Lee Steere Stakes

Winners and Past Results

Held at the prestigious Ascot Racecourse in Perth , the Lee Steere Stakes is a Group 2 Thoroughbred race held under weight for age conditions. Free $200 Bet

This 1400 meter race is held in November during the Perth Summer Racing Carnival. Organised by Perth Racing, the Lee Steere Stakes is for horses aged three and above with $200,000 in prize money at stake. The event is held in honour of Ernest Henry Lee – Steere, chairman of the Western Australian Turf Club from 1963 to 1984.

The Lee Steere Stakes was known as the All Aged Stakes between 1893 and 1938. It remained a principal race until 1979 when it was elevated to Group 2 since it began to attract a field of classy gallopers. The Lee Steere Stakes is the first Group 2 event of the Summer Racing Carnival, which is ideal for horses with either a good first up form or ones running well from spring. Many horses compete in the Group 3 Prince of Wales Stakes, which is held on the same track, the previous month. It also attracts horses that go ahead and compete in the Group 1 Railway Stakes or the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes, which are held on the Festival of Perth Racing Super Saturday. Over the last 20 years, M'lady's Jewel in 1991, Welcome Knight in 1992, Willoughby in 1997, Slavonic in 1999, and Belle Bizaarre in 2006, have won the Lee Steere and the Railway double.

Some of the better conditioned horses that seek to conquer great distances usually have their eye on the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes which is run on the same day as the Group 1 Emirates Stakes in Melbourne . Early Express who won Lee Steere Stakes in 2003, went on to win both the 2005 Kingston Town Classic and C.B. Cox Stakes. Interestingly, in the last seven years mares have won five of Lee Steere Stakes, with the last four in a row.

In 2009, Idyllic Prince won the Prince of Wales and Lee Steere Stakes double, after which he came in second in the Winterbottom Stakes. The 2011 winner Ranger won the listed Northerly Stakes before winning this event. 2010 winner, Famous Roman, came into the race with a victory in the listed Northerly Stakes over 1400 M on the same track.

The inaugural event in 1893 was won by Scarpia, who went on to win the next two years, which was equalled only by Tarquin in 1897, 1888, and 1900. The Lee Steere Stakes has had many horses lift the trophy twice, which includes Cetotis in 1933 and 1936, Big Bob in 1962 and 1963, and La Trice in 1971 and 1972.

2011 Lee Steere Stakes

Any concerns about carrying too much weight were quickly dispelled as Ranger proved too strong for his rivals in this Group 2 weight-for-age feature. The gelding, carrying 59 kilos for the first time, got back early on and was seventh on the turn but he produced a big finish to run away from the field and win by two lengths over a battling Grand Nirvana with Waratah's Secret in third.

2011 Lee Steere Stakes result

1. Ranger
2. Grand Nirvana
3. Waratah's Secret

Then came:

4. Philby
5. King Kool Kat
6. Kid Choisir
7. Lords Ransom
8. Battle Emblem
9. Wolfe Dreams