Cantala Stakes
The Cantala Stakes is a Group 1 handicap race that takes place on VRC Derby day in late October or early November at Flemington racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. The race is run over a distance of 1600 metres and worth $2,000,000 in prize money. The 2019 Cantala Stakes was won by Fierce Impact from Fifty Stars with Cascadian third.
Previously run as the Emirates Stakes on the final day of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival, in 2016 the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) and Racing Victoria announced changes to the first & last day of the Flemington carnival. The Emirates Stakes (previously held on the final day) reverted to its registered name, the Cantala Stakes, and moved to Derby Day (the first day), while the Mackinnon Stakes (previously held on the first day) was renamed the Emirates Stakes and moved to the final day.
The Cantala Stakes now takes place alongside the Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby on the first Saturday of the four-day Flemington carnival, further enhancing the appeal of the entire Melbourne spring racing carnival, both here and abroad.
Derby day is widely regarded as one of the best days of racing anywhere in the world with the whole card packed with quality group races. The Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes for three-year-olds and Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes for fillies and mares, round out a top day of feature racing action.
Cantala Stakes info
| Date: | Saturday 30th October 2021 |
| Track: | Flemington racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: | 1600 metres |
| Race Type: | Quality Handicap |
| Status: | Group 1 |
| Prize Money: | $2,000,000 |
| 2019 Winner: | Fierce Impact |
 Cantala Stakes odds |
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The Cantala Stakes is the premier 1600m race of the Flemington carnival and the race itself has grown significantly in recent times. Prize money has increased dramatically, now worth more than $2,000,000, making it one of the richest mile events in the country. The VRC are hoping to lure international trainers in the hope they might consider bringing along a quality miler with their Melbourne Cup hopefuls.
Strong milers are suited in the Cantala Stakes as the long Flemington straight will find out any horses who lack a bit of intestinal fortitude in the final stanza. Races like Gr2 Crystal Mile on Cox Plate day and the Group 1 Toorak Handicap on Caulfield Guineas day are generally good guides to this race.
Some classy performers have saluted in this event including All Silent (2008), Better Loosen Up (1989), Shaftesbury Avenue (1990) and the classy Testa Rossa (2000).
Best Of Days (2018) dead-heated with Mask Of Time in the Gr3 Coongy Handicap at Caulfield before scoring an exciting victory in this event for the James Cummings stable.
Recent Cantala Stakes winners include Shillelagh (2017) and Le Romain (2016).
2019 Cantala Stakes result
1. $8.00 Fierce Impact 56.0 Craig Williams
2. $10.00 Fifty Stars 56.5 Mark Zahra
3. $12.00 Cascadian 53.5 Dean Yendall
then followed
4. $31.00 So Si Bon 55.5 Luke Nolen
5. $26.00 Best Of Days 57.0 James Doyle
6. $7.00 Night's Watch 55.5 Damien Oliver
7. $21.00 Life Less Ordinary 56.5 Hugh Bowman
8. $61.00 Streets Of Avalon 55.5 Zac Spain
9. $7.00 Star Of The Seas 54.0 Michael Walker
10. $21.00 Sikandarabad 54.5 Jye McNeil
11. $21.00 Mahamedeis 53.0 Brett Prebble
12. $10.00 Rock 53.5 Tim Clark
13. $41.00 Land Of Plenty 57.0 Ben Allen
14. $21.00 Cliff's Edge 55.5 John Allen
15. $14.00 Chief Ironside 53.0 Stephen Baster
16. $12.00 Royal Meeting 56.5 Dwayne Dunn
Margins: 0.1 len, 0.2 len
Time: 1:38.21
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Cantala Stakes winners & placegetters
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2019 | Fierce Impact | Fifty Stars | Cascadian | 1:38.2 |
| 2018 | Best Of Days | Le Romain | Peaceful State | 1:33.6 |
| 2017 | Shillelagh | Tom Melbourne | Wyndspelle | 1:35.0 |
| 2016 | Le Romain | Mccreery | Tivaci | 1:34.9 |
| 2015 | Turn Me Loose | Politeness | Rock Sturdy | 1:36.2 |
| 2014 | Hucklebuck | Lucky Hussler | The Cleaner | 1:34.6 |
| 2013 | Boban | Smokin' Joey | Speediness | 1:36.5 |
| 2012 | Happy Trails | Fawkner | Secret Admirer | 1:35.9 |
| 2011 | Albert The Fat | King's Rose | Secret Admirer | 1:36.0 |
| 2010 | Wall Street | Dao Dao | Chasm | 1:36.7 |
| 2009 | All American | So You Think | Gold Salute | 1:33.9 |
| 2008 | All Silent | Sea Battle | Mimi Lebrock | 1:35.8 |
| 2007 | Tears I Cry | Bird Dancer | Shinzig | 1:35.2 |
| 2006 | Divine Madonna | Niconero | Valedictum | 1:35.5 |
| 2005 | Valedictum | Infinite Grace | Shania Dane | 1:34.9 |
| 2004 | Sky Cuddle | Lad Of The Manor | Skewiff | 1:39.1 |
| 2003 | Titanic Jack | True Glo | Crawl | 1:34.7 |
| 2002 | Scenic Peak | Crawl | Excellerator | 1:33.4 |
| 2001 | Desert Eagle | Emission | La Bella Dama | 1:37.3 |
| 2000 | Testa Rossa | Weasel Will | Crawl | 1:35.5 |
| 1999 | Bonanova | Umrum | Nina Haraka | 1:38.2 |
| 1998 | Bezeal Bay | Buster Jones | Pursuits | 1:35.2 |
| 1997 | Catalan Opening | Penghulu | Sweet Delight | 1:34.9 |
| 1996 | Miss Margaret | Scenic Royale | Headstrong | 1:35.8 |
| 1995 | Seascay | Tolanda | Juggler | 1:36.0 |
| 1994 | Seascay | Idea | Western Red | 1:37.0 |
| 1993 | Primacy | Excited Angel | Pharoah | 1:37.2 |
| 1992 | Planet Ruler | Soho Square = 2 | Vows = 2 | 1:34.2 |
| 1991 | Pontormo | Shaftesbury Avenue | Prince Salieri | 1:35.1 |
| 1990 | Shaftesbury Avenue | Spot The Rock | Pressmans Choice | 1:36.8 |
| 1989 | Better Loosen Up | Our Krona | Swiftsynd | 1:35.4 |
| 1988 | Our Westminster | Eastern Classic | True Dreams | 1:38.0 |
| 1987 | Warned | Groucho | Isomer | 1:35.5 |
| 1986 | Chanteclair | Eastern Classic | True Dreams | 1:38.0 |
| 1985 | Dazzling Duke | Mrs. Fitzherbet | Lord Ballina | 1:38.7 |
| 1984 | Riverdale | Exemplify | Keepers | 1:37.0 |
| 1983 | Honest Promise | French Current | Feeling Fit | 1:35.1 |
| 1982 | Magari | Getting Closer | Pride Of Century | 1:37.3 |
| 1981 | Tower Belle | Pride Of Century | Sovereign Red | 1:35.4 |
| 1980 | Silver Bounty | Blazing Bags | Western Bay | 1:35.9 |
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