The 2017 Kevin Heffernan Stakes is a Group 3 event held at Sandown Racecourse.
Run over 1300m, the Kevin Heffernan Stakes is a challenging weight-for-age test with $150,000 prize money on offer.
The Kevin Heffernan Stakes takes place on the last day of group racing during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, Zipping Classic Day. It shares a race program with a host of black type events. These include the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m), Sandown Guineas (1600m), Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m), Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m), Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1500m), and three listed events, one of which is the Sandown Cup (3200m).
Because the Kevin Heffernan Stakes runs so near to the end of the Spring Racing Carnival, the majority of the contesters are at peak fitness and have had multiple starts in the preceding weeks. There are various paths horses can take to the Kevin Heffernan Stakes, but it pays to keep an eye on the WFA sprints over similar distances.
Following the Kevin Heffernan Stakes, some of the classier types might head over to Perth to contest the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m). For most, however, the paddock will be the next stop.
The Kevin Heffernan Stakes was upgraded to Group 3 from listed status in 2013. The Kevin Heffernan Stakes was held over 1200m prior to 2004, but that was increased to 1250m for a year. In 2005, the race was contested over 1300m. In 2006 and 2007 it was 1200m, then 1300m again in 2008. In 2013, the race returned to 1200m. In 2014, it was once again 1300m.
Notable Kevin Heffernan Stakes winners include Sports (2000), Super Groove (2003), Gibralter Campion (2007) and Lankan Rupee (2013).
2017 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Field
The Kevin Heffernan Stakes field usually attracts a fairly talented assortment of runners. As it runs so late in the spring carnival, the vast majority of the Kevin Heffernan Stakes field are well into their campaign and thus have plenty of form for punters to look to.
The 2017 Kevin Heffernan Stakes field will be published below.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14119×0725 | BURNING FRONT | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 4 | 59kg | 104 |
| 2 | 78×0455129 | KEEN ARRAY | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 59kg | 104 |
| 3 | 2x50020x26 | ILLUSTRIOUS LAD | Peter Gelagotis | Ben Melham | 8 | 59kg | 104 |
| 4 | 3512076875 | JUNGLE EDGE | Mick Bell | Kevin Forrester | 3 | 59kg | 105 |
| 5 | 17493×3920 | CASINO WIZARD | Lee Creek | Noel Callow | 2 | 59kg | 98 |
| 6 | 11160×8458 | BASSETT (NZ) | Mick Price | Michael Dee | 6 | 59kg | 98 |
| 7 | 1121306×1 | THRONUM | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Mark Zahra | 5 | 59kg | 82 |
| 8 | 0x8180x781 | OCEAN EMBERS | Shea Eden | Ms Nikita Beriman | 1 | 57kg | 103 |
2017 Kevin Heffernan Stakes Nominations
The Kevin Heffernan Stakes nominations draw horses from a fairly wide range of preparations and racing backgrounds. Largely, the Kevin Heffernan Stakes nominations hail from Melbourne stables. However, it’s not at all uncommon for an interstate raider to enter the Kevin Heffernan Stakes nominations in a final attempt to secure a black-type victory in the spring.
The 2017 Kevin Heffernan Stakes nominations will be listed here.
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11x75x3235 | BLACK HEART BART | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 1 | 59kg | 114 |
| 2 | x705x60010 | LUCKY HUSSLER | G | 8 | Darren Weir | 2 | 59kg | 112 |
| 3 | 14119×0725 | BURNING FRONT | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 3 | 59kg | 104 |
| 4 | 78×0455129 | KEEN ARRAY | G | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 4 | 59kg | 104 |
| 5 | 221118×321 | HELLOVA STREET | G | 7 | Scott Brunton | 5 | 59kg | 104 |
| 6 | 2x50020x26 | ILLUSTRIOUS LAD | G | 6 | Peter Gelagotis | 6 | 59kg | 104 |
| 7 | 3512076875 | JUNGLE EDGE | G | 7 | Mick Bell | 7 | 59kg | 105 |
| 8 | 0x8180x781 | OCEAN EMBERS | M | 5 | Shea Eden | 8 | 57kg | 103 |
| 9 | x1111x659x | CHETWOOD | G | 5 | James Cummings | 9 | 59kg | 104 |
| 10 | 3397374043 | RUETTIGER (NZ) | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 10 | 59kg | 90 |
| 11 | 17493×3920 | CASINO WIZARD | G | 7 | Lee Creek | 11 | 59kg | 98 |
| 12 | 1175×31945 | GRANDE ROSSO | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 12 | 59kg | 101 |
| 13 | 11160×8458 | BASSETT (NZ) | G | 5 | Mick Price | 13 | 59kg | 98 |
| 14 | 51x493x134 | RAVI | M | 5 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 14 | 57kg | 102 |
| 15 | 28x506979x | HAZZABEEL (NZ) | G | 7 | Peter Healey | 15 | 59kg | 91 |
| 16 | 111x11x257 | DESERT LASHES | M | 4 | Shayne Cahill | 16 | 57kg | 87 |
| 17 | 1121306×1 | THRONUM | H | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 17 | 59kg | 82 |
| 18 | 111x1x35 | CRYSTAL FOUNTAIN (NZ) | M | 4 | Anthony Freedman | 18 | 57kg | 78 |
| 19 | 20629×7221 | RUTHLESS AGENT (NZ) | G | 4 | Kurt Goldman | 19 | 59kg | 72 |
Kevin Heffernan Stakes results, winners and winning times since 2000 are provided below.
| Year | Results | Winning Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 TBD | 2 TBD | 3 TBD | TBD |
| 2016 | 1 Lucky Hussler | 2 Illustrious Lad | 3 Super Cash | 1:16.4 |
| 2015 | 1 Famous Seamus | 2 Generalife | 3 Gracious Prospect | 1:18.4 |
| 2014 | 1 Fast ‘N’ Rocking | 2 Generalife | 3 Flamberge | 1:17.7 |
| 2013 | 1 Lankan Rupee | 2 Hot Snitzel | 3 Famous Seamus | 1:09.7 |
| 2012 | 1 Mid Summer Music | 2 Hot Snitzel | 3 Unpretentious | 1:17.1 |
| 2011 | 1 Soul | 2 Masthead | 3 Doubtful Jack | 1:18.9 |
| 2010 | 1 Avenue | 2 Doubleanny | 3 Royal Ida | 1:19.3 |
| 2009 | 1 Lucky Secret | 2 Posadas | 3 Diplomatic Force | 1:16.7 |
| 2008 | 1 Captain Bax | 2 Posadas | 3 Juggle The Books | 1:18.5 |
| 2007 | 1 Gibralter Campion | 2 Cargo Cult | 3 Cocinero | 1:11.8 |
| 2006 | 1 Tesbury Jack | 2 Cocinero | 3 Megadeal | 1:08.97 |
| 2005 | 1 Bomber Bill | 2 Unabated | 3 Air Cooled | 1:17.6 |
| 2004 | 1 Brannigan | 2 Dandy Kid | 3 Mr Lofty | 1:17.5 |
| 2003 | 1 Super Groove | 2 Recurring | 3 Rustic Mist | 1:11.0 |
| 2002 | 1 Century Kid | 2 Suit | 3 Belle du Jour | 1:10.1 |
| 2001 | 1 Chattanooga | 2 Libidinous | 3 Toledo | 1:10.1 |
| 2000 | 1 Sports | 2 Paint | 3 Cullen | 1:09.3 |
