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The Aurie's Star Handicap is a Group 3 event held at Flemington Racecourse in early August.
The Aurie’s Star Handicap is a Group 3 sprint hosted at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne every year around early August. Run over 1200m under open handicap conditions, the Aurie’s Star Handicap pays a total of $200,000 prize money.
The Aurie’s Star Handicap is one of the first group races of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, and as a result tends to attract punting attention in excess of its status. Keep a close eye on the Aurie’s Star Handicap results, as they can provide a good indicator for later form in Group 1 races including the Manikato Stakes at The Valley that the 2017 Aurie’s Star winner Hey Doc went onto win.
More recently the 2019 Aurie’s Star Handicap winner So Si Bon, who won at 20/1, went on to run second next start in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).
The form of the Aurie’s Star was also franked in 2021 with the winner The Astrologist going on to place second in the following year’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) back at the track in the autumn, as well as record a third in Adelaide’s Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) later in 2022.
The Aurie’s Star Handicap 2023 ran on Saturday August 5, 2023 as the opening Group race in Melbourne for the season and was won by the Danny O’Brien-trained favourite It’sourtime ($3.90F).
Aurie’s Star Handicap | |
---|---|
Date: | Saturday August 5, 2023 |
Track: | Flemington Racecourse |
Distance: | 1200m |
Race Type: | Open Handicap |
Status: | Group 3 |
Prize Money: | $200,000 |
Danny O’Brien’s Flemington specialist It’sourtime ($3.90F) produced a brilliant late sweeping run right down the outside to come from last at the 300m to first in the 2023 Aurie’s Star Handicap results when saluting for the punters at Headquarters.
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | IT’SOURTIME | Danny O’Brien | Michael Dee | 8 | 55.5kg | $3.90F | |||
2 | 9 | UMGAWA | Leon & Troy Corstens | Harry Coffey | 0.4L | 9 | 54kg | $31 | ||
3 | 6 | CHASSIS | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Dean Yendall | 0.8L | 10 | 54kg | $21 | ||
4 | 2 | GENERAL BEAU | Mathew Ellerton | Damian Lane | 1.8L | 5 | 57kg | $4.80 | ||
5 | 7 | MUCH MUCH BETTER | Sara Ryan | Jye McNeil | 2.2L | 6 | 54kg | $7 | ||
6 | 5 | ZETHUS | James Cummings | Blake Shinn | 2.4L | 7 | 55.5kg | $10 | ||
7 | 11 | CAUSE FOR CONCERN | Shawn Mathrick | Craig Williams | 2.5L | 1 | 54kg | $4.40 | ||
8 | 3 | HERE TO SHOCK (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Daniel Stackhouse | 4.25L | 2 | 57kg | $10 | ||
9 | 8 | DANCE TO DUBAI | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Ms Carleen Hefel (a) | 5L | 4 | 54kg | $19 | ||
10 | 10 | MR EXCLUSIVE | Matthew Brown | Beau Mertens | 13L | 3 | 54kg | $41 | ||
1 | INGRATIATING | James Cummings | Ben Melham | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Betting on the Aurie’s Star Handicap 2023 opens as soon as nominations are out the Monday of race week, the latest Aurie’s Star Handicap betting odds to be published below complete with market links to Ladbrokes.com.au.
It’sourtime ($3.90 in 2023) was the last favourite in Aurie’s Star Handicap betting to salute for the punters.
Stay tuned for our insider Aurie’s Star Handicap 2023 Tips on the popular spring lead-up sprint at Flemington this season.
An open edition of the Aurie’s Star and, while there is a few representing a touch more value, hard to ignore the form down the famous straight of the current favourite who still looks backable at around $3.50 in betting. Craig Williams rides the four-year-old from the inside alley with Cause For Concern looking to add to his strong strike-rate at Headquarters (3:2-1-0). Listed Creswick Stakes second with 58kg two back before winning here in mid-July in a 3YOs handicap with 56kg over the 1400m. First run as a 4YO getting weight relief in on 54kg and looks rock hard fit.
Many horses come into the Aurie’s Star Handicap field off the winter lead-up races held in Melbourne including the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield in mid-July and the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) a fortnight later.
In 2018 Voodoo Lad won the Sir John Monash Stakes – Aurie’s Star Handicap double and finished runner-up in Caulfield’s Bletchingly Stakes in between. The Astrologist (3rd in 2021) was the last Bletchingly Stakes graduate to back-up and win the Aurie’s Star Handicap.
More recently It’sourtime (2023) ran third in the Bletchingly Stakes before winning the Aurie’s Star.
The 2023 Aurie’s Star Handicap field and barriers are announced the Wednesday of race week and the full list of acceptances will be available below once released.
