The Lexus Stakes

The 2017 Lexus Stakes is a Group 3 race that takes place at Flemington racecourse in Melbourne each year.

Run over a distance of 2,500 metres, The Lexus Stakes is run under quality handicap conditions. The Lexus Stakes is worth a total of $250,000 in prize money and grants the winner automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup, which takes place three days later on the following Tuesday.

The Lexus Stakes was first run in 1869 when it was won by a horse named Aurora. The race was originally run as a Principal race before being upgraded to a Group 3 in 1979. The race then enjoyed a brief stint as a Group 2 race from 1981-2003 before reverting back to its Group 3 status in 2004.

Since 1869, The Lexus Stakes has been known by many different names, including the Hotham Handicap, The Dalgety and the Crown Quality. Prior to being named The Lexus Stakes in 2009, the race was referred to as the Saab Quality.

The Lexus Stakes shares its day with eight other Group races, including the Group 1 Victoria Derby, Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes, Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, Group 1 Myer Classic, Group 2 Wakeful Stakes, Group 2 Salinger Stakes, Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes and Group 3 Chatham Stakes.

Horses typically target the Lexus Stakes towards the end of their spring campaign. Good lead up events to watch include the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Group 3 David Jones Cup (2500m).

Notable Lexus Stakes winners include Sirius (1944), Think Big (1974), Brew (2000), Maybe Better (2006), Shocking (2009) and Maluckyday (2010).

2017 Lexus Stakes Field

The Lexus Stakes field attracts a fairly quality type of horse. Stayers who have had a fairly healthy spring campaign tend to enter the Lexus Stakes field. As a quality handicap, the more experienced runners with a decent burst of speed at the end of a stay tend to do better in the Lexus Stakes field.

The 2017 Lexus Stakes field will be published below.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 3380×34824 ECUADOR (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Adam Hyeronimus 1 58kg 105
2 4x386x5158 HARLEM (GB) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Dwayne Dunn 4 57kg 103
3 1333x0x796 HAVANA COOLER (IRE) James Cummings Hugh Bowman 3 56kg 101
4 x39x12x139 ALOFT (IRE) Robert Hickmott Ben Melham 5 55.5kg 100
5 x621x02003 GUARDINI (FR) Darren Weir James Winks 2 55.5kg 100
6 2x542x9981 VENGEUR MASQUE (IRE) Michael Moroney Patrick Moloney 8 54kg 97
7 x232521033 CISMONTANE (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Stephen Baster 6 54kg 93
8 97860×0496 PENTATHLON (NZ) John Wheeler Jye McNeil 10 54kg 93
9 4×54114112 ALWARD (IRE) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 7 54kg 91
10 1735111636 KELLSTORM (IRE) Darren Weir Ben Allen (a) 9 54kg 86

2017 Lexus Stakes Nominations

The Lexus Stakes nominations draw horses largely from Melbourne stables, but also from Sydney stables and even further abroad. Entering the Lexus Stakes nominations is usually a good indication that a horse has lofty staying goals but may not be quite up to the higher grades of other staying events on the day.

The 2017 Lexus Stakes nominations will be provided below.

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Hcp Rating
1 113×550214 BIG DUKE (IRE) G 6 Darren Weir 1 59kg 107
2 3380×34824 ECUADOR (NZ) G 8 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 2 58kg 105
3 x11x330x90 BONDI BEACH (IRE) G 6 Robert Hickmott 3 57.5kg 104
4 4x386x5158 HARLEM (GB) H 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 4 57kg 103
5 210x71x045 ASSIGN (IRE) G 7 Robert Hickmott 5 57kg 103
6 30x33x2410 FOUNDRY (IRE) H 8 Robert Hickmott 6 56kg 101
7 1333x0x796 HAVANA COOLER (IRE) G 8 James Cummings 7 56kg 101
8 x39x12x139 ALOFT (IRE) G 6 Robert Hickmott 8 55.5kg 100
9 x621x02003 GUARDINI (FR) H 7 Darren Weir 9 55.5kg 100
10 031x270x07 GALLANTE (IRE) G 7 Robert Hickmott 10 55kg 99
11 2x542x9981 VENGEUR MASQUE (IRE) G 6 Michael Moroney 11 54kg 97
12 5167×16225 NOZOMI G 6 Anthony Freedman 12 54kg 94
13 x232521033 CISMONTANE (NZ) G 5 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 13 54kg 93
14 97860×0496 PENTATHLON (NZ) G 6 John Wheeler 14 54kg 93
15 513x412x04 OUR CENTURY (IRE) G 7 Robert Hickmott 15 54kg 93
16 4×54114112 ALWARD (IRE) G 5 Chris Waller 16 54kg 91
17 1735111636 KELLSTORM (IRE) H 5 Darren Weir 17 54kg 86
18 9×56442762 GRANDDUKEOFTUSCANY (IRE) G 7 Robert Hickmott 18 54kg 84
19 0910×00234 SLY ROMANCE (NZ) G 6 Richard Laming 19 54kg 78
20 16108×5032 LYCURGUS G 4 Danny O’Brien 20 54kg 72

Lexus Stakes Results

Below you will find a table of Lexus Stakes results and winning times since 2000.

Year Results Winning Time
2017 1 Cismontane 2 Vengeur Masque 3 Pentathlon  2:35.4
2016 1 Oceanographer 2 Tom Melbourne 3 Tally  2:35.6
2015 1 Excess Knowledge 2 Zanteca 3 Havana Cooler  2:36.8
2014 1 Signoff 2 Big Memory 3 La Amistad  2:37.9
2013 1 Ruscello 2 Let’s Make Adeal 3 Araldo  2:39.8
2012 1 Kelinni 2 Dare To Dream 3 Exceptionally  2:37.6
2011 1 Niwot 2 Macedonian 3 Anudjawun  2:37.5
2010 1 Maluckyday 2 Linton 3 Once Were Wild  2:35.1
2009 1 Shocking 2 Hume 3 Irazu  2:38.3
2008 1 Moatise 2 Light Vision 3 Cape Cover  2:37.7
2007 1 Sculptor 2 The Fuzz 3 Desert Master  2:35.4
2006 1 Maybe Better 2 Irazu 3 Vanquished  2:35.8
2005 1 Strasbourg 2 Bush Honey 3 Mr Celebrity  2:40.3
2004 1 Don Raphael 2 Catchmeifyoucan 3 Winning Belle  2:36.6
2003 1 Big Pat 2 Fawaz 3 Dance On Wood  2:39.4
2002 1 Requiem 2 Miss Meliss 3 Piachay  2:35.3
2001 1 Maythehorsebewithu 2 Spirit Of Westbury 3 Touch The Groom  2:35.8
2000 1 Brew 2 Mr Nelson 3 Yammer  2:37.1

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