WH Stocks Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the WH Stocks Stakes

The Moonee Valley Racing Club hosts a number of black type races during the Melbourne spring racing carnival which includes the Group 2 WH Stocks Stakes in September at Moonee Valley Racecourse.

The 1600 metre weight for age race is for mares four years old and over. The event is a good lead up to bigger events during the carnival which includes the 1400 M Group 2 Blazer Stakes at Flemington Racecourse and the Group 1 Myer Classic also at Flemington on Victoria Derby day.

The 1400 M Group 3 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse is another option for the mares after the WH Stocks Stakes. The race is a good test for mares stepping up in distance to prove their mettle as strong milers.

The Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and Group 3 McEwen Stakes is also held on the day, which leaves punters with enough room to spread their wagers since the WH Stocks Stakes can produce some surprise winners.

One of the lead up races is the Group 2 Memsie Stakes held two weeks earlier at the Caulfield track over 1400 metres.

Next up for some of the top performing mares after the WH Stocks Stakes could be the Group 1 Toorak Handicap over the same distance at Caulfield, a fortnight later. Another mile race on the cards is the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at the Randwick Racetrack which could be the stepping stone to the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley for the better performing mares.

Mellition went down in history as the winner of the first WH Stocks Stakes as a principal race in 1973. It remained a listed race between 1979 and 1992 after which it enjoyed Group 3 status until 2005 when it was promoted to Group 2. Among the classy milers to win the WH Stocks Stakes were Sunday Joy in 2003 while She's Archie won comfortably in 2004. Devil Moon triumphed in 2007 while Zarita won by a whisker from Cats Whisker in 2009.

2012 WH Stocks Stakes

The pace was dreadfully slow for the first part of the race which encouraged Glen Boss to take Oasis Bloom forward for a share of the lead, just outside Midnight Martini. Oasis Bloom travelled beautifully for Boss and as the pace increased at the 600 metre mark, the mare gradually wound up and started the run home. Race favourite Spirit Song led the chase after coming from midfield but Oasis Bloom, still fresh enough after an easy run up front during the slow-run race, was equal to the challenge, doing enough to win by a short neck over Spirit Song with Chateau Margaux running on well for third.

2012 WH Stocks Stakes result

1. Oasis Bloom
2. Spirit Song
3. Chateau Margaux

Then came:

4. Avienus
5. Midnight Martini
6. Rock Princess
7. My Chicharita
8. Dame Claire
9. Bliss Street
10. Booklet
11. Dance For Cash