2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
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The Group 3 Festival Stakes is run at Rosehill Gardens during the Sydney Summer Racing Carnival as a lead-up to the Villiers Stakes.
The 2023 Festival Stakes is a Group 3 race run at Rosehill Gardens in late November or early December during the Sydney Summer Racing Carnival.
The quality handicap race is run over 1500m, offers $250,000 in prize money and takes place on the same Saturday as Perth’s $1.5 million Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
Horses running in the Festival Stakes field can come via a host of different lead-ups including Melbourne races run over the spring such as the Group 3 Chatham Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Champions Stakes Day.
The Festival Stakes serves as a nice lead-up race to the old Villiers Stakes (1600m), now run over the mile at Royal Randwick a fortnight later as the $2 million The Ingham Stakes – and the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) back at Randwick on Boxing Day in late December.
Monton (2011) was the last horse to complete the Festival Stakes – Villiers Stakes double, while the 2018 Festival Stakes winner My Nordic Hero ran third in the Villiers next start.
More recently the 2021 Festival Stakes winner Ellsberg ran a next-up second in the Villiers Stakes results. He returned in 2022 and further franked the form with a third in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes in the autumn before an outstanding spring saluting in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) in a dead-heat with Top Ranked before completing the Five Diamonds Prelude – $2 million Five Diamonds double.
In 2023 the Ingham Stakes winner, Kirwan’s Lane, won the lucrative summer feature on the back of a third in that year’s Festival Stakes results.
The Festival Stakes 2023 ran on Saturday December 2, 2023 at Rosehill Gardens offering $250,000 in prize money and was won in an upset photo thriller by the consistent Phearson ($17).
2023 Festival Stakes | |
---|---|
Date: | Saturday December 2, 2023 |
Track: | Rosehill Racecourse |
Distance: | 1500m |
Race Type: | Quality Handicap |
Status: | Group 3 |
Prize Money: | $250,000 |
Brad Widdup’s in-form Exosphere six-year-old Phearson ($17) survived a protest to hang on to his narrow victory in the Festival Stakes 2023 results in Sydney.
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 | PHEARSON | Brad Widdup | Tom Sherry | 3 | 54kg | $17 | |||
2 | 14 | WILLIAMSBURG | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tyler Schiller | 0.06L | 11 | 53kg | $8 | ||
3 | 2 | RUSTIC STEEL | Kris Lees | Sam Clipperton | 0.73L | 4 | 57.5kg | $4.40EF | ||
4 | 13 | SUPERIUM | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Jett Stanley (a) | 1.06L | 9 | 53kg | $71 | ||
5 | 18 | TAZARAL (IRE) | Peter & Paul Snowden | Zac Lloyd (a) | 1.49L | 5 | 53kg | $11 | ||
6 | 17 | GREBENI | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Kerrin McEvoy | 3.27L | 7 | 53kg | $4.40EF | ||
7 | 4 | DAJRAAN (GB) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 4.54L | 8 | 54kg | $21 | ||
8 | 11 | MILITARY EXPERT | Annabel Neasham | Ms Rachel King | 6.7L | 6 | 53.5kg | $12 | ||
9 | 5 | FINEPOINT | Chris Waller | Regan Bayliss | 7.01L | 1 | 54kg | $5.50 | ||
10 | 3 | BANJU | Lyle Chandler | Reece Jones | 9.32L | 10 | 55kg | $26 | ||
11 | 8 | FELIX MAJESTIC | Gary Nickson | Jason Collett | 10.59L | 2 | 54kg | $9.50 | ||
16 | GLINT OF SILVER | David Pfieffer | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 0 | ||||||
1 | VILANA | James Cummings | Nash Rawiller | 0 | ||||||
15 | ACQUITTED (IRE) | Kris Lees | Jay Ford | 0 | ||||||
9 | JAMBEROO | Diane Poidevin Laine | Peter Wells | 0 | ||||||
6 | RUBAMOS | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 0 | ||||||
12 | LOVE TAP | Richard & Will Freedman | 0 | |||||||
10 | CHASE MY CROWN | Wayne Wilkes | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The latest Festival Stakes odds will be listed below with pricing links to Ladbrokes.com.au for you to lock in your Festival Stakes Tips at the right price this summer racing season.
