Sweet Embrace Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the Sweet Embrace Stakes

The Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes hosted by the Australian Turf Club in March is for two year old fillies that travel over a distance of 1200 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney during the autumn racing carnival.

The sprint race is worth $125,000 and is held under set weight conditions.

The event is among the best formlines for the Golden Slipper Stakes. Trainers field the cream of their sprinters in the Sweet Embrace Stakes since the winner gains an automatic entry to the Golden Slipper Stakes. The 2011 edition of the race was held at Warwick Farm due to renovations at Randwick.

The Sweet Embrace Stakes is an excellent platform for young female sprinters looking to step up in distance. Many may enter the fray after a run in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes and Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes over 1100 metres. The race is the female equivalent of the Group 3 Skyline Stakes for colts & geldings, from where the winner also moves on to the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill in April.

Other races on the cards for better performing fillies after the Sweet Embrace Stakes are the Group 2 Reisling Stakes and the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill, which are the final warm up events before the richest race for two year olds, the Golden Slipper. Being a race for two year olds, many fillies may come into the event after tackling listed races or maiden handicap events.

Ingenue was the first horse to win the Sweet Embrace Stakes in 1979 as a listed race. It was promoted to Group 3 in 1987 and has remained so ever since. The race is dedicated to Sweet Embrace, an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and winner of the 1967 Golden Slipper. With $3.5 million at stake in the Golden Slipper, punters can rest assured that the Sweet Embrace Stakes will have trainers put forward their best two year old fillies. Among the notable sprinters to win include Dark Eclipse in 1980, Skating in 1992, Ha Ha in 2001, Headway in 2009 and Crystal Lily in 2010.

2013 Sweet Embrace Stakes

Hot favourite Assail was expected to dictate the pace early on but the unbeaten filly showed little spark as they jumped and dropped back. Instead it was Calming Influence who led the way ahead of Tropical Force, while Romantic Moon, unwanted by punters at $15, raced wide in the second half of the field. Calming Influence tired as they began the run home but Romantic Moon looked strong despite a wide run, and with 250 metres to go she swept to the lead and was untroubled to go on and win by a length over fellow outsider Thump, with Greytfilly just a neck back in third place.

2013 Sweet Embrace Stakes result

1. Romantic Moon
2. Thump
3. Greytfilly

Then came:

4. Vocalise
5. Calming Influence
6. Assail
7. Most Joyful
8. Tropical Force
9. Serious Fun