Wakeful Stakes

The Wakeful Stakes (2000m) is a Group 2 event hosted at Flemington Racecourse on Derby Day as a lead-up to the VRC Oaks.

2023 Wakeful Stakes Results

  • 1st: #5 Amazonian Lass
  • 2nd: #1 Zardozi
  • 3rd: #4 Harlow Mist



The Wakeful Stakes is a Group 2 race for three-year-old fillies contested at Flemington Racecourse.

Held the Saturday before the illustrious Melbourne Cup in late October or early November annually, the Wakeful Stakes is one of nine Group status races that fill the card on Victoria Derby Day. VRC Derby Day is one of the only race meets in Australia where every race has Group status. There are three Group 1 races on the card: the Victoria Derby (2500m), Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).

The Wakeful Stakes is a 2000m event for three-year-old fillies run under set weight conditions plus penalties. Worth $300,000 in total prize money it is an excellent lead-up race to the highly prestigious Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) for three-year-old fillies the following Thursday.

The Wakeful Stakes results have been a good indication for the VRC Oaks over the years, with 15 fillies taking out the double since 1983, including most recently Kirramosa (2013), Aristia (2018), Miami Bound (2019) and Willowy (2021).

In 2020 Personal improved on her lead-up second as the beaten favourite in the Wakeful Stakes to win the Kennedy Oaks.

The 2022 Wakeful Stakes winner Zennzella went on to finish fourth in the Kennedy Oaks results at her next start, while Pavitra ran second in both events that year.

Victoria Derby Day on Saturday November 4, 2023 featured the 2023 Wakeful Stakes for VRC Oaks-bound fillies which was won by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Amazonian Lass ($10) in a narrow but impressive upset. 

2023 Wakeful Stakes
Date: Saturday November 4, 2023
Track: Flemington Racecourse
Distance: 2000m
Conditions: 3YO Fillies – Set Weights + Penalties
Status: Group 2
Prize Money: $300,000
Inaugurated: 1932

2023 Wakeful Stakes Results

  • 1st: #5 Amazonian Lass ($10)
  • 2nd: #1 Zardozi
  • 3rd: #4 Harlow Mist

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained progressive More Than Ready filly Amazonian Lass ($10) improved on her lead-up third in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes at the track to hold on in a brilliant front-running performance to narrowly deny the beaten favourite in the 2023 Wakeful Stakes results. She will now attempt to become the 39th filly in history to do the Wakeful Stakes – VRC Oaks double next Thursday and has firmed into single-figures to do so through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 5 AMAZONIAN LASS Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 11 55kg $10
2 1 ZARDOZI James Cummings James McDonald 0.1L 9 57kg $2.20F
3 4 HARLOW MIST (NZ) John Sargent Blake Shinn 2.35L 1 55kg $5
4 10 AETHELFLAED Matthew Smith Damien Oliver 3.6L 13 55kg $10
5 2 COCO SUN Tony & Calvin McEvoy Mark Zahra 6.1L 12 56kg $31
6 7 SUBRISING Nigel Blackiston Jamie Spencer 7.35L 7 55kg $21
7 3 KONASANA Chris Waller Ms Jamie Kah 7.65L 5 55kg $6.50
8 9 ZAMBEZI KHAN (NZ) Guy Lowry Billy Egan 10.4L 10 55kg $61
9 8 DIAMONDS CHOICE Chris Bieg Harry Coffey 10.7L 4 55kg $41
10 12 BON MISTRESS Ken & Kasey Keys Blaike McDougall 16.7L 6 55kg $20
11 11 ASPENADO John McArdle Craig Newitt 16.8L 3 55kg $201
12 14 EASY TURN Patrick Kearney Ms Madison Lloyd 17.8L 8 55kg $151
13 13 VIESTE Benjamin Smith Ms Winona Costin 18.8L 2 55kg $201
6 SENTIMENTAL FLAME Travis Doudle John Allen 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Wakeful Stakes Betting Odds

The top Wakeful Stakes 2023 odds and market links to the betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au on the VRC Oaks lead-up race will be provided below the week of the race.

