Birthday Card Stakes

The Birthday Card Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 3 Australian handicap horse race for fillies and mares aged three years old and upwards. Free $250 Bet

The race is contested over a distance of 1200 metres and is held annually at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney in March.

Prize money for the Birthday Card Stakes is worth $125,000.

The Birthday Card Stakes began in 1986 as a Listed race run over 1280 metres under the name Birthday Card Quality Handicap. In 1992 the race had a change of name and was known as the Clyde Kennedy Quality.

Two years later the distance was again changed to 1200 metres, and the original name was reinstated.

Still a Listed race at this stage, in 2000 the name as it is now known by the Birthday Card Stakes was registered. The name went back to the Birthday Quality Handicap the following year, until the race was again known as the Birthday Card Stakes in 2001.

The race has been named the 'Cleanevent Stakes' in recent years and takes place on Group 1 Rosehill Guineas day. The race reached Group 3 status in 2006.

2012 Birthday Card Stakes

Divorces appeared to miss the start, which looked to be a huge blow to its chances, while Celts jumped well and was handy to the leaders early. The mare, out of Lonhro, was kept near the lead by jockey Christian Reith who was content to hold Celts in that position without pushing forward too early. In the straight, Celts was asked for a finishing run and found a gap to take the lead, but Next The Universe nearly ran her down with a strong finish with Celts holding on to win by the barest of margins. Divorces flew home too after a poor start and made a big impression in finishing third.   

2012 Birthday Card Stakes result

1. Celts
2. Next the Universe
3. Divorces

Then came:

4dh. Sugera
4dh. Graceful Anna
5. Miss Marx
6. Curtana
7. Phenomenal Lass
8. Gybe
9. Kanzan
10. Balmont