JJ Liston Stakes

Winners and Past Results

The JJ Liston Stakes is a Group 2 race hosted by Melbourne Racing Club held annually at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne in August during the spring racing carnival.   Free $200 Bet

The weight for age race is for horses 3 years old and above. The distance covered in the JJ Liston Stakes is 1400 metres, with prize money worth $200,000 reserved for the winner. Above average sprinters and gallopers have an advantage in this weight for age race where females carry around 55.5 kgs while males make the trip with 57 kg to 59 kgs.

The JJ Liston Stakes is held on the same day as the 1200 M Group 3 Cockram Stakes for mares. Since the race is held early in August the event may not attract top liners who may prefer to prepare for the Caulfield and Flemington spring carnivals. The 2011 edition of the race was held as the MRC PB Lawrence Stakes.

The JJ Liston Stakes was first held in 1949 as a Principal Race and remained so until 1978 when it was granted Group 2 status. Between 1949 and 1967, it was run over a distance of 10 furlongs and was then reduced to 1400 metres. The Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes held a week earlier at the same Caulfield track under similar conditions serves as a form guide for the JJ Liston Stakes. The best performers may fancy their chances in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes over the same distance, a fortnight after the JJ Liston Stakes. Runner up in 2009, Whobegotyou came back to win the 2011 JJ Liston Stakes after a spell and then ran third in the 1600 M Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at the Moonee Valley Racecourse. Since many horses come in from a spell, picking a winner for this race is usually a tough proposition.

Some horses may also saddle up for the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600 metres at Flemington and the 1800 M Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield later in the season. Winner of the 2007 JJ Liston Stakes, the formidable Apache Cat, won the Blenchingly Stakes on his way to the JJ Liston Stakes and then finished runner up in the Makybe Diva Stakes in what was a start of a glorious season ahead running into 2008.

In 2010, Shoot Out continued his fine form from the Bletchingly Stakes and then ran third in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes and Dato Chin Nam Stakes at Caulfield. The Group 2 Tristarc Stakes and the Group 1 Myer Classic may also suit some of the stronger contenders after the JJ Liston Stakes. After finishing third in the 2009 JJ Liston Stakes, Typhoon Tracy went on to win both races later in the carnival.

2011 JJ Liston (PB Lawrence) Stakes

Whobegotyou is a class act and showed why in winning this Group 2 event. The gelding raced well back initially but was able to find room and move forward as they came round the turn. This charge took him to the lead ahead of highly fancied Lights Of Heaven, who had been deprived a clear run because of traffic, and the two fought it out to the post, with Whobegotyou just holding on. Prince Obama was never far off the pace throughout and ran on well for a deserved third.

2011 JJ Liston (PB Lawrence) Stakes result

1. Whobegotyou
2. Lights Of Heaven
3. Prince Obama

Then came:

4. Vesper
5. Time Matters
6. Cellarmaster
7. Jungle Ruler
8. Guest Wing
9. I'm Imposing
10. Mourayan
11. Budai