Rainer ($6EF) followed by Ellsberg ($2.40 in 2021) are the latest Festival Stakes favourites (or equal favourites) to salute for the punters.
There was a notable upset in 2023 with Phearson saluting at Festival Stakes odds of $17.
Stay tuned for our insider Festival Stakes 2023 Tips on the Ingham Stakes lead-up this spring-summer racing season.
Large field and plenty of livewire Festival Stakes hopes this season but sticking with Grebeni coming off a confidence-boosting win in the Goulburn Cup (1400m) at the start of the month. Ultra-consistent Ocean Park four-year-old who has a great record here at Rosehill with two wins from three starts at the track. Carried plenty more weight for some good wins in the winter, is a Group 3 place-getter, and is fit now third-up ready to fire with just 53kg and Kerrin McEvoy aboard.
The Festival Stakes field attracts a diverse line-up of summer gallopers many of which are heading towards a run in the season’s Villiers Stakes (now The Ingham Stakes) over the Randwick mile and is released on the Wednesday before the race.
The official 2023 Festival Stakes field and barriers will be published below as soon as announced by Racing NSW.
The Festival Stakes 2023 final field features a big line-up of Sydney summer hopefuls led in betting by the Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained Grebeni following the early scratching of the James Cummings-trained top-weight Vilana.
No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0x1760x568 | VILANA | James Cummings | Nash Rawiller | 3 | 59kg | 107 | ||
2 | 1x88610x75 | RUSTIC STEEL | Kris Lees | Sam Clipperton | 6 | 57.5kg | 104 | ||
3 | 112x19x007 | BANJU | Lyle Chandler | Reece Jones | 15 | 55kg | 99 | ||
4 | 3x0x10x7x0 | DAJRAAN (GB) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 13 | 54kg | 97 | ||
5 | 0x330003x3 | FINEPOINT | Chris Waller | Regan Bayliss | 1 | 54kg | 91 | ||
6 | 422x57x536 | RUBAMOS | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 10 | 54kg | 55kg | 91 | |
7 | x10212x023 | PHEARSON | Brad Widdup | Tom Sherry | 5 | 54kg | 83 | ||
8 | x800x41161 | FELIX MAJESTIC | Gary Nickson | Jason Collett | 2 | 54kg | 80 | ||
9 | 7317x7x132 | JAMBEROO | Diane Poidevin Laine | Peter Wells | 18 | 54kg | 69 | ||
10 | 4213544143 | CHASE MY CROWN | Wayne Wilkes | 8 | 54kg | 67 | |||
11 | 2370x036x6 | MILITARY EXPERT | Annabel Neasham | Ms Rachel King | 9 | 53.5kg | 96 | ||
12 | x10x735x05 | LOVE TAP | Richard & Will Freedman | 16 | 53kg | 93 | |||
13 | 8795×96318 | SUPERIUM | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Jett Stanley (a) | 14 | 53kg | 93 | ||
14 | 5303×42960 | WILLIAMSBURG | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tyler Schiller | 17 | 53kg | 92 | ||
15 | 41035720×2 | ACQUITTED (IRE) | Kris Lees | Jay Ford | 12 | 53kg | 91 | ||
16 | 2127×63402 | GLINT OF SILVER | David Pfieffer | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 4 | 53kg | 86 | ||
17 | 3x21113x01 | GREBENI | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Kerrin McEvoy | 11 | 53kg | 86 | ||
18 | x630x1126x | TAZARAL (IRE) | Peter & Paul Snowden | Zac Lloyd (a) | 7 | 53kg | 84 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The Festival Stakes nominations are taken the Monday prior to the race and are the first indication of what middle-distance gallopers will take to the track for the handicap clash in early December.
Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | x08x3x907x | LAUDA SION (JPN) | H | 7 | Chris Waller | 1= | 59kg | 59kg | 107 | |
2 | 0x1760x568 | VILANA | H | 5 | James Cummings | 1= | 59kg | 59kg | 107 | |
3 | 9187×07714 | NEW MANDATE (IRE) | G | 6 | Chris Waller | 3 | 58.5kg | 58.5kg | 106 | |
4 | 1x88610x75 | RUSTIC STEEL | G | 6 | Kris Lees | 4 | 57.5kg | 57.5kg | 104 | |
5 | 043×200330 | SKYMAN (GB) | G | 8 | Chris Waller | 5 | 57kg | 57kg | 103 | |
6 | 112x19x007 | BANJU | G | 7 | Lyle Chandler | 6 | 55kg | 55kg | 99 | |
7 | 3x0x10x7x0 | DAJRAAN (GB) | H | 6 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 7 | 54kg | 54kg | 97 | |
8 | 2370x036x6 | MILITARY EXPERT | G | 5 | Annabel Neasham | 8 | 54kg | 53.5kg | 96 | |
9 | x10x735x05 | LOVE TAP | G | 6 | Richard & Will Freedman | 9= | 54kg | 53kg | 93 | |
10 | 8795×96318 | SUPERIUM | G | 7 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 9= | 54kg | 53kg | 93 | |
11 | 43024265×2 | KEATS (IRE) | G | 7 | Gavin Bedggood | 11= | 54kg | 53kg | 92 | |
12 | 5303×42960 | WILLIAMSBURG | H | 4 | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | 11= | 54kg | 53kg | 92 | |
13 | 41035720×2 | ACQUITTED (IRE) | G | 7 | Kris Lees | 13= | 54kg | 53kg | 91 | |
14 | 0x330003x3 | FINEPOINT | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 13= | 54kg | 53kg | 91 | |
15 | 422x57x536 | RUBAMOS | G | 6 | Chris Waller | 13= | 54kg | 53kg | 91 | |
16 | 2127×63402 | GLINT OF SILVER | G | 4 | David Pfieffer | 16= | 54kg | 53kg | 86 | |
17 | 3x21113x01 | GREBENI | G | 4 | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | 16= | 54kg | 53kg | 86 | |
18 | x630x1126x | TAZARAL (IRE) | G | 6 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 18 | 54kg | 53kg | 84 | |
19 | x10212x023 | PHEARSON | G | 6 | Brad Widdup | 19 | 54kg | 53kg | 83 | |
20 | 43501458×6 | ITA | M | 6 | Bjorn Baker | 20 | 54kg | 53kg | 81 | |
21 | x800x41161 | FELIX MAJESTIC | G | 4 | Gary Nickson | 21 | 54kg | 53kg | 80 | |
22 | 7317x7x132 | JAMBEROO | G | 4 | Diane Poidevin Laine | 22 | 54kg | 53kg | 69 | |
23 | 4213544143 | CHASE MY CROWN | M | 6 | Wayne Wilkes | 23 | 54kg | 53kg | 67 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The Festival Stakes was first run in 1948 and won by Cragside. Since then a number of quality contenders have taken out the Sydney showdown including Headstrong (1994), Ike’s Dream (2004), Monton (2011), I’m Imposing (2014) and inaugural Five Diamonds winner the following spring Ellsberg (2021).
The event has run at both Rosehill Racecourse as well as Canterbury Park and has also undergone a number of distance changes. It has been run over its current 1500m distance since 2008. It was inaugurated as a Principal race before gaining Listed status in 1979 – 2015. The Festival Stakes was elevated to a Group 3 race for the first time in 2016.
See below for the full list of Festival Stakes winners and results going back to 2000.
