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Chairman’s Stakes

The Chairman's Stakes is Group 3 race for two-year-olds run in the summer as a lead-up to the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.

2025 Chairman's Stakes

  • 1st: #9 Inkaruna
  • 2nd: #6 Sword Of Legacy
  • 3rd: #3 Hot Sea


Chairman’s Stakes News


The Chairman’s Stakes is a Group 3 race currently contested at Caulfield Racecourse (Sandown Lakeside in 2025) in late January or early February during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

2025 Chairman’s Stakes Results

  • 1st: #9 Inkaruna ($6)
  • 2nd: #6 Sword Of Legacy
  • 3rd: #3 Hot Sea

Inkaruna ($6), trained by Sam and Anthony Freedman, clinched a thrilling victory in the 2025 Chairman’s Stakes results at Sandown on Saturday. With jockey Daniel Moor stepping in last minute due to Craig Williams’ illness, Inkaruna surged ahead in the final moments, narrowly defeating Sword Of Legacy by a head in a photo finish. The race was a nail-biter, with many spectators initially believing Sword Of Legacy had won. Moor’s impeccable timing and Inkaruna’s determination were key to their success. Post-race, Sam Freedman expressed delight but hinted that the filly might skip the Blue Diamond Stakes due to timing issues. This win marks an exciting debut for Inkaruna, setting high expectations for her future races.

Chairmans Stakes 2025 Odds & Results

Sandown R5
Lamaro's Hotel Chairman's Stakes (G3)
Final Race time:  1738380650
Runner DetailsWinPlace
1st
9. Inkaruna (5) J: Daniel Moor 55kg
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman
2nd
6. Sword Of Legacy (7) J: Damian Lane 55kg
T: Dominic Sutton
3rd
3. Hot Sea (6) J: Jamie Mott 57kg
T: Gavin Bedggood
4th
10. Jenni Moo Moo (4) J: Craig Newitt 55kg
T: Clinton McDonald
5th
4. Tentyris (3) J: Mark Zahra 57kg
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman
6th
7. No Limitation (2) J: Dean Yendall 55kg
T: Clayton Douglas
7th
8. Boa Vista (1) J: Jamie Melham 55kg
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
8th
2. Forceofone (8) J: Michael Dee 57kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes
Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing.
Data retrieved: 01/05/2025 07:52:18 PM (Australia/Brisbane)

The other key support act on the card is the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1300m) for mares.

Run over a short sprint distance of 1000m the Chairman’s Stakes is open only to two-year-olds and is contested under set weights plus penalties conditions. The event offers $200,000 in total prize money.

Youngsters may be kicking off their careers or autumn campaigns in the Chairman’s Stakes in Melbourne and the race serves as a good lead-up to the Group 1 $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).

Extreme Choice (2016) was the last horse to complete the Chairman’s Stakes – Blue Diamond Stakes double, while the 2017 Chairman’s Stakes winning filly Formality went on to run third in the Blue Diamond Stakes trifecta behind stablemate Catchy that year.

The 2022 Chairman’s Stakes form was franked with the winner Sebonack going on to run fourth in that year’s Blue Diamond Stakes results.

The Chairman’s Stakes form from 2024 was franked with the winner Coleman going on to run second in that year’s Golden Slipper Stakes quinella and third in Sydney’s Group 1 Inglis’ Sires.

The Chairman’s Stakes 2025 ran on Saturday February 1, 2025 at Sandown Lakeside (moved from Caulfield Racecourse for 2025) as one of the first Group status races of the autumn carnival and was won in a photo-finish thriller by Team Freedman’s debutant filly Inkaruna ($6).

2025 Chairman’s Stakes
Date: Saturday February 1, 2025
Track: Caulfield Racecourse (Sandown Lakeside in 2025)
Distance: 1000m
Race Type: 2YO – Set Weights + Penalties
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $200,000

2025 Chairman’s Stakes Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 9 INKARUNA Anthony & Sam Freedman Daniel Moor 5 55kg $6
2 6 SWORD OF LEGACY Dominic Sutton Damian Lane 0.02L 7 55kg $3.60F
3 3 HOT SEA Gavin Bedggood Jamie Mott 1.77L 6 57kg $4
4 10 JENNI MOO MOO Clinton McDonald Craig Newitt 3.02L 4 55kg $18
5 4 TENTYRIS Anthony & Sam Freedman Mark Zahra 3.17L 3 57kg $7.50
6 7 NO LIMITATION Clayton Douglas Dean Yendall 3.92L 2 55kg $26
7 8 BOA VISTA Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Ms Jamie Melham 5.17L 1 55kg $13
8 2 FORCEOFONE (NZ) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Michael Dee 7.42L 8 57kg $5.50
1 BRAVE DESIGN Danny O’Brien Billy Egan 0
5 TEMPTED James Cummings Ms Jamie Melham 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2025 Chairman’s Stakes Betting

The best Chairman’s Stakes 2025 betting odds will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au with autumn betting market links also published here at Races.com.au as soon as prices are open on the hopeful young two-year-olds.

Ten of the past 16 Chairman’s Stakes favourites saluted for the punters with Coleman ($2.10 in 2024), Enthaar ($1.24 in 2021), Loving Gaby ($3.50 in 2019), Formality ($2.45 in 2017), Extreme Choice ($1.40 in 2016), Nayeli ($3 in 2014), Metastasio ($1.45 in 2013), Atomic ($2.80 in 2011), and Crystal Lily ($2.20 in 2010).

In 2020 Mildred scored an upset at double-figure odds with the favourite Aryaaf running second.

In 2023 the favourite ran second again with Veecee beaten home by Zulfiqar ($7.50).

2025 Chairman’s Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 CHAIRMAN’S STAKES FORM GUIDE

2025 Chairman’s Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Chairman’s Stakes 2025 Tips on the Melbourne showdown this season.

  • To Win: #4 Tentyris ($8 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Always tough to select a winner with the majority on debut but like the price of Tentyris who has had two good jumpouts including a 3rd at Mornington back on December 31 behind My Gladiola who came out and won the Blue Diamond Preview for fillies by 1.5 lengths last weekend. This Anthony & Sam Freedman trained Street Boss colt was then second in a Cranbourne jumpout in mid-Jan. He’s drawn well in gate four for Mark Zahra and gets a chance to kick things off with a win.

2025 Chairman’s Stakes Field

The Chairman’s Stakes field attracts a line-up of promising two-year-old sprinters each autumn, many heading towards a run in the season’s Blue Diamond Stakes field.

The official 2025 Chairman’s Stakes field and barriers are set for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 BRAVE DESIGN Danny O’Brien Billy Egan 3 57kg
2 FORCEOFONE (NZ) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Michael Dee 10 57kg
3 HOT SEA Gavin Bedggood Jamie Mott 8 57kg
4 TENTYRIS Anthony & Sam Freedman Mark Zahra 4 57kg
5 1 TEMPTED James Cummings Ms Jamie Melham 6 55kg 64
6 2 SWORD OF LEGACY Dominic Sutton Damian Lane 9 55kg 63
7 6 NO LIMITATION Clayton Douglas Dean Yendall 2 55kg
8 BOA VISTA Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Ethan Brown 1 55kg
9 INKARUNA Anthony & Sam Freedman Craig Williams 7 55kg
10 JENNI MOO MOO Clinton McDonald Craig Newitt 5 55kg

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2025 Chairman’s Stakes Nominations

Early nominations for the Chairman’s Stakes in 2025 close the Monday of race week.

Chairman’s Stakes History

The MRC Chairman’s Stakes was first run as the VATC Bounding Away Quality back in 1990 when Wrap Around became the inaugural winner. That race name stayed until 1998 and since then the race has undergone a host of different titles.

It has been known as the Veuve Clicquot Stakes (1999 – 2003), Jansz Stakes (2004), Pol Rogers Stakes (2005 – 2007 & 2009), National Jockey Celebration Classic (2008) and the Emirate Airline Stakes (2012).

It was first run as the Chairman’s Stakes in 2010 – 2011 and again from 2013 to the present. It began as a Listed race and in 2014 gained its current Group 3 status. The race distance has also changed a number of times with the event always run between 1000 – 1200m depending on the racecourse. The Chairman’s Stakes has taken place at Sandown Racecourse and Caulfield Racecourse.

