Colin Stephen Quality Handicap

Winners and Past Results.

The Colin Stephen Quality Handicap is an open handicap race held at the Randwick Racecourse over a distance of 2400 meters. FREE $250 Bet

The Group 3 event is hosted by the Australian Turf Club at the end of September during the spring racing carnival in Sydney.

The race is held on the second day of the Randwick carnival on the same day as the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes.

The event is dedicated to the Late Sir Colin Stephen, a former chairman of the Australian Jockey Club. Rosehill played host to the race in 2011 due to modifications being made to the QE2 grandstand at Randwick. A purse of $125,000 is awarded to the winner.

For quality stayers, the Colin Stephen Quality Handicap is a step towards Group 2 and Group 1 races during the spring carnival. Horses may vie for a spot in the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap for which the winner is exempt from ballot.

Several horses proved their mettle in both races which include Hula Flight, Heart Ruler, In Joyment, Vita Man, Coco Cobana, and Dress Circle between 1996 and 2001. This was followed by Railings in 2005 although the Colin Stephen Quality is yet to produce another since then. After placing 5th in 2005, Herculian Prince was first to cross the finishing line in the Metropolitan the very next week. In the same field was No Wine No Song, winner of the 2010 Colin Stephen Quality who had to be pleased with a third place.

The Listed Premier's Cup at Rosehill Racecourse and the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup at Newcastle races prior to the Colin Stephen Quality Handicap that attract in form horses. The Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes at Rosehill is also a race to take note of prior to the Colin Stephen Quality. The latest to prove a point was Lamasery in 2011 who grabbed the 2000 metres Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes before winning the Colin Stephen on the same track.

The first race was held back in 1870, which was a principal race won by a horse named Illumination. It became a listed race between 1979 and 1987 with the only exception being 1983 when it was briefly elevated to Group 3. However, it has remained a Group 3 race since 1988.

Among the outstanding gallopers to win the Colin Stephen Quality include Carbine in 1890, Phar Lap in 1930-31, Beau Vite in 1940-41, Delta in 1950-51, Valerius in 1959-60, Dress Circle in 2001, and Mr. Clangtastic in 2009.

2011 Colin Stephen Quality Handicap

Carrying 57 kilos over 2400 metres was not enough to stop Lamasery who raced forward after jumping well and had the run of the race from that point. Red Eye Special moved alongside Lamasery and posed a big threat at the business end of the race but Lamasery showed great staying qualities to grind out a hard-fought win and put himself into Melbourne Cup reckoning.

2011 Colin Stephen Quality Handicap result

1. Lamasery
2. Red Eye Special
3. Two For Tea

Then came:

4. Praecido
5. Ironstein
6. Raeburn
7. Adroitly
8. Galizani
9. Splendid Honours
10. Hume
11. Rebel Soldier