Kingston Town Stakes

Winners and Past Results

Established in 1948 as the STC Cup and renamed the Kingston Town Stakes from 1983. The event hosted by Australian Turf Club is a Group 3 2000 meter race run under handicap conditions for horses aged three years and above. Free $200 Bet That Can't Lose

The event is held in Sydney annually at Rosehill Racecourse in September with prize money worth A$125,000 for the taking.

Usually run on the same day as Group 2 Theo Mark Stakes and the Group 3 Research Stakes, the Kingston Town Stakes is a perfect follow up race to the 1800 meter Group three Premiere Stakes held at Rosehill the previous month and the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes held the weekend before. Many horses in the past have finished in the top three at the Premiere Stakes and gone on to achieve victory in the Kingston Town Stakes. It is the first group race of the Sydney Spring Carnival at this distance and is a test for the contenders who usually come via some of the shorter distance events.

Successful horses here usually head for the Randwick carnival and races such as the Metropolitan Handicap, a Group one race, the Group one Caulfield Cup and the Group three Colin Stephen Quality, events that are held under similar handicap conditions and a step up in distance. The Kingston Town Stakes is a reasonable guide to the other staying races later during the Randwick Carnival, and is known to attract handy stayers. Some horses may also compete in the 1600 M Group 1 Epsom Handicap which is held at Randwick Racecourse in early October. Some trainers may also tackle the Metropolitan as a lead up to the Melbourne Cup in November, which is why contenders in the Kingston Town Stakes need to be tracked closely for the rest of the season.

Lamasery who won this event in 2011, ran fourth in a BM90 event over 1500 meters at Rosehill before winning the Kingston Town Stakes. The 2010 winner, Herculian Prince, went on to win the Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick . Stormhill and Mr. Matini, winners in 2005 and 2006 respectively, both placed in the Premiere Stakes before winning the Kingston Town Stakes. While the runner up in 2005, Railings went on to win the Colin Stephen Quality, the Metropolitan Handicap and the Caulfield Cup.

The Kingston Stakes has been a great platform for a number of horses that have gone on to win significant races, with many being inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

2011 Kingston Town Stakes

Lamasery doesn't go to the races very often but it was a winning visit on this occasion, with the five-year-old turning in a good staying performance to win this Group 3 event. The gelding is on the way up and showed why in this race, settling well back but steadily improving on the run to the turn and sprinting down the outside of the home straight to just see off Crafty Irna by a head with Mourayan well back in third.

2011 Kingston Town Stakes result

1. Lamasery
2. Crafty Irna
3. Mourayan

Then came:

4. Praecido
5. Ironstein
6. Altius
7. Galizani
8. Break Card
9. Planet Purple
10. Rebel Soldier
11. Bellagio Wynn
12. Shootoff
13. Pacino
14. Lodge The Deeds
15. Hidden Gem