The Aurie’s Star Handicap 2023 final field features a quality line-up of sprinters including Cause For Concern with the inside run from barrier one, the Matthew Ellerton-trained Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes runner-up General Beau and It’sourtime coming off a third in the same key lead-up.
No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 73x1200x51 | INGRATIATING | James Cummings | 3 | 59kg | 102 | |||
2 | x49x530232 | GENERAL BEAU | Mathew Ellerton | Damian Lane | 6 | 57kg | 98 | ||
3 | 417x26111x | HERE TO SHOCK (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Daniel Stackhouse | 2 | 57kg | 98 | ||
4 | 2x2x241423 | IT’SOURTIME | Danny O’Brien | Michael Dee | 9 | 55.5kg | 95 | ||
5 | 36147×5436 | ZETHUS | James Cummings | Blake Shinn | 8 | 55.5kg | 95 | ||
6 | 60455×8114 | CHASSIS | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Dean Yendall | 11 | 54kg | 92 | ||
7 | 6x06441x22 | MUCH MUCH BETTER | Sara Ryan | Jye McNeil | 7 | 54kg | 92 | ||
8 | x93119x591 | DANCE TO DUBAI | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Ms Carleen Hefel (a) | 5 | 54kg | 89 | ||
9 | x17447x664 | UMGAWA | Leon & Troy Corstens | Harry Coffey | 10 | 54kg | 86 | ||
10 | 305327×463 | MR EXCLUSIVE | Matthew Brown | Beau Mertens | 4 | 54kg | 83 | ||
11 | 13×451121 | CAUSE FOR CONCERN | Shawn Mathrick | Craig Williams | 1 | 54kg | 79 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The early Aurie’s Star Handicap 2023 nominations are taken by the VRC on the Monday of race week with the full list of entries to be announced below.
Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2113x570x0 | FLYING MASCOT (NZ) | M | 6 | Tom Dabernig | 1 | 57.5kg | 57.5kg | 103 | |
2 | 73x1200x51 | INGRATIATING | H | 5 | James Cummings | 2 | 59kg | 59kg | 102 | |
3 | 146x11117x | I AM ME | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 3 | 57kg | 57kg | 102 | |
4 | x49x530232 | GENERAL BEAU | H | 5 | Mathew Ellerton | 4 | 57kg | 57kg | 98 | |
5 | 417x26111x | HERE TO SHOCK (NZ) | G | 6 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 5 | 57kg | 57kg | 98 | |
6 | 36147×5436 | ZETHUS | G | 5 | James Cummings | 6 | 55.5kg | 55.5kg | 95 | |
7 | 2x2x241423 | IT’SOURTIME | G | 6 | Danny O’Brien | 7 | 55.5kg | 55.5kg | 95 | |
8 | 9x69260x85 | REGARDSMAREE | G | 7 | Nick Ryan | 8 | 54.5kg | 54.5kg | 93 | |
9 | 6x06441x22 | MUCH MUCH BETTER | G | 6 | Sara Ryan | 9 | 54kg | 54kg | 92 | |
10 | 60455×8114 | CHASSIS | M | 7 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 10 | 54kg | 52kg | 92 | |
11 | x93119x591 | DANCE TO DUBAI | M | 6 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 11 | 54kg | 50.5kg | 89 | |
12 | 311113x | BENEDETTA | M | 4 | Jason Warren | 12 | 54kg | 50kg | 88 | |
13 | x17447x664 | UMGAWA | G | 5 | Leon & Troy Corstens | 13 | 54kg | 51kg | 86 | |
14 | x0066557x2 | OCEAN BEYOND (NZ) | G | 6 | Andrew Bobbin | 14 | 54kg | 50kg | 84 | |
15 | 2928×60467 | SARTORIAL SPLENDOR | G | 7 | John Sadler | 15 | 54kg | 49.5kg | 83 | |
16 | 305327×463 | MR EXCLUSIVE | G | 8 | Matthew Brown | 16 | 54kg | 49.5kg | 83 | |
17 | 211x22312x | BELLE ET RICHE | M | 5 | Mitchell Freedman | 17 | 54kg | 47kg | 82 | |
18 | 106x9998x5 | RANTING (NZ) | G | 6 | Nick Ryan | 18 | 54kg | 48.5kg | 81 | |
19 | x332589x54 | PIONEER RIVER | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 19 | 54kg | 48kg | 80 | |
20 | 13×451121 | CAUSE FOR CONCERN | G | 4 | Shawn Mathrick | 20 | 54kg | 47.5kg | 79 | |
21 | 1x00x453Fx | MAXIMILLIUS | G | 4 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 21 | 54kg | 47kg | 78 | |
22 | 38756369×3 | WILLIAM THOMAS | G | 9 | John Price | 22 | 54kg | 47kg | 78 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The Aurie’s Star Handicap was inaugurated in 1996 as an unlisted event, with Homestead taking out the first edition of the race. In 2005, the Aurie’s Star Handicap was upgraded to a listed event and given a boost in prize money. In 2010, it was ran as a Group 3 event, however was downgraded to listed status for the 2011 edition. In 2012, the Aurie’s Star Handicap was again upgraded to Group 3 and has remained at that status since.
