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The HDF McNeil Stakes is a Group 3 1200m sprint for three year old horses.

Run under set weights with penalties conditions, the HDF McNeil Stakes is worth a total of $200,000 prize money as of 2021.

Hosted at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, the HDF McNeil Stakes forms an important part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Held on Memsie Stakes Day, the McNeil Stakes shares its race program with a number of other black-type events. Other races held on the same day include:

• Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m);
• Group 3 The Heath 1100 (1100m); and the
• Group 3 WW Cockram Stakes (1200m).

Scheduled at the outset of the Spring Racing Carnival, the McNeil Stakes play an important role in guiding form understanding for the remainder of the year.

Quite a few handy three years olds run in the McNeil Stakes, and as it’s a very competitive race it is well worth watching that could lead to a run in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Merchant Navy (2017) was the last horse to do the HDF McNeil Stakes – Coolmore Stud Stakes double.

The HDF McNeil Stakes also serves as a good lead-up race for three-year-olds looking to step-up in distance to a mile for the Thousand Guineas and Caulfield Guineas races at Caulfield later in the spring.

Super Seth (2019) was the last horse to complete the HDF McNeil Stakes – Caulfield Guineas double.

The HDF McNeil Stakes 2021 ran on Saturday August 28, 2021 and was won in an upset by Bruckner at 10/1. 

2021 HDF McNeil Stakes
Date:	Saturday August 28, 2021
Track:	Caulfield Racecourse
Distance:	1200m
Race Type:	3YOs – SW+P
Status:	Group 3
Prize Money:	$200,000

2021 McNeil Stakes Results

• 1st: #8 Bruckner
• 2nd: #1 Artorious
• 3rd: #9 Heresy

The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained expensive Snitzel colt Bruckner ($11) was eye-catching winning the HDF McNeil Stakes 2021 results narrowly over the resuming Blue Diamond hero Artorius ($3F) ahead of a potential Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes target in Melbourne.

Click here to read more on the HDF McNeil Stakes win by Bruckner.

	Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Penalty	Starting Price
	1	8	BRUCKNER	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	John Allen		2	57kg		$11
	2	1	ARTORIUS	Anthony & Sam Freedman	Luke Currie	0.2L	3	59.5kg		$3F
	3	9	HERESY	James Cummings	Damien Oliver	0.3L	4	56.5kg		$5.50
	4	3	LIGHTSABER	Peter G Moody	Luke Nolen	1.05L	7	58.5kg		$18
	5	2	GENERAL BEAU	Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra	Damian Lane	1.25L	1	58.5kg		$3.60
	6	5	MR MOZART	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Jye McNeil	4.5L	8	57kg		$7
	7	6	ZERELLE	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Craig Newitt	6.25L	5	57kg		$31
	8	7	THROW AT DA STUMPS	Chris Hyland	Beau Mertens	9.75L	6	57kg		$31
		4	EXCEED EXPECT	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Daniel Moor		0

2021 McNeil Stakes Odds

The best HDF McNeil Stakes 2021 betting odds will be provided right here with market links to Ladbrokes.com.au.

2021 McNeil Stakes Field

The 2021 McNeil Stakes field of final acceptances will be published in full below once announced by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday leading-up to Memsie Stakes Day.

Just nine three-year-old sprinters make-up the H.D.F. McNeil Stakes 2021 field for this weekend including the rails-drawn General Beau and the resuming Blue Diamond winner Artorius.

• Scratchings Update: #4 Exceed Expect (6)

No	Last 10	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	2116x	ARTORIUS	Anthony & Sam Freedman	Luke Currie	3	59.5kg		102
2	12x115x2	GENERAL BEAU	Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra	Damian Lane	1	58.5kg		84
3	21119×6	LIGHTSABER	Peter G Moody	Luke Nolen	8	58.5kg		76
4	18×1	EXCEED EXPECT	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Daniel Moor	6	57kg		67
5	14×4	MR MOZART	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Jye McNeil	9	57kg		65
6	31×7	ZERELLE	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Craig Newitt	5	57kg		66
7	31	THROW AT DA STUMPS	Chris Hyland	Beau Mertens	7	57kg		62
8	30×1	BRUCKNER	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Ms Jamie Kah	2	57kg		62
9	21×2	HERESY	James Cummings	Damien Oliver	4	56.5kg		77

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2021 HDF McNeil Stakes Nominations

Nominations for the HDF McNeil Stakes 2021 close the Monday of race week and will be published in full below.

The 2021 HDF McNeil Stakes nominations attracted a bumper 23 three-year-old sprinters including the returning Blue Diamond Stakes winner Artorius and General Beau coming off a first-up Group 3 Vain Stakes second.

