Sandown Stakes
Sandown Stakes
Group Three Betting Guide
| Date: | Saturday, September 27, 2025 |
| Location: | Sandown Racecourse – Melbourne, Victoria |
| Prize Money: | $200,000 |
| Distance: | 1500m |
The Group 3 Sandown Stakes is a 1500m horse race held at Sandown traditionally on the same weekend as the AFL Grand Final.
Run for $200,000, the Sandown Stakes was first run as a Listed race in 1981 before being upgraded to Group 3 status in 1983.
Redkirk Warrior, which won the Newmarket Handicap twice (2017 and 2018), is one of the more notable winners of the Sandown Stakes, having won it in 2016.
Notably, Craig Williams has won the Group 3 Sandown Stakes on four occasions in since 2010, including in three straight years, between 2011-2013.
2025 Sandown Stakes betting odds
Odds for the Sandown Stakes as of September 24, 2025 – Courtesy of Neds
- Evaporate Win $3.70 Place $1.65
- Transatlantic Win $3.80 Place $1.65
- Rise At Dawn Win $5.50 Place $2.00
- Athanatos Win $7.00 Place $2.40
- Sav On Ice Win $12.00 Place $3.40
- Cote Atlantique Win $13.00 Place $3.60
- Wonder Boy Win $17.00 Place $4.40
- El Rocko Win $19.00 Place $4.60
- Another Prophet Win $26.00 Place $6.00
- Von Hauke Win $34.00 Place $7.00
- Shaiyhar Win $51.00 Place $10.00
- Foujita San Win $51.00 Place $10.00
- The Pendragon Win $71.00 Place $14.00
- Positivity Win $126.00 Place $24.00
How to bet on the Sandown Stakes
All of our top bookmakers have markets for the Sandown Stakes, which is no surprise given its status as a feature race.
Sandown Stakes betting sites can be accessed via several different means, including via online betting sites, telephone betting and even via bookmaker apps, as long as you have a smartphone.
Sandown Stakes News
Evaporate crowned a stellar period for his sire across the Tasman when he produced a gallant performance win the Group ...
Evaporate bounced back from a setback to win Saturday’s Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in gallant fashion, defeating favourite Transatlantic ...
Feature racing returns to Sandown on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Check out HorseBetting's free tips for the Sandown Stakes Race ...
Desert Lightning has made a perfect start to the next chapter of his career, capturing Saturday’s Group 3 Sandown Stakes ...
An eight-race meeting is scheduled for the Hillside track at Sandown on Saturday, September 28. Check out HorseBetting's preview of ...
Tony Gollan and Blake Shinn have combined with Antino to take out the feature Group 3 Sandown Stakes at Sandown ...
2025 Sandown Stakes Final Field
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Previous Sandown Stakes Fields
No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 
Desert Lightning Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman Luke Nolen 1 59.5kg 2 Griff Ciaron Maher Ethan Brown 2 58kg 3 Uncle BrynTrent Busuttin & Natalie YoungJohn Allen457kg4 ChrysaorChris WallerCraig Newitt954.5kg5 Nicolini Vito Ben, Will & JD Hayes Michael Dee 8 54.5kg 6 Savannah Cloud Phillip Stokes Lachlan Neindorf 6 54.5kg 7 Holymanz Ciaron Maher Declan Bates 7 54kg 8 Communist Michael Freedman Jye McNeil 10 54kg 9 Bank Maur Richard Laming Patrick Moloney 11 54kg 10 Magnaspin Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin Harry Coffey 3 54kg 11 Craig Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Luke Currie 5 54kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Antino Tony Gollan Blake Shinn 5 58kg 2 Earlswood Maddie Raymond John Allen 8 55.5kg 3 Here To Shock Ben, Will & JD Hayes Daniel Stackhouse 4 55.5kg 4 Vreneli Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Michael Dee 7 54kg 5 Toregene Matthew Williams Dean Yendall 3 54kg 6 Superium Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 6 54kg 7 Ulysses Julius Sandhu Billy Egan 1 54kg 8 Golden Path Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Beau Mertens 2 54kg
2024 Sandown Stakes result
1st – Desert Lightning (+400)
2nd – Craig (-333.33)
3rd – Magnaspin (+520)
Recent runnings of the Sandown Stakes:
- Elite New Zealand racehorse Desert Lightning has made a perfect start to the next chapter of his career, capturing the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in his second start for new trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. The Pride of Dubai gelding made his debut for Moody and Coleman with an eye-catching third in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley the start prior, and he was right at the peak of his powers second-up on Saturday. Jockey Luke Nolen had Desert Lightning handily placed in third, then pounced at the top of the straight. The five-year-old sprinted to the lead before the 200m mark and dashed clear. Craig and Magnaspin launched strong late bids, but Desert Lightning kept kicking and held them at bay by a length.
