Chelmsford Stakes News

Buckaroo Dominates 2024 Underwood Stakes Results Ahead of Spring Majors

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, while Buckaroo (8th in 2024) was the last Winx Stakes graduate to win the Chelmsford at his next start.

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 placegetter No Compromise further franked the form winning that year’s The Metropolitan.

The 2023 Chelmsford Stakes form was franked with the previous year’s winner, Think It Over, running third before his next-up victory in the $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m).

The latest edition of the Chelmsford Stakes ran on Saturday, September 7, 2024 and saw Buckaroo ($7) narrowly hold out stablemate Hinged in a Chris Waller quinella. 

2024 Chelmsford Stakes Results

• 1st: #1 Buckaroo ($7)
• 2nd: #9 Hinged
• 3rd: #3 Nonconformist

Trainer Chris Waller enjoyed his seventh win in the Chelmsford Stakes with Buckaroo ($7) off an on-speed run narrowly holding on in an exciting photo-finish to beat stablemate Hinged in the Group 2 at Randwick in 2024.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Chelmsford Stakes Betting Odds

The spring’s top Chelmsford Stakes 2024 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 2024 CHELSMFORD STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2024 Chelmsford Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 CHELSMFORD STAKES FORM GUIDE

2024 Chelmsford Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Chelmsford Stakes 2024 Tips on the Group 2 spring lead-up this September.

• To Win: #10 Zardozi ($2.20 at time of publish) – BET NOW

While the 2024 Chelmsford Stakes may not be a vintage edition, the James Cummings-trained favourite, Zardozi, remains a strong contender after her solid first-up performance here in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m). She faces easier competition in this race, and Zardozi’s class and recent form make her a formidable opponent. As a Group 1 VRC Oaks winner over 2500m, Zardozi has the stamina to handle the 1600m distance and further.

2024 Chelmsford Stakes Field

The official 2024 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.

VRC Oaks winner Zardozi second-up leads betting on the Chelmsford Stakes 2024 final field in Sydney this weekend.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

[“cf year”] Chelmsford Stakes Nominations

Nominations for the Chelmsford Stakes in 2024 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 and then won his seventh overall in 2024 preparing the quinella with Buckaroo and Hinged.

Buckaroo also set a new Chelmsford Stakes race record in 2024 winning in 1 minute 33.76 seconds to surpass the previous record held by the mighty Winx (1:34.11 in 2017).

Recent Chelmsford Stakes Winners

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