Frances Tressady Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the Frances Tressady Stakes.

The Frances Tressady Stakes, hosted by the Victoria Racing Club, is a popular race for mares four year old and upwards, held annually at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne.

The total distance covered in the Frances Tressady Stakes is 1400 metres and is run during the Melbourne autumn racing carnival held annually in March.

The Group 3 race is held under set weight plus penalty conditions with the winner bagging prize money worth $150,000. Recently, it has been run as the ‘ Schweppervescence Trophy', the ‘National Jockey Celebration Day-Victoria Plate' and the ‘PFD Food Services Stakes' in 2011. The Frances Tressady Stakes is held alongside the Group 1 Australian Guineas. The 2011 edition was won by Aloha, followed by Flying Tessie and I'm Discreet in third place.

The Frances Tressady Stakes was run for the first time in 1975 and remained a Listed Race from 1975 to 1996. From 1997 onwards, it became a Group 3 race. The winner of the first Frances Tressady Stakes was a horse named Half A Moment and the name of the race that year was VRC Frances Tressady Stakes. The name of the race is important as this event has undergone a lot of changes in its name. The various names associated with this event since 2000 are: Devon Park Stakes, Chairman's Club Stakes, Drumstick Plate, Tooheys New Plate, Victoria Plate and PFD Food Services Stakes.

The Frances Tressady Stakes offers a profitable stud career for winning horse owners and is a good momentum for future races in the season. The Group 3 Mannerism Stakes which is held at Caulfield during February is a good guide and platform for the mare owners contesting in the Frances Tressady Stakes. After this event, the winners participate in the Group 3 Matron Stakes over a mile. The winners may also go forward to contest in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Classic held at Rosehill Racecourse during the Sydney Autumn Carnival. The winners may also tackle the Group 3 Matron Stakes over a distance of 1600 metres and under the same set weight conditions that favours the above average galloper. Notable winners of the Frances Tressady Stakes include Aloha in 2011, Be Positive in 2010 and Typhoon Tracy in 2009.

Earlier notable gallopers to claim the cup include New Smyrna in 1996-97, Galapagos in 2003, Breezy in 2006, and Coniston Gem in 2008.