Guy Walter Stakes

The Guy Walter Stakes is a Group 2 race run on Chipping Norton Stakes Day during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival for mares only.

2023 Guy Walter Stakes Results

  • 1st: #3 Hope In Your Heart
  • 2nd: #5 Larkspur Run
  • 3rd: #1 Mustang Valley



The Guy Walter Stakes is a Group 2 middle distance sprint for mares aged four-years-old and above run on Chipping Norton Stakes Day at Randwick Racecourse in late February or early March during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Formerly a Group 3 event, in 2017 the 1400m set weights plus penalties clash is upgraded to Group 2 status and offers $250,000 in prize money as of 2023. The Wiggle Stakes was renamed as the Guy Walter Stakes from 2015 in honour of late trainer Guy Walter who prepared 36 Group 1 winners over his career.

The meeting’s marquee races are the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) run over the mile under weight-for-age conditions, along with the recently upgraded Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) for three-year-old fillies. Other features on the program include the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (Fillies) and Group 2 Skyline Stakes (Colts & Geldings) for Golden Slipper Stakes-bound two-year-olds.

Mares may come into the Guy Walter Stakes field via a number of earlier autumn lead-ups including the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) in Melbourne a fortnight earlier or either the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) or Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) on the same day at Royal Randwick in Sydney. Alassio (2019) was the last mare to complete the Triscay Stakes – Guy Walter Stakes double.

Possible races Guy Walter Stakes graduates may continue on to include the Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m) held over the mile at Randwick a week later or tougher races such as the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill in two weeks. Krone (2021) was the last mare to complete the Guy Walter Stakes – Coolmore Classic double.

Other recent Coolmore Classic winners to come off a run in the Guy Walter Stakes include Dixie Blossoms (2nd in 2019) and Peeping (3rd in 2016).

Looking further ahead of the Autumn Racing calendar events like the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Tancred Stakes Day Day and Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) during April’s ‘The Championships’ shape up as nice targets for the mares out of the Guy Walter Stakes.

The form out of the 2021 Guy Walter Stakes results were franked that spring with the third place-getter Icebath winning the inaugural edition of the $2 million The Invitation race.

The Guy Walter Stakes 2022 form was franked with the winner Forbidden Love backing-up to win the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) – Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) double at her next two starts before a fourth in that year’s Doncaster Mile results.

The 2022 Guy Walter runner-up Promise Of Success meanwhile went on to win that year’s The Invitation.

The 2023 Guy Walter Stakes ran on Saturday February 25, 2023 and was won first-up by Kerry Parker’s returning Golden Eagle fourth-placed mare Hope In Your Heart ($4.60).

Guy Walter Stakes 2023
Date: Saturday February 25, 2023
Track: Randwick Racecourse
Distance: 1400m
Race Type: Set Weights + Penalties / 4YO&Up Mares
Status: Group 2
Prize Money: $250,000

2023 Guy Walter Stakes Results

Check out the full Guy Walter Stakes 2023 Results and Finishing Order below once the race is run on Chipping Norton Stakes Day this autumn in the lead-up to the Coolmore Classic.

  • 1st: #3 Hope In Your Heart ($4.60)
  • 2nd: #5 Larkspur Run
  • 3rd: #1 Mustang Valley

Kerry Parker’s returning four-year-old Hope In Your Heart ($4.60) was good fresh with the spring’s Golden Eagle fourth place-getter and The Gong runner-up heading the 2023 Guy Walter Stakes results first-up.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 3 HOPE IN YOUR HEART Kerry Parker Tim Clark 2 55.5kg $4.60
2 5 LARKSPUR RUN James Cummings Chad Schofield 0.69L 4 55kg $11
3 1 MUSTANG VALLEY (NZ) Andrew Forsman Hugh Bowman 0.74L 1 58kg $10
4 8 MORE PROPHETS John Thompson Kerrin McEvoy 0.98L 5 54kg $12
5 2 YEARNING Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Brenton Avdulla 1.15L 8 58kg $10
6 4 MIRRA VISION Peter & Paul Snowden Sam Clipperton 2.48L 6 55kg $3.70F
7 7 NORWEGIAN BLISS (NZ) Nathan Doyle Andrew Adkins 2.84L 9 54kg $6
8 10 DOUCEUR John Thompson Brock Ryan 3.09L 3 54kg $81
9 9 DYNASTIES Peter & Paul Snowden James McDonald 3.15L 7 54kg (cd 55kg) $7.50
6 ESPIONA Chris Waller 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Guy Walter Stakes Betting Odds

The autumn’s Guy Walter Stakes 2023 betting odds will be provided below the week of the race with market links to Ladbrokes.com.au.

