The Emirates Stakes has been renamed to the Kennedy Mile as of 2017.
The Kennedy Mile is a Group 1 race that is held in late October or early November at Flemington.
Being one of the feature races of Victoria Derby Day, The Kennedy Mile shares the same race program as the Group 1 Victoria Derby, the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, and the Group 1 Myer Classic.. The Kennedy Mile is run under handicap conditions and is worth $1 million in prize money. The race is contested over a distance of 1,600 metres and is now held on the first day day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
2018 Kennedy Mile Results
- 1st: #17 Best Of Days
- 2nd: #2 Le Romain
- 3rd: #16 Peaceful State
The Kennedy Mile was first run in 1919 when it was known as the Kennedy Mile and won by a horse called Chal. The race was called many different names during its significant history before becoming the Emirtes Stakes in 1998. These names included the George Adams Handicap (1961-84), Ampol Stakes (1985-88), Honda Stakes (1989-92), Nissan Stakes (1993-95) and Chrysler Stakes (1996-97).
Races such as the Chatham Stakes, Crystal Mile, Toorak Handicap and Cox Plate are traditionally the best guides to how a horse will perform in the Kennedy Mile.
Notable winners of the Kennedy Mile include Amounis (1926, 1929), Wenona Girl (1963), Storm Queen (1966), Vain (1969), Gunsynd (1971), Better Loosen Up (1989), Shaftesbury Avenue (1990), Testa Rossa (2000), Scenic Peak (2002), Divine Madonna (2006) and All Silent (2008).
Kennedy Mile Field
The Kennedy Mile field is restricted to a maximum of 16 horses plus four emergencies. The Kennedy Mile is run under quality handicap conditions, meaning that each horse is allocated a different weight depending on how they have fared in previous races. This usually is determined by a horse’s rating, how much prize money they have received and how many races they have won or placed in over a set period. Weights were originally chosen to ensure all horses had an equal chance of winning; however, the Kennedy Mile is now a quality handicap, meaning that the better horses are not so harshly weighted to ensure that the better horses have the best chance of winning.
The Order fo entry for the The Kennedy Mile field is decided by how much prize money each runner has accrued in the past two years, wins or placings in certain lead-up races and their allocated handicap weight.
2018 Kennedy Mile Field
The 2017 Kennedy Mile field will be published below.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x1304x2412 | HARTNELL (GB) | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 9 | 59kg | – | 117 |
| 2 | 74232×1724 | LE ROMAIN | Kris Lees | James McDonald | 7 | 57.5kg | – | 114 |
| 3 | 12561×1658 | COMIN’ THROUGH | Chris Waller | Tye Angland | 6 | 56kg | – | 111 |
| 4 | 51311×2131 | LAND OF PLENTY | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 8 | 55.5kg | – | 110 |
| 5 | 9140x4x578 | CRACK ME UP (NZ) | Liam Birchley | – | 17 | 52.5kg | – | 104 |
| 6 | 811x121x62 | DREAMFORCE | John P Thompson | Brenton Avdulla | 14 | 52.5kg | – | 104 |
| 7 | x230956118 | MISTER SEA WOLF (IRE) | Chris Waller | Stephen Baster | 3 | 52.5kg | – | 104 |
| 8 | 12x412x217 | NOIRE | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 13 | 52kg | – | 105 |
| 9 | x93116x543 | LIFE LESS ORDINARY (IRE) | Chris Waller | – | 5 | 52kg | – | 103 |
| 10 | 295×271734 | SIEGE OF QUEBEC | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Michael Walker | 15 | 52kg | – | 103 |
| 11 | 7158×07151 | CLIFF’S EDGE | Darren Weir | – | 11 | 52kg | – | 101 |
| 12 | x0918x4022 | FASTNET TEMPEST (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | – | 10 | 52kg | – | 101 |
| 13 | 3x0436x231 | SIRCCONI | John Sadler | Ms Linda Meech | 4 | 52kg | – | 101 |
| 14 | x579115x73 | PERAST | Paul Perry | Tim Clark | 19 | 52kg | – | 100 |
| 15 | 25828×2604 | TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) | Chris Waller | Corey Brown | 20 | 52kg | – | 100 |
| 16 | 720110×205 | PEACEFUL STATE | Darren Weir | – | 2 | 52kg | – | 99 |
| 17e | 3438×71321 | BEST OF DAYS (GB) | James Cummings | Craig Williams | 1 | 52kg | – | 99 |
| 18e | 41113×3811 | ICONOCLASM | Darren Weir | – | 16 | 52kg | – | 98 |
| 19e | 5x2347x889 | RADIPOLE (IRE) | Michael Moroney | Patrick Moloney | 12 | 52kg | – | 95 |
| 20e | x6260x1144 | KAONIC (NZ) | Chris Waller | Michael Dee | 18 | 52kg | – | 93 |
2018 Kennedy Mile Nominations
The 2018 Kennedy Mile nominations will be provided below.
