The Light Fingers Stakes is a Group 2 sprint held at Royal Randwick Racecourse during the Sydney Autumn Carnival for 3YO fillies.
2024 Light Fingers Stakes Results
- 1st: #1 Kimochi
- 2nd: #3 Learning To Fly
- 3rd: #5 Kristilli
Light Fingers Stakes News
- Light Fingers Results: Fangirl Beats Espiona Ahead of Surround Stakes 2022
- 2022 Apollo Stakes Day: Randwick Scratchings & Track Report
- Upset Light Fingers Winner Every Rose Firms for Surround Stakes 2021
- Away Game Leads 2021 Light Fingers Stakes Field & Odds
- 2020 Light Fingers Stakes Results: Surround Stakes Calls for Flit
The Light Fingers Stakes is a Group 2 race held at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney every February worth $300,000 in total prize money as of 2024.
Run over a distance of 1200m, the Light Fingers Stakes is open to three-year-old fillies and is contested with set weights. It takes place on Apollo Stakes Day during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and is accompanied by three other Group status races with the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m), and Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m).
The race is named in honour of New Zealand bred mare Light Fingers who won the Melbourne Cup in 1965 and was the first Cup winner for legendary trainer Bart Cummings.
Many of the fillies in the Light Fingers Stakes field are kicking off their autumn campaigns, and some may have run in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at the track during the spring including in 2016 – 2017 when Global Glamour won both races, and in 2017-18 when Alizee repeated the same double.
The 2024 Light Fingers Stakes winner Kimochi (2nd in 2023) was the latest to have had a Flight Stakes run the year prior.
Fillies out of the race often continue on to contest later season features including the recently upgraded Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on Verry Elleegant Stakes Day and even the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in March.
Nakeeta Jane (2019) was the last filly to complete the Light Fingers – Surround Stakes double.
Fangirl (2022) was the last filly to complete the Light Fingers – Vinery Stud Stakes double.
The 2022 Light Fingers Stakes form was further franked with the Light Fingers – Vinery double winner Fangirl returning in the spring for a second in the $10 million Golden Eagle.
In 2023 the Light Fingers Stakes winner In Secret won first-up having claimed Flemington’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) over the Melbourne Cup Carnival the spring before.
In Secret went on to frank the Light Fingers Stakes 2023 form with a third in the Surround Stakes at her next start before winning Melbourne’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m). The Surround Stakes winner in 2023 meanwhile was Light Fingers runner-up Sunshine In Paris.
The Light Fingers Stakes 2024 ran on Saturday February 17, 2024 at Royal Randwick and saw the Gary Portelli-trained Kimochi ($6.50) dig deep for her first Group status win.
| 2024 Light Fingers Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday February 17, 2024 |
| Track: | Royal Randwick Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Race Type: | 3YO Fillies Set Weights 56kg |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prize Money: | $300,000 |
2024 Light Fingers Stakes Results
- 1st: #1 Kimochi ($6.50)
- 2nd: #3 Learning To Fly
- 3rd: #5 Kristilli
After a string of frustrating runner-up finishes last spring, Gary Portelli’s filly Kimochi finally shed her bridesmaid tag in dramatic fashion. In a thrilling Light Fingers Stakes 2024 victory, the $6.50 shot held off the fast-finishing Learning To Fly in a heart-pounding first-up battle. This win marks a well-deserved breakthrough for the talented filly and sets the stage for an exciting autumn campaign.
Click here to read more on the deserving Light Fingers Stakes 2024 win by Kimochi.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | KIMOCHI | Gary Portelli | Jason Collett | 3 | 56kg | $6.50 | |||
| 2 | 3 | LEARNING TO FLY | Annabel Neasham | Chad Schofield | 0.07L | 11 | 56kg | $4.20F | ||
| 3 | 5 | KRISTILLI | Annabel Neasham | Zac Lloyd (a) | 1.83L | 8 | 56kg | $18 | ||
| 4 | 12 | STEFI MAGNETICA | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 2.26L | 9 | 56kg | $26 | ||
| 5 | 7 | FACILE | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tim Clark | 2.6L | 2 | 56kg | $13 | ||
| 6 | 2 | TIZ INVINCIBLE | Ciaron Maher | James McDonald | 2.83L | 10 | 56kg | $4.60 | ||
| 7 | 9 | ARCTIC GLAMOUR | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Kerrin McEvoy | 3.09L | 7 | 56kg | $6.50 | ||
| 8 | 6 | AUTUMN BALLET | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 3.96L | 1 | 56kg | $14 | ||
| 9 | 11 | KIND WORDS | Kris Lees | Sam Clipperton | 5.38L | 5 | 56kg | $81 | ||
| 10 | 4 | MUMBAI MUSE | Michael Freedman | Tommy Berry | 16.33L | 4 | 56kg | $6.50 | ||
| 11 | 13 | I’M A STEEL | Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 18L | 6 | 56kg | $81 | ||
| 8 | WEST OF DALBY | Benjamin Smith | Brock Ryan | 0 | ||||||
| 10 | BALLROOM BELLA | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tyler Schiller | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 Light Fingers Stakes Betting Odds
The Light Fingers Stakes 2024 odds and betting market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be provided below the week of Apollo Stakes Day.
