Light Fingers Stakes

Winners and Past Results.

Held every year in February at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney, the Group 2 Light Finger Stakes is a 1200 metre race held under set weights with a purse of $200,000 going to the best three year old filly.
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It is held alongside the Group 3 Breeders Classic and Royal Sovereign Stakes and considered to be the feature event of the day. It was initially classified as a Listed Race from 1983 to 1985. In 1986, it was upgraded to Group 2. In 1987 the race was downgraded to Group 3 and was then elevated to Group 2 status once again in 1991.

The race is hosted by the Australian Turf Club and named in honour of the New Zealand bred mare, Light Fingers, who won the Melbourne Cup in 1965. Being the first group race for three year old fillies in the New Year, the Light Finger Stakes is a testing ground for horses interested in competing in the Group 3 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill or the Group 2 Surround Stakes at Warwick Farm. The equivalent race for colts and geldings, the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes, is held on the same day as the Light Fingers Stakes. The set weight nature of the Stakes usually favours the more talented fillies that can use the event as a springboard for other important events of the year.

More Joyous the 2011 winner came in from winning the Group 2 1500 meter Tea Rose Stakes, and the 1600 M Group 1 Flight Stakes. After winning the Light Finger Stakes, she put up a fine performance to win the Group 2 Surround Stakes over 1400 metres. In eight of her next 13 races she placed in the top three on ten occasions. The six year old More Joyous has been one of the most celebrated horses to lift the Light Finger Stakes in recent history.

Other notable gallopers to pass through the Light Finger Stakes have been Skating who won in 1993 and Assertive Lass in 1997, while Street Smart and Gold Edition were winners in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Obsequious who won the race in 2011, went on to place 2nd in the 1200 metre Typhoon Tracy Stakes. Rock My Baby won the event in 2009, while Forensics was champion in 2008. The fastest time set in the Light Finger Stakes is 1:08.72 seconds by Sharp in 2004.

2011 Light Fingers Stakes

Obsequious threatened the race record in winning this event for three year old fillies, racing handily throughout and taking the lead in the straight. Obsequious beat off the challenge of Red Tracer who finished strongly, while Parables stormed home from the back of the field to take an eye-catching third.

2011 Light Fingers Stakes result

1. Obsequious
2. Red Tracer
3. Parables

Then came:

4. Potions
5. M'lady Pedrille
6. Parriwi
7. Posh Chic
8. Slow The Flow
9. Who's Ready