28 Oct, 2020
The fourth and final Group 1 at Flemington on a stacked Derby Day is the 2020 Kennedy Cantala Stakes (1600m), attracting a capacity field of 16 plus four emergencies. Favourite Mr Quickie has drawn out in barrier 16, ... Continue Reading
The Kennedy Cantala Stakes is a 1600m Group 1 race held at the home of racing in Australia, Flemington Racecourse. It is run as a quality handicap and has a total prize pool of $2 million. In 2020, it will be run on Saturday, October 31, which is Derby day.
Craig Williams rode Fierce Impact to victory in the 2019 edition of the Kennedy Cantala Stakes. Fifty Stars ran third, with the James Cummings-trained Cascadian placing third. Fierce Impact took no further part in the spring and in 2020 placed in both the C.F. Orr Stakes and the Chipping Norton Stakes.
Courtenay won the first edition of the Kennedy Cantala Stakes, which was way back in 1881. Back then, it was named the Coburg Stakes and was run over 1800m. A number of top horses have since crossed the line first in the Kennedy Cantala Stakes, including Prince Cortauld, Better Loosen Up and Divine Madonna.
Chris Waller has had great success in the race over recent years, winning it three times between 2011 and 2017. Jockey Craig Williams has also performed well in the Kennedy Cantala Stakes, having won it in both 2018 and 2019.
The fastest time in the race over the last 20 years belongs to Best Of Days, who saluted in 2018 in a time of 1:33.65. Fierce Impact clocked 1:38.21 to win the 2019 Kennedy Cantala Stakes.
As a $2 million Group 1, the Kennedy Cantala Stake is a super-strong field that normally features a number of top horses. Recent history shows that overseas horses have also had great success in the race, so there is often a decent international presence.
| Horse | Win | Place | ||
| 1 | Fifty Stars (15)J: John Allen 58kg T: T Dabernig & B Hayes | $10.00 | $3.30 | Bet Now |
| 2 | Mr Quickie (16)J: Jamie Kah 58kg T: P Stokes | $4.60 | $1.90 | Bet Now |
| 3 | Olmedo (20)J: James Mcdonald 56kg T: C J Waller | $21.00 | $6.00 | Bet Now |
| 4 | Wild Planet (8)J: William Pike 55kg T: M, W & J Hawkes | $16.00 | $4.80 | Bet Now |
| 5 | Yulong Prince (14)J: Damian Lane 55kg T: C J Waller | $11.00 | $3.50 | Bet Now |
| 6 | Best Of Days (13)J: Ben Melham 54.5kg T: James Cummings | $18.00 | $5.50 | Bet Now |
| 7 | Cascadian (18)J: Damien Oliver 54.5kg T: James Cummings | $16.00 | $4.80 | Bet Now |
| 8 | I Am Superman (1)J: Jye Mcneil 54kg T: P & P Snowden | $18.00 | $5.50 | Bet Now |
| 9 | Rock (2)J: Michael Poy 54kg T: M, W & J Hawkes | $11.00 | $3.50 | Bet Now |
| 10 | Streets Of Avalon (11)J: Zac Spain 54kg T: S P Nichols | $67.00 | $18.00 | Bet Now |
| 11 | The Velvet King (4)J: Luke Nolen 53.5kg T: P G Moody | $41.00 | $10.00 | Bet Now |
| 12 | Age Of Chivalry (19)J: Daniel Moor 53kg T: M Ellerton & S Zahra | $18.00 | $5.50 | Bet Now |
| 13 | Buffalo River (9)J: Craig Williams 53kg T: M D Moroney | $6.50 | $2.40 | Bet Now |
| 14 | Chief Ironside (3)J: Kerrin Mcevoy 53kg T: K A Lees | $21.00 | $6.00 | Bet Now |
| 15 | Nonconformist (10)J: Jordan Childs 53kg T: G M Begg | $12.00 | $3.80 | Bet Now |
| 16 | King’s Legacy (6)J: Glen Boss 51kg T: P & P Snowden | $19.00 | $5.50 | Bet Now |
| 17 | Reykjavik (12)J: Dean Yendall 53kg T: L Smith | $51.00 | $14.00 | Bet Now |
| 18 | Junipal (17)J: Jye Mcneil 53kg T: C Maher & D Eustace | $18.00 | $5.50 | Bet Now |
| 19 | Harbour Views (7)J: Kerrin Mcevoy 53kg T: M J Williams | $17.00 | $5.00 | Bet Now |
| 20 | Reloaded (5)J: Michael Dee 53kg T: C J Waller | $51.00 | $14.00 | Bet Now |
The Kennedy Cantala Stakes has a mixed betting history, with each of the last five winners having a starting price between $5 and $15. The size and quality of the field makes it tough to find a winner but if you can there is value to had.
| PLACE | HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | SP |
| 1 | Fierce Impact | Matthew Smith | Craig Williams | $8 |
| 2 | Fifty Stars | David Hayes | Mark Zahra | $10 |
| 3 | Cascadian | James Cummings | Dean Yendall | $12 |
| 4 | So Si Bon | David Hayes | Luke Nolen | $31 |
| 5 | Best Of Days | James Cummings | James Doyle | $26 |
| 6 | Night’s Watch | Chris Waller | Damien Oliver | $7 |
| 7 | Life Less Ordinary | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | $21 |
| 8 | Streets Of Avalon | Shane Nichols | Zac Spain | $61 |
| 9 | Star Of The Seas | Chris Waller | Michael Walker | $7 |
| 10 | Sikandarabad | David Hayes | Jye McNeil | $21 |
| 11 | Mahamedeis | Nick Ryan | Brett Prebble | $21 |
| 12 | Rock | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tim Clark | $10 |
| 13 | Land Of Plenty | Peter & Paul Snowden | Ben Allen | $41 |
| 14 | Cliff’s Edge | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | John Allen | $21 |
| 15 | Chief Ironside | David Menuisier | Stephen Baster | $14 |
| 16 | Royal Meeting | Saeed Bin Suroor | Dwayne Dunn | $12 |
KENNEDY CANTALA STAKES WINNERS
2019 – Fierce Impact (1:38.21)
2018 – Best Of Days (1:33.65)
2017 – Shillelagh (1:35.01)
2015 – Turn Me Loose (1:36.26)
2014 – Hucklebuck (1:34.63)
2013 – Boban (1:36.58)
2012 – Happy Trails (1:35.99)
2011 – Albert The Fat (1:36.05)
2010 – Wall Street (1:36.73)
