Cantala Stakes
Cantala Stakes
Group One Betting Guide
Date: | Saturday, October 31, 2020 |
Location: | Flemington Racecourse |
Prize Money: | $1,000,000 |
Distance: | 1600 metres |
PUNTERS love betting on the Group 1 Cantala Stakes at Flemington because it has been taken out by some of the greats of Australian racing.
The 1600 metre race – which is now known as the Kennedy Stakes – is for horses aged three years and older is worth a total prize purse of $1 million.
It changed its name from the Emirates Stakes to the Cantala Stakes in 2016 and it changed dates from the last day of the carnival to Derby Day.
2020 Cantala Stakes betting odds
After taking out the Toorak Handicap, Mr Quickie has come up favourite for the 2020 Cantala Stakes at odds of $5.00 in what is set to be a high class running of the Cantala Stakes. On the second line of betting is Buffalo River who was beaten two lengths by Mr Quickie in the Toorak and will look to turn the tables on his rival and punters can get odds of $8 for the Mike Moroney trained gelding. The remainder of the field are listed at double figure odds, and there is seemingly plenty of value in this year’s running of the Cantala Stakes.
Cantala Stakes best bookmakers
The Cantala Stakes and most big Group one races held in Australia will have markets framed for them months out from the race by the big corporate bookmakers. For Australians this means we have a handful of really positive options to bet on the biggest race meetings.
Take a look at our comprehensive reviews below for our trusted online bookmakers.

Sport Table
Cantala Stakes race history

The Cantala Stakes hasn’t always been under that name, as principal sponsor Emirates only came on board in 1998.
Prior to the sponsorship of Emirates, the race was sponsored by company’s such as Ampol, Honda, Nissan, Chrysler and its current name of Cantala.
With the former international banner of Emirates, and their involvement in world racing, the Cantala Stakes attracts big attention from Australians and even race goers and punters in Europe and Asia.
The race was first run in 1881 where it was won by Courtenay and it has been run every year since, even throughout the war periods.
Some real champions of the turf have etched their name on the trophy, and also etched their name into Australian racing history.
Vain was a winner in 1969 and champion Gunsynd followed suit two years later to win the 1971 edition of the then called George Adams Handicap.
In recent times, the winning names on the list don’t feature some of the world’s best milers, but the race is continually growing in stature and the increase in prize money in 2014 was a big stepping stone to attracting international horses.
2019 Cantala Stakes result
2nd – Fifty Stars ($3.50)
3rd – Cascadian ($5.00)
Recent Cantala Stakes runnings
- In one of the closest finishes in Cantala Stakes history it was the Matthew Smith trained Fierce Impact who got the bob in during a driving finish where he held out Fifty Stars in an exciting finish. Read our full report on the 2019 Cantala Stakes here
- Godolphin galloper Best Of Days finally delivered on his promise, taking out 2018 Cantala Stakes in terrific fashion. Getting caught in a midfield position with a wall of horses in front of him, Best Of Days was steered brilliantly towards the fence by Craig Williams, who willed the stallion to the line when it looked like Le Romain had his measure.
- Kiwi import Shillelagh was considered an outside hope in the Cantala Stakes in 2017 but history suggests this race was extremely winnable Group 1 event. Fresh off a strong third in the Tristarc Stakes, Shillelagh got a beautiful tail into the race before unleashing down the outside to overrun perennial bridesmaid Tom Melbourne, who registered yet another second in his career.
- An extremely open Cantala Stakes saw Le Romain jumping as a $14 hope in 2016, but in hindsight that price was extremely generous. Settling midfield and getting a great trail into it, Le Romain was produced at the 400m mark and forged its way to the front before kicking away in the shadows of the post to record his second Group 1 victory of his career.
- It was another Kiwi import that won the Cantala Stakes, this time it Turn Me Loose under a strong front-running ride. Taking the lead at the beginning of the race, Turn Me Loose was the lamp lighter for the majority, but looked vulnerable coming into the latter stages of the race. No other horse was coming hard enough in the final 100m however, as Turn Me Loose gripped on to record a heart-stopping win for backers.