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Ballot	Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	2116x	ARTORIUS	C	3	Anthony & Sam Freedman	1	59.5kg		102
2	1x721610x	SHAQUERO	C	3	Chris Waller	2	58.5kg		90
3	12x115x2	GENERAL BEAU	C	3	Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra	3	58.5kg		84
4	21119×6	LIGHTSABER	C	3	Peter G Moody	4	58.5kg		76
5	21×2	HERESY	F	3	James Cummings	5	56.5kg		77
6	114x	STARRY LEGEND	C	3	John Sadler	6	57kg		72
7	11×3	GENERATION	C	3	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	7	57kg		73
8	15×3	REMARQUE	C	3	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	8	57kg		73
9	15	LIBIAMO	F	3	Grahame Begg	9	55kg		68
10	211	TAUNTING	C	3	Michael Hickmott	10	57kg		66
11	131	MYNUMEROUNO	G	3	Nick Ryan	11	57kg		68
12	13×5	MAZU	C	3	Peter & Paul Snowden	12	57kg		72
13	18×1	EXCEED EXPECT	C	3	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	13	57kg		67
14	14×4	MR MOZART	C	3	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	14	57kg		65
15	31×7	ZERELLE	C	3	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	15	57kg		66
16	67×17	BRIGANTINE	C	3	James Cummings	16	57kg		63
17	31	THROW AT DA STUMPS	G	3	Chris Hyland	17	57kg		62
18	30×1	BRUCKNER	C	3	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	18	57kg		62
19	1	ANCIENT GIRL (NZ)	F	3	Clinton McDonald	19=	55kg		63
20	1	MORNING MELODY	F	3	Nick Harnett	19=	55kg		63
21	2x	RIVERPLATE (NZ)	C	3	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	21	57kg		61
22	7x	CAPITAL LEGEND	G	3	John Sadler	22=	57kg		59
23		BEAUKATI	F	3	Clinton McDonald	22=	55kg		61

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

HDF McNeil Stakes History

The HDF McNeil Stakes was inaugurated in 1989 and has continued to provide excellent racing action ever since. Good Old Ted took out the first edition of the McNeil Stakes, and since then several renowned horses have seen success.

Originally called the HDF McNeil Quality, the race name was changed for the 2005 edition to its current form. Up to and including 2005 the McNeil Stakes was raced over 1100 metres. Since 2006 it has remained at its current distance of 1200 metres. The McNeil Stakes was granted listed status in 1991, which it held until being upgraded to Group 3 in 1999. The race has remained a Group 2 event since then.

Notable McNeil Stakes winners include Danzero (1994), Miss Finland (2006), Scenic Blast (2007), Starspangledbanner (2009), Merchant Navy (2017) and that year’s Caulfield Guineas champion Super Seth (2019). McNeil Stakes results since 2000 are listed below.

HDF McNeil Stakes Results

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2021 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Bruckner	1 minute 10.45 seconds
	2nd	Artorius
	3rd	Heresy
2020 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Immortal Love	1 minute 10.89 seconds
	2nd	Flying Award
	3rd	Tagaloa
2019 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Super Seth	1 minute 10.95 seconds
	2nd	King Of Hastings
	3rd	Sebrakate
2018 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Native Soldier	1 minute 9.7 seconds
	2nd	The August
	3rd	Seabrook
2017 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Merchant Navy	1 minute 10.8 seconds
	2nd	Booker
	3rd	Muraahib
2016 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Defcon	1 minute 11.4 seconds
	2nd	Highland Beat
	3rd	Wazzenme
2015 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Gold Symphony	1 minute 10.5 seconds
	2nd	Ready For Victory
	3rd	Demonstrate
2014 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Chivalry	1 minute 10.3 seconds
	2nd	Nordic Empire
	3rd	Awesome Rock
2013 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Fast ‘N’ Rocking	1 minute 10.8 seconds
	2nd	Prince Harada
	3rd	Thermal Current
2012 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Lady Of Harrods	1 minute 10.2 seconds
	2nd	Kabayan
	3rd	Shamexpress
2011 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Golden Archer	1 minute 09.0 seconds
	2nd	Cross Of Gold
	3rd	Vatican
2010 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Sistine Angel	1 minute 113.4 seconds
	2nd	Servant
	3rd	Intencion
2009 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Starspangledbanner	1 minute 10.2 seconds
	2nd	Tollesprit
	3rd	Eclair Fastpass
2008 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Sugar Babe	1 minute 10.4 seconds
	2nd	Whobegotyou
	3rd	Cardinal Virtue
2007 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Scenic Blast	1 minute 10.6 seconds
	2nd	Pins On Parade
	3rd	Marching
2006 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Miss Finland	1 minute 16.18 seconds
	2nd	Haradasun
	3rd	Due Sasso
2005 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Danerich	1 minute 06.7 seconds
	2nd	Line Account
	3rd	Izanami
2004 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Tahni Girl	1 minute 04.1 seconds
	2nd	Classiconi
	3rd	Oratorio
2003 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Cahula	1 minute 05.4 seconds
	2nd	Cross Current
	3rd	Abdullah
2002 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Bel Esprit	1 minute 01.9 seconds
	2nd	Yell
	3rd	Before Too Long
2001 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Tully Dane	1 minute 05.6 seconds
	2nd	Raja Lane
	3rd	King Of Prussia
2000 HDF McNeil Stakes	1st	Rapid Man	1 minute 06.1 seconds
	2nd	Little Dozer
	3rd	Homewrecker