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The Sydney Stakes is a Group 3 race worth $2 million for horses that didn't make The Everest field.
Sydney Stakes News
The Sydney Stakes is a lucrative Group 3 sprint held on The Everest Day at Royal Randwick in Sydney during mid-October now offering an incredible $2 million in prize money.
2025 Sydney Stakes Results
Stay tuned for the official 2025 Sydney Stakes results and finishing order listing the winner of the $2 million The Everest Day support act.
- 1st: No. 2 Rothfire ($13)
- 2nd: No. 1 Iowna Merc
- 3rd: No. 7 With Your Blessing
Rob Heathcote’s marvel eight-year-old Brisbane galloper, Rothfire ($13), returned to winning form for the first time in 655 days when down in grade and given a perfectly timed ride by Zac Purton – in town to ride Ka Ying Rising in The Everest – to charge through the middle late and deny Iowna Merc in a thrilling 2025 Sydney Stakes result.
Sydney Stakes 2025 Results
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1st
2. Rothfire (16)
J: Zac Purton 58.5kg
T: Robert Heathcote |
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2nd
1. Iowna Merc (4)
J: Ashley Morgan 58.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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3rd
7. With Your Blessing (10)
J: Alysha Collett 58.5kg
T: John P Thompson |
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4th
6. Libertad (7)
J: Craig Williams 58.5kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
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5th
10. Caballus (14)
J: Tommy Berry 58.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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6th
5. Coal Crusher (5)
J: Tyler Schiller 58.5kg
T: Joseph Pride |
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7th
15. Generosity (12)
J: James McDonald 56.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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8th
8. Ostraka (8)
J: Chad Schofield 58.5kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
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9th
12. Disneck (3)
J: Dylan Gibbons 58.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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10th
13. Fire Star (6)
J: Michael Dee 58.5kg
T: Peter Snowden |
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11th
3. Golden Mile (2)
J: Adam Hyeronimus 58.5kg
T: Joseph Pride |
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12th
9. Sandpaper (9)
J: Jason Collett 58.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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13th
11. Sha Of Gomer (11)
J: Anthony Allen 58.5kg
T: Jeff Dunn |
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14th
4. Dragonstone (13)
J: Josh Parr 58.5kg
T: Joseph Pride |
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15th
14. Beauty Charge (1)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 58.5kg
T: Matthew Smith |
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16th
16. Shezanalister (15)
J: Rachel King 56.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
There is a battle for the punters’ attention that takes place on The Everest date with Sydney hosting the world’s richest turf race supported by the likes of the Sydney Stakes on the same day Melbourne’s Caulfield Cup Day meeting is held.
There are only 12 slots up for grabs in the $20 million The Everest field and the Sydney Stakes, upgraded to a Group 3 event for the first time in 2018, offers a nice consolation prize for sprinters that did not secure a start in the feature race of the day.
Contested over the same distance (1200m) as The Everest race, the Sydney Stakes is a weight-for-age event that has a field capacity of 18 starters.
Horses in the Sydney Stakes field may also be named as one of the six The Everest emergencies and must run in The Everest field should there be a scratching.
The Sydney Stakes also serves as a nice lead-up into the $3 million Winners Stakes – a race previously renamed each year in honour of the previous season’s The Everest winner until a name change to the Russell Balding Stakes in 2024. In 2019 the event was known as the Redzel Stakes and saw the Sydney Stakes winner Deprive run fourth.
The 2021 Sydney Stakes form was franked with the winner Big Parade running fourth in that year’s Winners Stakes (run as the Classique Legend Stakes) before returning the next autumn for a Group 1 The Galaxy second in 2022. Standout meanwhile finished runner-up in the Sydney Stakes and third in the Classique Legend Stakes results that spring.
I Am Me franked the 2023 Sydney Stakes form running back-to-back Group 1 seconds in the Manikato Stakes and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at her next two starts. Ciaron Maher’s mare would return for a stellar 2024 season including winning the Group 3 Concorde Stakes and Group 2 The Shorts to earn a slot in the 2024 The Everest field.
The form out of the 2023 Sydney Stakes was franked with the third placed mare, Bella Nipotina, going on to win a host of feature races most notably the $20 million The Everest a year later to the day in 2024!
The 2024 Sydney Stakes winner Overpass franked the form heading west to win Perth’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes two starts later.
The $2 million 2025 Sydney Stakes ran on Saturday October 18, 2025 as part of The Everest Day line-up at Randwick and was won in a huge late burst by veteran eight-year-old Rothfire ($13) who hadn’t won since New Year’s Day 2024!Â
| Sydney Stakes 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday October 18, 2025 |
| Track: | Royal Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Race Type: | Weight-for-age |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $2,000,000 |
2025 Sydney Stakes Betting
Betting odds on the Sydney Stakes 2025 are out the week of the race and are led by horses that were on The Everest path but did not secure a slot in the $20 million feature.