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

2023 Wakeful Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 WAKEFUL STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Wakeful Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Wakeful Stakes 2023 Tips on the Derby Day support act this spring.

  • To Win: #1 Zardozi ($2.35 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Happy to stick with the favourite Zardozi who is at a deservingly short price to go back-to-back after a lead-up win in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) here on October 7. Won that mile showdown by 1.5 lengths and must now extend her brilliance to 2000m. A four-time winner from seven starts, the daughter of Kingman has upside and looks like she can handle the distance. Kept fresh with a Sydney trial in the interim and the airborne James McDonald comes aboard in another plus for favourite backers.

2023 Wakeful Stakes Field

The Wakeful Stakes field attracts a host of three-year-old fillies looking to back-up the next Thursday into the VRC Oaks field. Fillies competing in the Wakeful Stakes field may come via a number of earlier carnival races including the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) on Cox Plate Day the week before, the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) or the prestigious Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).

Amazonian Lass (3rd in 2023) was the last Wakeful Stakes winner to come off a lead-up run in the Edward Manifold Stakes at the track.

The official Wakeful Stakes 2023 Field & Barriers are announced by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday before the race and will be provided in full below.

The 2023 Wakeful Stakes final field features a talented line-up of potential Kennedy Oaks-bound fillies led in betting by last start Edward Manifold Stakes winner Zardozi from the Godolphin stable.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 111×0071 ZARDOZI James Cummings James McDonald 10 57kg 86
2 11×960 COCO SUN Tony & Calvin McEvoy Mark Zahra 13 56kg 68
3 1×4214 KONASANA Chris Waller Ms Jamie Kah 5 55kg 71
4 1113 HARLOW MIST (NZ) John Sargent Blake Shinn 1 55kg 71
5 19×5053 AMAZONIAN LASS Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 12 55kg 72
6 1×213 SENTIMENTAL FLAME Travis Doudle John Allen 7 55kg 64
7 04×12604 SUBRISING Nigel Blackiston Jamie Spencer 8 55kg 64
8 P8x6x122 DIAMONDS CHOICE Chris Bieg Harry Coffey 4 55kg 64
9 15×5712 ZAMBEZI KHAN (NZ) Guy Lowry Billy Egan 11 55kg 65
10 721 AETHELFLAED Matthew Smith Damien Oliver 14 55kg 63
11 634×32622 ASPENADO John McArdle Craig Newitt 3 55kg 59
12 5×416 BON MISTRESS Ken & Kasey Keys Blaike McDougall 6 55kg 64
13 919 VIESTE Benjamin Smith Ms Winona Costin 2 55kg 64
14 32 EASY TURN Patrick Kearney Ms Madison Lloyd 9 55kg 59

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Wakeful Stakes Nominations

Early nominations for the Wakeful Stakes in 2023 close the Monday leading-up to Victoria Derby Day with the full list of eleventh-hour VRC Oaks hopes to be updated below.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 721 AETHELFLAED F 3 Matthew Smith 63
2 19×5053 AMAZONIAN LASS F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 72
3 7×8525 ANOTHER YOU F 3 Dan O’Sullivan 64
4 634×32622 ASPENADO F 3 John McArdle 59
5 5×416 BON MISTRESS F 3 Ken & Kasey Keys 64
6 11×960 COCO SUN F 3 Tony & Calvin McEvoy 68
7 P8x6x122 DIAMONDS CHOICE F 3 Chris Bieg 64
8 32 EASY TURN F 3 Patrick Kearney 59
9 0512 ERSA F 3 Ben, Will & JD Hayes 65
10 430 EVERLASTING KISS F 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 63
11 1113 HARLOW MIST (NZ) F 3 John Sargent 71
12 1×4214 KONASANA F 3 Chris Waller 71
13 1×213 SENTIMENTAL FLAME F 3 Travis Doudle 64
14 04×12604 SUBRISING F 3 Nigel Blackiston 64
15 919 VIESTE F 3 Benjamin Smith 64
16 43129 WINGS OF SONG F 3 Patrick Payne 63
17 15×5712 ZAMBEZI KHAN (NZ) F 3 Guy Lowry 65
18 111×0071 ZARDOZI F 3 James Cummings 86

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Wakeful Stakes History

The Wakeful Stakes was first run in 1932 when Protea won the inaugural race. It started as a principal event run over ten furlongs and remained the same until 1973 when the distance was converted into 2000m with Australia’s adoption of the metric system. In 1979 the Wakeful Stakes was elevated to Group 2 status.

