San Domenico Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the San Domenico Stakes

The San Domenico Stakes is a Group 3 race for three year old horses hosted by the Australian Turf Club. The 1000 metre sprint race is held at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in August during the winter racing carnival.

The event has been held over 1100 metres intermittently over the years with $125,000 going to the winning connections.

For punters, picking a winner may be a tricky affair since many horses may be just in from a spell looking for greater glory during the soon approaching spring carnival. The better performing three year old has the advantage of set weights in the San Domenico Stakes which has seen a number of handy horses move on to greater heights during the spring carnival. Among the most notable three year olds in recent times to perform well include Karuta Queen. After finishing third in the 2011 San Domenico Stakes, the filly went on to win and place well in group races during the spring carnival.

For some horses, first up after the San Domenico Stakes may be the Group 3 Silver Shadow Stakes at Warwick Farm Racecourse, which is held a week later at an extended distance of 1200 metres. Another event that horses may fancy their chances is the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes held at the Randwick track in October. 2010 winner, Obsequious, was unplaced in the Silver Shadow Stakes and finished runner up in the Roman Consul Stakes while second placed Solar Charged managed to grab the second spot in the Silver Shadow Stakes as well before taking on some tough opposition in the Group 3 Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield Races.

Foxwedge, winner in 2011, also proved his worthiness by running a close second in the Group 3 Run To The Rose at Rosehill and finally claimed victory in the Roman Consul Stakes as well. Therefore, punters ought to consider the San Domenico Stakes a handy form guide when looking for a placegetter and likely winner in these events. Some horses may also head for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes on Victoria Derby Day or the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes at the end of August at Warwick Farm.

Horses that have tasted success as a two year old in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and Golden Slipper are likely to have their first taste of the track as a three year old in the San Domenico Stakes following a spell.

The San Domenico Stakes began as a listed race in 1980 and was briefly a Group 3 race in 1984 and 1985 before being upgraded to Group 2 in 1986. However, the race has been a Group 3 event once again since 2006.

2012 San Domenico Stakes

Snitzerland jumped well and went straight to the lead in this Group 3 event over 1100 metres. From that point on it looked all too easy for the filly as jockey Corey Brown allowed her to coast along in front while the the rest of the field seemed reluctant to challenge. As they approached the turn and entered the straight it looked like a foregone conclusion with Snitzerland too full of running to seem in any danger. In the end she went to the post very comfortably to win by two lengths over Driefontein, while highly rated All Too Hard never threatened, finishing a further length back in third.

2012 San Domenico Stakes result

1. Snitzerland
2. Driefontein
3. All Too Hard

Then came:

4. Ninth Legion
5. Don't Blink
6. Matavai