Light Fingers Stakes

The Light Fingers Stakes is a Group 2 sprint held at Royal Randwick Racecourse during the Sydney Autumn Carnival for 3YO fillies.

2023 Light Fingers Stakes Results

  • 1st: #1 In Secret
  • 2nd: #11 Sunshine In Paris
  • 3rd: #12 Cinderella Days



The Light Fingers Stakes is a Group 2 race held at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney every February worth $250,000 in total prize money.

Run over a distance of 1200m, the Light Fingers Stakes is open to three-year-old fillies and is contested with set weights. It takes place on Apollo Stakes Day during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and is accompanied by three other Group status races with the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) along with the Restricted Listed $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m).

The race is named in honour of New Zealand bred mare Light Fingers who won the Melbourne Cup in 1965 and was the first Cup winner for legendary trainer Bart Cummings.

Many of the fillies in the Light Fingers Stakes field are kicking off their autumn campaigns, and some may have run in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at the track during the spring including in 2016 – 2017 when Global Glamour won both races, and in 2017-18 when Alizee repeated the same double.

Fillies out of the race often continue on to contest later season features including the recently upgraded Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on Chipping Norton Stakes Day and even the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in March.

Nakeeta Jane (2019) was the last filly to complete the Light Fingers – Surround Stakes double.

Fangirl (2022) was the last filly to complete the Light Fingers – Vinery Stud Stakes double.

The 2022 Light Fingers Stakes form was further franked with the Light Fingers – Vinery double winner Fangirl returning in the spring for a second in the $10 million Golden Eagle.

In 2023 the Light Fingers Stakes winner In Secret won first-up having claimed Flemington’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) over the Melbourne Cup Carnival the spring before.

The Light Fingers Stakes 2023 ran on Saturday February 11, 2023 and was won first-up by James Cummings’ returning Coolmore Stud Stakes winning filly In Secret ($1.95F).  

2023 Light Fingers Stakes
Date: Saturday February 11, 2023
Track: Royal Randwick Racecourse
Distance: 1200m
Race Type: 3YO Fillies Set Weights 56kg
Status: Group 2
Prize Money: $250,000

2023 Light Fingers Stakes Results

  • 1st: #1 In Secret ($1.95F)
  • 2nd: #11 Sunshine In Paris
  • 3rd: #12 Cinderella Days

The returning James Cummings-trained Coolmore Stud Stakes winning filly In Secret ($1.95F) was too good for her rivals fresh charging home in the final few strides for a stylish victory in the 2023 Light Fingers Stakes results in Sydney.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 1 IN SECRET James Cummings Nash Rawiller 3 56kg $1.95F
2 11 SUNSHINE IN PARIS Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 0.26L 1 56kg $5
3 12 CINDERELLA DAYS Joseph Pride Sam Clipperton 0.63L 11 56kg $31
4 4 MADAME POMMERY Chris Waller Jason Collett 1.46L 8 56kg $31
5 7 REVOLUTIONARY MISS Peter & Paul Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 1.5L 7 56kg $41
6 2 FIREBURN Gary Portelli Brenton Avdulla 1.8L 9 56kg $14
7 5 SHEEZA BELTER Peter & Paul Snowden William Pike 1.91L 10 56kg $9
8 6 NORTH STAR LASS Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 1.97L 2 56kg $7.50
9 10 RAZETA Kris Lees Chad Schofield 2.13L 5 56kg $101
10 9 A LOT MORE LOVE Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Regan Bayliss 2.8L 12 56kg $51
11 8 WOLVERINE (NZ) Kris Lees James McDonald 3.61L 6 56kg $31
12 13 BYRON BELLE John Sargent Tom Sherry 5.29L 4 56kg $201
3 ZOUGOTCHA Chris Waller James McDonald 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Light Fingers Stakes Betting Odds

The Light Fingers Stakes 2023 odds and betting market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be provided below the week of Apollo Stakes Day.

