The Gilgai Stakes is a 1200m Group 2 race held at Flemington Racecourse. It is run with set weights and penalties, is for horses aged three and older and has a prize pool of $200,000. In 2020, the Gilgai Stakes will take place on Saturday, October 3, the same day as the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.
Sunlight won the 2019 edition of the Gilgai Stakes, beating Santa Ana Lane and Zoutori in an exciting battle. From the Gilgai Stakes, Sunlight went on to race in both The Everest and the Golden Eagle, finishing second in the latter.
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The race was first run as the Sir Rupert Steele Stakes back in 1984, taking its name from the former VRC chairman. However, it was renamed after the Gilgai Farm Stud, which has produced the likes of Black Caviar, Jameka and The Quarterback.
Royal Troubador won the first edition of the race and since then a number of great horses have claimed victory. They include Placid Ark, Hareeba, Hay List and Chautauqua. The ‘Grey Flash’ is the only horse to win the Gilgai Stakes in consecutive years, taking it home in 2014 and 2015.
Sunlight clocked 1:09.42 to win the race in 2019, however, the fastest time in the race over the last 20 years belongs to 2005 winner Falkirk. The Lee Freedman-trained runner managed to go sub-1:08.00, running a 1:07.96. The 1200m Flemington track record is 1:07.16, which was set by Iglesia.
2020 Gilgai Stakes Field, Odds and Barriers
Horse | Win | Place | ||
1 | Fifty Stars (8)J: John Allen 60kg T: T Dabernig & B Hayes | $26.00 | $5.50 | Bet Now |
2 | Zoutori (6)J: Jamie Kah 59kg T: M Ellerton & S Zahra | $5.00 | $1.80 | Bet Now |
3 | Kemalpasa (10)J: Craig Williams 59kg T: R & C Jolly | $34.00 | $6.00 | Bet Now |
4 | Tofane (4)J: Damien Oliver 58kg T: M D Moroney | $2.90 | $1.30 | Bet Now |
5 | The Inevitable (1)J: Ben Melham 58kg T: Scott Brunton | $6.00 | $2.05 | Bet Now |
6 | Santa Ana Lane (3)J: Mark Zahra 57kg T: A & S Freedman | $4.50 | $1.65 | Bet Now |
7 | Kementari (9)J: William Pike 57kg T: James Cummings | $12.00 | $3.30 | Bet Now |
8 | Dollar For Dollar (7)J: Luke Currie 57kg T: T & C Mcevoy | $13.00 | $3.50 | Bet Now |
9 | I Am Someone (2)J: Brett Prebble 57kg T: P A Preusker | $31.00 | $6.00 | Bet Now |
10 | Excess Funds (5)J: Damian Lane 57kg T: Levi Kavanagh | $26.00 | $5.50 | Bet Now |
GILGAI STAKES WINNERS
2019 – Sunlight (1:09.42)
2018 – I Am Excited (1:09.11)
2017 – Keen Array (1:09.28)
2016 – The Quarterback (1:09.07)
2015 – Chautauqua (1:09.81)
2014 – Chautauqua (1:08.28)
2013 – Platelet (1:10.19)
2012 – Hallowell Belle (1:08.83)
2011 – Temple of Boom (1:10.57)
2010 – Hay List (1:08.20)