Australia Stakes

Australia Stakes

Group Two Betting Guide
Date: Saturday, January 27, 2024
Location: Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
Prize Money: $350,000
Distance: 1200m

The Australia Stakes is a Group 2 race over 1200m under weight-for-age conditions, held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne.

The race is used as a lead-up to the Group 1 C.F Orr Stakes with many horses returning from lengthy spells. Recent winners include 2016 Victor Holler and Black Caviar, with the great mare saluting in 2012.

The race is worth $350,000 and is registered as the Stanley Wooten Stakes.


2024 Australia Stakes betting odds

Jigsaw ridden by Daniel Moor wins the 2023 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

The 2024 Australia Stakes as of January 25 look like this:

  • Veight – +140
  • Recommendation – +300
  • Brave Mead – +550
  • Scentify – +1100
  • Southport Tycoon – +1100
  • Sweet Ride – +1600

Complete Australia Stakes odds available at Bet365.


How to bet on the Australia Stakes

Every decent Australian bookie will have betting on the Australia Stakes available. Many of them will open an early market so you can wager on the race a week or so in advance. Unlike many of the bigger races the acceptances are only done a few days before the race so you won’t find a market many weeks in advance.

Aussie bookies like Palmerbet offer all of the usual bet types on the race and you will have the option of using ‘boosted odds’ at some of them. This simply means you place your win bet and use the boosted odds option, which could send a $10 shot out to $15. This provides great value and is as good a reason as any to bet online.

United States Best Australia Stakes Bookmakers

Best Australia Stakes Bookmakers


Latest Australia Stakes News

Veight returns a winner in Group 2 Australia Stakes
Damien Lane and team McEvoy have combined with Veight taking out the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley ...
Moonee Valley betting tips
Feature racing returns to Moonee Valley on Saturday afternoon with the running of the Group 2 Australia Stakes. Check out ...
Veight
Co-trainer Tony McEvoy is optimistic about the Group 1 performer Veight's potential impact at the top level during the upcoming ...
Jigsaw puts a space on rivals in Group 2 Australia Stakes
Daniel Moor and Cindy Alderson combine with Jigsaw to win the Group 2 Australian Stakes at Moonee Valley, with the ...
Jigsaw piecing it together ahead of Australia Stakes
Like a good Formula One driver, Jigsaw knows how to piece together a good surge to the finish line, according ...
Moonee Valley betting tips
What Moonee Valley Races Where Moonee Valley Racing Club - 2 Feehan Ave, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 When Saturday, January ...

2024 Australia Stakes Final Field

No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
1 Silks
Crosshaven
Ben, Will & JD Hayes
Blaike McDougall
9
58.5kg
2 Silks
Curran
Lyn Tolson & Leonie Proctor
Matthew Cartwright
11
58.5kg
3 Silks
Recommendation
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
John Allen
10
58.5kg
4 Silks
Sweet Ride
Annabel Neasham
Jamie Kah
8
58.5kg
5 Silks
Snapper
Mike Moroney
Jordan Childs
7
58.5kg
6 Silks
Struck By
Travis Doudle
Beau Mertens
6
58.5kg
7 Silks
Zethus
Stephen Brown
Mickaelle Michel
2
58.5kg
8 Silks
Veight
Tony & Calvin McEvoy
Damien Lane
5
55kg
9 Silks
Brave Mead
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Luke Currie
3
55kg
10 Silks
Scentify
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Jye McNeil
1
55kg
11 Silks
Southport Tycoon
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Craig Williams
4
55kg

Previous Australia Stakes Fields

Plenty of Group 1 sprinting sensations have won the Australia Stakes. Check the previous fields of the Australia Stakes out here.