The Aurie’s Star Handicap was held for a year at Moonee Valley Racecourse in 2007, but is now certainly a Flemington race. Although the Aurie’s Star Handicap only has a brief history, it has played an important role in the preparation of many sprinters for the spring campaigns.
In 2020 jockey Damien Oliver won the Aurie’s Star Handicap for a record fifth time taking out the race aboard Home Of The Brave who, in 2018, ran second to the Oliver-ridden winner Voodoo Lad when debuting down under.
Notable Aurie’s Star Handicap winners include Homestead (1996), Fields Of Omagh (2002), Sports (2003), Temple Of Boom (2011) and Voodoo Lad (2018) who went on to win Perth’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) later in the year.
Year | Place | Horse | Time |
---|---|---|---|
2023 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | It’sourtime | 1 minute 08.68 seconds |
2nd | Umgawa | ||
3rd | Chassis | ||
2022 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Sirius Suspect | 1 minute 09.97 seconds |
2nd | Stageman | ||
3rd | Shooting For Gold | ||
2021 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | The Astrologist | 1 minute 10.50 seconds |
2nd | Romancer | ||
3rd | Too Good Too Hard | ||
2020 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Home Of The Brave | 1 minute 10.58 seconds |
2nd | Great Again | ||
3rd | Game Keeper | ||
2019 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | So Si Bon | 1 minute 11.07 seconds |
2nd | Malibu Style | ||
3rd | Sesar | ||
2018 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Voodoo Lad | 1 minute 9.64 seconds |
2nd | Home Of The Brave | ||
3rd | Brave Song | ||
2017 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Hey Doc | 1 minute 9.9 seconds |
2nd | Cannyescent | ||
3rd | Grande Rosso | ||
2016 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Sooboog | 1 minute 10 seconds |
2nd | Dibayani | ||
3rd | Tashbeeh | ||
2015 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Shiraz | 1 minute 09.4 seconds |
2nd | Play Master | ||
3rd | Le Bonsir | ||
2014 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Tiger Tees | 1 minute 09.9 seconds |
2nd | Mr Chard | ||
3rd | Zamorar | ||
2013 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Broken | 1 minute 12.5 seconds |
2nd | Temple Of Boom | ||
3rd | Cavallo Nero | ||
2012 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Shanghai Warrior | 1 minute 11.4 seconds |
2nd | Golden Archer | ||
3rd | Zamorar | ||
2011 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Temple Of Boom | 1 minute 10.7 seconds |
2nd | Rekindled Interest | ||
3rd | Offenders | ||
2010 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Elusive Touch | 1 minute 11.1 seconds |
2nd | Leica Larrikin | ||
3rd | Beltrois | ||
2009 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Mic Mac | 1 minute 09.7 seconds |
2nd | All American | ||
3rd | El Segundo | ||
2008 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Grand Duels | 1 minute 10.5 seconds |
2nd | Stavka | ||
3rd | Valedictum | ||
2007 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Monet Rules | 1 minute 12.0 seconds |
2nd | Orange County | ||
3rd | El Segundo | ||
2006 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Bel Danoro | 1 minute 09.9 seconds |
2nd | El Segundo | ||
3rd | Apache Cat | ||
2005 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Niconero | 1 minute 02.8 seconds |
2nd | Valedictum | ||
3rd | Tszyu | ||
2004 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | General Bayton | 1 minute 11.2 seconds |
2nd | Deprave | ||
3rd | Via De Lago | ||
2003 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Sports | 1 minute 10.2 seconds |
2nd | Naden | ||
3rd | Prince Rubiton | ||
2002 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Fields Of Omagh | 1 minute 09.4 seconds |
2nd | Pindi Ridge | ||
3rd | Gypsy Lad | ||
2001 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Sound The Alarm | 1 minute 08.9 seconds |
2nd | Slalom | ||
3rd | Le Zagaletta | ||
2000 Aurie’s Star Handicap |
1st | Roktzar | 1 minute 10.8 seconds |
2nd | Le Zagaletta | ||
3rd | Mystic Morse |