third in the George Main Stakes trifecta before a win in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m). He went on to take out the Craven Plate – Rosehill Gold Cup that spring, before returning the following autumn for a stellar preparation that concluded with a victory in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

The 2022 Chelmsford Stakes winner Knights Order franked the form heading south to run third in that year’s Caulfield Cup results. The Chelmsford third place-getter No Compromise further franked the form winning that year’s The Metropolitan.

The latest edition of the Chelmsford Stakes ran on Saturday September 2, 2023 and was won in a huge boil-over by the David Payne-trained Navajo Peak ($41). 

Chelmsford Stakes
Date: Saturday September 2, 2023
Track: Randwick Racecourse
Distance: 1600m
Race Type: 3YO+ Weight-For-Age
Status: Group 2
Prize Money: $300,000

2023 Chelmsford Stakes Results

  • 1st: #6 Navajo Peak ($41)
  • 2nd: Major Beel
  • 3rd: Think It Over

David Payne’s progressive Territories gelding Navajo Peak ($41) was huge the final furlong hitting the front and holding out the likes of ATC Derby winner Major Beel and star galloper Think It Over for a massive upset in the 2023 Chelmsford Stakes results second-up.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 6 NAVAJO PEAK David Payne Chad Schofield 8 59kg $41
2 8 MAJOR BEEL (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Joshua Parr 0.42L 10 58.5kg $26
3 1 THINK IT OVER Kerry Parker Nash Rawiller 0.49L 4 59kg $3.40
4 7 LINDERMANN Chris Waller Dylan Gibbons (a) 1.39L 7 58.5kg $15
5 5 HOO YA MAL (GB) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 1.46L 11 59kg $21
6 11 MONTEFILIA Chris Waller James McDonald 2.2L 3 57kg $3F
7 4 BOLD MAC (NZ) Chris Waller Brett Prebble 2.54L 1 59kg $17
8 9 MANZOICE Chris Waller Jay Ford 2.81L 5 58.5kg $41
9 10 DUAIS Edward Cummings Jason Collett 3.41L 9 57kg $8.50
10 2 MO’UNGA (NZ) Annabel Neasham Tyler Schiller 4.38L 2 59kg $7
11 3 KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Ms Rachel King 6.46L 6 59kg $21
12 HINGED Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Chelmsford Stakes Betting Odds

The spring’s top Chelmsford Stakes 2023 betting odds will be available right here courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au the week of the race.

Mister Sea Wolf ($5EF in 2020) was the last Chelmsford Stakes favourite to salute for the punters.

There was a massive upset in 2023 with Navajo Peak saluting at Chelmsford Stakes odds of $41!

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 CHELSMFORD STAKES ODDS

2023 Chelmsford Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 CHELSMFORD STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Chelmsford Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Chelmsford Stakes 2023 Tips on the Group 2 spring lead-up this September.

2023 Chelmsford Stakes Field

The official 2023 Chelmsford Stakes field and barrier draw is released by Racing NSW the Wednesday of race week, the full line-up of Group 1 bound gallopers to be published below.

[“cf year”] Chelmsford Stakes Nominations

Nominations for the Chelmsford Stakes in 2023 close the Monday of race week and will be published in full below.

Chelmsford Stakes History

First held in 1895 and won by Newman, the Chelmsford Stakes has been won by several big names including the legendary Phar Lap in 1930 and by Tulloch in 1960.

The triple winners of the race are Limerick in 1926-28, Roman Consul in 1967-69 and Delta in 1950-52. The double winners include The Chief in 1898-99, Prince Foote in 1909-10, Duke Foote in 1912-13, Rogilla in 1933-34, Prince Darious in 1957-58, Kingston Town in 1980-81, Stargazer in 1990-91 and Lonhro in 2002-03.

The standout Chelmsford Stakes winner in recent history is the former Chris Waller-trained hero Winx (2017), the mighty mare winning four Cox Plates over her career.

Waller took his record in the Chelmsford up to six wins in nine years with the 2020 success of Mister Sea Wolf.

Recent Chelmsford Stakes Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Navajo Peak 1 minute 35.92 seconds
2nd Major Beel
3rd Think It Over
2022
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Knights Order 1 minute 42.57 seconds
2nd Numerian
3rd No Compromise
2021
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Think It Over 1 minute 35.77 seconds
2nd Riodini
3rd Montefilia
2020
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Mister Sea Wolf 1 minute 34.32 seconds
2nd Yulong Prince
3rd Finche
2019
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Samadoubt 1 minute 35.15 seconds
2nd Avilius
3rd Girl Tuesday
2018
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Unforgotten 1 minute 35.18 seconds
2nd Ace High
3rd Libran
2017
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Winx 1 minute 34.1 seconds
2nd Red Excitement
3rd Chocante
2016
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Hartnell 1 minute 39.1 seconds
2nd Grand Marshal
3rd Storm The Stars
2015
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Complacent 1 minute 37.68 seconds
2nd Kermadec
3rd Royal Descent
2014
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Hawkspur 1 minute 39.32 seconds
2nd Royal Descent
3rd Bagman
2013
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Hawkspur 1 minute 34.79 seconds
2nd Beaten Up
3rd Lightinthenite
2012
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Danleigh 1 minute 36.42 seconds
2nd Secret Admirer
3rd Lamasery
2011
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Trusting 1 minute 37.12 seconds
2nd My Kingdom Of Fife
3rd Strike The Stars
2010
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Theseo 1 minute 39.61 seconds
2nd Metal Bender
3rd Purple
2009
Chelmsford Stakes
1st O’Lonhro 1 minute 34.5 seconds
2nd Miss Marielle
3rd Triple Honour
2008
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Gallant Tess 1 minute 39.38 seconds
2nd Triple Honour
3rd Kishkat
2007
Chelmsford Stakes
Race Not Held  
2006
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Eremein 1 minute 35.15 seconds
2nd Newton’s Rings
3rd Aqua d’Amore
2005
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Nevis 1 minute 35.73 seconds
2nd Sir Dex
3rd Natural Blitz
2004
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Unearthly 1 minute 37.93 seconds
2nd So Assertive
3rd Niello
2003
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Lonhro 1 minute 35.06 seconds
2nd Platinum Scissors
3rd Excellerator
2002
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Lonhro 1 minute 36.3 seconds
2nd Platinum Scissors
3rd Republic Lass
2001
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Brave Prince 1 minute 24.51 seconds
2nd Zabeels Angel
3rd The Man
2000
Chelmsford Stakes
1st Pasta Express 1 minute 30.26 seconds
2nd Celestial Choir
3rd Al Mansour

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