Kindergarten Stakes

Winners and Past Results.

Hosted by the Australian Turf Club, the Kindergarten Stakes is a Group 3 race for two year old horses run under set weight conditions. The event is held during the annual Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival in March with prize money worth $125,000 awaiting the winners. Free $250 Bet

The 1100 metre race is suited for sprinters who may not yet have the ability to last over longer, 1200 meter events. The Kindergarten Stakes may not be one of the carnival's richest races, but is a good lead up race to other more lucrative races in the season, which include the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes. It is one of Sydney's younger races held since 1989. It began as a listed race and was granted Group 3 status in 1997. The event is the perfect start for young, well trained sprinters who have the potential to achieve further success during their racing career.

For 2012, the Kindergarten Stakes has been moved from its usual schedule on the Chipping Norton Stakes day at Warwick Farm. The 2012 Kindergarten Stakes will be held on April 9th 2012 as part of the Australian Derby Day at the Randwick track. For trainers, the event is a good opportunity to launch their best sprinters and improve their condition and form. It is also an ideal place for top performers who move on to compete in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes and Skyline Stakes, run a week later. Many Golden Slipper champions launched successful careers beginning with the Kindergarten Stakes. The 1200 meter Golden Slipper is a Group 1 event limited to two year olds, with $3.5 million in prize money at stake. The race is one of the highlights of the Autumn Racing calendar held in April.

Races like the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes for fillies and the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes for colts held earlier in the carnival are usually the lead up events to the Kindergarten Stakes. Though both the races are 100 meters longer than the Kindergarten stakes, they are perfect for horses to condition themselves for the Kindergarten Stakes. Several Kindergarten Stakes winners have gone on to achieve success in multiple group races. Wanted, the 2009 winner went on to win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap the following year, which is Flemington's premier autumn sprint race. The 2010 Kindergarten Stakes winner, Solar Charged, won the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Caulfield later that year. 2011 winner Anise ran fourth in the 1200 M Group 2 Reisling Stakes on her way to the Kindergarten Stakes.

2012 Kindergarten Stakes

Ichihara was a raging hot favourite coming into this 1100 metre event but after she missed the start, the race was suddenly a much more even affair. Best away were Dances On Stars and Oh Barbie, who went to the front and set the early pace. As the field rounded the turn and came into the straight, Glyn Schofield took Dances On Stars to the lead while Oh Barbie faded. Dances On Stars showed plenty of determination in the run home to hold off a fast finishing Agueda while Ichihara, who struggled for momentum after a poor start and never really got a decent run, finished in third place.

2012 Kindergarten Stakes result

1. Dances On Stars
2. Agueda
3. Ichihara

Then came:

4. Ptolemy
5. Gold Bender
6. Oh Barbie