Sky High Stakes

The Group 3 Sky High Stakes takes place each year in March at Rosehill Racecourse on Coolmore Classic Day during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

2023 Sky High Stakes Results

  • 1st: #16 Protagonist
  • 2nd: #14 Zeyrek
  • 3rd: #12 Sunshine Rising



The Sky High Stakes is a Group 3 race held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse on Coolmore Classic Day in March during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Contested over 2000m the set weights plus penalties race is open to horses aged three-years-old and above and offers a lucrative $350,000 in total prize money. Coolmore Classic Day is headlined by the fillies and mares facing off in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) and the meeting is host to a number of other Group status races. Other highlights on the card including the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m), Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m), Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) and the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) for Golden Slipper Stakes hopefuls.

A nice lead-up into the Sky High Stakes is the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) over a mile in late February. In 2015 Hartnell ran second in the Chipping Norton Stakes before winning the Sky High Stakes. The 2017 Sky High Stakes winner Tavago also backed-up off a Chipping Norton Stakes run (5th). More recently, Chris Waller’s mare Toffee Tongue improved on an eighth in the Chipping Norton to win the Sky High at $14.

In 2022 the Sky High Stakes winner Stockman atoned for his dead-last (10th) in the Chipping Norton to win the lucrative Group 3 event.

The stayers that face off in the Sky High Stakes field are traditionally heading towards longer distance features over the autumn including the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) run at Royal Randwick in April. Country Tyrone (2006) was the last horse to complete the Sky High Stakes – Sydney Cup double.

The Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) – formerly The BMW – is another elite level option for Sky High Stakes graduates and in 2015 Who Shot Thebarman ran fourth in both races before a second in the Sydney Cup. That year Hartnell (2015) completed the Sky High Stakes – The BMW double. In 2016 Who Shot Thebarman returned to finish third in the Sky High Stakes, second in The BMW and fourth in the Sydney Cup.

In 2021 the Sky High Stakes winner Toffee Tongue ran second next-up in the Tancred Stakes results and later finished runner-up in the winter’s Group 1 Doomben Cup in Brisbane.

The 2022 Sky High Stakes form was franked with the winner Stockman also finishing second in that year’s Tancred Stakes quinella, while the runner-up Mount Popa went on to place third in the following month’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

The Sky High Stakes 2023 ran on Saturday March 11, 2023 at Rosehill Gardens and was won by the William Haggas-trained UK raider Protagonist ($5) in his Australian race debut. 

2023 Sky High Stakes
Date: Saturday March 11, 2023
Track: Rosehill Racecourse
Distance: 2000m
Race Type: Set Weights + Penalties
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $350,000

2023 Sky High Stakes Results

  • 1st: #16 Protagonist ($5)
  • 2nd: #14 Zeyrek
  • 3rd: #12 Sunshine Rising

The William Haggas-trained UK raider Protagonist ($5) was too good for his Aussie rivals first-up down under posting a narrow victory when outstaying them in the 2023 Sky High Stakes results in Sydney ahead of a potential Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes run next month.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 16 PROTAGONIST (FR) William Haggas James McDonald 4 55kg $5
2 14 ZEYREK (FR) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Ryan Maloney 0.06L 11 55kg $7
3 12 SUNSHINE RISING (FR) Mark Newnham Nash Rawiller 0.39L 7 55kg (cd 56kg) $6.50
4 15 KING FRANKEL (IRE) Mark Newnham Tyler Schiller (a) 1.25L 2 55kg $4.20F
5 7 STOCKMAN (NZ) Joseph Pride Dylan Gibbons (a) 1.98L 9 55.5kg $26
6 2 KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 2.09L 10 58kg $8.50
7 8 ALEGRON James Cummings William Pike 4.66L 8 55.5kg $31
8 17 NORMANDY BRIDGE (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Zac Lloyd (a) 4.67L 12 55kg $91
9 13 BENAUD John O’Shea Brett Prebble 4.72L 1 55kg $10
10 4 NO COMPROMISE (NZ) Chris Waller Jay Ford 7.2L 3 58kg $11
11 6 MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 8.84L 5 56kg $20
12 5 SELINO (GB) Chris Waller Regan Bayliss 18.58L 6 58kg $151
1 EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Michael Dee 0
9 GEAR UP (IRE) Annabel Neasham Chad Schofield 0
3 HUETOR (FR) Peter & Paul Snowden 0
11 SUREFIRE (GB) Chris Waller 0
10 ARAPAHO (FR) Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Sky High Stakes Betting Odds

The autumn’s latest Sky High Stakes 2023 betting odds and market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be available below the week of the race.