  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    Superstorm
    John Leek (Jnr)
    Jamie Mott
    3
    58.5kg
    2 Silks
    Western Empire
    John Leek (Jnr)
    Mark Zahra
    4
    58.5kg
    3 Silks
    Ironclad
    Will Clarken & Nikki O’Shea
    Jamie Kah
    1
    58.5kg
    4 Silks
    Beau Rossa
    Will Clarken & Nikki O’Shea
    Jamie Kah
    1
    58.5kg
    5 Silks
    Jigsaw
    Cindy Alderson
    Daniel Moor
    2
    58.5kg
    6 Silks
    Snapper
    Mike Moroney
    Jye McNeil
    5
    58.5kg
    7 Silks
    Calypso Reign
    David Jolly
    Craig Williams
    6
    58.5kg
    8 Silks
    Turaath
    Maddie Raymond
    Damian Lane
    7
    56.5kg
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Streets Of Avalon Shane Nichols Brett Prebble 5 58.5kg
    2 Wild Planet Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 9 58.5kg
    3 Order Of Command Danny O’Brien Damien Oliver 6 58.5kg
    4 Just Folk Josh Julius John Allen 3 58.5kg
    5 Vainstream John Pascoe Craig Newitt 12 58.5kg
    6 Sinawann Anthony & Sam Freedman Craig Williams 2 58.5kg
    7 Game Keeper Tony & Calvin McEvoy Jordan Childs 8 58.5kg
    8 Forbidden Love Richard & Michael Freedman Mark Zahra 1 56.5kg
    9 Turaath Maddie Raymond Damian Lane 10 56.5kg
    10 Marabi Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Allen 4 56.5kg
    11 Mariamia Shane Stockdale Blaike McDougall 11 56.5kg
    12 Lightsaber Peter Moody Jamie Kah 7 55kg
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Streets Of Avalon Shane Nichols Zac Spain 4 58.5kg
    2 Widgee Turf Patrick Payne Billy Egan 6 58.5kg
    3 Virdine James Cummings Damien Oliver 3 58.5kg
    4 Arcadia Prince Amy McDonald Jordan Childs 2 58.5kg
    5 Tavisan Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr Jamie Kah 5 58.5kg
    6 Neighbourhood Enver Jusufovic Michael Dee 1 56.5kg
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Hey Doc Tony & Calvin McEvoy Luke Currie 1 58.5kg
    2 Scales Of Justice Lindsey Smith Dean Yendall 2 58.5kg
    3 Manuel Tony & Calvin McEvoy Barend Vorster 4 58.5kg
    4 Begood Toya Mother Daniel Bowman James Winks 9 58.5kg
    5 Ashlor Dan McCarthy Daniel Stackhouse 6 58.5kg
    6 Ringerdingding Anthony Freedman John Allen 3 58.5kg
    7 Cradle Mountain Clare Cunningham Jason Collett 8 58.5kg
    8 Embrace Me Danny O’Brien Damien Oliver 7 56.5kg
    9 Microphone James Cummings Damian Lane 5 55.5kg

2023 Australia Stakes result


1stJigsaw (+210)
2ndTuraath (+150)
3rdCalypso Reign (NTD)

