CS Hayes Stakes

The CS Hayes Stakes is a Group 3 sprint held at Flemington in February as a lead-up to the Australian Guineas.

2023 C4 Hayes Stakes Results

  • 1st: #1 Riff Rocket
  • 2nd: #2 King Colorado
  • 3rd: #9 Verdad



The CS Hayes Stakes is a Group 3 race held in mid-late February annually at the esteemed Flemington Racecourse in Victoria during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

One of the feature Group races held on Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Day, the event takes place along with the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m), Group 3 The Vanity (1200m), and the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m). Run over the middle-sprint distance of 1400m, the CS Hayes Stakes is an event for three-year-old colts and geldings at set weights plus penalties and is worth $200,000 in total prize money.

The handy runners that contest the CS Hayes Stakes will often progress on to the Group 2 Alistair Clarke Stakes (1600m) a fortnight later or the prestigious Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) in early March. The CS Hayes – Australian Guineas double has recently been completed by Wandjina (2015), Hey Doc (2017), Grunt (2018), and Alligator Blood (2020) making it a popular autumn punt.

In 2024 Riff Rocket became the first galloper in 30 years, since Mahogany (1993/94), to win the Victoria Derby and back-up to win the CS Hayes the following season. 

The 2024 CS Hayes Stakes took place at Flemington on Saturday February 17, 2024 as part of Black Caviar Lightning Day and was won in an excellent first-up performance by Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring Riff Rocket ($7).

CS Hayes 2024 Info:

Date:
Saturday February 17, 2024
Track:
Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
Distance:
1400m
Conditions:
3YO Colts & Geldings Set Weights + Penalties
Status:
Group 3
Prizemoney:
$200,000
Inaugurated:
1987

2024 CS Hayes Stakes Results

  • 1st: #1 Riff Rocket ($7)
  • 2nd: #2 King Colorado
  • 3rd: #9 Verdad

Superstar stayer Riff Rocket ($7) wasted no time proving his versatility, cruising to a dominant three-quarter length victory in the CS Hayes Stakes 2024 results at Flemington. Fresh off his triumphant Victoria Derby win in the spring, Chris Waller’s champion showed he’s more than just a distance ace, marking his class in this first-up outing. This sets the stage for ambitious Group 1 targets over further distances, including the prestigious Australian Guineas on March 2nd. Riff Rocket is clearly one to watch as he sets his sights on bigger prizes.

  Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
  1 1 RIFF ROCKET Chris Waller Craig Williams   5 59.5kg   $7
  2 2 KING COLORADO Ciaron Maher Mark Zahra 0.75L 9 59.5kg   $4
  3 9 VERDAD Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock Jye McNeil 1.5L 2 56kg   $7.50
  4 7 OTAGO (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Ben Melham 1.6L 3 57kg   $3.70F
  5 11 HEY FAT CAT Robbie Laing Craig Newitt 2.6L 8 56kg   $9.50
  6 8 CAP FERRAT Chris Waller Michael Dee 2.7L 7 56kg   $51
  7 12 ET TU BRUTE Anthony & Sam Freedman Damian Lane 4.2L 11 56kg   $26
  8 10 AMIGO Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Billy Egan 5.2L 4 56kg   $41
  9 3 RUN HARRY RUN Michael Moroney Opie Bosson 5.4L 13 58.5kg   $10
  10 5 TANNHAUSER Chris Waller Blake Shinn 5.9L 1 57kg   $21
  11 4 AMUR James Cummings Ms Jamie Kah 7.9L 10 58.5kg   $61
  12 13 FLYING VALLEY Julius Sandhu Jamie Mott 9.4L 6 56kg   $81
  13 6 AMBASSADORIAL Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Jordan Childs 13.9L 12 57kg   $31

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2024 CS Hayes Stakes Betting

The latest CS Hayes Stakes 2024 betting odds and market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be available the week of the race.

Alligator Blood ($1.80 in 2020) and Pinstriped ($5.50EF in 2022*) are the last favourites in CS Hayes Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

*Note: In 2022 the pre-race favourite Lightsaber was scratched at the barriers.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2024 CS HAYES STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2024 CS Hayes Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 CS HAYES STAKES FORM GUIDE

2024 CS Hayes Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider CS Hayes Stakes 2024 Tips on the autumn lead-up this season.

