Matriarch Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the Matriarch Stakes

Started in 1995, the Matriarch Stakes is a 2000 metre Group 2 handicap event only for mares aged four and above.

The Matriach Stakes is hosted by the Victoria Racing Club and offers a cash prize of $300,000.

The Matriarch Stakes was initially a listed race till 2000, spending four years as a Group 3 race and then achieved Group 2 status in 2005 with a change of name as well. It was run as the Hilton International Stakes until 2008, after which it has been known as the Matriarch Stakes. The event is part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and usually takes place at Flemington Racecourse on Emirates Stakes Day, which is the last racing day of the Flemington carnival.

With two Group 1 events, the Emirates Stakes and the Patinack Farm Classic usually after this race, the Matriarch Stakes garners a lot of attention. Being one of the last races of the spring season, it usually fields handy mares who have managed to handle the circuit well, rather than the elite. The Matriarch Stakes is usually about quality more than quantity, as it always features a smaller group of horses, but all of them would have proven themselves capable to handle the 2000 meter, Group 2 event. The mares to look for are usually the ones with better strike rates and higher prize money averages.

Mares still at peak form, usually go on to the Group 2, weight for age, Zipping Sandown Classic run over 2400 metres or the Group 3 1800 metres quality handicap Eclipse Stakes, both held at the at the Sandown racecourse, Melbourne in November. The Matriarch Stakes cannot be considered as a strong form guide and has produced many odd winning mares who tend to be in form on the day. The winner in 2011, Vintedge came third in race at Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney in October and then second in a1700 metres handicap event at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day, before sweeping the Matriarch Stakes. There is a fair share of unexpected winners, like the 2010 winner, Well Rounded, who jumped to 50 to 1 odds with some bookmakers.

Also as with any race in this setting, there have been some great performers such as Big Colony who won the event both in 1991 and 1992 and Demerger in 2004 over Ain't Seen Nothin. Purple in 2009, was the closest to finish below two minutes, and create a new record. She ran second to Well Rounded in 2010. For the most part, the Matriarch Stakes is an event which cannot be judged accurately, and carries the chance of unexpected results, with a nice end to the spring campaign for a few lucky ones.

2012 Matriarch Stakes

Midnight Martini derived maximum benefit from a very soft run by recording a comfortable win in this Group 2 event over 2000 metres. Midnight Martini started well and was ridden close to the lead by Michael Rodd, while Khandallah set a less-than-demanding pace up front. Because of the slow tempo, Midnight Martini was able to cruise on the fence for most of the journey, and it was only with 250 metres to go that Rodd asked for a finishing sprint. With one short burst, a fresh Midnight Martini went to the lead and had enough left in her legs to hold off the late challenges of Lake Sententia and Crafty Irna.

2012 Matriarch Stakes result

1. Midnight Martini
2. Lake Sententia
3. Crafty Irna

Then came:

4. Silent Achiever
5. Khandallah
6. Manila Jewel
7. Rock Hit
8. Full Of Spirit