Danehill Stakes
The Danehill Stakes is a Group 2 event for three-year-olds that takes place at Flemington racecourse each September during the Melbourne spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 1200 metres and worth $300,000 in prize money. The 2020 Danehill Stakes was won by Doubtland from Amish Boy with Ranting third.
The race has also been known as the 'Black Douglas', 'Hilton on the Park', 'Chivas Regal' and 'L'oreal Plate' and is held on the same day as the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes.
Danehill Stakes info
| Date: | Saturday 2nd October 2021 |
| Track: | Flemington racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: | 1200 metres |
| Race Type: | 3yo - Set Weights + Penalty |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prize Money: | $300,000 |
| 2020 Winner: | Doubtland |
The Danehill Stakes is a 3yo event run down the 1200 metres straight course at Flemington where previous track experience is a definite advantage. It's held under much the same conditions as the HDF McNeil Stakes held in August at Caulfield, except this race is down a straight track rather than around a turn.
Horses who can handle the straight track may back up from the McNeil Stakes and contest the Danehill Stakes, however the last horse to win both races in the same season was Gold Ace back in 1995.
The race is usually taken out by a more than handy three-year-old rather than a topliner, although some quality gallopers have won the race over the years including the brilliant Sepoy (2011), champion mare Black Caviar (2009), Fastnet Rock (2004), Falvelon (1999), Armidale (1996) and Gold Ace (1995).
Races like the Gr3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude for colts & geldings and Gr2 Thousand Guineas Prelude for fillies are likely next targets for three-year-olds contesting this event. Other group races held on Danehill Stakes Day include the Gr2 Lets Elope Stakes and Gr3 Bobbie Lewis Quality.
Dalasan (2019) captured the Gr3 Spring Stakes over 1200m at Morphettville in Adelaide before taking out this race in exciting style for joint trainers Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas.
Encryption (2018) ran fifth in the HDF Mcneil Stakes over 1200m at Caulfield before finishing strongly to win this event for the James Cummings stable.
Recent Danehill Stakes winners include Encryption (2018) and Catchy (2017).
Spring Carnival Guide
Native Soldier (5th in 2018) captured the Caulfiled Guineas Prelude at Caulfield at his next start.
Archives (2nd in 2016) took out the Gr3 Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley, while Wazzenme (4th in 2016) finished third in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude at Caulfield.
Rich Enuff (2014) won the Caulfield Guineas Prelude at Caulfield at his next start and Brazen Beau (5th in 2014) travelled to Sydney to win the Gr2 Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick.
Eclair Big Bang (3rd in 2013) went on to win the Caulfield Guineas Prelude at his next start while while Gregers (5th in 2013) managed to win the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield at her next outing.
Smart galloper Snitzerland (2012) won the Gr3 San Domenico Stakes over 1200m at Rosehill in Sydney on her way to scoring in this event. She then scored in the Gr2 Champagne Stakes at Moonee Valley and Gr3 Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield.
The 2011 Danehill Stakes proved to be a great guide to future big race winners with Sepoy (2011) winning the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley, the Gr2 Caulfield Sprint at Caulfield, and the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.
Hallowell Belle (2nd in 2011) finished runner-up in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick in Sydney on Epsom Day, and Mosheen (5th in 2011) won the Gr2 Edward Manifold Stakes the following month at Flemington before finishing runner-up to champion mare Atlantic Jewel in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. Mosheen then won the Group 1 VRC Oaks at Flemington.
In recent times Buffering (2nd in 2010) won the Gr2 Roman Consul Stakes the following month at Randwick, while General Truce (3rd in 2010) finished third in the Gr2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield.
Champion mare Black Caviar (2009) won this race as a 3yo before retiring in 2013 as one of Australia's greatest ever sprinters.
2020 Danehill Stakes result
1. $7.00 Doubtland 58.5 William Pike
2. $41.00 Amish Boy 57.0 Jamie Mott
3. $13.00 Ranting 57.0 Ben Melham
then followed
4. $4.20 Prague 58.5 John Allen
5. $14.00 Personal 55.0 Damien Oliver
6. $21.00 Extra Time 58.5 Craig Williams
7. $8.00 On The Lead 57.0 Luke Currie
8. $6.00 Annavisto 55.0 Jye McNeil
9. $14.00 Tydeus 57.0 Michael Rodd
10. $51.00 Hard Landing 58.5 Luke Nolen
11. $7.50 Wisdom Of Water 58.5 Mark Zahra
Margins: 0.75 len, 0.10 len
Time: 1:09.51
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Danehill Stakes winners & placegetters
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2020 | Doubtland | Amish Boy | Ranting | 1:09.5 |
| 2019 | Dalasan | Dubious | Express Pass | 1:09.4 |
| 2018 | Encryption | Thorondor | Tavisan | 1:10.6 |
| 2017 | Catchy | Jukebox | Booker | 1:10.3 |
| 2016 | Saracino | Archives | Samara Dancer | 1:09.8 |
| 2015 | Kinglike | Raphael's Cat | Ready For Victory | 1:09.0 |
| 2014 | Rich Enuff | Looks Like The Cat | Ghibellines | 1:08.1 |
| 2013 | Charlie Boy | Kiss A Rose | Eclair Big Bang | 1:10.0 |
| 2012 | Snitzerland | Stralia | Rusambo | 1.10.5 |
| 2011 | Sepoy | Hallowell Belle | Unique Quality | 1:08.7 |
| 2010 | Soul | Buffering | General Truce | 1:11.6 |
| 2009 | Black Caviar | Wanted | Rarefied | 1:09.9 |
| 2008 | Aichi | Time Chief | Niccconi | 1:10.4 |
| 2007 | Tan Tat de Lago | Scenic Blast | Purrealist | 1:10.9 |
| 2006 | The One | Anamato | Sharkbite | 1:10.4 |
| 2005 | Jet Spur | Queen of the Hill | Stratum | 1:09.5 |
| 2004 | Fastnet Rock | Brannigan | Assafa | 1:09.2 |
| 2003 | Abdullah | Critical List | Bronc | 1:12.0 |
| 2002 | Planchet | Blur | Choisir | 1:08.7 |
| 2001 | Chongtong | North Boy | Spectatorial | 1:09.0 |
| 2000 | St Petersburg | Cosset | Ceffyl | 1:10.4 |
| 1999 | Falvelon | Cullen | Fappianos Son | 1:09.2 |
| 1998 | Point Danger | Jumalique | Shovhog | 1:10.3 |
| 1997 | Dantelah | Special Dane | Accuse | 1:12.3 |
| 1996 | Armidale | Regal Centre | Spartacus | 1:08.1 |
| 1995 | Gold Ace | Wavetree | Padre | 1:09.4 |
| 1994 | Daring Hombre | Minyama DH 2 | Verdetto DH 2 | 1:08.8 |
| 1993 | Dancing Dynamite | Sequalo | Alannon | 1:08.7 |
| 1992 | Kenfair | Inject | Campbell Fever | 1:11.8 |
| 1991 | Umatilla | Star Video | In The Bahamas | 1:08.6 |
| 1990 | Wrap Around | Final Card | Premier Copper | 1:09.0 |
| 1989 | Gin Rhythm | Impressionalism | Sir Fear | 1:09.2 |
| 1988 | Speeding Free | Leica Western | Scollata | 1:11.6 |
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