DC McKay Stakes

Winners and Past Results

The D.C. McKay Stakes is a South Australian Jockey Club Group 3 Australian horse race for horses aged three years old and over. FREE $200 Bet

The 1100-meter DC McKay Stakes is a Group 3 quality handicap race hosted by the South Australian Jockey Club at the Morphettville Racetrack in April.

Sprinters compete for $115,000 in prize money and a better chance of gaining entry to the $350,000 Group 1 Goodwood over 1200 meters at the same track in May.

The race attracts horses who may have competed in similar Group 3 races like the RN Irwin Stakes held earlier at Morphettville and move on to other premier sprint races during the autumn carnival. The recent successful sprinter to come into the DC McKay Stakes with seven wins from only 11 starts is Streetcar Magic. The bay gelding with Justin Potter in the saddle formed a formidable partnership, coming into the DC McKay Stakes after a win in the 1000 meter IC Frith Handicap at the same track in March.

The race is held a weekend after the SA Oaks. Other major Group 2 and Group 3 races held on the same day is the $150,000 Queen of the South Stakes for fillies and mares, a prestigious mile race of the carnival.

Notable sprinters to win the DC McKay Stakes include Catapulted in 2010 who earlier won the Group 3 Rubiton Stakes over 1100 meters at Caulfield Racecourse. He also finished second in the 1200 meters Durbridge Stakes at the same track and won the Group 2 QTC Cup over 1300 meters at Eagle Farm.

Other consistent gallopers to win include Scornsome in 1992, Harkaway in 1994, Toledo in 1998, Loafer in 1999, Bomber Bill in 2005, and I Am Invincible in 2009.

The inaugural race in 1968 was won by a horse named King Stephen. The DC McKay Stakes remained a principal race until 1980, after which it has remained a Group 3 race.

The DC McKay Stakes offers a host of talented South Australian sprinters making it difficult to choose a clear winner. In form sprinters making it to the starting gate on a good weight are generally favoured. Comadia Boy picked up DC McKay titles in 1978-79 while the most exciting finish was in 2002. The race was declared a dead heat between Libidinious and Windigo. Although the McKay Stakes is considered the traditional lead up to the Group 1 Goodwood Handicap, the last horse to score a double was Boardwalk Angel in 1989.

2012 DC McKay Stakes

Periduki got out at a pretty decent clip and showed the way early with Kulgrinda, starting from an inside barrier, settling down just in behind the leader. A little further back, Outlandish Lad was eased into a nice position by Damien Browne and looked comfortable as the field started to wind up for the run home. Kulgrinda looked to be a big chance as he loomed alongside Periduki in the straight but it was Outlandish Lad who finished the best, rattling home down the outside and winning comfortably in the end, well clear of Kulgrinda who held on for second after seeing off a very determined Go the Knuckle.

2012 DC McKay Stakes result

1. Outlandish Lad
2. Kulgrinda
3. Go The Knuckle

Then came:

4. Stirling Grove
5. Periduki
6. We're Gonna Rock
7. Streetcar Magic
8. Magical Pearl
9. Ready Steady Vetti
10. First Command
11. Catapulted
12. Conservatorium
13. Basil Da Man