- Tony Gollan and Antino ($1.35) put a disaster at Flemington the start prior behind them to take out the Group 3 Sandown Stakes, with new rider Blake Shinn giving the heavily backed favourite a lovely ride. The choice to go to Sandown and race against a field that was not near the quality of a typical Group 3 field during the middle of spring, turned out to be the perfect way to get the son of Redwood’s confident back. The second and third favourites, Here To Shock ($3.90) and Golden Path ($9.50) set up a hot tempo out in front and as they rounded the home turn, it looked as though they had a good margin. However, once Shinn pushed the button and asked for the an effort at the 300m mark, he showed his quality and went straight past Here To Shock, whilst Superium ($81.00) finished over the top of Golden Path to claim third place.
- Gentleman Roy led from barrier to box in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes as Jye McNeil piloted the Ben and JD Hayes-trained gelding to his first group win of his 13 start career. After jumping away cleanly McNeil had Gentleman Roy in front of the fancied Military Expert and Dragon Leap for the entirety of the 1500m event, with the fast finishing Pinstriped flying home to nab third from the tiring Dragon Leap. The Lindsay Park galloper move his record to seven wins and four minor placings from his 13 starts.
- After suffering a narrow defeat in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes, the Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained Elephant bounced back in style, securing victory in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes. Ridden by Damian Lane, the five-year-old son of Melbourne Cup champion Shocking surged to the front at the 300-meter mark and maintained a powerful gallop, ultimately winning by 1.25 lengths over Romancer, with Harbour Views finishing two lengths behind in third. Following a successful start to his career in New Zealand, where he won his first four races, Elephant made his Australian debut with a victory at Caulfield before narrowly losing to Superstorm in the Feehan Stakes.
- Junipal, under the guidance of John Allen, returned to winning form with a decisive victory in the Sandown Stakes. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained five-year-old redeemed himself after an unplaced run in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap. Before the Toorak at Caulfield, Junipal had secured two consecutive wins by comfortable margins, and he found his stride once again in the Group 3 feature. The $3.10 favorite, Kenya, carrying 55.5kg with Jye McNeil aboard, attempted to establish a winning lead off the turn, holding a two-length advantage at the 400-metre mark. However, Junipal and Allen launched a powerful run to seize the lead at the 100-metre mark.
Previous winners of the Sandown Stakes
| Sandown Stakes Past Winners | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2024 | Desert Lightning | Luke Nolen | Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman |
| 2023 | Antino | Blake Shinn | Tony Gollan |
| 2022 | Gentleman Roy | Jye McNeil | Ben & JD Hayes |
| 2021 | Elephant | Damian Lane | Emma-Lee & David Browne |
| 2020 | Junipal | John Allen | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 2019 | Gold Fields | Stephen Baster | Logan McGill |
| 2018 | Fifty Stars | Ben Allen | Darren Weir |
| 2017 | Dollar For Dollar | Jamie Kah | Tony McEvoy |
| 2016 | Redkirk Warrior | Craig Williams | David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig |
| 2015 | Charmed Harmony | Glen Boss | John Sadler |
| 2014 | Pornichet | James McDonald | Gai Waterhouse |
| 2013 | Mahisara | Craig Williams | Paul Messara |
| 2012 | Mahisara | Craig Williams | Paul Messara |
| 2011 | Under The Eiffel | Craig Williams | Tony Vasil |
| 2010 | Larry’s Never Late | Mark Zahra | Jim Conlan |
| 2009 | Nine Tales | Craig Newitt | Mick Price |
| 2008 | Chasm | Jason Benbow | Heath Conners |
| 2007 | Gotta Have Heart | Stephen Baster | Mick Price |
| 2006 | Swick | Luke Nolen | Bart Cummings |
| 2005 | Titanic Jack | Nick Ryan | Tom Hughes |
| 2004 | Amtrak | Glen Boss | Mick Price |
| 2003 | Chong Tong | Brett Prebble | Lee Freedman |
| 2002 | Salgado | Darren Gauci | John Hawkes |
| 2001 | Little Dozer | Brett Prebble | Shane Fliedner |
| 2000 | Normal Practice | Glen Boss | Danny Williams |
Sandown Stakes winners pre-2000
| Sandown Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | ||
| 1999 | Buster Jones | ||
| 1998 | Any Rhythm | ||
| 1997 | Cut Up Rough | ||
| 1996 | Wavertree | ||
| 1995 | Mamzelle Pedrille | ||
| 1994 | Another Victor | ||
| 1993 | Monsieur | ||
| 1992 | Minyama | ||
| 1991 | Wrap Around | ||
| 1990 | Procol Harum | ||
| 1989 | Marabous Phantom | ||
| 1988 | Rendoo | ||
| 1987 | Luther’s Luck | ||
| 1986 | New Atlantis | ||
| 1985 | Jurisdiction | ||
| 1984 | Mr Ironclad | ||
| 1983 | Vivacite | ||
| 1982 | Showmeran | ||
| 1981 | Tower Belle | ||
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