Archer Stakes

Archer Stakes

Group Three Betting Guide
Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024
Location: Flemington Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria
Prize Money: $300,000
Distance: 2500m

Looking to get into the Melbourne Cup? This is your absolute last chance.

The final of the four ballot exempt races for the Melbourne Cup, the Group 3 Archer Stakes may not hold much in the way of prize money, but a ticket to the race that stops a nation just three days later is enough of a draw card to entice the best stayers in the country out to play.

While backing up to win the Cup may seem like an onerous task, a total of 11 horses have completed the Melbourne Cup/Lexus Stakes double.

The last horse to do it was Shocking in 2009.

Formally known as The Hotham, the race has over 150 years of history in Australian racing and will continue to be an integral part of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in the future.


2024 Archer Stakes Betting Odds

Market for the 2024 Archer Stakes are currently unavailable.


Best Archer Stakes bookmakers

All of our recommended bookmakers have markets for the Archer Stakes.

Most of the Melbourne Cup Carnival races have markets opened well in advance and the Group 3 Archer Stakes is no exception.


Latest Archer Stakes News

How have Lexus Archer Stakes winners fared in the Melbourne Cup?
Kalapour was a dominant winner of the $300,000 Group 3 Lexus Stakes at Flemington on Saturday and it earned itself ...
Kalapour earns final golden ticket into 2023 Melbourne Cup
Kris Lees and Damien Oliver have combined with Kalapour to take out the Group 3 Archer Stakes on Derby Day ...
Derby Day Flemington Tips
A stacked nine-race card awaits punters at Flemington on Saturday for VRC Derby Day. Check out HorseBetting's free race-by-race preview ...
Archer Stakes offers final chance for Melbourne Cup hopefuls
The Group 3 Archer Stakes on Saturday is the final chance for Melbourne Cup hopefuls to win their way into ...
Positive reports flowing on Kiwi Melbourne Cup hope
Regular updates from across the Tasman have kept a constant smile on New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock’s face since stable ...
Ladies Man claims Group 1 Livamol Classic
Allan Sharrock has always seen Ladies Man as a superstar in waiting, and Saturday’s Group 1 Livamol Classic marked the ...

2024 Archer Stakes Final Field

HorseBetting will update this page when the 2024 Archer Stakes is released.


Previous Archer Stakes Field

  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    Ladies Man
    Allan Sharrock
    Dean Yendall
    5
    59kg
    2 Silks
    Kalapour
    Kris Lees
    Damien Oliver
    1
    56kg
    3 Silks
    Athabascan
    John O’Shea
    James McDonald
    3
    55.5kg
    4 Silks
    Mostly Cloudy
    Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
    Tim Clark
    6
    54kg
    5 Silks
    United Nations
    Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
    Jamie Spencer
    4
    54kg
    6 Silks
    Gan Teorainn
    Chris Waller
    Jye McNeil
    7
    54kg
    7 Silks
    Speak
    Mike Moroney
    Billy Egan
    2
    54kg
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    Alegron
    James Cummings
    William Buick
    8
    59kg
    2 Silks
    Great House
    Chris Waller
    Brett Prebble
    12
    57kg
    3 Silks
    Chapada
    Mike Moroney
    Jamie Mott
    5
    56.5kg
    4 Silks
    Crystal Pegasus
    Chris Waller
    Mark Zahra
    3
    56kg
    5 Silks
    Warning
    Anthony & Sam Freedman
    Damien Oliver
    9
    56kg
    6 Silks
    Makram
    Ben & JD Hayes
    Craig Williams
    4
    55kg
    7 Silks
    Realm Of Flowers
    Anthony & Sam Freedman
    N/A
    13
    55kg
    8 Silks
    Surefire
    Chris Waller
    James McDonald
    7
    55kg
    9 Silks
    Serpentine
    Robert Hickmott
    John Allen
    10
    54.5kg
    10 Silks
    Interpretation
    Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
    Ben Melham
    11
    54kg
    11 Silks
    Schabau
    Robert Hickmott
    Craig Newitt
    6
    54kg
    12 Silks
    Paternal
    Chris Waller
    Damian Lane
    14
    54kg
    13 Silks
    King Of The Castle
    Robert Hickmott
    Michael Dee
    1
    54kg
    14 Silks
    Wyclif
    Danny O’Brien
    Daniel Moor
    15
    54kg
    15 Silks
    True Marvel
    Matthew Smith
    Blaike McDougall
    2
    54kg

2023 Archer Stakes result


1stKalapour (+380)
2ndAthabascan (-285.71)
3rdGan Teorainn ($NTD)