The latest 2025 Sydney Stakes odds will be provided here at Races.com.au once released with market links to Ladbrokes.com.au.
Big Parade ($2.40 in 2021) followed by I am Me ($4.80 in 2023) are the latest favourites in Sydney Stakes betting to win.
There was a notable upset in 2022 with Rocketing By winning at Sydney Stakes odds of $61!
Rothfire also won at double-figure Sydney Stakes odds of $13 in 2025.
2025 Sydney Stakes Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 SYDNEY STAKES FORM GUIDE
2025 Sydney Stakes Tips
Stay tune for our exclusive Sydney Stakes 2025 Tips on The Everest Day $2 million sprint consolation prize this spring.
Each Way: No. 7 With Your Blessing
WITH YOUR BLESSING (10) comes into Saturday’s Everest consolation race off a strong last-start win and looks a solid play to go back-to-back at a nice price. John Thompson’s tough Kiwi-bred seven-year-old has been mixing it with some serious company this prep — placing behind Lazzura and Pericles at big odds — and finally got his reward last time out, taking out the Group 3 Bill Ritchie over 1400m with a sharp finish. He’s back to his favourite track, drops back to 1200m, and while he does rise in weight and draws wide, Alysha Collett knows him well and he’s fit, confident, and racing in career-best form. Expect him to push forward early — if he crosses cleanly, he’s a genuine chance to pinch it or hang on for a place. He’s not the flashiest runner in the field, but he’s tough as nails and won’t go down without a fight.
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3rd
7. With Your Blessing (10)
J: Alysha Collett 58.5kg
T: John P Thompson |
2025 Sydney Stakes Field
The Sydney Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of sprinters, many of which failed to gain a run in the $20 million The Everest held at the same meeting.
Horses may come into the Sydney Stakes field via a number of spring lead-ups including the Group 2 Premiere Stakes on Epsom Handicap Day or the Group 2 Golden Pendant for the mares.
The official Sydney Stakes 2025 Final Field and Barriers are announced the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The 2025 Sydney Stakes field features a bumper line-up of sprinters chasing a consolation prize on The Everest Day with markets on the $2 million event led by Chris Waller’s last start Group 2 The Shorts third placegetter Generosity.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14221100×6 | IOWNA MERC | Bjorn Baker | Ashley Morgan | 4 | 58.5kg | 109 | ||
| 2 | 864x427x97 | ROTHFIRE | Robert Heathcote | Zac Purton | 16 | 58.5kg | 108 | ||
| 3 | 843x60330x | GOLDEN MILE | Joseph Pride | Adam Hyeronimus | 2 | 58.5kg | 107 | ||
| 4 | 2x60251x07 | DRAGONSTONE | Joseph Pride | Joshua Parr | 13 | 58.5kg | 106 | ||
| 5 | 203x5020x5 | COAL CRUSHER | Joseph Pride | Tyler Schiller | 5 | 58.5kg | 105 | ||
| 6 | 0203x9178x | LIBERTAD | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Craig Williams | 7 | 58.5kg | 105 | ||
| 7 | x1412x5231 | WITH YOUR BLESSING (NZ) | John Thompson | Ms Alysha Collett | 10 | 58.5kg | 105 | ||
| 8 | x973664x36 | OSTRAKA | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Chad Schofield | 8 | 58.5kg | 104 | ||
| 9 | x13221515x | SANDPAPER | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 9 | 58.5kg | 104 | ||
| 10 | 3x90887x1x | CABALLUS | Bjorn Baker | Tommy Berry | 14 | 58.5kg | 96 | ||
| 11 | 7601821153 | SHA OF GOMER | Jeff Dunn | Anthony Allen | 11 | 58.5kg | 96 | ||
| 12 | 11148×6631 | DISNECK | Bjorn Baker | Dylan Gibbons | 3 | 58.5kg | 94 | ||
| 13 | 11x5030x10 | FIRE STAR | Peter Snowden | Michael Dee | 6 | 58.5kg | 93 | ||
| 14 | 54x8971Px2 | BEAUTY CHARGE (GB) | Matthew Smith | Kerrin McEvoy | 1 | 58.5kg | 91 | ||
| 15 | 1x21335x93 | GENEROSITY | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 12 | 56.5kg | 108 | ||
| 16 | 7x130200x2 | SHEZANALISTER | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 15 | 56.5kg | 94 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Sydney Stakes Nominations
Early nominations for the Sydney Stakes in 2025 are taken the Monday leading-up to the race.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54x8971Px2 | BEAUTY CHARGE (GB) | G | 7 | Matthew Smith | 91 |
| 2 | 3x90887x1x | CABALLUS | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 96 |
| 3 | 203x5020x5 | COAL CRUSHER | G | 8 | Joseph Pride | 105 |
| 4 | 11148×6631 | DISNECK | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 94 |