Plenty of talented horses have won the event including Redoute’s Choice (1999), Crystal Lily (2010), and Extreme Choice (2016).

Recent Chairman’s Stakes winners fillies include: Inkaruna (2025), Enthaar (2021), Mildred (2020), Loving Gaby (2019), Ennis Hill (2018), Formality (2017), Thurlow (2015), Nayeli (2014), Metastasio (2013), Mama’s Choice (2012), and Crystal Lily (2010).

See below for a full list of Chairman’s Stakes winners and results going back to the year 2000.

Recent Chairman’s Stakes Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2025
Chairman’s Stakes
1st Inkaruna 56.86 seconds
2nd Sword Of Legacy
3rd Hot Sea
2024
Chairman’s Stakes
1st Coleman 56.71 seconds
2nd Eneeza
3rd Counteroffensive
2023
Chairman’s Stakes
1st Zulfiqar 59.33 seconds
2nd Veecee
3rd Tacito
2022
Chairman’s Stakes
1st Sebonack 57.44 seconds
2nd Nanagui
3rd Kiko
2021
Chairman’s Stakes
1st Enthaar 57.28 seconds
2nd Ingratiating
3rd Fortunate Kiss
2020
Chairman’s Stakes
1st Mildred 59.79 seconds
2nd Aryaaf
3rd Frederick The Dane
2019
Chairman’s Stakes
1st Loving Gaby 57.69 seconds
2nd Bella Rosa
3rd Lanigera
2018
Chairman’s Stakes
1st Ennis Hill 57.02 seconds
2nd Encryption
3rd Prairie Fire
2017
Chairman’s Stakes
1st Formality 58.10 seconds
2nd Time Awaits
3rd Spoils
2016
MRC Chairman’s Stakes
1st Extreme Choice 57.0 seconds
2nd Highland Beat
3rd Gratwick
2015
MRC Chairman’s Stakes
1st Thurlow 56.4 seconds
2nd Haybah
3rd Brooklyn
2014
MRC Chairman’s Stakes
1st Nayeli 1 minute 3.8 seconds
2nd Bugatty
3rd Cautious
2013
MRC Chairman’s Stakes
1st Metastasio 1 minute 4.3 seconds
2nd Kona Breeze
3rd Shamus Award
2012
Emirate Airline Stakes
1st Mama’s Choice 1 minute 4.7 seconds
2nd Formidable
3rd Kimando
2011
MRC Chairman’s Stakes
1st Atomic 56.7 seconds
2nd Vatican
3rd Hollyweird
2010
MRC Chairman’s Stakes
1st Crystal Lily 1 minute 2.6 seconds
2nd Bedhrah
3rd Rock Of Fortune
2009
Pol Rogers Stakes
1st Headway 1 minute 4.1 seconds
2nd Silkyanna
3rd Samski
2008
National Jockey Celebration Classic
1st Whisper Bay 57.6 seconds
2nd Grand Jardin
3rd Elusive Wonder
2007
Pol Rogers Stakes
1st Gibraltar Campion 1 minute 11.3 seconds
2nd Patasi
3rd Simplest
2006
Pol Rogers Stakes
1st Ulfah 1 minute 9.8 seconds
2nd Ready
3rd Bramble Blitz
2005
Pol Rogers Stakes
1st Under The Floor 1 minute 10.7 seconds
2nd Danger Looms
3rd Ready To Mombo
2004
Jansz Stakes
1st Tirade 1 minute 10.9 seconds
2nd Stringent
3rd Eire Hostess
2003
Veuve Clicquot Stakes
1st Vengeance Of Rain 1 minute 9.7 seconds
2nd Winestock
3rd Fresh Boy
2002
Veuve Clicquot Stakes
1st Yell 1 minute 4.3 seconds
2nd Innovation Girl
3rd Oronoko
2001
Veuve Clicquot Stakes
1st Spitz 1 minute 4.3 seconds
2nd Mustaagel
3rd Ebony Night
2000
Veuve Clicquot Stakes
1st Road To Success 1 minute 9.8 seconds
2nd Keeper
3rd Mannington

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