Champagne Stakes

Winners and Past Results

Champagne Stakes is a $150,000 Group 3 race held every year in September during the Spring Racing Carnival at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne. Free $200 Bet

This 1200 metre set weight race for 3 year old fillies is organized by Moonee Valley Racing Club. Moonee valley racecourse is considered to be one of the most prestigious racecourses in Australia, and is also the first course to offer night racing.

Started in 1975 as a principle race known as the Moonee Valley Champagne Stakes, it was upgraded to Group 3 in 1978 and was known as the Leilani Stakes. In 1985 it was upgraded to Group 2 and was known as the “Venve Cliquot Classic”. From 1985 to 2004, it was run under a number of names, such as “The Veuve Cliquot”, “The Laurent Perrier”, “Champagne Stakes”, and “Mitsubishi Stakes”. In 2004, it was downgraded to a Group 3 race, and ever since has been run as the “Champagne Stakes”.

Raced on the same day as the Group 1 Manikato Stakes, which is considered the biggest sprint event of the year, the Champagne Stakes, is usually run at night, which creates the perfect conditions and environment for fast racing. The entries into this race are often of good quality, but some have been shown up, especially if it's their first visit to the course. Fillies that contest here do not come from any major group events, but an eye should be kept on the listed races, with the same conditions and similar distances. Fillies may move on to 1200 metre events like the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes run under set weight conditions at Moonee Valley in October or the 1200 M Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Caulfield on Caulfield Guineas Day also in October. Lone Rock finished third in the Red Anchor Stakes on Cox Plate Day after winning the 2010 Champagne Stakes.

The 2011 winner of the MVRC Champagne Stakes, Miss Stellabelle, won a 1100 M 3-Year-Old Maiden Plate at Bendigo, and went on to finish second in the 1200 M Group 3 Australia Stakes held at Moonee Valley a month later. The 2011 runner up, Platelet, came in after placing 3rd in the listed, 1100 M Cap D'Antibes Stakes at Flemington Racecourse, and 3rd again in the 1100m, Super Vobis 3 Year Old Handicap. She then went on to win the 1200 metre Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Caulfield.

Horses may seek to tackle the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley. Other horses may head to Flemington for the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes and Group 1 Crown Oaks later in the carnival.

2011 Champagne Stakes result
1. $11.00 Miss Stellabelle 56.0 Damien Oliver
2. $6.50 Platelet 56.0 Ms Michelle Payne
3. $13.00 Miss Zoom 56.0 Dean Holland

then followed
4. $3.20 Emerald Downs 56.0 Nash Rawiller
5. $11.00 Peronne Lady 56.0 Dean Yendall
6. $31.00 De Lilly Lightful 56.0 Craig Newitt
7. $3.80 Satin Shoes 56.0 Craig Williams
8. $7.50 Glissade 56.0 Kerrin McEvoy
9. $71.00 Victoria Street 56.0 Luke Currie

Margins: 1 1/2 len, 2 1/2 len
Time: 1:11.96