| 5 | 2x60251x07 | DRAGONSTONE | G | 7 | Joseph Pride | 106 |
| 6 | 11x5030x10 | FIRE STAR | G | 5 | Peter Snowden | 93 |
| 7 | 1x21335x93 | GENEROSITY | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 108 |
| 8 | 843x60330x | GOLDEN MILE | G | 6 | Joseph Pride | 107 |
| 9 | x58x1129x8 | IMPERIAL FORCE | G | 4 | Bjorn Baker | 94 |
| 10 | 14221100×6 | IOWNA MERC | G | 6 | Bjorn Baker | 109 |
| 11 | 0203x9178x | LIBERTAD | H | 5 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 105 |
| 12 | 306x41417x | NADAL | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 102 |
| 13 | x973664x36 | OSTRAKA | G | 5 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 104 |
| 14 | 864x427x97 | ROTHFIRE | G | 8 | Robert Heathcote | 108 |
| 15 | 11x170x340 | ROYAL INSIGNIA | H | 4 | Grahame Begg | 88 |
| 16 | x13221515x | SANDPAPER | G | 6 | Bjorn Baker | 104 |
| 17 | 7601821153 | SHA OF GOMER | G | 6 | Jeff Dunn | 96 |
| 18 | 7x130200x2 | SHEZANALISTER | M | 6 | Bjorn Baker | 94 |
| 19 | 1233x777x0 | WATEGOS | G | 7 | Bjorn Baker | 92 |
| 20 | x1412x5231 | WITH YOUR BLESSING (NZ) | G | 7 | John Thompson | 105 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Sydney Stakes History
The Sydney Stakes was first run in 1968 as a Principal race called City Tattersall’s Lightning Handicap. The sprint was upgraded to a Listed Black-Type race in 1978 before becoming a Group 3 feature in 2018.
In 2017 the race was renamed as the Sydney Stakes and with a notable increase in prize money became targeted as an event for sprinters that did not make The Everest field on the same day.
Originally run over 1000m then 1100m, the Sydney Stakes distance was also increased to 1200m in 2017.
A number of quality racehorses have won the event including Shogun Lodge (2003), dual winner Famous Seamus (2012-13), Group 1 winning mare In Her Time (2017), and Pierata (2018).
In 2022 the Sydney Stakes prize money was boosted to an unprecedented $2 million in total stakes and saw Rocketing By become one of the event’s longest-priced winners at 60/1!
Sydney Stakes Results
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Rothfire | 1 minute 08.52 seconds |
| 2nd | Iowna Merc | ||
| 3rd | With Your Blessing | ||
| 2024 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Overpass | 1 minute 08.73 seconds |
| 2nd | Coal Crusher | ||
| 3rd | Southport Tycoon | ||
| 2023 Sydney Stakes | 1st | I Am Me | 1 minute 08.57 seconds |
| 2nd | Airman | ||
| 3rd | Bella Nipotina | ||
| 2022 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Rocketing By | 1 minute 10.56 seconds |
| 2nd | In The Congo | ||
| 3rd | Weona Smartone | ||
| 2021 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Big Parade | 1 minute 09.51 seconds |
| 2nd | Standout | ||
| 3rd | Prime Candidate | ||
| 2020 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Trumbull | 1 minute 09.79 seconds |
| 2nd | Standout | ||
| 3rd | Singore Fox | ||
| 2019 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Deprive | 1 minute 08.62 seconds |
| 2nd | Champagne Cuddles | ||
| 3rd | Brutal | ||
| 2018 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Pierta | 1 minute 10.82 seconds |
| 2nd | Jungle Edge | ||
| 3rd | Clearly Innocent | ||
| 2017 Sydney Stakes | 1st | In Her Time | 1 minute 8.26 seconds |
| 2nd | Impending | ||
| 3rd | Ball Of Muscle | ||
| 2016 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Spieth | 1 minute 3.24 seconds |
| 2nd | Kaepernick | ||
| 3rd | Le Cordon Bleu | ||
| 2015 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Dothraki | 1 minute 2.44 seconds |
| 2nd | That’s A Good Idea | ||
| 3rd | Artlee | ||
| 2014 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Deep Field | 1 minute 3.39 seconds |
| 2nd | That’s A Good Idea | ||
| 3rd | Shamalia | ||
| 2013 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Famous Seamus | 1 minute 3.52 seconds |
| 2nd | Ichihara | ||
| 3rd | Rarefield | ||
| 2012 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Famous Seamus | 1 minute 1.96 seconds (R) |
| 2nd | Too Many Reds | ||
| 3rd | Zaratone | ||
| 2011 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Title | 1 minute 4.59 seconds |
| 2nd | Rarefield | ||
| 3rd | Midnight At Ascot | ||
| 2010 Sydney Stakes | 1st | Whitefriars | 1 minute 2.22 seconds (R) |
| 2nd | De Lightning Ridge | ||
| 3rd | Cardinal Virtue | ||
| 2009 Sydney Stakes | 1st | News Alert | 1 minute 2.77 seconds |
| 2nd | Black Prince | ||
| 3rd | Wasted Emotions | ||
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