In Secret ($1.95 in 2023) was the last favourite in Light Fingers Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

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

2023 Light Fingers Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 LIGHT FINGERS STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Light Fingers Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Light Fingers Stakes 2023 Tips on the Apollo Stakes Day event this summer – autumn racing season.

  • To Win: #1 In Secret ($1.85 at time of publish) – BET NOW

What a great edition of the Light Fingers, even with the early scratching of Zougotcha. Plenty of the spring’s top fillies are back in action and despite representing no value, it really is hard to tip against the odds-on elect In Secret. She’s under two dollars now with the main danger out, and she is drawn to win in gate three. The Godolphin-raced daughter of I Am Invincible looks something special having won four from six to date including the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes down the straight at HQ last time out. Runner-up to Jacquinot in Sydney’s Golden Rose earlier and that form held with the winner returning to take out the Manfred Stakes. Think she will further frank the form and win without a worry.

2023 Light Fingers Stakes Field

The Light Fingers Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of the autumn’s best three-year-old fillies, many of which are first-up off spring races including the Thousand Guineas in Melbourne.

The official Light Fingers Stakes 2023 field and barriers will be announced on Wednesday February 8, 2023 and published in full below.

The 2023 Light Fingers Stakes final field features a quality line-up of Group 1-bound fillies led in betting by Godolphin’s returning Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner In Secret drawn a treat in gate three. 

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 11x2121x IN SECRET James Cummings Nash Rawiller 3 56kg 111
2 11112x554x FIREBURN Gary Portelli Brenton Avdulla 10 56kg 106
3 125x111x ZOUGOTCHA Chris Waller James McDonald 4 56kg 106
4 6x12x5261x MADAME POMMERY Chris Waller Jason Collett 9 56kg 104
5 1x0311x81x SHEEZA BELTER Peter & Paul Snowden William Pike 11 56kg 103
6 15x31435x NORTH STAR LASS Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 2 56kg 98
7 2120x0572x REVOLUTIONARY MISS Peter & Paul Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 8 56kg 98
8 112x2x638x WOLVERINE (NZ) Kris Lees Tom Marquand 7 56kg 91
9 433x22113x A LOT MORE LOVE Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Regan Bayliss 13 56kg 78
10 13x461x RAZETA Kris Lees Chad Schofield 6 56kg 78
11 131 SUNSHINE IN PARIS Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 1 56kg 72
12 1x131x CINDERELLA DAYS Joseph Pride Sam Clipperton 12 56kg 69
13 2479×1 BYRON BELLE John Sargent Tom Sherry 5 56kg 64

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Light Fingers Stakes Nominations

The 2023 Light Fingers Stakes nominations will be published here once released by Racing NSW on Monday February 6, 2023.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight True Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 11112x554x FIREBURN F 3 Gary Portelli 1 56kg 106
2 1x0311x81x SHEEZA BELTER F 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 2 56kg 103
3 11x2121x IN SECRET F 3 James Cummings 3 56kg 111
4 125x111x ZOUGOTCHA F 3 Chris Waller 4 56kg 106
5 6x12x5261x MADAME POMMERY F 3 Chris Waller 5 56kg 104
6 2120x0572x REVOLUTIONARY MISS F 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 6 56kg 98
7 4359x2066x OJAI F 3 James Cummings 7 56kg 77
8 112x2x638x WOLVERINE (NZ) F 3 Kris Lees 8 56kg 91
9 15x31435x NORTH STAR LASS F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 9 56kg 98
10 55115322x PAVITRA F 3 Richard & Will Freedman 10 56kg 92
11 433x22113x A LOT MORE LOVE F 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 11 56kg 78
12 23x16181x WEE NESSY F 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 12 56kg 78
13 328x21133x DASHING LEGEND F 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 13 56kg 72
14 13x461x RAZETA F 3 Kris Lees 14 56kg 78
15 131 SUNSHINE IN PARIS F 3 Annabel Neasham 15 56kg 72
16 1x131x CINDERELLA DAYS F 3 Joseph Pride 16 56kg 69
17 2479×1 BYRON BELLE F 3 John Sargent 17 56kg 64
18 0x1214x4 SYRIAN STAR F 3 Rodney Northam 18 56kg 61
19 6250×1 ITHADTOBEZOU F 3 John Thompson 19 56kg 64

