VRC Sires Produce Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the VRC Sires Produce Stakes.

One of the major black type sprint races for two year olds hosted by Victoria Racing Club during the autumn racing carnival at Flemington Racecourse each year is the VRC Sires Produce Stakes.

The Group 2 race is run over 1400 metres of the Flemington track under set weight conditions. $200,000 in prize money is at stake in the Sires Produce Stakes held on Super Saturday along with two million dollar Group 1 races, The Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup, and the Group 2 Kewney Stakes. The race is often a test for promising two year old sprinters over an extended distance.

The Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes held at Caulfield Racecourse a fortnight earlier is one of the handy form guides and warm up races for the youngsters on their way to the Sires Produce Stakes. Next on the agenda for many of the two year old gallopers could be a variety of group races during the Sydney autumn racing carnival. Von Costa De Hero went on to finish behind Sebring in the Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Racecourse after winning the 2008 Sires Produce Stakes.

Some horses may fancy their chances in the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill and the Group 1 AJC Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick Racecourse. Runner up in 2010, Willow Creek upped the pace in the Magic Night Stakes while third place Rosei went on to win the AJC Sires Produce Stakes.

The Sires Produce Stakes is a springboard for many juvenile horses seeking to prove their ability over longer distances where stamina and fitness play a major role in picking a winner. Among the notable winners to lift the Sires Produce Stakes are Canny Lad in 1990, My Duke in 1996, Testa Rossa in 1999, Pillaging in 2002, and Shamrocker in 2010.

VRC Sires Produce Stakes has been held since 1862 and was a principal race until it was directly promoted to Group 1 in 1980. However, since 2005 it has been a Group 2 event.

In 1864 the race became a six furlong event, and remained as such for 55 years until it became seven furlongs in 1920 which now converts to 1400m. For seven years, between 1866 and 1873, the VRC Produce Stakes was not held.