| No. | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x503768x83 | ALOISIA (NZ) | M | 4 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 104 |
| 2 | 3438×71321 | BEST OF DAYS (GB) | H | 5 | James Cummings | 99 |
| 3 | 0x22110x42 | BLAIR HOUSE (IRE) | G | 6 | Charlie Appleby | 113 |
| 4 | x230040x74 | BRING ME ROSES | M | 4 | Tony McEvoy | 93 |
| 5 | 7158×07151 | CLIFF’S EDGE | H | 4 | Darren Weir | 101 |
| 6 | 12561×1658 | COMIN’ THROUGH | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 111 |
| 7 | 9140x4x578 | CRACK ME UP (NZ) | G | 5 | Liam Birchley | 104 |
| 8 | 3714×32256 | D’ARGENTO | H | 4 | Chris Waller | 109 |
| 9 | 811x121x62 | DREAMFORCE | G | 6 | John P Thompson | 104 |
| 10 | 7421×04073 | DUCA VALENTINOIS (IRE) | G | 7 | James Cummings | 102 |
| 11 | 0521×53330 | EGG TART | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 107 |
| 12 | x0918x4022 | FASTNET TEMPEST (IRE) | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 101 |
| 13 | 0634x31x28 | FIERCE IMPACT (JPN) | H | 5 | Matthew Smith | 78 |
| 14 | x1304x2412 | HARTNELL (GB) | G | 8 | James Cummings | 117 |
| 15 | 41113×3811 | ICONOCLASM | H | 4 | Darren Weir | 98 |
| 16 | 43215×1412 | INVINCIBELLA | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 108 |
| 17 | x350397x64 | INVINCIBLE GEM | M | 5 | Kris Lees | 106 |
| 18 | x695x75256 | IT’S SOMEWHAT (USA) | G | 8 | James Cummings | 111 |
| 19 | x6260x1144 | KAONIC (NZ) | H | 4 | Chris Waller | 93 |
| 20 | 51311×2131 | LAND OF PLENTY | H | 5 | Darren Weir | 110 |
| 21 | 74232×1724 | LE ROMAIN | G | 6 | Kris Lees | 114 |
| 22 | x93116x543 | LIFE LESS ORDINARY (IRE) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 103 |
| 23 | 27x121x361 | MANUEL | G | 5 | Tony McEvoy | 89 |
| 24 | 009×479741 | MASK OF TIME (IRE) | H | 5 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 98 |
| 25 | x230956118 | MISTER SEA WOLF (IRE) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 104 |
| 26 | 6717×63150 | MURAAQEB | H | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 95 |
| 27 | 12x412x217 | NOIRE | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 105 |
| 28 | 720110×205 | PEACEFUL STATE | H | 4 | Darren Weir | 99 |
| 29 | x579115x73 | PERAST | H | 4 | Paul Perry | 100 |
| 30 | 2630×35542 | PRIZED ICON | H | 5 | Kris Lees | 104 |
| 31 | 5x2347x889 | RADIPOLE (IRE) | G | 6 | Michael Moroney | 95 |
| 32 | 76x462x444 | SHILLELAGH (NZ) | M | 7 | Chris Waller | 110 |
| 33 | 295×271734 | SIEGE OF QUEBEC | H | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 103 |
| 34 | x691420x67 | SIR JOHN LAVERY (IRE) | H | 5 | Liam Howley | 95 |
| 35 | 3x0436x231 | SIRCCONI | G | 4 | John Sadler | 101 |
| 36 | x1413x3311 | SKY BOY | G | 4 | Anthony & Edward Cummings | 73 |
| 37 | 0x0172x958 | SOVEREIGN NATION | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 103 |
| 38 | 25828×2604 | TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) | G | 8 | Chris Waller | 100 |
| 39 | x1214x3569 | WAGING WAR | G | 5 | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | 92 |
Kennedy Mile Form Guide
Many people use the early spring mile long races as a form guide to determine which horses are most likely to perform in the Kennedy Mile. Races such as the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes for three-year-old fillies, the Group 1 Epsom Handicap, the Group 1 Flight Stakes for three-year-old fillies, the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas for three-year-olds, the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, the Group 1 Thousand Guineas for three-year-old fillies, the Listed Seymour Cup, the Group 2 Crystal Mile, the Group 3 Inglis Mile and the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes for three-year-olds.
