The Gilgai Stakes is a Group 2 race held at Flemington Racecourse in October as part of Turnbull Stakes Day as a possible lead-up to the VRC Champions Sprint.
2024 Gilgai Stakes Results
- 1st: #14 Right To Party
- 2nd: #1 Arkansaw Kid
- 3rd: #11 Stretan Angel
Gilgai Stakes News
The Gilgai Stakes is a Group 2 event worth $300,000 held at Flemington Racecourse on a Saturday in early October during the heart of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival as part of Turnbull Stakes Day.
A sprint race over 1200m contested under set weights plus penalties, the Gilgai Stakes attracts plenty of first-up runners kicking off their spring or horses out of earlier lead-ups like the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) over more metres at Caulfield in August.
Hosted on a massive day of racing for Turnbull Stakes Day, the Gilgai Stakes shares the race card with a host of other black type events including the:
- Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m),
- Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m),
- Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m),
- Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1400m) – also known as the Rose Of Kingston Stakes, and the
- Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m).
Proven Flemington straight track performers tend to dominate the Gilgai Stakes field and those horses that perform well often move on to similar events later in the Spring carnival, such as the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) – now known as the VRC Champions Sprint on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. In 2015 Chautauqua won the Gilgai Stakes for the second time before victory in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley next start.
The Gilgai Stakes also now serves as a potential lead-up to the world’s richest turf race, the $20 million The Everest (1200m) held at Randwick a fortnight later.
The 2020 Gilgai Stakes winner Zoutori franked the form winning the next year’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap during the autumn.
The 2022 Gilgai Stakes form was franked with the winner Private Eye running a next-up second in The Everest quinella before taking out that year’s $3 million Winners Stakes (now Russell Balding Stakes). The form was further franked with the second-placed mare in the Gilgai, Roch ‘N’ Horse, heading to Flemington for an upset win in the Group 1 Champions Sprint down the straight while Baller ran third in both the Gilgai and Champions Sprint that spring.
The Gilgai Stakes 2024 ran on Saturday October 5, 2024 at Flemington on Turnbull Stakes Day and was won in a powerful late burst by the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained equal favourite Right To Party ($5EF).
| Gilgai Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday October 5, 2024 |
| Track: | Flemington Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Race Type: | Open Set Weights + Penalties |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prize money: | $300,000 |
2024 Gilgai Stakes Results
- 1st: #14 Right To Party ($5EF)
- 2nd: #1 Arkansaw Kid
- 3rd: #11 Stretan Angel
Another trip down the Flemington straight in the Group 1 Champions Sprint this Melbourne Cup Carnival looks likely for impressive Gilgai Stakes 2024 winner Right To Party ($5EF) who chimed in late with a powerful burst to narrowly turn the tables on her last start conqueror in the Bobbie Lewis, Arkansaw Kid.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | RIGHT TO PARTY | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Jye McNeil | 8 | 56.5kg | $5EF | |||
| 2 | 1 | ARKANSAW KID | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Newitt | 0.02L | 11 | 59kg | $8 | ||
| 3 | 11 | STRETAN ANGEL | Phillip Stokes | Daniel Stackhouse | 0.42L | 2 | 57kg | $13 | ||
| 4 | 4 | MAGIC TIME | Grahame Begg | Michael Dee | 1.17L | 1 | 58kg | $5EF | ||
| 5 | 5 | RIPCORD | Luke Fernie | Damian Lane | 2.67L | 4 | 58kg | $14 | ||
| 6 | 8 | LAWS OF INDICES (IRE) | Phillip Stokes | Thomas Stockdale | 3.42L | 6 | 57kg | $101 | ||
| 7 | 12 | JOHNNY ROCKER | Nick Ryan | Ben Melham | 3.62L | 12 | 57kg | $8.50 | ||
| 8 | 7 | THE ASTROLOGIST | Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | Declan Bates | 5.12L | 9 | 57kg | $26 | ||
| 9 | 3 | CHAIN OF LIGHTNING | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Luke Nolen | 5.32L | 10 | 58kg | $6.50 | ||
| 10 | 13 | JUNGLE JIM | Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson | Jordan Childs | 5.47L | 5 | 57kg | $41 | ||
| 11 | 9 | CROSSHAVEN | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Luke Currie | 6.72L | 7 | 57kg | $41 | ||
| 12 | 2 | SGHIRRIPA | Shane & Cassie Oxlade | Harry Coffey | 10.97L | 3 | 58.5kg | $7 | ||
| 6 | PRESS DOWN | Peter Hardacre | Neil Farley | 0 | ||||||
| 10 | I AM UNSTOPPABLE | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 Gilgai Stakes Betting Odds
The season’s latest Gilgai Stakes 2024 betting odds on the Flemington Group 2 sprint race this Turnbull Stakes Day will be available below as soon as markets at Ladbrokes.com.au are available.
