Epona Stakes

The Epona Stakes is a Group 3 staying race for fillies and mares run at Rosehill Gardens on Golden Slipper Day in March.

2023 Epona Stakes Results

  • 1st: #6 Gin Martini
  • 2nd: #2 Thalassophile
  • 3rd: #8 Douceur



The Epona Stakes is a Group 3 race for fillies and mares held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse on Golden Slipper Day in March.

Golden Slipper Day is one of the highlights of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and features five Group 1 races with the running of the Golden Slipper Stakes, Ranvet Stakes, The Galaxy, George Ryder Stakes and Rosehill Guineas. There are also a number of key support acts on the card that hold Group status including the Epona Stakes.

Run under set weights plus penalties conditions the Epona Stakes is contested over 1900m by female stayers and offers $200,000 in prize money. Fillies and mares may come into the Epona Stakes field via a number of lead-ups including a tougher run in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) the weekend before or the Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m) at the start of the month.

In 2018 the Epona Stakes winner The Pinnacle improved on a lead-up second in the Aspiration Quality, while in 2023 Gin Martini ran sixth in the Aspiration Quality before her upset Epona Stakes victory.

Possible later autumn targets for Epona Stakes graduates including the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) and the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m). In 2016 Heavens Above ran second in both the Epona Stakes and Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

Mares looking for longer distance targets may contest the Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Royal Randwick on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ or even the following weekend’s Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).

In 2021 the Epona Stakes third placed She’s Ideel franked the form running second next-up in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) before a fourth in that autumn’s Sydney Cup results.

The 2022 Epona Stakes form was franked with the runner-up Nerve Not Verve winning the Group 2 Chairman’s Stakes next-up that April.

The Epona Stakes 2023 ran at Rosehill Racecourse on Saturday March 18, 2023 as part of Golden Slipper Day card in Sydney and was won narrowly by the John Sargent-trained Gin Martini ($9.50). 

2023 Epona Stakes
Date: Saturday March 18, 2023
Track: Rosehill Racecourse
Distance: 1900m
Race Type: SW+P / F&M 3YO&Up
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $200,000

2023 Epona Stakes Results & Finishing Order

  • 1st: #6 Gin Martini ($9.50)
  • 2nd: #2 Thalassophile
  • 3rd: #8 Douceur

The John Sargent-trained Sandown Cup winning mare Gin Martini ($9.50) was good second-up at a a price given a perfectly-timed ride by jockey Damian Lane to score her maiden Group victory in the 2023 Epona Stakes results.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 6 GIN MARTINI (NZ) John Sargent Damian Lane 10 55kg $9.50
2 2 THALASSOPHILE Chris Waller James McDonald 0.37L 2 56kg $4F
3 8 DOUCEUR John Thompson Brock Ryan 1.26L 6 54kg $19
4 7 PINK IVORY (NZ) John Sargent Brenton Avdulla 2.05L 5 54kg $4.40
5 9 SUPAGIRL (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 5.31L 4 54kg $5
6 4 BELLATRIX BLACK (NZ) Kris Lees Hugh Bowman 5.81L 9 56kg $19
7 3 HONEYCREEPER James Cummings Kerrin McEvoy 6.96L 13 56kg $18
8 1 GLINT OF HOPE (JPN) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Nash Rawiller 7.04L 3 59kg $19
9 12 ARAVENE Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 8.51L 8 54kg $20
10 11 HOMETRUTHS (IRE) Chris Waller Michael Dee 8.65L 1 54kg $41
11 14 QUEENMAKER Edward Cummings Tyler Schiller (a) 10.64L 12 54kg $91
12 10 SANSTOC (NZ) Mark Newnham Tom Sherry 10.66L 7 54kg $10
13 15e SUNCHASER (NZ) Robert Quinn Ms Rachel King 11.12L 11 54kg $101
14 13 CAROLINA FIRE Lee & Cherie Curtis Jay Ford 13.7L 14 54kg $81
5 BISCAYNE BAY Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Dylan Gibbons (a) 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Epona Stakes Betting Odds

The updated Epona Stakes 2023 betting odds on the staying fillies & mares racing in the Group 3 this Golden Slipper Day will be available below.

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

2023 Epona Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 EPONA STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Epona Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Epona Stakes 2023 Tips on the Golden Slipper Day support act this autumn.

  • To Win: #2 Thalassophile ($4.20 at time of publish)

Hard to tip against Chris Waller’s in-form Not A Single Doubt four-year-old who chases her third win on the trot this prep. Comes off a nose win in the Group 3 Aspiration Quality over a mile when working her way well to the line from midfield. Goes up in distance and weight (53kg to 56kg), but defeated a few of these last time out and is on the improve. James McDonald in the saddle from a nice inside barrier two draw. Previous winner here with more weight at 2000m so Rosehill and 1900m are a non-issue. She rates well and looks a hard to beat favourite.