Recent runnings of the Australia Stakes

  • Cindy Alderson and Daniel Moor have combined with Jigsaw to take out the Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley, defeating a game Turaath and fast-finishing Calypso Reign. Daniel Moor urged the Manhattan Rain gelding to take up the lead and make the other speed influence, Snapper, work and ultimately brought upon his downfall, with Snapper fading out of the race on the home turn with 200m to go. Jigsaw jumped at a $3.10 favourite with online bookmakers and he won like a favourite should, running away with an easy 2.5 length victory, winning his fourth race in a row this campaign.
  • The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Marabi managed to handle the step into Group 2 company when leading throughout to claim the 2022 Australia Stakes. Marabi managed to used barrier three to her advantage under Ben Allen and gave nothing else a chance when kicking clear on the home turn to win in a canter in the end. The win rocketed the mare into favouritism for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, where she would look to become the fourth straight mare to take out the infamous Group 1 sprint.
  • Coming up against just five rivals, the Shane Nichols-trained Streets Of Avalon managed to break a historic first-up record in the Australia Stakes. The six-year-old gelding managed to put 1.75 lengths on race favourite Viridine, with Streets Of Avalon peeling off the leaders back and sustaining a strong sprint int he home straight at The Valley.
  • Dual Group 1 winner Scales Of Justice came off a five month break to overpower triple Group 1 winner Hey Doc. The Lindsey Smith-trained gelding was aided by a perfect steer from Dean Yendall, with Yendall stalking Hey Doc throughout the sprint. When asked for an effort approaching the home turn, Scales Of Justice managed to put just under a length on his main rival.
  • Whispering Brook was a slightly easing favourite before the jump in 2019 but the favourite backers were rewarded with an absolutely stellar run. Settling just behind Fell Swoop, all Whispering Brook needed was an out, and it presented at the top of the straight. Whispering Brook sprinted away as they straightened and delivered a strong finish to claim the Group 2 title.
  • Thronum came into the small 2018 Australia Stakes field as somewhat of an outsider at the $6.50 quote, but the front-running Lindsay Park runner didn’t let backers down. Bouncing out to an early lead the galloper kicked away on the turn under a sensationally rated ride by Mark Zahra. The competitors couldn’t make up the gap and Thronum got the prize.
  • Malaguerra ($4.20) proved too strong for a star studded field, winning the race in the equal quickest time ever recorded over 1200m at Moonee Valley. Trainer Peter Gelagotis said he was confident heading into the race after the horse showed marked improvement in the paddock. Black Heart Bart ($2.30) finished second, while $28 longshot Sirbible finished further back in third after leading the field for most of the race. Read full report.
  • Holler, the precociously talented two year old, proved he would be a force in open age class with a brilliant victory. With Craig Williams onboard, Holler sat outside of Sirbible and approached the lead at the 600m mark. Williams drew the whip around the turn and charged home, staying strongly, to defeat Churchill Dancer ($21). Holler had previously won the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes at the same track on Cox Plate day and is a half sister to Yell, who won the Australian Stakes in 2003.
  • Trained by Peter Gelagotis, Mourinho was a stunning victor in the 2015 running. Notably, in previous start Mourinho had struggled to settle but Vlad Duric got him out of the gates perfectly and settled nicely. He found a gap in the field at the 600m mark and hit the front with about 200m to go. It Is Written finished a brave second (half neck) and jockey Matthew Allen lodged a protest against Mourinho for interference, but it was dismissed. Hard Stride and Tudor made the early running but faded late. Dissident finished third before going on to win a the C.F Orr Stakes a few weeks later.
  • Trainer Tony Vasil combined with Damien Oliver and Richie’s Vibe to win. After originally being prepared for a race in Tasmania, Vasil opted for the Australia Stakes after seeing the field were below par. With pre-race favourite Moment of Change caught wide for the bulk of the run, Richie’s Vibe charged home at $4.80 after being guided through a narrow hole in several runners. Richie’s Vibe nabbed Moment of Change ($1.90) at the line with the race run at a cracking pace.
  • Sea Lord proved too strong in the 2013 running for trainer Stephen Brown. Luke Currie got Sealord out of the gates well and settled in a prominent position. This forced pace maker Undeniably to race hard to maintain a lead. The son of Street Cry slipped clear rounding the home turn while pre-race favourite Pinwheel found some legs late but was too far back to do any real damage, finishing second, while South Australian runner Outlandish Lad almost completed a last to second mission, but fell narrowly short.
  • The great Black Caviar was just too strong for a small field, with many horses opting out of facing the Peter Moody-trained mare. She sat nicely midfield for the bulk of the run before easing away to win by over three lengths. This was Black Caviar’s 17th consecutive win and proved to Moody that Black Caviar was fit and good enough to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the UK later in the year. Luke Nolen rode Black Caviar while Zedi Knight fought on strongly for second. It was a sellout at Moonee Valley with thousands flocking in to see Black Caviar’s second Australia Stakes win, the first coming in 2010.

Australia Stakes Past Winners

Australia StakesPast Winners
Year Horse Jockey Trainer
2023 Jigsaw Daniel Moor Cindy Alderson
2022 Marabi Ben Allen Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
2021 Streets Of Avalon Zac Spain Shane Nichols
2020 Scales Of Justice Dean Yendall Lindsey Smith
2019 Whispering Brook Mark Zahra Darren Weir
2018 Thronum Mark Zahra David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig
2017 Malaguerra Ben Melham Peter Gelagotis
2016 Holler Craig Williams John O’Shea
2015 Mourinho Vlad Duric Peter Gelagotis
2014 Richie’s Vibe Damien Oliver Tony Vasil
2013 Sea Lord Luke Currie Stephen Brown
2012 Black Caviar Luke Nolen Peter Moody
2011 Whitefriars Jim Cassidy Rick Worthington
2010 Black Caviar Luke Nolen Peter Moody
2009 Lucky Secret Danny Brereton Tony Vasil
2008 Let Go Thommo Steven King Simon Zahra
2007 El Segundo Damien Oliver Colin Little
2006 California Dane Noel Callow Lee Freedman
2005 Super Elegant Greg Childs Tony Vasil
2004 Vocabulary Danny Nikolic Mick Price
2003 Yell Darren Gauci John Hawkes
2002 Royal Code Steven Arnold David Hall
2001 Piavonic Nash Rawiller Tony Noonan
2000 Slavonic Brett Prebble Mick Price

Australia Stakes winners pre-2000

Australia Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000
Year Horse
1999 Sports
1998 Flavour
1997 Clang
1996 All Our Mob
1995 Hareeba
1994 Kenvain
1993 Schillaci
1992 Dapper’s Hope
1991 Dark Beau
1990 Redelva
1989 Jet Fighter

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