HDF McNeil Stakes
The HDF McNeil Stakes is a Group 3 event for three-year-olds raced under set weight and penalty conditions at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne each August during the Melbourne spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 1200 metres and worth $150,000 in prize money. The 2020 HDF McNeil Stakes was won by Immortal Love from Flying Award with Tagaloa third.
Taking place on Group 1 Memsie Stakes day, the HDF MCNeil stakes is held alongside the Gr3 The Heath 1100 and Gr3 Cockram Stakes.
HDF McNeil Stakes info
| Date: | Saturday 28th August 2021 |
| Track: | Caulfield racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: | 1200 metres |
| Race Type: | 3yo - Set Weights + Penalty |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $150,000 |
| 2020 Winner: | Immortal Love |
The HDF McNeil Stakes is an above average three-year-old race for this early in the spring and the race itself generally attracts a wide variety of three-year-olds who may go on to the bigger sprint or distance races later in the spring against their own age.
A race such as the Gr3 Vain Stakes for three-year-old colts & geldings on PB Lawrence Stakes day at Caulfield provides the ideal lead up to this event and Gold Symphony (2015) was the galloper to win the Vain Stakes and HDF McNeil Stakes double.
This McNeil Stakes can often produce winners who go on to become outstanding racehorses. Classy gallopers Merchant Navy (2017), Starspangledbanner (2009), Scenic Blast (2007), Miss Finland (2006), Bel Esprit (2002), Theatre (1998), Gold Ace (1995) and Sequalo (1993) have all won this race over the years.
Most of the time HDF McNeil Stakes winner is just a more than handy galloper who will go on to be more than competitive in stronger or similar type events.
Super Seth (2019) ran third to Chaillot in the Listed ANZAC Day Stakes over 1400m at Flemington before graduating to group class winner for the Anthony Freedman stable.
Recent HDF McNeil Stakes winners include Native Soldier (2018) and Merchant Navy (2017).
Spring Carnival Guide
The HDF McNeil Stakes has proven to be an interesting form guide to future spring events over the past few years. Brilliant galloper Merchant Navy (2017) managed to win the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week before eventually heading to the UK where he captured the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Revoling Door (5th in 2016) and Wazzenme (3rd in 2016) went on to run second and third respetively in the Gr3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude at their next start.
Thermal Current (3rd in 2013) managed to win the Gr3 Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley on WS Cox Plate day after running third here.
The 2012 edition of the HDF McNeil Stakes proved significant with Lady Of Harrods (2012) going on to win the Gr3 Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield and Kabayan (2nd in 2012) claiming the Gr2 Stan Fox Stakes at Rosehill in Sydney. Shampexpress (3rd in 2012) finished third in the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day before returning the following autumn to win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap down the Flemington straight.
Satin Shoes (8th in 2011) ran third behind classy colt Sepoy in the Coolmore Stakes at Flemington and Sistine Angel (2010) ran second in the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield before taking out the Gr2 Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington.
Both Yosei (4th in 2010) and Shamrocker (7th in 2010) went on to Group 1 success, with Yosei winning the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield later that spring, while the following autumn Shamrocker won the Australian Guineas at Flemington and the ATC Oaks at Randwick.
Starspangledbanner (2009) claimed the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas later in the spring, while Scenic Blast (2007) went on to have a great spring of that year with a second in the Danehill Stakes before a top third in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
The HDF McNeil Stakes can often unearth a classy three-year-old.
2020 HDF McNeil Stakes result
1. $9.50 Immortal Love 57.0 Craig Newitt
2. $10.00 Flying Award 58.0 Damien Oliver
3. $3.40 Tagaloa 59.5 Michael Walker
then followed
4. $31.00 Extra Time 58.5 Jamie Kah
5. $17.00 Ranting 57.0 Dwayne Dunn
6. $8.50 Crosshaven 57.0 Daniel Stackhouse
7. $18.00 Khoekhoe 57.0 Fred W Kersley
8. $15.00 Rathlin 58.0 Jye McNeil
9. $14.00 National Choice 57.0 Michael Dee
10. $31.00 Hard Landing 58.5 Craig Williams
11. $101.00 The Last Charge 57.0 Beau Mertens
12. $51.00 Loca 57.0 Damian Lane
13. $51.00 Larimer Street 58.0 Michael Rodd
14. $6.50 Our Playboy 58.5 Ben Melham
15. $31.00 Branders Rule 57.0 Luke Nolen
Margins: 0.1 len, 0.1 len
Time: 1:10.89
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HDF McNeil Stakes winners & placegetters
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2020 | Immortal Love | Flying Award | Tagaloa | 1:10.8 |
| 2019 | Super Seth | King Of Hastings | Sebrakate | 1:10.9 |
| 2018 | Native Soldier | The August | Seabrook | 1:09.7 |
| 2017 | Merchant Navy | Booker | Muraahib | 1:10.8 |
| 2016 | Defcon | Highland Beat | Wazzeme | 1:11.4 |
| 2015 | Gold Symphony | Ready For Victory | Demonstrate | 1:10.5 |
| 2014 | Chivalry | Nordic Empire | Awesome Rock | 1:10.2 |
| 2013 | Fast 'n' Rocking | Prince Harada | Thermal Current | 1:10.8 |
| 2012 | Lady Of Harrods | Kabayan | Shamexpress | 1:10.2 |
| 2011 | Golden Archer | Cross Of Gold | Vatican | 1:09.0 |
| 2010 | Sistine Angel | Servant | Intencion | 1:13.4 |
| 2009 | Starspangledbanner | Tollesprit | Eclair Fastpass | 1:10.2 |
| 2008 | Sugar Babe | Whogotbeyou | Cardinal Virtue | 1:10.4 |
| 2007 | Scenic Blast | Pins On Parade | Marching | 1:10.6 |
| 2006 | Miss Finland | Haradasun | Due Sasco | 1:10.6 |
| 2005 | Danerich | Line Account | Izanami | 1:06.7 |
| 2004 | Tahni Girl | Classiconi | Oratorio | 1:04.1 |
| 2003 | Cahula | Cross Current | Abdullah | 1:05.4 |
| 2002 | Bel Esprit | Yell | Before Too Long | 1:01.9 |
| 2001 | Tully Dane | Raja Lane | King of Prussia | 1:05.6 |
| 2000 | Rapid Man | Little Dozer | Homewrecker | 1:06.1 |
| 1999 | Honour Thy Name | Fappianos Son | Miss Pennymoney | 1:06.1 |
| 1998 | Theatre | Jumalique | Major Fun | 1:03.9 |
| 1997 | La Baraka | Towkay | Guineas | 1:04.1 |
| 1996 | Valourina | Investigation | Checmour | 1:03.9 |
| 1995 | Gold Ace | Sykes | Street Talk | 1:03.6 |
| 1994 | Danzero | Linbird | Hurricane Sky | 1:04.6 |
| 1993 | Sequalo | Lady Jakeo | King Kora | 1:05.2 |
| 1992 | Snippet's Girl | Simonstad | Forever Intrigue | 1:07.1 |
| 1991 | Tierce | Naturalism | Business Beat | 1:05.6 |
| 1990 | Manitor | The Curragh | Clubman | 1:06.6 |
| 1989 | Goold Old Ted | Street Ruffian | Parotime | 1:06.9 |
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