CS Hayes Stakes News

Australian Guineas Odds Firm on 2022 CS Hayes Winner Pinstriped

• Black Caviar Lightning Day 2022: Flemington Scratchings & Track Report
• 2021 CS Hayes Winner Tagaloa Firms in Australian Guineas Betting
• 2021 Black Caviar Lightning Day: Flemington Scratchings & Track Report
• Australian Guineas 2020 Next for Tough CS Hayes Winner Alligator Blood
• 2020 Black Caviar Lightning Day: Flemington Scratchings & Track Report

The CS Hayes Stakes is a Group 3 race held in mid-late February annually at the esteemed Flemington Racecourse in Victoria during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

One of the feature Group races held on Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Day, the event takes place along with the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m), Group 3 The Vanity (1200m), and the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m). Run over the middle-sprint distance of 1400m, the CS Hayes Stakes is an event for three-year-old colts and geldings at set weights plus penalties and is worth $200,000 in total prize money.

The handy runners that contest the CS Hayes Stakes will often progress on to the Group 2 Alistair Clarke Stakes (1600m) a fortnight later or the prestigious Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) in early March. The CS Hayes – Australian Guineas double has recently been completed by Wandjina (2015), Hey Doc (2017), Grunt (2018), and Alligator Blood (2020) making it a popular autumn punt.

In 2024 Riff Rocket became the first galloper in 30 years, since Mahogany (1993/94), to win the Victoria Derby and back-up to win the CS Hayes the following season. 

The 2024 CS Hayes Stakes took place at Flemington on Saturday February 17, 2024 as part of Black Caviar Lightning Day and was won in an excellent first-up performance by Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring Riff Rocket ($7).

2024 CS Hayes Stakes Results

• 1st: #1 Riff Rocket ($7)
• 2nd: #2 King Colorado
• 3rd: #9 Verdad

Superstar stayer Riff Rocket ($7) wasted no time proving his versatility, cruising to a dominant three-quarter length victory in the CS Hayes Stakes 2024 results at Flemington. Fresh off his triumphant Victoria Derby win in the spring, Chris Waller’s champion showed he’s more than just a distance ace, marking his class in this first-up outing. This sets the stage for ambitious Group 1 targets over further distances, including the prestigious Australian Guineas on March 2nd. Riff Rocket is clearly one to watch as he sets his sights on bigger prizes.

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2024 CS Hayes Stakes Betting

The latest CS Hayes Stakes 2024 betting odds and market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be available the week of the race.

Alligator Blood ($1.80 in 2020) and Pinstriped ($5.50EF in 2022*) are the last favourites in CS Hayes Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

*Note: In 2022 the pre-race favourite Lightsaber was scratched at the barriers.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2024 CS HAYES STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2024 CS Hayes Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 CS HAYES STAKES FORM GUIDE

2024 CS Hayes Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider CS Hayes Stakes 2024 Tips on the autumn lead-up this season.

• To Win: #1 Riff Rocket ($6 at time of publish) – BET NOW

The bookies are backing King Colorado thanks to his fitness edge, but savvy punters are eyeing Riff Rocket as a potential value play. While the VRC Derby champion will likely improve over longer distances, his two-from-two first-up record and unbeaten streak at Flemington are hard to ignore. Trained by the master, Chris Waller, Riff Rocket boasts an impressive consistency, finishing outside the top two only once in his seven-race career. With a good draw and Craig Williams in top form, he has the potential to cause an upset.

CS Hayes Stakes Field

The CS Hayes Stakes field attracts a smart line-up of three-year-old colts and geldings each autumn, many eyeing a return to the track the next month for a shot at the Group 1 Australian Guineas over a mile.

Recent Australian Guineas winners to come off a run in the CS Hayes Stakes field include Wandjina (2015) who completed the double, Palentino (2nd in 2016), Hey Doc (1st in 2017), Grunt (1st in 2018), Alligator Blood (2020) who was the last CS Hayes winner to also win the Australian Guineas, and Lunar Fox (12th in 2021).

The CS Hayes Stakes 2024 field and barriers will be released the Wednesday before the race runs on Black Caviar Lightning Day and will be published below.

The 2024 CS Hayes Stakes final field features a quality line-up of potential Australian Guineas-bound youngsters including reigning VRC Derby champ Riff Rocket racing first-up and Ciaron Maher’s last start Manfred Stakes runner-up King Colorado. 

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2024 CS Hayes Stakes Nominations

The 2024 CS Hayes Stakes race nominations close the Monday of race week and will be listed in full below as soon as released by Racing Victoria.

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

CS Hayes Stakes History

The CS Hayes Stakes was inaugurated in 1987 and the first race was won by Raveneaux.

It began as a Listed race run over 1400m and was originally known as The Debonair. For one year in 1990 the race distance was decreased to 1200m before reverting back to 1400m.

In 1994 the race was called the Vanuatu stakes and was run over 1420m. The following year in 1995 the race name went back to The Debonair but the race distance was 1432m.

In 1996 the race distance was 1433m and then in 1997 went back to the original 1400m length. In 2001 the race reached Group 3 status. A couple of years later in 2003 the distance was 1420m and the next year the length was 1410m. In 2006 the distance went back to 1400m but in 2007 a shorter race was held over 1200m. In 2008 the distance was again 1400m.

CS Hayes Stakes Winners

CS Hayes Stakes results and winning times since 2000 are provided below.

This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team.