The Kennedy Mile is also used as the basis of a form guide for races in the latter part of the spring, including the Group 3 Sandown Stakes and Group 3 Eclipse Stakes held at Sandown two weeks later. How a horse performs in the Kennedy Mile can also be used to judge their summer form, as well as predict how they may fare in any one of the many mile races during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, which begins in February.
Kennedy Mile Betting
There are a large number of options available to people who want to participate in Kennedy Mile betting. and the popular multi betting option could see punters combine many legs which could include the Kennedy Mile with many other feature races over the Spring Carnival.
Bets can also be placed in the form of quinellas, exactas, trifectas and quadrellas. A popular type of Kennedy Mile bet is often a mystery trifecta. This mystery trifecta allows a punter to place a bet on the race without having to have any prior knowledge of the race field. Since there is such a high degree of talent amongst the Kennedy Mile field, there is a chance that any horse could win. This type of bet often returns very high odds if they are lucky enough to get it.
Punters also have the option of placing a basic win or place bet on the Kennedy Mile. Place bets can be very good value due to the high price typically offered on may horses in the race. This is due to the calibre of the horses in the Kennedy Mile, as it is not unusual for there to be no short priced favourite.
Kennedy Mile Odds
Kennedy Mile odds are typically higher than a lot of the lower class races that are held during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Odds for the Kennedy Mile can be affected by a number of factors. The most typical of these is a horse’s past performance. As this is one of the more difficult races to gain entry to in the carnival, it is not unusual for most of the entrants to have featured heavily in the first half of the spring. The Kennedy Mile runners have often met on numerous occasions before this race and odds are usually formulated depending on how each horse fared in these past performances.
Kennedy Mile odds are also likely to change after the barrier draws for the race are released in the days before it is run. Horses that have a wide barrier are usually less likely to perform than those who have been allocated an inside to middle barrier. Therefore, after the barrier draws are announced, the odds for the race are usually re-released.
The weather on the day is also a contributing factor to the Kennedy Mile odds. If a certain horse is known for its good performances on the wet ground, then they will often form in price in the betting. Should the weather be dry and rain-free, that same horse may in fact increase in price on the day.
Initial odds for the race are usually released when the final field is made up in the week leading up to the race with fixed prices being made available. The odds can fluctuate depending on how much money is bet on each horse at a certain price. The more money that is bet on the horse, the shorter its price will become and vice versa.
Kennedy Mile Tips
There are a lot of different tactics that people employ in order to produce Kennedy Mile tips each year. A lot of people have a look at the distance of the race. If a horse has constantly shown skill over 1,600 metres, then that horse is more likely to feature heavily in a person’s race tips. Should a horse be moving up in distance for the first time, then they may not be a good tip, as they may not be able to last the distance.
