Magic Night Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the Magic Night Stakes.

One of the major features of the autumn racing carnival in Sydney is the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes hosted by Australian Turf Club.

The Magic Night Stakes is held under set weight conditions with two year old fillies travelling over a distance of 1200 metres at Rosehill Racecourse for a chance to take home a purse of $175,000.

The race usually fields a mixed bag, making it all the more difficult to spot a winner. However, there are a number of lead up races that may serve as a reliable form guide.

Trainers usually put their best two year old fillies into the race since the winner is exempt from ballot for the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes run over 1200 metres, a week later.

However, the race hasn't been particularly a good form guide for the Golden Slipper in recent years. The male equivalent of the Magic Night Stakes held on the same day is the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes for colts & geldings, while the major event of the day is the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas.

Among the lead up races from which horses may make their way to the Magic Night Stakes are the 1100 M Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes held earlier in March at the same track and the 1200 M Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes also held a few weeks earlier at Randwick Racecourse. Victory Vein won the Sweet Embrace Stakes before lifting the Magic Night Stakes in 2002.

In recent times, the race has produced a few place getters in the Golden Slipper. After winning the 2005 Magic Night Stakes, Media went on to finish third in the Slipper. Portillo followed suit in 2008. The 1200 M Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes held on Super Saturday at Flemington Races may also prove a handy form guide. Horses may make their way after an outing in the Group 2 Sires' Produce Stakes over 1400 metres at Flemington earlier in March.

The Magic Night Stakes was first run as a principal race in1975 and remained so until 1979 when it was elevated to Group 3. The race became a Group 2 event in 1987 and has since had some of the classiest two year old fillies compete for a direct spot in the Golden Slipper.