Year | Place | Horse | Time |
---|---|---|---|
2023 Festival Stakes |
1st | Phearson | 1 minute 29.04 seconds |
2nd | Williamsburg | ||
3rd | Rustic Steel | ||
2022 Festival Stakes |
1st | Dajraan | 1 minute 27.96 seconds |
2nd | Mirra Vision | ||
3rd | Kirwan’s Lane | ||
2021 Festival Stakes |
1st | Ellsberg | 1 minute 32.04 seconds |
2nd | Stockman | ||
3rd | Bandersnatch | ||
2020 Festival Stakes |
1st | Outrageous | 1 minute 29.25 seconds |
2nd | Royal Celebration | ||
3rd | Evalina | ||
2019 Festival Stakes |
1st | Ranier | 1 minute 29.46 seconds |
2nd | Live And Free | ||
3rd | Cellarman | ||
2018 Festival Stakes |
1st | My Nordic Hero | 1 minute 29.10 seconds |
2nd | Goodfella | ||
3rd | Chamois Road | ||
2017 Festival Stakes |
1st | Testashadow | 1 minute 31.67 seconds |
2nd | Mister Sea Wolf | ||
3rd | Red Excitement | ||
2016 Festival Stakes |
1st | Sweet Redemption | 1 minute 29.63 seconds |
2nd | Hazzabeel | ||
3rd | Red Excitement | ||
2015 Festival Stakes |
1st | Mighty Lucky | 1 minute 29.49 seconds |
2nd | It’s Somewhat | ||
3rd | Peace Force | ||
2014 Festival Stakes |
1st | I’m Imposing | 1 minute 28.51 seconds |
2nd | Estonian Princess | ||
3rd | Strawberry Boy | ||
2013 Festival Stakes |
1st | White Sage | 1 minute 30.0 seconds |
2nd | Terravista | ||
3rd | Alma’s Fury | ||
2012 Festival Stakes |
1st | Malavio | 1 minute 28.72 seconds |
2nd | Monton | ||
3rd | Galah | ||
2011 Festival Stakes |
1st | Monton | 1 minute 28.63 seconds |
2nd | Lightinthenite | ||
3rd | Viva Las | ||
2010 Festival Stakes |
1st | Race Not Run | – |
2nd | – | ||
3rd | – | ||
2009 Festival Stakes |
1st | Rabbuka | 1 minute 28.72 seconds |
2nd | Parfumier | ||
3rd | Ahdashim | ||
2008 (December) Festival Stakes |
1st | Voice Commander | 1 minute 29.25 seconds |
2nd | Synonym | ||
3rd | Theophorus | ||
2008 (January) Festival Stakes |
1st | Eremein | 1 minute 33.92 seconds |
2nd | Lancaster Park | ||
3rd | Beauty Watch | ||
2007 Festival Stakes |
1st | Race Not Run | – |
2nd | – | ||
3rd | – | ||
2006 Festival Stakes |
1st | Utzon | 1 minute 22.69 seconds |
2nd | Anwaar | ||
3rd | Real Strike | ||
2005 Festival Stakes |
1st | Spirit Of Tara | 1 minute 24.83 seconds |
2nd | Our Apache | ||
3rd | Benedetti | ||
2004 Festival Stakes |
1st | Ike’s Dream | 1 minute 21.82 seconds |
2nd | Sam Sung A Song | ||
3rd | Rinehart | ||
2003 Festival Stakes |
1st | This Manshood | 1 minute 22.69 seconds |
2nd | Palladium Star | ||
3rd | Salagado | ||
2002 Festival Stakes |
1st | This Manshood | 1 minute 23.98 seconds |
2nd | Gabfest | ||
3rd | Raw Instinct | ||
2001 Festival Stakes |
1st | Nanny Maroon | 1 minute 22.35 seconds |
2nd | Play Station | ||
3rd | Osca Warrior | ||
2000 Festival Stakes |
1st | Adam | 1 minute 17.02 seconds |
2nd | Mr. Innocent | ||
3rd | Steel City |