In Secret ($1.95 in 2023) was the last favourite in Light Fingers Stakes betting to salute for the punters.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2024 LIGHT FINGERS STAKES ODDS (Final Field)
2024 Light Fingers Stakes Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 LIGHT FINGERS STAKES FORM GUIDE
2024 Light Fingers Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Light Fingers Stakes 2024 Tips on the Apollo Stakes Day event this summer – autumn racing season.
- To Win: #1 Kimochi ($9 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Godolphin’s Brave Smash filly Kimochi emerges as a potential value pick, offering a chance to finally shed her bridesmaid label and claim a deserved Group 2 victory. The consistent filly has built a remarkable streak of eight second or third-place finishes in her nine career starts, demonstrating her talent and competitiveness. Last spring, she impressed in the Princess Series, recording a string of three frustrating runner-up finishes, culminating in the prestigious Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m). Undeterred, she continued her strong form southward, placing second in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas. Her recent eye-catching trial at Warwick Farm behind the promising Learning To Fly further confirms her current fitness and readiness. While consistency has been her hallmark, she now looks primed to take that final step and secure her first victory in a Group status race. Her combination of proven ability, strong recent form, and potentially underrated status makes her an intriguing option in this competitive field.
2024 Light Fingers Stakes Field
The Light Fingers Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of the autumn’s best three-year-old fillies, many of which are first-up off spring races including the Thousand Guineas in Melbourne.
The official Light Fingers Stakes 2024 field and barriers will be announced on Wednesday February 14, 2024 and published in full below.
The 2024 Light Fingers Stakes final field features a quality line-up of Group 1-bound fillies including James Cummings’ last start Thousand Guineas runner-up Kimochi and the returning Learning To Fly who races for the first time since pulling up lame after severe interference in the Golden Slipper nearly a year ago.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13x322232x | KIMOCHI | Gary Portelli | Jason Collett | 3 | 56kg | 96 | ||
| 2 | 42x11169x | TIZ INVINCIBLE | Ciaron Maher | James McDonald | 12 | 56kg | 92 | ||
| 3 | 111Lx | LEARNING TO FLY | Annabel Neasham | Chad Schofield | 13 | 56kg | 90 | ||
| 4 | 35x43911x | MUMBAI MUSE | Michael Freedman | Tommy Berry | 4 | 56kg | 87 | ||
| 5 | 21x08x4 | KRISTILLI | Annabel Neasham | Zac Lloyd (a) | 8 | 56kg | 84 | ||
| 6 | 15x188x | AUTUMN BALLET | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 1 | 56kg | 83 | ||
| 7 | 2x522x120x | FACILE | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tim Clark | 2 | 56kg | 80 | ||
| 8 | 189x05121x | WEST OF DALBY | Benjamin Smith | Brock Ryan | 11 | 56kg | 79 | ||
| 9 | 32x1165x | ARCTIC GLAMOUR | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 56kg | 77 | ||
| 10 | 7x1122x | BALLROOM BELLA | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tyler Schiller | 10 | 56kg | 71 | ||
| 11 | 24x4012x | KIND WORDS | Kris Lees | Sam Clipperton | 5 | 56kg | 70 | ||
| 12 | 56x331x123 | STEFI MAGNETICA | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 9 | 56kg | 67 | ||
| 13 | 181 | I’M A STEEL | Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 6 | 56kg | 61 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 Light Fingers Stakes Nominations
The 2024 Light Fingers Stakes nominations will be published here once released by Racing NSW on Monday February 12, 2024.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 111Lx | LEARNING TO FLY | F | 3 | Annabel Neasham | 1 | 56kg | 90 | ||
| 2 | 11x007121x | ZARDOZI | F | 3 | James Cummings | 2 | 56kg | 102 | ||
| 3 | 21x08x4 | KRISTILLI | F | 3 | Annabel Neasham | 3 | 56kg | 84 | ||
| 4 | 13x322232x | KIMOCHI | F | 3 | Gary Portelli | 4 | 56kg | 96 | ||
| 5 | 42x11169x | TIZ INVINCIBLE | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 5 | 56kg | 92 | ||
| 6 | x9838x2261 | INFATUATION | F | 3 | Bjorn Baker | 6 | 56kg | 79 | ||
| 7 | 35x43911x | MUMBAI MUSE | F | 3 | Michael Freedman | 7 | 56kg | 87 | ||
| 8 | 15x188x | AUTUMN BALLET | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 8 | 56kg | 83 | ||
| 9 | 2x522x120x | FACILE | F | 3 | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | 9 | 56kg | 80 | ||
| 10 | 32x1165x | ARCTIC GLAMOUR | F | 3 | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | 10 | 56kg | 77 | ||
| 11 | 189x05121x | WEST OF DALBY | F | 3 | Benjamin Smith | 11 | 56kg | 79 | ||
| 12 | 56x331x123 | STEFI MAGNETICA | F | 3 | Bjorn Baker | 12 | 56kg | 67 | ||
| 13 | 7x1122x | BALLROOM BELLA | F | 3 | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | 13 | 56kg | 71 | ||
| 14 | 24x4012x | KIND WORDS | F | 3 | Kris Lees | 14 | 56kg | 70 | ||
| 15 | 2x19140x6 | FRENCH ENDEAVOUR | F | 3 | Matthew Smith | 15 | 56kg | 74 | ||
| 16 | 313 | BALLET D’ESPRIT | F | 3 | Michael Freedman | 16 | 56kg | 64 | ||
| 17 | 181 | I’M A STEEL | F | 3 | Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | 17 | 56kg | 61 | ||
| 18 | 1×3 | THE HAWKESBURY | F | 3 | Clarry Conners | 18 | 56kg | 62 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Light Fingers Stakes History
The Light Fingers Stakes was classified as a Listed race from 1983 until 1985 before it was granted Group 2 status in 1986. However, in 1987 the race status was changed to Group 3. In 1991 the Light Fingers Stakes regained it’s Group 2 status and has held it ever since.