Master Of Wine ($2.20 in 2020) was the last favourite in Sky High Stakes betting to salute.

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

2023 Sky High Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 SKY HIGH STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Sky High Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Sky High Stakes 2023 Tips on the important autumn lead-up event this season.

  • To Win: #4 No Compromise ($9 at time of publish)

Nice price on offer for the Chris Waller-trained improver No Compromise to win this year’s Sky High. Jay Ford rides the Pins six-year-old who has a strong Rosehill track record (7:3-2-1) and previous winning form over the distance (6:2-0-1). Group 1 The Metropolitan winner last time in with a light weight before that disappointing dead last in the Caulfield Cup. Still, he’s faced some of the best stayers out there. Was good fresh running under a length back second over the Randwick mile carrying 59.5kg and drops weight here. Strong chance with upside.

2023 Sky High Stakes Field

The Sky High Stakes field attracts a class line-up of stayers each autumn and many of the runners are heading towards the Sydney Cup over two miles at Royal Randwick.

The official 2023 Sky High Stakes field and barriers are set for release on Wednesday March 8, 2023 and will be published in full below.

The Sky High Stakes 2023 final field features a strong line-up of Group 1-bound autumn hopefuls led in betting by the in-form Mark Newnham-trained Parramatta Cup winner King Frankel chasing a fifth win on the trot.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 13x9500x77 EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Michael Dee 14 59.5kg 103
2 21x13439x8 KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 15 58kg 111
3 1x3418x8x0 HUETOR (FR) Peter & Paul Snowden 10 58kg 108
4 0x536107x2 NO COMPROMISE (NZ) Chris Waller Jay Ford 5 58kg 107
5 41x08408x0 SELINO (GB) Chris Waller Regan Bayliss 8 58kg 104
6 17x2115x0x MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 7 56kg 104
7 9644188×00 STOCKMAN (NZ) Joseph Pride Dylan Gibbons (a) 13 55.5kg 107
8 0314x7106x ALEGRON James Cummings William Pike 11 55.5kg 104
9 54x451214x GEAR UP (IRE) Annabel Neasham Chad Schofield 2 55.5kg 104
10 7123820×77 ARAPAHO (FR) Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King 4 55.5kg 103
11 x155021x88 SUREFIRE (GB) Chris Waller 12 55.5kg 102
12 143x5x40x3 SUNSHINE RISING (FR) Mark Newnham Nash Rawiller 9 55kg 56kg 107
13 42x64260x9 BENAUD John O’Shea Brett Prebble 1 55kg 102
14 4147x000x1 ZEYREK (FR) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Ryan Maloney 16 55kg 98
15 406x1311x1 KING FRANKEL (IRE) Mark Newnham Tyler Schiller (a) 3 55kg 97
16 054x41102x PROTAGONIST (FR) William Haggas James McDonald 6 55kg 95
17 2x470x8x80 NORMANDY BRIDGE (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Zac Lloyd (a) 17 55kg 92

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Sky High Stakes Nominations

Early nominations for the Sky High Stakes in 2023 close the Monday ahead of the race and will be provided below once confirmed.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight True Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 21x13439x8 KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) G 8 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 1 58kg 111
2 4x53358x26 HINGED M 4 Chris Waller 2 56kg 110
3 1x3418x8x0 HUETOR (FR) G 6 Peter & Paul Snowden 3 58kg 108
4 0x536107x2 NO COMPROMISE (NZ) G 6 Chris Waller 4= 58kg 107
5 9644188×00 STOCKMAN (NZ) G 6 Joseph Pride 4= 55.5kg 107
6 143x5x40x3 SUNSHINE RISING (FR) G 9 Mark Newnham 4= 55kg 107
7 41x08408x0 SELINO (GB) G 7 Chris Waller 7= 58kg 104
8 17x2115x0x MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) M 4 Chris Waller 7= 56kg 104
9 0314x7106x ALEGRON G 4 James Cummings 7= 55.5kg 104
10 54x451214x GEAR UP (IRE) H 5 Annabel Neasham 7= 55.5kg 104
11 13x9500x77 EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ) G 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 11= 59.5kg 103
12 7123820×77 ARAPAHO (FR) G 6 Bjorn Baker 11= 55.5kg 103
13 x155021x88 SUREFIRE (GB) G 5 Chris Waller 13= 55.5kg 102
14 42x64260x9 BENAUD G 4 John O’Shea 13= 55kg 102
15 74x319x64x THIRD REALM (GB) H 5 Anthony & Sam Freedman 13= 55kg 102
16 51141x1x68 SOULCOMBE (GB) G 4 Chris Waller 16 55.5kg 101
17 x94530x534 SACRAMENTO G 6 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 17 55kg 99
18 4147x000x1 ZEYREK (FR) G 6 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 18 55kg 98
19 406x1311x1 KING FRANKEL (IRE) G 5 Mark Newnham 19 55kg 97
20 054x41102x PROTAGONIST (FR) G 6 William Haggas 20 55kg 95
21 2x470x8x80 NORMANDY BRIDGE (FR) G 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 21 55kg 92

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Sky High Stakes History

The Sky High Stakes has been run and won since 1989 and the first edition of the race was won by Eye Of The Sky. Since then plenty of star stayers have won the event including Hartnel (2015) and Sir John Hawkwood (2016).

