Apollo Stakes

Winners and Past Results

The Apollo Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Australian horse race run at weight for age.
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The Apollo Stakes is run at the Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney.

The race is held during the autumn racing carnival with top quality gallopers running over a distance of 1400 meters to claim $250,000 in prize money. Over the years, race goers have witnessed keen competition in the Apollo Stakes with outstanding horses such as At Sea, Triscay, Naturalism, Juggler, Sunline, Ha Ha, and Lonhro, all winning the Apollo.

Sunline won the 2000 edition and followed it up with another victory in the 2001 Apollo Stakes. Juggler romped home to victory in 1996 and 1997. The 1400 meter distance is ideal for in form sprinters and classy horses returning from a spell.

The Group 2 Expressway Stakes is one of the lead up races with many horses making their way to the starting gates in the Apollo Stakes. The race is also the perfect form guide for horses that may make their way to the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes a fortnight later at Warwick Farm Racecourse. Danleigh, the 2010 champion went on to win the Chipping Norton Stakes in 2011. Thesio, placed 8 th in the 2009 Apollo Stakes, obliged his connections with a win in his very next outing in the Chipping Norton Stakes.

The first Apollo Stakes was held in 1977 as a principal race, which was won by a horse named Visit.

The race acquired Group 2 status in 1979 and was run at the Royal Randwick Racecourse until 2005 before being shifted to Rosehill.

The race attracts a strong field which is why it is amongst the toughest races that pushes short sprinters to their limits, testing the ability to compete later with genuine milers.

The 2005 champion, Grand Armee, broke the distance record by clocking 1 minute and 21.1 seconds. Melito continues to become a formidable opponent in major races which includes the 2011 Apollo Stakes.

In recent years, the Apollo Stakes has been named the 'Winning Edge Presentations Classic and continues to be a key lead race for the Chipping Norton Stakes.

Punters must note that 14 out of the last 20 Chipping Norton winners made their way from the Apollo Stakes. Six horses have won a Apollo Stakes/Chipping Norton double in the same year since 1991. Tuesday Joy ran second in the 2008 Apollo Stakes and came back to lift the trophy the next year.

2011 Apollo Stakes

Melito, back from a spell, was up with the lead from the start and engaged in a classic duel with Hot Danish down the front straight before pulling away in the final few metres to register a clear win. Hot Danish held on for second, just ahead of a fast finishing Centennial Park.

2011 Apollo Stakes result

1. Melito
2. Hot Danish
3 Centennial Park

Then came:

4. Once Were Wild
5. Love Conquers All
6. Danleigh
7. Metal Bender
8. Run For Naara
9. Lorne Dancer
10. Vision and Power