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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