Fitness is also a factor when people are developing Kennedy Mile tips. Horses that have had two or three runs going into the races are likely to have developed enough fitness to run the entire 1,600 metres. However, if the Kennedy Mile is a horse’s first run back after a spell, there is a chance that it will not yet be fit enough to run the race out.
The barrier draws are also a big contributing factor to where a horse will feature in the race tips. Horses that are lucky enough to be allocated a low barrier are often tipped to succeed, whereas those horses that have drawn wide may get caught out wide and not be able to move forward. However, should the track be wet, a wider barrier could be a blessing in disguise as the inside of the track is the part of the ground that deteriorates the quickest.
Kennedy Mile Day
Victoria Derby Day is the opening day of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival. Held on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup, the Kennedy Mile shares its day with four other quality Group races. These other races include the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, Group 2 Wakeful Stakes, Group 1 Myer Classic and Group 3 Lexus Stakes. The Group races on Victoria Derby Day are worth a total of $4.8 million, with the Kennedy Mile making up $1 million of that.
It is not uncommon for around 80,000 people to flock to the course each Victoria Derby day.
Kennedy Mile Results
Originally called the Kennedy Mile, the race was first run back in 1919 when it was won by a horse named Chal. Since then it has been won by a number of great horses. Notable Emirates Stakes winners include Amounis (1926, 29), Storm Queen (1966), Gunsynd (1971), Better Loosen Up (1989), Shaftesbury Avenue (1990), Divine Madonna (2006) and All Silent (2008).
Many great horses have appeared in the Kennedy Mile and Emirates Stakes results during its history. Below you will find a list of Emirates Stakes results since 2000 (Cantala Stakes 2016 only).
| Year | Results | Winning Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 Best Of Days | 2 Le Romain | 3 Peaceful State | 1:33.65 |
| 2017 | 1 Shillelagh | 2 Tom Melbourne | 3 Wyndspelle | 1:35.01 |
| 2016 | 1 Le Romain | 2 Mccreey | 3 Tivaci | 1:35.7 |
| 2015 | 1 Turn Me Loose | 2 Politeness | 3 Rock Sturdy | 1:36.26 |
| 2014 | 1 Hucklebuck | 2 Lucky Hussler | 3 The Cleaner | 1:34.63 |
| 2013 | 1 Boban | 2 Smokin’ Joey | 3 Speediness | 1:36.58 |
| 2012 | 1 Happy Trails | 2 Fawkner | 3 Secret Admirer | 1:35.99 |
| 2011 | 1 Albert The Fat | 2 King’s Rose | 3 Secret Admirer | 1:36.05 |
| 2010 | 1 Wall Street | 2 Dao Dao | 3 Chasm | 1:36.7 |
| 2009 | 1 All American | 2 So You Think | 3 Gold Salute | 1:33.9 |
| 2008 | 1 All Silent | 2 Sea Battle | 3 Mimi Lebrock | 1:35.8 |
| 2007 | 1 Tears I Cry | 2 Bird Dancer | 3 Shinzig | 1:35.2 |
| 2006 | 1 Divine Madonna | 2 Niconero | 3 Valedictum | 1:35.5 |
| 2005 | 1 Valedictum | 2 Infinite Grace | 3 Shania Dane | 1:34.9 |
| 2004 | 1 Sky Cuddle | 2 Lad Of The Manor | 3 Skewiff | 1:39.1 |
| 2003 | 1 Titanic Jack | 2 True Glo | 3 Crawl | 1:34.7 |
| 2002 | 1 Scenic Peak | 2 Crawl | 3 Excellerator | 1:33.4 |
| 2001 | 1 Desert Eagle | 2 Emission | 3 La Bella Dama | 1:37.3 |
| 2000 | 1 Testa Rossa | 2 Weasel Will | 3 Crawl | 1:35.5 |