Recent Archer Stakes results

  • In what will be his final Melbourne Cup Carnival, Damien Oliver has claimed his first victory aboard Kalapour ($5.00) for great mate Kris Lees in the Group 3 Archer Stakes at Flemington. As a ballot exempt race for the 2023 Melbourne Cup, the son of War Command has now booked his spot in the 3200m classic next Tuesday after winning the Archer. Kalapour is now a ($51.00) chance in the 2023 Melbourne Cup futures market with online bookmakers. The race seemed to have no speed on paper before the jump, and that is exactly what appeared as the runners ran out of the straight for the first time, so Oliver chose to take up the lead from barrier one. Oliver allowed Kalapour to settle and run along at his own pace, clocking a few 13-second sectionals down the back straight, which indicated to spectators and punters that they weren’t breaking any records. At the top of the home straight, Oliver released the brakes on the leader and he kicked two-lengths clear of Athabascan ($2.70), and even though the race favourite chased gamely, the Kris Lees-trained stayer held him at bay in the final 100m.
  • James McDonald and Chris Waller combined for their first winner of the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival with Surefire in the Archer Stakes, as the odds-on favourite proved to be the stronger horse at the end of 2500m. Many commentators thought that the Archer Stakes was Surefire’s to lose and the punters agreed as he was backed in to red figures, winning as the $1.85 favourite with online bookmakers. It looked as though Crystal Pegasus and the leader in the race, Serpentine, were going to fight it out down the Flemington straight but McDonald eventually got Surefire to the outside of those two and let down very nicely to take out the Group 3 event.
  • James McDonald and Chris Waller found themselves with an early double on Derby Day 2021 as short-priced favourite Great House won the Group 3 Lexus Hotham Stakes at Flemington. The son of Galileo defied the late drift in the market and will go on to line up in the $7.75 million Melbourne Cup on the quick backup. Great House was tested after settling a long way back, a tactic that proved to be the difference as McDonald got clear out wide down the straight to eventually wear down Mankayan. The five-year-old will now test himself over two miles for the first time on Tuesday, but with only 50kg’s on his back, there’s no question he’s capable of seeing it out.
  • Andreas Wohler has given himself a shot at a second Melbourne Cup triumph after Ashrun secured the final place in the field with a late-charging win in the Hotham Stakes. Wohler won the Cup with the Australian Bloodstock-owned Protectionist in 2014 and Ashrun is set to take his place on Tuesday in the same colours. The German trainer was at Flemington on Saturday after serving the mandatory quarantine period for international travellers and said he had a few anxious moments during the run. Kerrin McEvoy settled Ashrun ($5.50) towards the tail of the field and made a sweeping move down the outside to nail Sound ($7.50) in the final bounds. The judge could not separate Brimham Rocks ($6.50) and Future Score ($12) for third, the pair producing the second dead-heat of the program.
  • Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien will have four runners in his quest for a second Melbourne Cup after Downdraft booked his spot with a strong win in the Hotham Stakes at Flemington. The European import was borderline to gain a start in Tuesday’s race but his Hotham (2500m) win has sealed the deal. Downdraft joins O’Brien-trained stablemates Master Of Reality, Latrobe and Twilight Payment in Australia’s most famous race.
  • Prince Of Arran was the favoured runner to secure the last place in the race that stops a nation, but he didn’t do it as easily as the market suggested. Travelling three and four wide for a lot of the race, A Prince Of Arran hit the front at the 300m and delivered a strong staying performance to hold off a flashing Brimham Rocks to book a place in the Cup.
  • Gai Waterhouse had a high opinion of Kiwi import Cismontane, and the horse delivered on her promise. Cismontane lead the entire race and looked to be getting swamped in the final 200m but somehow found a way to fight back and book a spot in the Melbourne Cup just three days later.
  • In what could be the best performance in the race’s history, Kerrin McEvoy guided the horse from last to first in a spectacular showing. In what would also become a regular occurrence for punters the luckless Tom Melbourne recorded a second placed finish, a sign of things to come.
  • In a driving finish that is the closest margin in recent memory, Excess Knowledge fought on gamely to hold off Zanteca in nail-biting finish. The horse would go on to finish seventh in the Melbourne Cup and sadly never won again.
  • Favourite backers were happy after Joao Moreira guided Signoff to a strong win at Racing HQ in Melbourne. Settling midfield, the Magic Man took the horse out at the optimal time and streaked away to win comfortable. The Weir runner went on to round out the first-four just three days later in the Cup.
  • Ruscello was a double figure outsider heading into the Lexus but the Irish raider was able to hold out gun runner Let’s Make Adeal in great fashion. The horse would go on to finish a disappointing second last three days later.
  • Chris Waller runner Kelinni was somewhat of an afterthought in the market, but the Lexus win proved it had grit to couple with the talent. Kelinni was eighth at the 400m mark but hit the front in the final 100m. Despite looking the goods the horse had to fight to the line to secure the win. The Waller runner went on to finish fourth three days later.