Private Eye ($4.80 in 2022), Star Patrol ($2.50 in 2023), Right To Party ($5 equal favourite in 2024) are the latest favourites in Gilgai Stakes betting to salute for the punters.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2024 GILGAI STAKES ODDS (Final Field)
2024 Gilgai Stakes Form
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 GILGAI STAKES FORM GUIDE
2024 Gilgai Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Gilgai Stakes 2024 Tips on the lead-up sprint showdown at Flemington this spring.
- To Win: #14 Right To Party ($7 at time of publish) – BET NOW
A smart field of straight track specialists face off in the Gilgai Stakes field on Turnbull day including Right To Party who boasts three wins from five previous starts here at Headquarters. The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained four-year-old Zoustar mare strung together a hat-trick last prep including the Group 3 Aurie’s Star before a first-up fourth only two lengths beaten at the track and trip in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis. She goes up in weight here and has drawn wider out but ticks plenty of boxes at a nice price with regular rider Jye McNeil in the saddle second-up and ready to return to winning form.
2024 Gilgai Stakes Field
The Gilgai Stakes field attracts a good quality field of sprinters each year, many racing first-up after tougher runs in the autumn.
The Gilgai Stakes 2024 field and barriers are released on the Wednesday of race week and will be provided in full below once announced by Racing Victoria.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2x2556x121 | ARKANSAW KID | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Newitt | 13 | 59kg | 101 | ||
| 2 | 13117758×3 | SGHIRRIPA | Shane & Cassie Oxlade | Harry Coffey | 3 | 58.5kg | 100 | ||
| 3 | 70x01166x8 | CHAIN OF LIGHTNING | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Luke Nolen | 12 | 58kg | 114 | ||
| 4 | 131x67180x | MAGIC TIME | Grahame Begg | Michael Dee | 1 | 58kg | 113 | ||
| 5 | 228132x30x | RIPCORD | Luke Fernie | Damian Lane | 4 | 58kg | 103 | ||
| 6 | 43x39110x1 | PRESS DOWN | Peter Hardacre | Neil Farley | 5 | 58kg | 95 | ||
| 7 | 957398×448 | THE ASTROLOGIST | Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | Declan Bates | 11 | 57kg | 99 | ||
| 8 | 2833x640x0 | LAWS OF INDICES (IRE) | Phillip Stokes | Thomas Stockdale | 7 | 57kg | 107 | ||
| 9 | 0808551277 | CROSSHAVEN | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Luke Currie | 9 | 57kg | 93 | ||
| 10 | 1x3222x89x | I AM UNSTOPPABLE | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | 8 | 57kg | 98 | ||
| 11 | 217x4262x6 | STRETAN ANGEL | Phillip Stokes | Daniel Stackhouse | 2 | 57kg | 101 | ||
| 12 | x271280x70 | JOHNNY ROCKER | Nick Ryan | Ben Melham | 14 | 57kg | 103 | ||
| 13 | x6621146x9 | JUNGLE JIM | Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson | Jordan Childs | 6 | 57kg | 89 | ||
| 14 | 0453×21114 | RIGHT TO PARTY | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Jye McNeil | 10 | 56.5kg | 102 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 Gilgai Stakes Nominations
Early nominations for the Gilgai Stakes in 2024 close the Monday leading-up to the race and will be published below once confirmed.