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Light Fingers Stakes History

The Light Fingers Stakes was classified as a Listed race from 1983 until 1985 before it was granted Group 2 status in 1986. However, in 1987 the race status was changed to Group 3. In 1991 the Light Fingers Stakes regained it’s Group 2 status and has held it ever since.

Notable recent Light Fingers Stakes winners include subsequent Surround Stakes champ Nakeeta Jane (2018), Alizee (2018), Global Glamour (2017) who won the previous spring’s Flight Stakes – Thousand Guineas double, Sweet Idea (2014), Sea Siren (2012) and More Joyous (2010).

In 2020 the Light Fingers Stakes trifecta featured all Godolphin-raced Group 1 fillies with Flit (Thousand Guineas) defeating Lyre (Blue Diamond Stakes) and Kiamichi (Golden Slipper).

See below for the Light Fingers Stakes results dating back to 2000.

Recent Light Fingers Stakes Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Light Fingers Stakes
1st In Secret 1 minute 10.20 seconds
2nd Sunshine In Paris
3rd Cinderella Days
2022
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Fangirl 1 minute 9.88 seconds
2nd Espiona
3rd Jamaea
2021
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Every Rose 1 minute 10.75 seconds
2nd Never Talk
3rd Away Game
2020
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Flit 1 minute 10.17 seconds
2nd Lyre
3rd Kiamichi
2019
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Nakeeta Jane 1 minute 9.12 seconds
2nd Madam Rouge
3rd Pohutukawa
2018
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Alizee 1 minute 10.06 seconds
2nd Shumookh
3rd Torvill
2017
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Global Glamour 1 minute 09.70 seconds
2nd Foxplay
3rd Spright
2016
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Perignon 1 minute 9.9 seconds
2nd Kangarilla
3rd Tempt Me Not
2015
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Adrift 1 minute 9.4 seconds
2nd First Seal
3rd Slightly Sweet
2014
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Sweet Idea 1 minute 9.09 seconds
2nd Gypsy Diamond
3rd Champagne Cath
2013
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Bennetta 1 minute 10.16 seconds
2nd Ichihara
3rd Dear Demi
2012
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Sea Siren 1 minute 16.3 seconds
2nd Streama
3rd Hallowell Belle
2011
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Obsequious 1 minute 09.5 seconds
2nd Red Tracer
3rd Parables
2010
Light Fingers Stakes
1st More Joyous 1 minute 9.80 seconds
2nd Trim
3rd Sweepstaking
2009
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Rock Me Baby 1 minute 11.39 seconds
2nd Samantha Miss
3rd Glowlamp
2008
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Forensics 1 minute 10.56 seconds
2nd Sliding Cube
3rd Seething Duck
2007
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Gold Edition 1 minute 9.07 seconds
2nd Montana Sunset
3rd Montmelo
2006
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Street Smart 1 minute 9.9 seconds
2nd Regal Cheer
3rd Paulini
2005
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Trezevant 1 minute 10 seconds
2nd One In A Million
3rd But I’m Serious
2004
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Sharp 1 minute 8.72 seconds
2nd Generosa
3rd Hinting
2003
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Only Glory 1 minute 11.22 seconds
2nd Chuckle
3rd Bumptious
2002
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Ancient Song 1 minute 10.98 seconds
2nd Hosannah
3rd Shouq
2001
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Lady Mulan 1 minute 9.61 seconds
2nd Maitland Gold
3rd Belle Du Jour
2000
Light Fingers Stakes
1st Camena 1 minute 9.6 seconds
2nd Miss Zoe
3rd Hut

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