2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
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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.
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 |
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.
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.
Stay tuned for our insider Sky High Stakes 2023 Tips on the important autumn lead-up event this season.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |