Hotham Handicap
The Hotham Handicap is a Group 3 quality handicap race held in November each year at Flemington racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. The race is run over a distance of 2500 metres and worth $300,000 in prize money. The 2019 Hotham Handicap was won by Downdraft from Carif with Azuro third.
This race has previously been known as 'The Dalgety' & 'SAAB Quality' and has been run as 'The Lexus Stakes' since 2009.
It's held on Derby day, on the first day of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival, featuring four prestigious Group 1 races. These are the AAMI Victoria Derby, Coolmore Stud Stakes, Cantala Stakes and Empire Rose Stakes.
Hotham Handicap info
| Date: | Saturday 30th October 2021 |
| Track: | Flemington racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: | 2500 metres |
| Race Type: | Quality Handicap |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $300,000 |
| 2019 Winner: | Downdraft |
Hotham Handicap is the last handicap race over a distance further than 2000m to be held for open horses before the running of the Flemington carnival's major race, the Melbourne Cup on the following Tuesday. The Saab is a good event to give horses a final hit out before contesting the 3200m of the Cup.
More often than not the race will be taken out by more than handy staying types rather than the upper echelon, although every now and then a quality type can find his way into the race and make his presence felt.
A Prince Of Arran (2018) ran third in the Gr2 Herbert Power Stakes over 2400m at Caulfield before pulling out all stops to win this event for UK trainer Charlie Fellowes.
Recent Hotham Handicap winners include Cismontane (2017) and Oceanographer (2016).
Spring Carnival Guide
The Hotham Handicap has been a more of a moderate guide to the Melbourne Cup over recent years. Prince Of Aarran (2018) ran third to Cross Counter three days later in the Melbourne Cup, while Maluckyday (2010) ran second to Americain. Shocking (2009) scored an authoritiave win before going on to win our most famous two mile race the following Tuesday.
Jaameh (3rd in 2018) won the Gr3 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington on Emirates Stakes day after finishing third in this event..
Exceptionally (3rd in 2012) went on to run second in the Gr2 Sandown Classic at Sandown before running third in the listed Ballarat Cup at Ballarat.
Moatise (2008) ran sixth in the Melbourne Cup the following Tuesday, while Cape Cover (3rd 2008) and Light Vision (2nd 2008) ran the quinella in VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the final day of the carnival.
Maybe Better (2006) ran third in the Melbourne Cup that year, while Brew (2000) went on to win the Melbourne Cup in the same year. Kingston Rule (2nd 1990) managed to take out the race that stops the nation the following Tuesday and Tawriffic (2nd in 1988) went on to win the Cup the following year in 1989.
2019 Hotham Handicap result
1. $5.50 Downdraft 59.0 John Allen
2. $9.50 Carif 54.5 Jamie Kah
3. $9.50 Azuro 54.5 Dean Yendall
then followed
4. $9.50 Sir Charles Road 57.5 Dwayne Dunn
5. $6.00 The Chosen One 57.5 Mark Zahra
6. $7.00 Hush Writer 57.5 Tim Clark
7. $14.00 Wall Of Fire 54.0 Jye McNeil
8. $8.00 Haky 57.5 Ms Linda Meech
9. $26.00 Valac 54.0 Craig Williams
10. $9.50 Patrick Erin 57.5 Hugh Bowman
Margins: 1.5 len, 4 len
Time: 2:38.85
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Hotham Handicap winners & placegetters
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2019 | Downdraft | Carif | Azuro | 2:38.8 |
| 2018 | A Prince Of Arran | Brimham Rocks | Jaameh | 2:37.4 |
| 2017 | Cismontane | Vengeur Masque | Pentathlon | 2:35.4 |
| 2016 | Oceanographer | Tom Melbourne | Tally | 2:35.6 |
| 2015 | Excess Knowledge | Zanteca | Havana Cooler | 2:36.8 |
| 2014 | Signoff | Big Memory | La Amistad | 2:37.8 |
| 2013 | Ruscello | Let's Make A Deal | Araldo | 2:39.8 |
| 2012 | Kelinni | Dare To Dream | Exceptionally | 2:37.6 |
| 2011 | Niwot | Macedonian | Anudjawun | 2:37.5 |
| 2010 | Maluckyday | Linton | Once Were Wild | 2:35.1 |
| 2009 | Shocking | Hume | Irazu | 2:38.3 |
| 2008 | Moatise | Light Vision | Cape Cover | 2:37.7 |
| 2007 | Sculptor | The Fuzz | Desert Master | 2:35.4 |
| 2006 | Maybe Better | Irazu | Vanquished | 2:35.8 |
| 2005 | Strasbourg | Bush Honey | Mr Celebrity | 2:40.3 |
| 2004 | Don Raphael | Catchmeifyoucan | Winning Belle | 2:36.6 |
| 2003 | Big Pat | Fawaz | Dance On Wood | 2:39.4 |
| 2002 | Requiem | Miss Meliss | Piachay | 2:35.3 |
| 2001 | Maythehorsebewithu | Spirit Of Westbury | Touch The Groom | 2:35.8 |
| 2000 | Brew | Mr Nelson | Yammer | 2:37.1 |
| 1999 | The Warrior | Rose O War | Seasquill | 2:35.2 |
| 1998 | Star Binder | Second Coming | Prince Iluka | 2:34.6 |
| 1997 | Backslapper | Grandmaster | Buzzoff | 2:39.0 |
| 1996 | Few Are Chosen | Centico | My Kiwi Gold | 2:35.6 |
| 1995 | Coachwood | Dupain | Sir Kingi | 2:34.8 |
| 1994 | Pindi | Starstruck | Coachwood | 2:35.7 |
| 1993 | Tennessee Jack | Maraakiz | Notwithstanding | 2:34.0 |
| 1992 | Big Barron | Val D Arno | Sir Winston | 2:38.4 |
| 1991 | Rasheek | Dr Grace | Alhabel | 2:33.4 |
| 1990 | Mount Olympus | Kingston Rule | La Tristia | 2:33.6 |
| 1989 | Coshking | Gopak | Sea Legend | 2:33.3 |
| 1988 | Copatonic | Tawrrific | Centose | 2:35.0 |
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