Archer Stakes winners

Archer Stakes Past Winners
Year Horse Jockey Trainer
2023 Kalapour Damien Oliver Kris Lees
2022 Surefire James McDonald Chris Waller
2021 Great House James McDonald Chris Waller
2020 Ashrun Kerrin McEvoy Andreas Wohler
2019 Downdraft John Allen Joseph O’Brien
2018 Prince Of Arran Michael Walker Charlie Fellowes
2017 Cismontane Stephen Baster Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
2016 Oceanographer Kerrin McEvoy Charlie Appleby
2015 Excess Knowledge Dwayne Dunn Gai Waterhouse
2014 Signoff Joao Moreiera Darren Weir
2013 Ruscello Kerrin McEvoy Ed Walker
2012 Kelinni Nash Rawiller Chris Waller
2011 Niwot Dean Yendall Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
2010 Maluckyday Jim Cassidy Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
2009 Shocking Michael Rodd Mark Kavanagh
2008 Moatize Michael Rodd Bart Cummings
2007 Sculptor Lisa Cropp Peter Mckenzie
2006 Maybe Better Steven Arnold Brian Mayfield-Smith
2005 Strasbourg Luke Nolen Bart Cummings
2004 Don Raphael Glen Boss Kerry Parker
2003 Big Pat Peter Mertens Robbie Griffiths
2002 Requiem Greg Childs Tony McEvoy
2001 Maythehorsebewithu Jason Patton Mike Moroney
2000 Brew Chris Munce Mike Moroney

Archer Stakes winners pre-2000

Archer Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000
Year Horse
1999 The Warrior
1998 Star Binder
1997 Backslapper
1996 Few Are Chosen
1995 Coachwood
1994 Pindi
1993 Tennessee Jack
1992 Big Barron
1991 Rasheek
1990 Mount Olympus
1989 Coshking
1988 Copatonic
1987 Scarvila
1986 Sea Legend
1985 Silver Award
1984 Chagemar
1983 Chagemar
1982 Allez Bijou
1981 Mr. Cromwell
1980 Bohemian Grove
1979 Karu
1978 Jury
1977 Major Till
1976 Reckless
1975 Suleiman
1974 Think Big
1973 Daneson
1972 Scotch And Dry
1971 Not Again
1970 Sudani
1969 Tails
1968 Raad
1967 Midlander
1966 Aveniam
1965 Sail Away
1964 Celero
1963 River Seine
1962 Le Storm
1961 Oreka
1960 Nilarco
1959 Grand Garry
1958 Baystone
1957 Baron Boissier
1956 Fighting Force / Ark Royal / Pandie Sun
1955 Better Boy
1954 Plato
1953 My Hero
1952 Morse Code
1951 Glenvue
1950 Thracian Lad
1949 Foxzami
1948 Howe
1947 Dark Marne
1946 Chaytor
1945 Arduli
1944 Sirius
1943 Dark Felt
1942 Dark Felt
1941 Son Of Aurous
1940 Dashing Cavalier
1939 Catologue
1938 Spear Chief
1937 Frill Prince
1936 Balkan Prince
1935 Sarcherie
1934 Panto
1933 Pretzel
1932 Roc
1931 White Nose
1930 Cimbrian
1929 Shadow King
1928 Epilogue
1927 Eridanus / Bicolor
1926 Beedos
1925 King Of Mirth
1924 Lilypond
1923 Englefield
1922 King Ingoda
1921 Wirriway
1920 Luteplayer
1919 Sea Bound
1918 Court Jester
1917 Lingle
1916 Dame Quickly
1915 Hush Money
1914 Uncle Matt
1913 Gladwyn
1912 Lord Alwyne
1911 Prizefighter
1910 Flavian
1909 Footpad
1908 Moani
1907 Tulkeroo
1906 Invergordon
1905 Demas
1904 Elvo
1903 Martyr
1902 Sojourner
1901 Ohio
1900 War God
1899 Miss Carbine
1898 Plutus
1897 Metford
1896 Mischief
1895 The Trier
1894 Foxtail
1893 Straightfire
1892 Hopetoun
1891 Pigeontoe
1890 Grey Gown
1889 Meteor
1888 Mara
1887 The Levite
1886 Claptrap
1885 Lesbia
1884 Favo
1883 Wallangra
1882 Odd Trick
1881 Saunterer
1880 Wellington
1879 Trump Yoss
1878 Levant
1877 The Vagabond
1876 Troy
1875 Kinchachrie
1874 Newbold
1873 Imperial
1872 Early Morn
1871 Saladin
1870 Nimblefoot
1869 Aurora

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