Gilgai Stakes History
The Gilgai Stakes was inaugurated in 1984, with Royal Troubador seizing victory in the first edition of the race. Since that day, the Gilgai Stakes has been run annually without fail. Plenty of horses have gone on from the Gilgai Stakes to other great results. In 2008, Swick went from a victory in the Gilgai Stakes to win the Patinack Farm Classic (now the VRC Darley Champions Sprint). In 2009, All Silent won the same race after placing second in the Gilgai Stakes results.
Redelva had a streak of three second places in 1989, 1990 and 1991, all faster than his only win in 1988. Temple Of Boom won with a great run in 2011, and Spirit Of Boom was able to maintain the pedigree’s success with a third in 2012 and a second in 2013.
Notable winners of the Gilgai Stakes include Placid Ark (1987), Redelva (1988), Hareeba (1994), Hay List (2010), Chautauqua (2014 – 2015), class mare Sunlight (2019), and Private Eye (2022).
Gilgai Stakes results since 2000 can be found below.
Gilgai Stakes Results
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Right To Party | 1 minute 10.31 seconds |
| 2nd | Arkansaw Kid | ||
| 3rd | Stretan Angel | ||
| 2023 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Star Patrol | 1 minute 9.87 seconds |
| 2nd | Triple Missile | ||
| 3rd | C’est Magique | ||
| 2022 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Private Eye | 1 minute 8.33 seconds |
| 2nd | Roch ‘N’ Horse | ||
| 3rd | Baller | ||
| 2021 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Kementari | 1 minute 10.57 seconds |
| 2nd | Zoutori | ||
| 3rd | Kemalpasa | ||
| 2020 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Zoutori | 1 minute 8.38 seconds |
| 2nd | Dollar For Dollar | ||
| 3rd | Kemalpasa | ||
| 2019 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Sunlight | 1 minute 9.42 seconds |
| 2nd | Santa Ana Lane | ||
| 3rd | Zoutori | ||
| 2018 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | I Am Excited | 1 minute 9.11 seconds |
| 2nd | Edurado | ||
| 3rd | Bons Away | ||
| 2017 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Keen Array | 1 minute 9.28 seconds |
| 2nd | Sold For Song | ||
| 3rd | Malibu Style | ||
| 2016 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | The Quarterback | 1 minute 9.07 seconds |
| 2nd | We’ve Got This | ||
| 3rd | Durendal | ||
| 2015 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Chautauqua | 1 minute 9.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Delectation | ||
| 3rd | Knoydart | ||
| 2014 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Chautauqua | 1 minute 8.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Bounding | ||
| 3rd | Final Crescendo | ||
| 2013 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Platelet | 1 minute 10.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Spirit Of Boom | ||
| 3rd | Steps In Time | ||
| 2012 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Hallowell Belle | 1 minute 08.8 seconds |
| 2nd | King’s Rose | ||
| 3rd | Spirit Of Boom | ||
| 2011 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Temple Of Boom | 1 minute 10.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Sistine Angel | ||
| 3rd | Response | ||
| 2010 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Hay List | 1 minute 08.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Catapulted | ||
| 3rd | Chasm | ||
| 2009 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | All Silent | 1 minute 09.8 seconds |
| 2nd | First Command | ||
| 3rd | Light Fantastic | ||
| 2008 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | El Cambio | 1 minute 10.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Swick | ||
| 3rd | Murtajill | ||
| 2007 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Stanzout | 1 minute 10.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Shadoways | ||
| 3rd | Valedictum | ||
| 2006 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Fast N Famous | 1 minute 08.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Shadoways | ||
| 3rd | Dance Hero | ||
| 2005 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Falkirk | 1 minute 07.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Glamour Puss | ||
| 3rd | Recapitalize | ||
| 2004 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Recapitalize | 1 minute 09.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Falkirk | ||
| 3rd | Amtrak | ||
| 2003 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Bomber Bill | 1 minute 09.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Mr. Magoo | ||
| 3rd | Red Labelle | ||
| 2002 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Cosmic Strike | 1 minute 09.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Strategic Image | ||
| 3rd | Rubitano | ||
| 2001 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Belle Du Jour | 1 minute 10.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Point Danger | ||
| 3rd | Gold Class | ||
| 2000 Gilgai Stakes |
1st | Bomber Bill | 1 minute 08.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Sports | ||
| 3rd | Umrum | ||