  • To Win: #1 Riff Rocket ($6 at time of publish) – BET NOW

The bookies are backing King Colorado thanks to his fitness edge, but savvy punters are eyeing Riff Rocket as a potential value play. While the VRC Derby champion will likely improve over longer distances, his two-from-two first-up record and unbeaten streak at Flemington are hard to ignore. Trained by the master, Chris Waller, Riff Rocket boasts an impressive consistency, finishing outside the top two only once in his seven-race career. With a good draw and Craig Williams in top form, he has the potential to cause an upset.

CS Hayes Stakes Field

The CS Hayes Stakes field attracts a smart line-up of three-year-old colts and geldings each autumn, many eyeing a return to the track the next month for a shot at the Group 1 Australian Guineas over a mile.

Recent Australian Guineas winners to come off a run in the CS Hayes Stakes field include Wandjina (2015) who completed the double, Palentino (2nd in 2016), Hey Doc (1st in 2017), Grunt (1st in 2018), Alligator Blood (2020) who was the last CS Hayes winner to also win the Australian Guineas, and Lunar Fox (12th in 2021).

The CS Hayes Stakes 2024 field and barriers will be released the Wednesday before the race runs on Black Caviar Lightning Day and will be published below.

The 2024 CS Hayes Stakes final field features a quality line-up of potential Australian Guineas-bound youngsters including reigning VRC Derby champ Riff Rocket racing first-up and Ciaron Maher’s last start Manfred Stakes runner-up King Colorado

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 17x12121x RIFF ROCKET Chris Waller Craig Williams 5 59.5kg     107
2 411x9740x2 KING COLORADO Ciaron Maher Mark Zahra 9 59.5kg     96
3 6111x RUN HARRY RUN Michael Moroney Opie Bosson 13 58.5kg     88
4 11931x46x AMUR James Cummings Ms Jamie Kah 10 58.5kg     83
5 30413x00x TANNHAUSER Chris Waller Blake Shinn 1 57kg     82
6 71130x AMBASSADORIAL Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Jordan Childs 12 57kg     70
7 11 OTAGO (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Ben Melham 3 57kg     69
8 x335x9732x CAP FERRAT Chris Waller Michael Dee 7 56kg     85
9 12625x VERDAD Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock Jye McNeil 2 56kg     78
10 5x962x114 AMIGO Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Billy Egan 4 56kg     69
11 6086×114 HEY FAT CAT Robbie Laing Craig Newitt 8 56kg     71
12 334x64x1 ET TU BRUTE Anthony & Sam Freedman Damian Lane 11 56kg     63
13 81 FLYING VALLEY Julius Sandhu Jamie Mott 6 56kg     62

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2024 CS Hayes Stakes Nominations

The 2024 CS Hayes Stakes race nominations close the Monday of race week and will be listed in full below as soon as released by Racing Victoria.

  Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight True Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 51x65111x7 GRIFF C 3 Ciaron Maher 1 59.5kg     108
2 17x12121x RIFF ROCKET G 3 Chris Waller 2 59.5kg     107
3 411x9740x2 KING COLORADO C 3 Ciaron Maher 3 59.5kg     96
4 42x128412x APULIA C 3 Ben, Will & JD Hayes 4 58.5kg     100
5 111x113x3 STEPARTY C 3 Paul Preusker 5 58.5kg     98
6 6111x RUN HARRY RUN G 3 Michael Moroney 6 58.5kg     88
7 11931x46x AMUR C 3 James Cummings 7 58.5kg     83
8 30413x00x TANNHAUSER C 3 Chris Waller 8 57kg     82
9 1x1230x5 SCENTIFY C 3 Ciaron Maher 9 57kg     76
10 71130x AMBASSADORIAL G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 10 57kg     70
11 11 OTAGO (NZ) G 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 11 57kg     69
12 x335x9732x CAP FERRAT C 3 Chris Waller 12 56kg     85
13 133x0x TOWNSEND G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 13 56kg     83
14 12625x VERDAD G 3 Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock 14 56kg     78
15 12x842x HEMAN C 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 15 56kg     78
16 6086×114 HEY FAT CAT G 3 Robbie Laing 16 56kg     71
17 5x962x114 AMIGO G 3 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 17 56kg     69
18 262110x WOLFY (NZ) C 3 Nick Ryan 18 56kg     68
19 334x64x1 ET TU BRUTE G 3 Anthony & Sam Freedman 19 56kg     63
20 1 PRIMAL SPIRIT (NZ) G 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 20 56kg     63
21 81 FLYING VALLEY G 3 Julius Sandhu 21 56kg     6

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

CS Hayes Stakes History

The CS Hayes Stakes was inaugurated in 1987 and the first race was won by Raveneaux.