Dixie Blossoms (2018) in her successful title defence was the last favourite in Guy Walter Stakes betting to win.

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

2023 Guy Walter Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 GUY WALTER STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Guy Walter Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Guy Walter Stakes 2023 Tips on the Randwick Group 2 this autumn.

  • To Win: #3 Hope In Your Heart ($4 at time of publish) 

Sticking with one of the favourites with Hope In Your Heart so good last prep. Two back she ran a close fourth in the $10 million The Golden Eagle behind I Wish I Win, and that form was franked with the winner finishing a flashing second behind Coolangatta in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning last weekend. This four-year-old daughter of Dundeel was last seen running second in The Gong over a mile from a wide gate. She’s been brought on fitness-wise with two solid trails and enjoyed three straight wins prior to her Eagle run in the spring including the Group 3 Angst Stakes here. Plenty to like.

2023 Guy Walter Stakes Field

Each autumn the Guy Walter Stakes field attracts a class line-up of mares eyeing runs in tougher races over the coming weeks, and is released on the Wednesday before Chipping Norton Stakes Day.

The official 2023 Guy Walter Stakes field and barriers are set for release by Racing NSW on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.

The Guy Walter Stakes 2023 final field features a small but class line-up of mares including Kerry Parker’s resuming $10 million The Golden Eagle fourth place-getter Hope In Your Heart and the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained market mover Mirra Vision who was runner-up in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 7x211210xL MUSTANG VALLEY (NZ) Andrew Forsman Hugh Bowman 1 58kg 106
2 4x356x370x YEARNING Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Brenton Avdulla 8 58kg 100
3 70x811142x HOPE IN YOUR HEART Kerry Parker Tim Clark 2 55.5kg 105
4 6268x9722x MIRRA VISION Peter & Paul Snowden Sam Clipperton 6 55kg 104
5 4x332631x0 LARKSPUR RUN James Cummings Chad Schofield 4 55kg 97
6 2381x640x6 ESPIONA Chris Waller 10 55kg 94
7 11x11x12x8 NORWEGIAN BLISS (NZ) Nathan Doyle Andrew Adkins 9 54kg 97
8 998x8649x4 MORE PROPHETS John Thompson Kerrin McEvoy 5 54kg 88
9 3107x0549x DYNASTIES Peter & Paul Snowden James McDonald 7 54kg 84
10 3055x060x0 DOUCEUR John Thompson Brock Ryan 3 54kg 82

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Guy Walter Stakes Nominations

Early nominations for the Guy Walter Stakes in 2023 are taken the Monday ahead of the Group 2 showdown and will be listed below once announced.

Nominations extended until 11:00am 21/02/2023. 

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 03470×9631 BELSIELLE M 5 David & Coral Feek 80
2 3055x060x0 DOUCEUR M 4 John Thompson 82
3 3107x0549x DYNASTIES M 4 Peter & Paul Snowden 84
4 2381x640x6 ESPIONA M 4 Chris Waller 94
5 410x2562x3 FANGIRL M 4 Chris Waller 111
6 70x811142x HOPE IN YOUR HEART M 4 Kerry Parker 105
7 3x722491x4 ICEBATH (NZ) M 6 Brad Widdup 111
8 4x332631x0 LARKSPUR RUN M 4 James Cummings 97
9 6268x9722x MIRRA VISION M 6 Peter & Paul Snowden 104
10 998x8649x4 MORE PROPHETS M 6 John Thompson 88
11 7x211210xL MUSTANG VALLEY (NZ) M 4 Andrew Forsman 106
12 11x11x12x8 NORWEGIAN BLISS (NZ) M 5 Nathan Doyle 97
13 11356×8211 SONORA M 4 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 75
14 4x356x370x YEARNING M 4 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 100

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Guy Walter Stakes History

The Guy Walter Stakes was run as the Wiggle Stakes up until 2015 when it was renamed in honour of the late horseman Guy Walter. The race has also been run as the Wiggle Quality Handicap (1996-99 & 2005-2011) as well as the Wiggle Fillies and Mares Quality Handicap (2000-04). It began as a Listed race (1996-2013) before gaining Group 3 status in 2014. From 2017 onwards the Guy Walter Stakes will hold Group 2 status.

