Rubiton Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the Rubiton Stakes

The Group 3 Rubiton Stakes is a 1100 metre sprint race hosted by Melbourne Racing Club during the Melbourne autumn racing carnival in February.

The Rubiton Stakes is named after the 1987 Cox Plate winner Rubiton.

The race is held under set weight plus penalties conditions at Caulfield Racecourse with a prize pool of $125,000. The event is held on one of the biggest days of Melbourne Racing Club's autumn carnival which features the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes. A number of talented sprinters have etched their name on the trophy over the years.

The Rubiton Stakes is often taken out by a quality sprinter returning from a spell or an above average galloper seeking to add another black type title to their resume. It is also a springboard for major group races during the season which include the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington Racecourse. Top performers may also fancy their chances in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield over the same distance.

Among the top line gallopers to take home the Rubiton Stakes are Zeditave in 1989, Redelva in 1991, Spartacus in 1997, while Super Elegant held on to the title thrice between 2003-05. Schillaci won his first Rubiton Stakes in 1993 and then came back strongly to win again in 1995. Here De Angels followed the same pattern in 2008 and 2010.

Zeditave goes down in the history books as the first to win the Rubiton Stakes as a listed race in 1989. It was quickly elevated to Group 3 and has remained so ever since. It was also a weight for age event prior to becoming a set weight and penalties race in 2010.

2013 Rubiton Stakes

Adebisi likes to run on the speed so Craig Williams wasted no time in taking him to the lead and setting a good tempo. Rescue Mission tucked in just behind Adebisi and enjoyed a beautiful run for the first three quarters of the race. Into the straight, Rescue Mission was in a prime position to strike and he went past Adebisi with 200 metres to go, only for Adebisi to find something in reserve and fight back. Adebisi regained the lead in the shadows of the post and went on to win by a short half head over Rescue Mission, with Big Buddie running on to take third, about a length further back.

2013 Rubiton Stakes result

1. Adebisi
2. Rescue Mission
3. Big Buddie

Then came:

4. Shanghai Warrior
5. Outlandish Lad
6. Mister Milton
7. Diplomatic Force