It began as a Listed race run over 1400m and was originally known as The Debonair. For one year in 1990 the race distance was decreased to 1200m before reverting back to 1400m.

In 1994 the race was called the Vanuatu stakes and was run over 1420m. The following year in 1995 the race name went back to The Debonair but the race distance was 1432m.

In 1996 the race distance was 1433m and then in 1997 went back to the original 1400m length. In 2001 the race reached Group 3 status. A couple of years later in 2003 the distance was 1420m and the next year the length was 1410m. In 2006 the distance went back to 1400m but in 2007 a shorter race was held over 1200m. In 2008 the distance was again 1400m.

CS Hayes Stakes Winners

CS Hayes Stakes results and winning times since 2000 are provided below.

Year

Place

Horse

Time

 
2024 CS Hayes Stakes 1st Riff Rocket 1 minute 22.32 seconds
2nd King Colorado
3rd Verdad
 
2023 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Elliptical
1 minute 21.96 seconds
2nd Holymanz
3rd Maximillius
 
2022 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Pinstriped
1 minute 22.74 seconds
2nd Pascero
3rd Captivant
 
2021 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Tagalao
1 minute 21.63 seconds
2nd Aysar
3rd Mo’unga
 
2020 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Alligator Blood
1 minute 22.61 seconds
2nd Catalyst
3rd Chenier
 
2019 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
The Inevitable
1 minute 21.99 seconds
2nd Age Of Chivalry
3rd O’Tauto
 
2018 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Grunt
1 minute 21.55 seconds
2nd Cliff’s Edge
3rd Muraaqeb
 
2017 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Hey Doc
1 minute 22.88 seconds
2nd Malaise
3rd Land Of Plenty
 
2016 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Tivaci
1 minute 22.7 seconds
2nd Palentino
3rd Tulsa
 
2015 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Wandjina
1 minute 22.3 seconds
2nd Disposition
3rd Stratum Star
 
2014 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Hucklebuck
1 minute 22.9 seconds
2nd Prince Harada
3rd The Quarterback
 
2013 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Sheer Talent
1 minute 22.6 seconds
2nd Force Command
3rd Hosting
 
2012 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
That’s The One
1 minute 22.1 seconds
2nd Decircles
3rd Instinction/Highly Recommended
 
2011 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Bullbars
1 minute 23.9 seconds
2nd Startsmeup
3rd Spirited Eagle
 
2010 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Take The Rap
1 minute 23.2 seconds
2nd Encosta Belief
3rd Extra Zero
 
2009 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Fair Trade
1 minute 22.5 seconds
2nd Cavalaire Bay
3rd Excelltastic
 
2008 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Playwright
1 minute 23.6 seconds
2nd Schilling
3rd Viatorian
 
2007 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Wordsmith
1 minute 10.8 seconds
2nd General Albert
3rd Mondano
 
2006 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Minson
1 minute 21.6 seconds
2nd Langarza
3rd Zigotto
 
2005 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Lieutenant
1 minute 24.2 seconds
2nd Mr Martini
3rd Barely A Moment
 
2004 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Starcraft
1 minute 24 seconds
2nd Under The Bridge
3rd Elvstroem
 
2003 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Innovation Girl
1 minute 22.7 seconds
2nd Delago Brom
3rd Tycoon Ruler
 
2002 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Dash For Cash
1 minute 22.6 seconds
2nd All Courage
3rd Royal Code
 
2001 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Kosta Zoff
1 minute 22.3 seconds
2nd Skalato
3rd Crop
 
2000 CS Hayes Stakes 1st
Crawl
1 minute 22.7 seconds
2nd Pins
3rd Kapuna

This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team.

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