The race is named in honour of Sky High who won the Golden Slipper Stakes as a two-year-old in 1960 and the next year’s Epsom Handicap. It was first run as an unlisted race until 1992 when it gained Listed status and then Group 3 status later in 2014. Before 2014 it took place over 1900m and the distance was increased to the current 2000m in 2015. For one year in 2008 it took place at Canterbury Park and in 2016 the Sky High Stakes was changed from a quality handicap clash to a set weights plus penalties event.

There was an international Sky High Stakes winner in 2023 when the William Haggas-trained UK visitor Protagonist travelled down under to outstay the Aussies.

Recent Sky High Stakes Winners

See below for the full Sky High Stakes results and winners dating back to the year 2000.

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Sky High Stakes
1st Protagonist 2 minutes 01.43 seconds
2nd Zeyrek
3rd Sunshine Rising
2022
Sky High Stakes
1st Stockman 2 minutes 05.20 seconds
2nd Mount Popa
3rd Great House
2021
Sky High Stakes
1st Toffee Tongue 2 minutes 01.03 seconds
2nd Spirit Ridge
3rd Mirage Dancer
2020
Sky High Stakes
1st Master Of Wine 2 minutes 11.45 seconds
2nd Mustajeer
3rd Carif
2019
Sky High Stakes
1st Red Cardinal 2 minutes 8.37 seconds
2nd Rodrico
3rd Goathland
2018
Sky High Stakes
1st Auvray 2 minutes 3.72 seconds
2nd Libran
3rd Mackintosh
2017
Sky High Stakes
1st Tavago 2 minutes 3.8 seconds
2nd Antonio Giuseppe
3rd Allergic
2016
Sky High Stakes
1st Sir John Hawkwood 2 minutes 3.2 seconds
2nd Messene
3rd Who Shot Thebarman
2015
Sky High Stakes
1st Hartnell 2 minutes 2.6 seconds
2nd Opinion
3rd Hawkspur
2014
Sky High Stakes
1st Entirely Platinum 1 minute 55.7 seconds
2nd Midsummer Sun
3rd Desert Jeuney
2013
Sky High Stakes
1st Julienas 1 minute 56 seconds
2nd Lunayir
3rd Le Roi
2012
Sky High Stakes
1st Single 1 minute 56 seconds
2nd Southern Skye
3rd Flumicino
2011
Sky High Stakes
1st Older Than Time 1 minute 59.10 seconds
2nd Luen Yat Forever
3rd Syreon
2010
Sky High Stakes
1st Bellagio Wynn 1 minute 56.94 seconds
2nd Hadaaf
3rd Cousin Wal
2009
Sky High Stakes
1st Kettledrum 1 minute 56.76 seconds
2nd Brave Lancer
3rd Twin Wing
2008
Sky High Stakes
1st Nuclear Sky 1 minute 56.23 seconds
2nd Musket
3rd Bundoran Breeze
2007
Sky High Stakes
1st Coalesce 1 minute 57. 22 seconds
2nd Grand Zulu
3rd Prince Of Midnight
2006
Sky High Stakes
1st County Tyrone 1 minute 58.93 seconds
2nd No Wine No Song
3rd October Son
2005
Sky High Stakes
1st Seul Amour 1 minute 57.31 seconds
2nd Sunday Service
3rd Havana Wind
2004
Sky High Stakes
1st Daniel’s The Man 1 minute 56.12 seconds
2nd County Tyrone
3rd Striking Victory
2003
Sky High Stakes
1st National Treasure 1 minute 55.7 seconds
2nd Natural Blitz
3rd County Tyrone
2002
Sky High Stakes
1st Restless 1 minute 56.09 seconds
2nd Grampians
3rd Spirit Of Westbury
2001
Sky High Stakes
1st Bello Signor 1 minute 54.05 seconds
2nd The Druidess
3rd Cheverny
2000
Sky High Stakes
1st Spysept 1 minute 59.13 seconds
2nd Bombast
3rd Yippyio

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