Chelmsford Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the Chelmsford Stakes.

The Chelmsford Stakes is a Group 2 race for three year olds and over held at the Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in early September. 

Hosted by the Australian Turf Club, the race is run at weight for age over 1600 meters. Successful milers take home a purse worth $250,000.

The Chelmsford Stakes kicks off the first race under weight for age conditions for the season. Other feature races held on the day are the 1400 meter Group 2 Furious Stakes, Concorde Stakes, and the Group 3 Tramway Quality Handicap also run over 1400 meters. Punters can turn their attention to the Group 2 Warwick Stakes held at Warwick Farm Racecourse earlier for good leads for the Chelmsford Stakes run over 1400 meters under similar conditions.

Horses that prove their ability to clock a faster mile may fancy their chances in the Group 1 George Main Stakes over the same distance during the Randwick carnival, three weeks later. Some of the stronger milers may also try their luck in the Group 2 Hill Stakes.

The 2011 winner of the Chelmsford Stakes, Trusting, won the Hill Stakes. Prior to winning the Chelmsford, he was placed fifth in the Warwick Stakes after returning from a spell. Several gallopers have scored back to back victories which include Prince Foote way back in 1909-10, followed by Duke Foote in 1912-13, Limerick in 1927-28, Rogilla in 1933-34, Kingston Town in 1980-81, Stargazer in 1990-91, Lonhro in 2002-03, to name a few.

The mighty Phar Lap also lapped up the Chelmsford Stakes in 1930 while the outstanding Bernborough also added the Stakes to his tally in 1946. Limerick, Delta, and Roman Consul are triple title holders over the races rich history.

Trainers that bring their horses under the starter's orders in the Chelmsford Stakes have high expectations of making it to Group 1 races in spring. In 2011, the race was held at Warwick Farm due to renovations of the Queen Elizabeth grandstand at Randwick.

Statistics indicate that the Group 2 Warwick Stakes is the best lead up race with 10 winners having scored a Warwick Stakes / Chelmsford Stakes double. The Hawkes family have the distinction of saddling the most number of Chelmsford Stakes winners.

In 1923, Heroic broke the Australian record for nine furlongs in the Chelmsford Stakes, which remained a principal race until 1979.