- Another double figure saluted in the Cantala after Hucklebuck pounced in the straight to claim his maiden Group 1 crown. Making the most of the hot tempo set by The Cleaner, Hucklebuck strode to the front when the front runner wilted and did enough to hold out a fast-finishing Lucky Hussler.
Past Cantala Stakes winners list
Year | Cantala Stakes Past Winners |
---|---|
2019 | Fierce Impact |
2018 | Best Of Days |
2017 | Shillelagh |
2016 | Le Romain |
2015 | Turn Me Loose |
2014 | Hucklebuck |
2013 | Boban |
2012 | Happy Trails |
2011 | Albert The Fat |
2010 | Wall Street |
2009 | All American |
2008 | All Silent |
2007 | Tears I Cry |
2006 | Divine Madonna |
2005 | Valedictum |
2004 | Sky Cuddle |
2003 | Titanic Jack |
2002 | Scenic Peak |
2001 | Desert Eagle |
2000 | Testa Rossa |
1999 | Bonanova |
1998 | Bezeal Bay |
1997 | Catalan Opening |
1996 | Miss Margaret |
1995 | Seascay |
1994 | Seascay |
1993 | Primacy |
1992 | Planet Ruler |
1991 | Pontormo |
1990 | Shaftesbury Avenue |
1989 | Better Loosen Up |
1988 | Our Westminster |
1987 | Warned |
1986 | Chanteclair |
1985 | Dazzling Duke |
1984 | Riverdale |
1983 | Honest Promise |
1982 | Magari |
1981 | Tower Belle |
1980 | Silver Bounty |
1979 | Bit Of A Skite |
1978 | Family Of Man |
1977 | Galway Bay |
1976 | Maybe Mahal |
1975 | Kiwi Can |
1974 | Skyjack |
1973 | Taj Rossi |
1972 | All Shot |
1971 | Gunsynd |
1970 | Levian |
1969 | Vain |
1968 | Cyron |
1967 | Heroic Stone |
1966 | Storm Queen |
1965 | Heroic Stone |
1964 | Brandy Lad |
1963 | Wenona Girl |
1962 | Woambra |
1961 | Aquanita |
1960 | Aquanita |
1959 | Wheat King |
1958 | Droll Prince |
1957 | Landy |
1956 | Matrice |
1955 | Kosciusko |
1954 | Prince Cortauld |
1953 | Rio Janeiro |
1952 | Phaethon |
1951 | Kintail |
1950 | Ellerslie |
1949 | Comedy Prince |
1948 | Beau John |
1947 | Money Moon |
1946 | St. Fairy |
1945 | Royal Gem |
1944 | Gay Revelry |
1943 | Burberry |
1942 | Queen Baccha |
1941 | Burrabil |
1940 | Gold Salute |
1939 | Manrico |
1938 | St. Constant |
1937 | Mohican |
1936 | Gay Lover |
1935 | Hostile |
1934 | L’elite |
1933 | Care Free |
1932 | Denis Boy |
1931 | Dermid |
1930 | Mystic Peak |
1929 | Amounis |
1928 | Highland |
1927 | Vaals |
1926 | Amounis |
1925 | Waranton |
1924 | The Night Patrol |
1923 | Claro |
1922 | Violoncello |
1921 | Beeline |
1920 | Ethiopian |
1919 | Chal |
1918 | Fitness |
1917 | De Gama |
1916 | Colugo |
1915 | Fidelio |
1914 | De Gama |
1913 | Ireland |
1912 | Walter Tyrril |
1911 | Ladies’ Man |
1910 | Perilous |
1909 | Kerlie |
1908 | Iolaire |
1907 | Iolaire |
1906 | Benbow |
1905 | Debenture |
1904 | P.K. |
1903 | Graft |
1902 | Kinglock |
1901 | Caledonia |
1900 | Nitre |
1899 | Security |
1898 | Sailor Boy |
1897 | The Grafter |
1896 | Ayrshire |
1895 | Hindoo |
1894 | Escapade |
1893 | Rosebrook |
1892 | Cooya |
1891 | Cardoness |
1890 | Crown Jewel |
1889 | Boz |
1888 | Plutarch |
1887 | Quintin Matsys |
1886 | Day Star |
1885 | The Bohemian |
1884 | Josephine |
1883 | Paul |
1882 | Wizard |
1881 | Courtenay |