2023 Epona Stakes Field

The Epona Stakes field features a smart line-up of fillies and mares either proven at staying distances or testing the waters over more metres during the autumn.

The official 2023 Epona Stakes field and barriers are set for release on Wednesday March 15, 2023 and will be published below as soon as available.

The Epona Stakes 2023 final field features a capacity line-up of fillies and mares with markets on the staying showdown led by Chris Waller’s last start Group 3 Aspiration Quality winner Thalassophile.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 10x6545x09 GLINT OF HOPE (JPN) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Nash Rawiller 3 59kg 96
2 27×3862611 THALASSOPHILE Chris Waller James McDonald 2 56kg 92
3 6x52946x85 HONEYCREEPER James Cummings Kerrin McEvoy 14 56kg 87
4 422118×69 BELLATRIX BLACK (NZ) Kris Lees Hugh Bowman 10 56kg 85
5 833x8560x2 BISCAYNE BAY Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Dylan Gibbons (a) 8 56kg 82
6 8x064314x6 GIN MARTINI (NZ) John Sargent Damian Lane 11 55kg 92
7 59x51627x2 PINK IVORY (NZ) John Sargent Brenton Avdulla 5 54kg 90
8 55x060x088 DOUCEUR John Thompson Brock Ryan 6 54kg 82
9 151471324x SUPAGIRL (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 4 54kg 82
10 17x8139x11 SANSTOC (NZ) Mark Newnham Tom Sherry 7 54kg 75
11 1x3441x8x HOMETRUTHS (IRE) Chris Waller Michael Dee 1 54kg 74
12 1x5110x756 ARAVENE Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 9 54kg 73
13 204×851363 CAROLINA FIRE Lee & Cherie Curtis Jay Ford 15 54kg 62
14 207128×922 QUEENMAKER Edward Cummings Tyler Schiller (a) 13 54kg 61
15e 326x12x45 SUNCHASER (NZ) Robert Quinn Ms Rachel King 12 54kg 57

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Epona Stakes Nominations

Early Epona Stakes nominations in 2023 are taken the Monday of race week and will be updated below once released.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 21×41 AMPERE (NZ) M 5 Michael Kent 66
2 1x5110x756 ARAVENE M 4 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 73
3 422118×69 BELLATRIX BLACK (NZ) M 4 Kris Lees 85
4 833x8560x2 BISCAYNE BAY M 4 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 82
5 204×851363 CAROLINA FIRE M 5 Lee & Cherie Curtis 62
6 45415 CRIMSON LIGHT (NZ) M 4 Michael Kent 61
7 2512 DANCINGINTHEDARK M 4 Michael Kent 62
8 4619×24159 DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) M 5 Michael Kent 84
9 55x060x088 DOUCEUR M 4 John Thompson 82
10 8x064314x6 GIN MARTINI (NZ) M 4 John Sargent 92
11 10x6545x09 GLINT OF HOPE (JPN) M 4 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 96
12 1x3441x8x HOMETRUTHS (IRE) M 4 Chris Waller 74
13 6x52946x85 HONEYCREEPER M 4 James Cummings 87
14 x211714x94 LEFT REELING (NZ) M 4 John Sargent 69
15 332×786122 LOVELY ESTEEM (GB) M 5 Chris Waller 81
16 59x51627x2 PINK IVORY (NZ) M 4 John Sargent 90
17 207128×922 QUEENMAKER M 4 Edward Cummings 61
18 0x11215x34 ROOTS M 4 Chris Waller 96
19 17x8139x11 SANSTOC (NZ) M 4 Mark Newnham 75
20 326x12x45 SUNCHASER (NZ) M 4 Robert Quinn 57
21 151471324x SUPAGIRL (IRE) M 4 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 82
22 27×3862611 THALASSOPHILE M 4 Chris Waller 92

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Epona Stakes History

The Epona Stakes was first run in 1998 and won by Burning Embers. Since then some nice types have taken out the race including Fibrillation (2012) and Scratchy Bottom (2015). It only gained black-type status in 2001 as a Listed race before a Group 3 upgrade in 2012. The race is named after Celtic-Roman god Epona known as the protector of horses.

Known by a number of different names over the years the Epona Stakes has run as the Epona Mares Quality Plate, De Bortoli Wines Stakes and Percy Sykes Tribute Stakes in recent years. From 2000 – 2002 the race took place at Canterbury Park and from 1998 – 1999 it was contested over 2000m instead of the current 1900m distance.

In 2021 the original Golden Slipper Stakes race day including the Epona Stakes was abandoned due to heavy rainfall and unsafe track conditions and postponed to the following Saturday.