Many fine fillies have contested the race and high quality Wakeful Stakes winners include Miami Bound (2019), Aristia (2018), Zarita (2007), and Tuesday Joy (2006).

Wakeful Stakes results, winners and place-getters since 2000 are listed below.

Wakeful Stakes Results

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Wakeful Stakes
1st Amazonian Lass 2 minutes 2.13 seconds
2nd Zardozi
3rd Harlow Mist
2022
Wakeful Stakes
1st Zennzella 2 minutes 4.75 seconds
2nd Pavitra
3rd As Time Goes By
2021
Wakeful Stakes
1st Willowy 2 minutes 4.03 seconds
2nd Daisies
3rd Douceur
2020
Wakeful Stakes
1st Victoria Quay 2 minutes 1.96 seconds
2nd Personal
3rd Tyche Goddess
2019
Wakeful Stakes
1st Miami Bound 2 minutes 4.48 seconds
2nd Vegas Jewel
3rd Palumbo
2018
Wakeful Stakes
1st Aristia 2 minutes 1.36 seconds
2nd Qafila
3rd El Dorado Dreaming
2017
Wakeful Stakes
1st Luvaluva 2 minutes 3.99 seconds
2nd Glam Guru
3rd Rimraam
2016
Wakeful Stakes
1st Tiamo Grace 2 minutes 4.44 seconds
2nd Sebring Dream
3rd Missrock
2015
Wakeful Stakes
1st Ambience 2 minutes 4.7 seconds
2nd Beluga Blue
3rd Muzyka
2014
Wakeful Stakes
1st Thunder Lady 2 minutes 3.4 seconds
2nd Abduction
3rd Fenway
2013
Wakeful Stakes
1st Kirramosa 2 minutes 5.15 seconds
2nd May’s Dream
3rd Solicit
2012
Wakeful Stakes
1st Zydeco 2 minutes 2.8 seconds
2nd Maraatib
3rd Transonic
2011
Wakeful Stakes
1st Atlantic Jewel 2 minutes 4.98 seconds
2nd Rahveel
3rd Dowager Queen
2010
Wakeful Stakes
1st Brazilian Pulse 2 minutes 4.27 seconds
2nd Placement
3rd Heartsareforlove
2009
Wakeful Stakes
1st Faint Perfume 2 minutes 3.25 seconds
2nd Silent Surround
3rd Melito
2008
Wakeful Stakes
1st Rocha 2 minutes 5.5 seconds
2nd Miss Scarlatti
3rd Estee
2007
Wakeful Stakes
1st Zarita 2 minutes 5.8 seconds
2nd Riva San
3rd Katherine Gold
2006
Wakeful Stakes
1st Tuesday Joy 2 minutes 2.7 seconds
2nd J’adane
3rd Anamato
2005
Wakeful Stakes
1st Serenade Rose 2 minutes 2.5 seconds
2nd Astronomia
3rd Zenarta
2004
Wakeful Stakes
1st Hollow Bullet 2 minutes 2.1 seconds
2nd Storm Alert
3rd Mango Daiquiri
2003
Wakeful Stakes
1st Timbourina 2 minutes 5.5 seconds
2nd Special Harmony
3rd Dane Beltar
2002
Wakeful Stakes
1st Hierogram 2 minutes 2.9 seconds
2nd Its Who Deanie
3rd Lashed
2001
Wakeful Stakes
1st Quays 2 minutes 1.2 seconds
2nd Gold Lottery
3rd Li Lo Lill
2000
Wakeful Stakes
1st Lolita Star 2 minutes 4.7 seconds
2nd Lang Kwai Fong
3rd Tanith

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