Prior to 2005 it was also open to three-year-old fillies, but is now restricted only to mares aged four-years-old or over. It has run under its current set weights plus penalties conditions since 2012.

Notable recent Guy Walter Stakes / Wiggle Stakes winners include Hot Danish (2008 & 2009), Steps In Time (2012 & 2013), Catkins (2014), Solicit (2016) and Dixie Blossoms (2017 & 2018). Dual champion Dixie Blossoms also ran second to Alassio when attempting a hat-trick in 2019 before winning the Group 1 Coolmore Classic next race.

Recent Guy Walter Stakes Winners

See below for a list of Wiggle Stakes winners (up until 2015) and Guy Walter Stakes winners (from 2015).

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Guy Walter Stakes
1st Hope In Your Heart 1 minute 22.56 seconds
2nd Larkspur Run
3rd Mustang Valley
2022
Guy Walter Stakes
1st Forbidden Love 1 minute 25.49 seconds
2nd Promise Of Success
3rd Vangelic
2021
Guy Walter Stakes
1st Krone 1 minute 22.76 seconds
2nd Tricky Gal
3rd Icebath
2020
Guy Walter Stakes
1st Dawn Dawn 1 minute 20.83 seconds
2nd Sweet Deal
3rd Pohutukawa
2019
Guy Walter Stakes
1st Alassio 1 minute 22.27 seconds
2nd Dixie Blossoms
3rd Manicure
2018
Guy Walter Stakes
1st Dixie Blossoms 1 minute 22.66 seconds
2nd Raiment
3rd Francaletta
2017
Guy Walter Stakes
1st Dixie Blossoms 1 minute 26.58 seconds
2nd Zanbagh
3rd Flippant
2016
Guy Walter Stakes
1st Solicit 1 minute 20.3 seconds
2nd Zanbagh
3rd Peeping
2015
Guy Walkter Stakes
1st Danesiri 1 minute 22.2 seconds
2nd Cosmic Endeavour
3rd Mahara
2014
Wiggle Stakes
1st Catkins 1 minute 22.4 seconds
2nd Sharnee Rose
3rd Dear Demi
2013
Wiggle Stakes
1st Steps In Time 1 minute 21.6 seconds
2nd Streama
3rd Pear Tart
2012
Wiggle Stakes
1st Steps In Time 1 minute 23.6 seconds
2nd Foxtar
3rd Lady’s Angel
2011
Wiggle Stakes
1st Jersey Lily 1 minute 22.2 seconds
2nd Graceful Anna
3rd Turnstiles
2010
Wiggle Stakes
1st Dane Julia 1 minute 23.79 seconds
2nd Bejewelled
3rd Messenger
2009
Wiggle Stakes
1st Hot Danish 1 minute 21.40 seconds
2nd Absolutelyfabulous
3rd Mary’s Grace
2008
Wiggle Stakes
1st Hot Danish 1 minute 23.63 seconds
2nd Like Me Wild
3rd Hairy
2007
Wiggle Stakes
1st Doubting 1 minute 22.61 seconds
2nd Grey Stream
3rd Shirl Pegasus
2006
Wiggle Stakes
1st Bhandara 1 minute 23.08 seconds
2nd Prisoner Of Love
3rd Pekalan
2005
Wiggle Stakes
1st Danni Martine 1 minute 23.78 seconds
2nd Golden Weekend
3rd Hec Of A Party
2004
Wiggle Stakes
1st Gold Lottey 1 minute 24.45 seconds
2nd Hennessy Waltz
3rd Lucida
2003
Wiggle Stakes
1st Forum Floozie 1 minute 22.89 seconds
2nd Size Her Up
3rd Brecon Rose
2002
Wiggle Stakes
1st Youhadyourwarning 1 minute 23.03 seconds
2nd Veloce
3rd Card Queen
2001
Wiggle Stakes
1st Corelli 1 minute 26.89 seconds
2nd Say Good Morning
3rd Sorrento
2000
Wiggle Stakes
1st Stella Maree 1 minute 28.59 seconds
2nd Mary Machree
3rd Little Pattie

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