Notable recent Light Fingers Stakes winners include subsequent Surround Stakes champ Nakeeta Jane (2018), Alizee (2018), Global Glamour (2017) who won the previous spring’s Flight Stakes – Thousand Guineas double, Sweet Idea (2014), Sea Siren (2012), and More Joyous (2010).
In 2020 the Light Fingers Stakes trifecta featured all Godolphin-raced Group 1 fillies with Flit (Thousand Guineas) defeating Lyre (Blue Diamond Stakes) and Kiamichi (Golden Slipper).
See below for the Light Fingers Stakes results dating back to 2000.
Recent Light Fingers Stakes Winners
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Kimochi | 1 minute 9.35 seconds |
| 2nd | Learning To Fly | ||
| 3rd | Kristilli | ||
| 2023 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | In Secret | 1 minute 10.20 seconds |
| 2nd | Sunshine In Paris | ||
| 3rd | Cinderella Days | ||
| 2022 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Fangirl | 1 minute 9.88 seconds |
| 2nd | Espiona | ||
| 3rd | Jamaea | ||
| 2021 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Every Rose | 1 minute 10.75 seconds |
| 2nd | Never Talk | ||
| 3rd | Away Game | ||
| 2020 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Flit | 1 minute 10.17 seconds |
| 2nd | Lyre | ||
| 3rd | Kiamichi | ||
| 2019 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Nakeeta Jane | 1 minute 9.12 seconds |
| 2nd | Madam Rouge | ||
| 3rd | Pohutukawa | ||
| 2018 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Alizee | 1 minute 10.06 seconds |
| 2nd | Shumookh | ||
| 3rd | Torvill | ||
| 2017 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Global Glamour | 1 minute 09.70 seconds |
| 2nd | Foxplay | ||
| 3rd | Spright | ||
| 2016 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Perignon | 1 minute 9.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Kangarilla | ||
| 3rd | Tempt Me Not | ||
| 2015 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Adrift | 1 minute 9.4 seconds |
| 2nd | First Seal | ||
| 3rd | Slightly Sweet | ||
| 2014 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Sweet Idea | 1 minute 9.09 seconds |
| 2nd | Gypsy Diamond | ||
| 3rd | Champagne Cath | ||
| 2013 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Bennetta | 1 minute 10.16 seconds |
| 2nd | Ichihara | ||
| 3rd | Dear Demi | ||
| 2012 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Sea Siren | 1 minute 16.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Streama | ||
| 3rd | Hallowell Belle | ||
| 2011 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Obsequious | 1 minute 09.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Red Tracer | ||
| 3rd | Parables | ||
| 2010 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | More Joyous | 1 minute 9.80 seconds |
| 2nd | Trim | ||
| 3rd | Sweepstaking | ||
| 2009 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Rock Me Baby | 1 minute 11.39 seconds |
| 2nd | Samantha Miss | ||
| 3rd | Glowlamp | ||
| 2008 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Forensics | 1 minute 10.56 seconds |
| 2nd | Sliding Cube | ||
| 3rd | Seething Duck | ||
| 2007 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Gold Edition | 1 minute 9.07 seconds |
| 2nd | Montana Sunset | ||
| 3rd | Montmelo | ||
| 2006 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Street Smart | 1 minute 9.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Regal Cheer | ||
| 3rd | Paulini | ||
| 2005 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Trezevant | 1 minute 10 seconds |
| 2nd | One In A Million | ||
| 3rd | But I’m Serious | ||
| 2004 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Sharp | 1 minute 8.72 seconds |
| 2nd | Generosa | ||
| 3rd | Hinting | ||
| 2003 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Only Glory | 1 minute 11.22 seconds |
| 2nd | Chuckle | ||
| 3rd | Bumptious | ||
| 2002 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Ancient Song | 1 minute 10.98 seconds |
| 2nd | Hosannah | ||
| 3rd | Shouq | ||
| 2001 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Lady Mulan | 1 minute 9.61 seconds |
| 2nd | Maitland Gold | ||
| 3rd | Belle Du Jour | ||
| 2000 Light Fingers Stakes |
1st | Camena | 1 minute 9.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Miss Zoe | ||
| 3rd | Hut | ||
This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team.
