Spring Stakes

Winners and Past Results

Hosted by the South Australian Jockey Club, the Spring Stakes is a Group 3 weight for age race held at Morphettville Racecourse in August. The 1200 metre event offers prize money worth $115,000. Free $200 Bet

The event is the first among weight for age group races in the season with a mixed field of local and interstate horses in search of a good start for the forthcoming spring carnival. Level weights prove to be an advantage for in-form horses that may make their way to the Spring Stakes via the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes held at the same track over 1100 metres in March. The race is also a platform for stronger sprinters looking to excel in mile races over the season, which includes the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington in September. The race has a fitting name even though it is still run during the winter carnival, where the racing fraternity have much to look forward to during the spring racing carnival.

Eastern Court won the first Spring Stakes as a principal race in 1970. It was recognised as a Group 2 race in 1979 but has been a Group 3 event since 1998. Samist won the Spring Stakes on two consecutive occasions in 1974-75 while Redelva repeated the feat thrice. Hero Wind scored back to back wins in 1994-95 and came back in 1997 once more. 2010 winner, Rebel Raider, although plagued by injuries throughout his career is among the successful horses to claim two derbies and was an early 2009 Melbourne Cup favourite although an injury later kept him away from competing.

The 1200 M Group 3 How Now Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse may be next on the card for horses that compete in the Spring Stakes. After finishing third in the 2011 Spring Stakes, Valentine Miss was runner up at Caulfield. Other follow races include the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes over 1200 metres at Flemington and Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over an extended distance of 1400 metres at Caulfield in September although these events may not have been a handy form guide in recent times.

Handy gallopers to lift the Spring Stakes over the years include Black Rouge in 1992 , Staaraq in 1996 and Flavour in 2001 while Super Elegant and El Maze also claimed the prize in 2005 and 2008 respectively.

2011 Spring Stakes

Uxorious brought some great form into this weight-for-age event, which he converted into another winning performance. Uxorious kept pace-setting Periduki in his sights before winding up with a big finish that took him to the post two lengths clear of the field. A dogged Periduki held on for second ahead of Valentine Miss who finished strongly to take third.

2011 Spring Stakes result

1. Uxorious
2. Periduki
3. Valentine Miss

Then came:

4. Rebel Raider
5. Alcopop
6. River's Lane
7. Dynamic Hero
8. Avenue
9. Gran Sasso
10. Highness