Gloaming Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the Gloaming Stakes

The Gloaming Stakes hosted by the Australian Turf Club at the Rosehill Racetrack in September during the spring racing carnival is a Group 3 open race for three year olds.

Some of the classiest milers and stayers make their way to the Gloaming Stakes in search of greater glory during the spring racing carnival in Melbourne. The 1800 meter race is run under set weight conditions that usually favours more than handy staying types.

Other races held on the day are the Group 1 George Main Stakes and Group 2 The Shorts. The race is an excellent warm up event for the 2000 metre Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick during the carnival. The Gloaming Stakes has over the last few years become a handy guide for the WS Cox Plate with So You Think proving his ability as a stayer in 2009, winning both the titles during the season.

Some horses may move on to compete in the Group 2 Norman Robinson Stakes over a distance of 2000 metres on the Caulfield race track. Pendragon in 2005 and Retrieve in 2010 scored a Gloaming Stakes/Robinson Stakes double.

In 2010, Retrieve and placegetter Praecido both placed well in the Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington over an extended distance of 2500 metres. Placegetters in the Gloaming Stakes have also done well in the Spring Champion Stakes, which include All Black Gold in 2006 and Gathering in 2009. Runner up in 2006, Tuesday Joy improved on her performance with a victory in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes and ran an impressive second in the Group 1 Crown Oaks.

Earlier in 2005, Duelled, placed third in the Gloaming Stakes, ran third in the Spring Champion Stakes and followed it up with a major victory in the 2040 metre Group 2 AAMI Vase at the Moonee Valley track. The spirited stayer fought a tough battle in the Victoria Derby to finish a close second behind Benfico.

The 1600 meter Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes may serve as a warm up race for horses heading for the Gloaming Stakes. Strike the Stars, placed third in the event prior to claiming the 2011 Gloaming Stakes. The first Gloaming Stakes was held as a principal race in 1978 and was immediately awarded Group 2 status the next year, which was won by the famous Kingston Town. It has remained a Group 3 race since 2005.

Other top gallopers to win the Gloaming Stakes include Brave Warrior in 1998, Al Maher in 2004, and Predatory Pricer in 2008.

2012 Gloaming Stakes

It's A Dundeel was in no hurry to mix it with the front-runners, dropping well back and ambling along in a relaxed fashion. As the field progressed on the 1800 metre journey, It's A Dundeel continued to run off the pace, while at the other end of the field, Strength was setting the tempo. Strength faded by the turn, and King Of Olympia, Lunar Rise and Honorius took up the running. However, It's A Dundeel finally wound up and staged an irresistible finishing run from a long way back that saw him grab the lead and go to the post well clear, with Honorius fighting on for second and Lunar Rise claiming third.

2012 Gloaming Stakes result

1. It's A Dundeel
2. Honorius
3. Lunar Rise

Then came:

4. King Of Olympia
5. Ninth Legion
6. Rowie
7. Strength