Recent Epona Stakes Winners

See below for the full Epona Stakes results and winners going back to the year 2000.

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Epona Stakes
1st Gin Martini 1 minute 56.12 seconds
2nd Thalassophile
3rd Douceur
2022
Epona Stakes
1st Monegal 2 minutes 00.62 seconds
2nd Nerve Not Verve
3rd Feel The Rush
2021
Epona Stakes
1st Polly Grey 1 minute 57.80 seconds
2nd Aliferous
3rd She’s Ideel
2020
Epona Stakes
1st Missybeel 1 minute 57.64
2nd Gayatri
3rd Greysful Glamour
2019
Epona Stakes
1st Semari 2 minutes 02.30 seconds
2nd I’m A Princess
3rd All Too Soon
2018
Epona Stakes
1st The Pinnacle 1 minute 58.51 seconds
2nd Domed
3rd Nettoyer
2017
Epona Stakes
1st Consommateur 2 minutes 06.45 seconds
2nd Ambience
3rd Top Of My List
2016
Epona Stakes
1st Vergara 1 minute 56.8 seconds
2nd Heavens Above
3rd Sweet Fire
2015
Epona Stakes
1st Scratchy Bottom 1 minute 57.3 seconds
2nd Rising Romance
3rd Telepathic
2014
Epona Stakes
1st Intimate Moment 2 minutes 7.0 seconds
2nd Any Day Will Do
3rd Epingle
2013
Epona Stakes
1st Aliyana Tilde 1 minute 55.8 seconds
2nd Epingle
3rd Dolly Dolly
2012
Epona Stakes
1st Fibrillation 1 minute 57.6 seconds
2nd Crafty Irna
3rd Once Were Wild
2011
Epona Stakes
1st Galizani 1 minute 57.0 seconds
2nd Vivid Vixen
3rd Vintedge
2010
Epona Stakes
1st Messenger 1 minute 59.8 seconds
2nd Pagan Princess
3rd Jessicabeel
2009
Epona Stakes
1st Divine Rebel 1 minute 58.5 seconds
2nd Prima Nova
3rd Risayla
2008
Epona Stakes
1st Ready To Lift 1 minute 57.69 seconds
2nd My Lady’s Chamber
3rd Reggie
2007
Epona Stakes
1st Safwa 1 minute 55.62 seconds
2nd Grey Stream
3rd Upper Echelon
2006
Epona Stakes
1st Kosi Bay 1 minute 57.78 seconds
2nd Fantasia
3rd Sun Song
2005
Epona Stakes
1st Natural Woman 1 minute 55.06 seconds
2nd Cincinnati Gal
3rd Clevedon
2004
Epona Stakes
1st Great Anna 1 minute 56.55 seconds
2nd Vereza
3rd Thundarosa
2003
Epona Stakes
1st Airlie Bird 1 minute 55.8 seconds
2nd Talista Belle
3rd Honor Babe
2002
Epona Stakes
1st Ilze 1 minute 58.43 seconds
2nd Floridays
3rd Call Me Lily
2001
Epona Stakes
1st Market Price 1 minute 57.85 seconds
2nd Poppett
3rd The Druidess
2000
Epona Stakes
1st Our Erin 2 minutes 00.16 seconds
2nd Eye Spy
3rd Dalquareen

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Unspoken Posts Narrow 2023 The...

Unspoken Posts Narrow 2023 The Five Diamonds Win

The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Unspoken came away with a narrow victory...

2023 Champions Stakes Results:...

2023 Champions Stakes Results: Atishu and J Mac Beat Duais and Ollie

James McDonald stopped the retiring Damien Oliver from a swansong Group 1 win...

2023 Champions Mile Results: P...

2023 Champions Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni All-The-Way Winner

Pride Of Jenni secured her second Group 1 success in the space of seven days...

2023 Champions Sprint Results:...

2023 Champions Sprint Results: Imperatriz Just Keeps Winning

Mark Walker’s brilliant sprint star Imperatriz just keeps on winning with the...

Race Results

Military Mission Fires in 2023 Zipping Classic Results

Unspoken Posts Narrow 2023 The Five Diamonds Win

2023 Champions Stakes Results: Atishu and J Mac Beat Duais and Ollie

2023 Champions Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni All-The-Way Winner

2023 Champions Sprint Results: Imperatriz Just Keeps Winning

Race Previews

2023 The Ingham Race Field & Odds Update: Detonator Jack Favourite

Zaaki Heads 2023 Northerly Stakes Field & Betting Markets

2023 Ballarat Cup Field & Betting Update

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Fields & Form

2023 The Ingham Race Field & Odds Update: Detonator Jack Favourite

Zaaki Heads 2023 Northerly Stakes Field & Betting Markets

2023 Ballarat Cup Field & Betting Update

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets