, HDF McNeil Stakes - Caulfield racecourse - Spring Racing Carnival
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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