Colin Stephen Quality

The Colin Stephen Quality is a Group 3 event held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse on Golden Rose Stakes Day offering the winner a ballot exemption for the Group 1 The Metropolitan.

2024 Colin Stephen Quality Results

  • 1st: #5 First Light
  • 2nd: #1 Changingofthelight
  • 3rd: #2 Strathtay



The Colin Stephen Quality is a Group 3 thoroughbred race held during the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival on Golden Rose Stakes Day in late September.

Conducted at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, there are four Group status races on the program including the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) for three-year-olds and the Group 2 $400,000 Golden Pendant (1400m) for fillies and mares.

The Colin Stephen Quality is a staying event raced over 2400m. A quality handicap for three-year-olds and up, it offers $250,000 in stakes. There are a number of earlier races held at the carnival that Colin Stephen Quality contenders may have previously run in including the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) or the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) run at Randwick.

The Colin Stephen Quality is the ideal lead-up race to the prestigious Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) held the following weekend at Royal Randwick with the winner exempt from both ballot and penalty for the event on Epsom Handicap Day.

No horse since Railings (2005) has completed the Colin Stephen Quality – The Metropolitan Handicap double.

The latest edition of the Colin Stephen Quality 2024 ran on Saturday September 28, 2024 as part of Sydney’s popular Golden Rose Day program and saw the Chris Waller-trained First Light ($4.80) secure The Metroplitan ballot exemption.

Colin Stephen Quality
Date:Saturday September 28, 2024
Track:Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
Distance:2400m
Conditions:3YO & Up – Quality Handicap
Status:Group 3
Prize Money:$250,000
Inaugurated:1870

2024 Colin Stephen Quality Results

  • 1st: #5 First Light ($4.80)
  • 2nd: #1 Changingoftheguard
  • 3rd: #2 Strathtay

The Metropolitan next weekend could be on the cards for Chris Waller’s European import, First Light ($4.80), who was strong home saluting by three lengths in the 2024 Colin Stephen Quality results at Rosehill.

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Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 5 FIRST LIGHT (GB) Chris Waller Tommy Berry   4 54kg   $4.80
2 1 CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) Kris Lees James McDonald 3.1L 2 58kg   $5
3 2 STRATHTAY (NZ) Chris Waller Jay Ford 3.22L 3 54kg   $3.20F
4 6 WALTHAM (GB) Matthew Smith Zac Lloyd (a) 5.13L 7 54kg   $26
5 7 CAMPALDINO (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 6.43L 6 54kg   $4.80
6 8 THINK ’N’ FLY David Noonan Craig Williams 6.86L 1 54kg   $11
7 3 CANBERRA LEGEND (IRE) Chris Waller Tyler Schiller 11.23L 5 54kg   $9
  4 MATUSALEM Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy   0  

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Colin Stephen Quality Betting Odds

Stay tuned for the top Colin Stephen Quality 2024 betting odds and Group 3 market links to Ladbrokes.com.au made available right here the week of the race.

Stayers trained by Gai Waterhouse often dominate the Colin Stephen Quality betting markets as she has claimed the race 10 times most recently with Grove Ferry in 2022.

Julienas ($2.60 in 2013) and Entente ($4.60 in 2021) are the latest favourites in Colin Stephen Quality betting to salute for the punters.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2024 COLIN STEPHEN QUALITY ODDS (Final Field)

2024 Colin Stephen Quality Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 COLIN STEPHEN QUALITY FORM GUIDE

2024 Colin Stephen Quality Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Colin Stephen Quality 2024 Tips on The Metropolitan Handicap lead-up this spring.

  • To Win: TBD

2024 Colin Stephen Quality Field

The Colin Stephen Quality 2024 field of final acceptances and barrier draw are released by Racing NSW on the Wednesday leading up to Golden Rose Day and traditionally feature The Metroplitan-bound stayers.

2024 Colin Stephen Quality Nominations

Early nominations on the Colin Stephen Quality in 2024 are taken the Monday of race week.

Colin Stephen Quality History

The Colin Stephen Quality is a time-honoured Sydney feature having first been run and won back in 1870 when it was inaugurated as the Spring Stakes.

The race has held its current Group 3 status since 1987.

A host of turf greats have claimed Colin Stephen Quality victory throughout history including Carbine (1890), Wakeful (1902), Poseidon (1907), triple champion Poitrel (1918-20), Phar Lap (1930-31), Peter Pan (1935), Flight (1944), Hydrogen (1953), and Gunsynd (1972).

Recent Colin Stephen Quality Winners

YearWinnerTrainer/sJockeyWeightTime
2024First LightChris WallerTommy Berry54 kgs2:29.22
2023AthabascanJohn O’SheaTom Sherry55 kgs2:29.13
2022Grove Ferry Gai Waterhouse & Adrian BottTim Clark55 kgs2:29.34
2021EntenteGai Waterhouse & Adrian BottTim Clark56.5 kgs2:27.36
2020AttorneyMatthew SmithJason Collett54 kgs2:29.90
2019StampedeGai Waterhouse & Adrian BottAdam Hyeronimus59 kgs2:29.87
2018Miss AdmirationMick PriceJay Ford53 kgs2:29.55
2017AuvrayRichard FreedmanGlyn Schofield57 kgs2:30.35
2016AllergicJohn O’SheaJames McDonald58 kgs2:30.88
2015Amelie’s StarPeter MoodyJoshua Parr56.5 kgs2:30.84
2014Deane MartinBruce WallaceBrenton Avdulla55 kgs2:29.51
2013JulienasGai WaterhouseNash Rawiller59 kgs2:30.56
2012KelinniChris WallerGlyn Schofield55.5 kgs2:30.48
2011LamaseryDavid VandykeBrenton Avdulla57 kgs2:29.93
2010No Wine No SongKevin MosesJim Cassidy58 kgs2:30.45
2009Mr ClangtasticMarc ConnersCraig Agnew57 kgs2:29.85
2008Get Up JudeDiane Poidevin LaineBlake Shinn53 kgs2:31.15
2007N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
2006ExiniteKris LeesLarry Cassidy52.5 kgs2:28.80
2005RailingsJohn HawkesDarren Beadman55.5 kgs2:32.55
2004Don RaphaelKerry ParkerGlen Boss56.5 kgs2:29.83
2003OutlawsJohn HawkesDarren Beadman53.5 kgs2:29.17
2002Red TrinketGai WaterhouseChris Munce54 kgs2:30.52
2001Dress CircleGai WaterhouseLenny Beasley52 kgs2:14.92
2000Coco CobannaGai WaterhouseChris Munce55.5 kgs2:31.41

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