Herbert Power Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the Herbert Power Stakes

The Herbert Power Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 2 Australian open handicap horse race for horses aged 3 years old and upwards.

It is contested over a distance of 2400 metres and is held annually at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne during the Spring Racing Carnival.

Prize money for the Herbert Power Stakes is worth $200,000.

The Herbert Power Stakes is a good prep race to the Group 1 Caulfield Cup and Group 1 Melbourne Cup.

Since it was first run in 1898 when Cocos won, the Herbert Power Stakes has had several different names including the Eclipse Stakes, Quick-Eze Stakes, Perrier Mineral Water Stakes, Perrier Stakes and the Winning Edge Presentations Stakes.

The Herbert Power Stakes was originally a Principal race until 1979, it was then upgraded to a Group Three event for only two years.

Multiple winners of this race include Wakeful (1902-03), Poseidon (1906-07), Alawa (1908-09), Anna Carlovna (1913-14), Easingwold (1923-24), Royal Charter (1925,27) and Dashing Beau (1949-50).

French stayer Shahwardi hadn't won for three years but he found form again in winning this Group 2 event over 2400 metres. The gelding, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, stayed out of trouble early, settling well back but able to enjoy a clear run. In contrast, the other European runner, and favourite, Gatewood was stuck on the rails and unable to progress through the large field. As they rounded the turn, Shahwardi made a sweeping outside run and was untroubled in going past locals, Excluded and Exceptionally. Shahwardi kept his form and won by a length over Excluded, with a gap back to Exceptionally in third.

2012 Herbert Power Stakes result

1. Shahwardi
2. Excluded
3. Exceptionally

Then came:

4. Ironstein
5. Silent Surround
6. Precedence
7. Gatewood
8. I'm Jake
9. Reuben Percival
10. Dance With Her
11. Bianmick
12. Red Eye Special
13. Mr O'Ceirin
14. Budai
15. Guns At Five
16. Auld Burns