Bletchingly Stakes
The Bletchingly Stakes is a 1200 weight-for-age race usually held in late July or early August at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. The race is run over a distance of 1200 metres and worth $150,000 in prize money. The 2020 Bletchingly Stakes was won by Viridine from Streets Of Avalon with Great Again third.
Often the first group race of the new racing season in Victoria, the Bletchingly Stakes has proven to be the last group race of the season in recent years.
Bletchingly Stakes info
| Date: | Saturday 24th July 2021 |
| Track: | Caulfield racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: | 1200 metres |
| Race Type: | Weight-for-age |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $150,000 |
| 2020 Winner: | Viridine |
The Bletchingly Stakes is a good race to kick off a spring campaign for many horses. Quality sprinters returning from a spell or good winter types with recent fitness on their side are typically among the Bletchingly Stakes nominations. The weight for age conditions means the better horses engaged are the ones to beat on race day, due to their class advantage.
A race such as the Gr3 Sir John Monash Stakes held earlier in the month at the same track provides the ideal lead-up event to this race. Rubitano is the last horse to complete the Monash Stakes & Bletchingly Stakes double. Second Effort (2013) & Lord Of The Sky (2016) ran third & fourth respectively in the Sir Monash Stakes before winning the Bletchingly Stakes at their next start.
Winners and placegetters of this race tend to head towards the Gr2 PB Lawrence Stakes and Group 1 Memsie Stakes over the next month. Both are both weight-for-age events over 1400m, suiting many horses heading towards the longer spring races ahead. Shoot Out (2010) was the last horse to claim the Bletchingly Stakes & PB Lawrence Stakes double, while Scales Of Justice (2019) is the most recent Bletchingly Stakes & Memsie Stakes double winner..
High quality gallopers who win this race may dominate the early weight-for-age races of the new season, as they are simply too classy for their rivals. Many handy types have won the Bletchingly Stakes over the years including champion sprinter Apache Cat (2007), Regal Roller (2005) and Dandy Kid (2000).
Scales Of Justice (2019) resumed from a spring spell to win this event in outstanding fashion for trainer Lindsey Smith.
Recent Bletchingly Stakes winners include Vega Magic (2018) and Ability (2017).
Spring Carnival Guide
Classy galloper Scales Of Justice (2019) ran second in the Gr3 Spring Stakes at Morphettville before capturing the Memsie Stakes at his next start.
Savanna Amour (7th in 2017) and Mid Summer Music (2011) took out the Gr3 Cockram Stakes for fillies & mares at Caulfield at their next start.
Gig (2nd in 2014) & Second Effort (2013) both finished third in the PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield, while Ready To Rip (2012) also ran third in the PB Lawrence Stakes before finishing second to Buffering in the Group 1 AJ Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley later in the spring.
Apache Cat (2007) backed up two weeks later to win the PB Lawrence Stakes before running 2nd in the Makybe Diva Stakes, while Haradusun (2nd in 2007) had a very consistent spring with placings in the Memsie Stakes, Group 1 Feehan Stakes, Group 1 Turnbull Stakes and Group 1 WS Cox Plate.
In recent times the Bletchingly Stakes winner has just been an above average galloper who has not done too much throughout the spring, apart from the classy Apache Cat.
2020 Bletchingly Stakes result
1. $2.70 Viridine 58.5 Damien Oliver
2. $4.40 Streets Of Avalon 58.5 Ben Melham
3. $5.50 Great Again 58.5 Michael Rodd
then followed
4. $6.50 Sansom 58.0 Luke Nolen
5. $31.00 She Shao Fly 56.0 Dwayne Dunn
6. $19.00 I Am Someone 58.5 Declan Bates
7. $11.00 Jungle Edge 58.5 Ms Jade Darose
8. $41.00 I'm Telling Ya 58.5 Dean Yendall
Margins: 0.75 len, 0.4 len
Time: 1:09.16
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Bletchingly Stakes winners & placegetters
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2020 | Viridine | Streets Of Avalon | Great Again | 1:09.1 |
| 2019 | Scales Of Justice | Jungle Edge | Cliff's Edge | 1:10.0 |
| 2018 | Vega Magic | Voodoo Lad | Jungle Edge | 1:10.1 |
| 2017 | Ability | Lankan Rupee | Duke Of Brunswick | 1:14.2 |
| 2016 | Lord Of The Sky | Fast 'n' Rocking | Mahuta | 1:11.6 |
| 2015 | Smokin' Joey | Platinum Rocker | Petrology | 1:11.2 |
| 2014 | Thiamandi | Gig | Nearest To Pin | 1:10.6 |
| 2013 | Second Effort | Academy Jack | Launay | 1:11.5 |
| 2012 | Ready To Rip | Zamorar | Dusty Star | 1:12.8 |
| 2011 | Mid Summer Music | Rue Maple | Stanzout | 1:11.4 |
| 2010 | Shoot Out | Stanzout | Velocitea | 1:11.7 |
| 2009 | Let Go Thommo | Orange County | Mr Baritone | 1:11.5 |
| 2008 | Commanding Hope | Lucky Diva | Red Arrow | 1:11.2 |
| 2007 | Apache Cat | Haradasun | Honalee | 1:09.3 |
| 2006 | Minson | Red Dazzler | Snort | 1:09.3 |
| 2005 | Regal Roller | Super Elegant | Le Zagaletta | 1:13.7 |
| 2004 | Le Zagaletta | Yell | Elvstoem | 1:14.3 |
| 2003 | Super Elegant | Ruby Slipper | The Big Chill | 1:06.3 |
| 2002 | Rubitano | Ruby Slipper | Dandy Kid | 1:03.7 |
| 2001 | Windigo | Piavonic | Flavour | 1:05.1 |
| 2000 | Dandy Kid | Miss Pennymoney | St. Chrisoph | 1:04.3 |
| 1999 | Sports | Carnelian | Oliver Twist | 1:04.3 |
| 1998 | Jugulator | Catainer | Royal Rubiton | 1:07.3 |
| 1997 | Blazing Reality | Simply Believe | Red Hope | 1:03.1 |
| 1996 | You Remember | Sequalo | Street Talk | 1:06.4 |
| 1995 | You Remember | Sequalo | Plushka | 1:07.6 |
| 1994 | Poetic King | Keltrice | Street Ruffian | 1:04.4 |
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