Chatham Stakes

Winners and Past Results

The Chatham stakes is a Group 3 open race hosted by the Victoria Racing Club at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. 

The 1400 meter event is an open handicap race is dedicated to Chatham, an Australian Thoroughbred champion race horse, winner of two Cox Plates in the 1930s and an inductee in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. FREE $200 Bet

Held on Derby Day during the Flemington spring racing carnival, the race card for the day includes the Victoria Derby, Myer Classic, Coolmore Stud Stakes, and Mackinnon Stakes. A quarter of a million dollars goes to the winner with Woorim being the latest to wrap up the Chatham Stakes in style.

The race has had a number of different sponsors over the years. It was previously known as the VRC Royal Hong Kong JC Plate, VRC Yallambee Stud Stakes, VRC The Lexus Stakes, VRC AAMI Stakes, and in 2011 as the Chatham Stakes.

The Chatham Stakes is a competitive race for handy sprinters who haven't yet proved their mettle to move on to higher group races in spring. The race serves as a form guide for the Group 3 Sandown Stakes at the Sandown Racecourse and the Group 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington a few weeks later.

Horses may enter the fray from the 1600 meter Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield Racecourse. Horses may travel to Perth to take part in the Group 1 Railway Stakes and Kingston Town Classic. Placed third in Chatham Stakes in 2009, Sniper's Bullet won the Railway Stakes/Kingston Town Classic double. 2011 winner of the Chatham Stakes, Woorim, was placed 6th in the Toorak Handicap. Earlier in the season, he won a 1200 meter handicap race at Moonee Valley after returning from a spell

A number of handy horses have proved their mettle in the Chatham Stakes. In 2008, All Silent scored a Chatham Stakes/Emirates Stakes double. The Emirates Stakes seems to be a classic follow up race with Valedictum winning it after placing third in the 2005 Chatham Stakes. Scenic Peak won the Chatham Stakes in 2001 and came back to take the cup in 2003, also winning the 2002 Emirates Stakes in the process.

Bezeal Bay won the Bill Ritchie Handicap, Chatham, and Emirates Stakes in 1998.

The first horse to win was Sarsha's Choice in 1978. It became a Group 3 race in 1986 won by Avannotto.

2011 Chatham Stakes

A stunning finish took Woorim to victory in this Group 3 event. Starting from a wide barrier draw, the Queensland galloper got back early but as they came into the straight he moved wide, lengthened stride as he got clear and was in top gear at the 200 metre mark. It was all over at that point, although Thankgodyou'rehere was full of running in finishing second with Toorak Toff back in third.

2011 Chatham Stakes result

1. Woorim
2. Thankgodyou'rehere
3. Toorak Toff

Then came:

4. Spacecraft
5. Amaethon
6. Launay
7. Chasm
8. Chosen To Fly
8. Budriguez
10. Largo Lad
11. Happy Zero
12. Doubtful Jack
13. Niblick
14. Rothera
15. Listen Son