Standish Handicap

Winners and Past Results

The Standish Handicap, hosted by Victoria Racing Club is a Group 3 race held during the Melbourne summer racing carnival in January. The 1200 metre sprint race is usually held on New Year's Day or the day after at the Flemington track with a purse worth $200,000 awaiting the winners.

Punters as well as horses have a great opportunity to open their account in the New Year on a good note. The race attracts a quality field with a number of above average sprinters seeking to pick up another group event in their summer campaign. As usual, Flemington's long home straight is a deciding factor that separates the good sprinters from the average, which punters ought to take note of when picking a potential winner or placegetter.

Selecting a winner can be a daunting task since horses may enter through a number of routes which includes listed races.

The Standish Handicap has a rich history with the first race held way back in 1851. It was a principal race until 1980 when it was promoted by Victoria Racing Club to Group 3. There have been several back to back winners in earlier times. However, the feat hasn't been achieved over the past few decades. Grandoise made it in 1989 and came back in 1991 while Super Impressive picked up two titles in 2003 and 2005 respectively. Hon Kwok Star came close to winning in 1997 and returned to do so in 1998. Honalee holds the distinction of the fastest time of 1:03.4 set in 2006. The Magic Millions at the Gold Coast could be the next target for top performers although it hasn't been a handy form guide in recent times.

Punters ought to note that not many favourites have obliged in the past twenty five years. Among the latest of four who did so was Iglesia in 2001. Horses with longer odds have been faring better with a number of winners in recent times. This includes Publishing in 2008 and King Hoaks in 2009.

The Standish Handicap is named after Captain Robert Standish, a VRC committeeman and former Chief Commissioner of police at the time of the bushranger Ned Kelly.  

2012 Standish Handicap

Catapulted might have been carrying 59 kilograms but this was no impediment as he flew up the Flemington straight to win this Group 3 sprint, just outside course record time. The six year old was never far from the lead in the early stages and as they entered the second half of the race on the straight proper, he increased tempo with a sprint that took him to a clear lead. Catapulted ran away with it from that point, going to the post some three lengths clear of Cascabel and Rocking Force, who dead-heated for second.

2012 Standish Handicap result

1. Catapulted
2. Cascabel
2. Rocking Force

Then came:

4. Canali
5. Silver Bullion
6. Le Remas
7. Gran Sasso
8. Danzylum
9. Zedi Knight
10. Bondarchuk
11. Face Off
12. Translation
13. Hollowlea
14. Periduki
15. Falco Star