The Winners Stakes - run as the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes from 2024 onwards - is a Special Conditions feature run at Rosehill each spring on the Golden Eagle Day.
2024 Russell Balding Stakes Results
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) News
The Russell Balding Stakes – formerly the Winners Stakes – is a $3,000,000 Special Conditions race run and won in late October or early November on the Golden Eagle Day in Sydney.
Russell Balding Stakes 2024 Odds
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Private Eye (1)
J: Jay Ford 57.5kg
T: Joseph Pride |
||
| Useful gelding. Most recently 6th of 11 at Randwick in the G1 Everest on October 19 over 1200m, on a slow track; 1.5 len behind Bella Nipotina carrying 58.5kg at $26. The run before that eased back early on 6th of 11 at Randwick in the G2 The Shorts on September 21 over 1100m, 1.5 len behind I Am Me carrying 57kg at $5. Close to a win and the extra trip suits. | ||
|
2. King Of Sparta (4)
J: Joao Moreira 57.5kg
T: Peter Snowden |
||
| Second-up today. Last outing 4th of 18 at Randwick in the G3 Sydney Stks on October 19 over 1200m, slow going 2.25 len behind Overpass carrying 58.5kg at $11. At only start last preparation 6th of 14 at Ascot Quokka on April 20 over 1200m, 2.25 len behind Overpass with 58.5kg at $5. Strips fitter and expected to go close with his good second-up record. | ||
|
3. Bella Nipotina (3)
J: Craig Williams 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
| Useful type. Last start raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by a nose at Randwick G1 Everest October 19 over 1200m on a rain affected track defeating Giga Kick carrying 56.5kg at $9. Before that 3rd of 7 at Randwick in the G2 Premiere on October 5 over 1200m, neck behind Airman with 56.5kg at $2.40. Champion mare who can get the job done again. | ||
|
4. Sunshine In Paris (8)
J: Tommy Berry 56.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming ran on from midfield and won by a neck at this track G2 Sheraco September 14 over 1200m defeating Mumbai Muse carrying 58kg at $3.80. Second-up 5th of 11 at Randwick in the G1 Everest on October 19 over 1200m, slow going 1.5 len behind Bella Nipotina carrying 56.5kg at $7. Look for her charging late. | ||
|
5. Lady Laguna (9)
J: Tyler Schiller 56.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up 7th of 10 at Randwick in the G3 Toy Show on August 24 over 1100m, 2.5 len behind Kimochi carrying 61kg at $8.50. Last start 6th of 18 at Randwick in the G3 Sydney Stks on October 19 over 1200m, on a slow track; 4 len behind Overpass with 56.5kg at $19. Slim place prospects. | ||
|
6. Mazu (6)
J: Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
T: Joseph Pride |
||
| Useful type. At the latest run 5th of 18 at Randwick in the G3 Sydney Stks on October 19 over 1200m, slow going 3 len behind Overpass carrying 58.5kg at $7. The race before that raced on the pace when 2nd of 7 at Randwick in the G2 Premiere on October 5 over 1200m, head behind Airman with 58.5kg at $7. Has been racing well. Can figure in the minor placings. | ||
|
7. Phearson (10)
J: Tom Sherry 56.5kg
T: Brad Widdup |
||
| Most recently 5th of 15 at Caulfield in the G3 Moonga Stks on October 19 over 1400m, slow going 3.5 len behind Mighty Ulysses carrying 58.5kg at $21. The start before that second last of 12 at Randwick in the G3 Bill Ritchie on September 21 over 1400m, 10 len behind Mchale carrying 56.5kg at $16. Outclassed in this contest. | ||
|
8. Coal Crusher (2)
J: Chad Schofield 56kg
T: Joseph Pride |
||
| Last start sat on speed throughout when 2nd of 18 at Randwick in the G3 Sydney Stks on October 19 over 1200m, slow going 1.5 len behind Overpass carrying 58.5kg at $61. Before that faded in the straight 5th of 7 at Randwick in the G2 Premiere on October 5 over 1200m, 1.3 len behind Airman carrying 58.5kg at $51. Needs to take another step to trouble some of these. | ||
|
10. Rocketing By (7)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 56kg
T: David Pfieffer |
||
| Dual acceptor. Second run back. First-up after three months got back early 13th of 18 at Randwick in the G3 Sydney Stks on October 19 over 1200m, on a slow track; 7 len behind Overpass carrying 58.5kg at $101. Previously second-up 7th of 16 at Wagga Town Plate on May 2 over 1200m, 2 len behind The Prodigal Son carrying 59.5kg at $8.50. Looks tested on the first up effort. | ||
|
11. Flying Crazy (11)
J: Reece Jones 56kg
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
||
| Resuming after a break of four months. Finished off last preparation seventh of 11 at Randwick in the LR Winter Stk July 6 over 1400m, in the wet; 3.5 len behind Tamerlane carrying 53kg at $16. Previously first up; seventh of 10 at Caulfield in the LR Bel Esprit March 16 over 1200m, 3 len behind Brudenell carrying 57.5kg at $26. Later on. | ||
|
12. I Am Me (5)
J: Zac Lloyd 55.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
| At the latest run second last of 11 at Randwick in the G1 Everest on October 19 over 1200m, on a slow track; 3.5 len behind Bella Nipotina with 56.5kg at $13. The start before that raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by a head at Randwick G2 The Shorts September 21 over 1100m defeating Stefi Magnetica carrying 55kg at $2.50. Finds an easier race this time and can bounce back. | ||
| 9. Tamerlane (2) | ||
Data retrieved: 01/11/2024 09:10:08 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
Part of the wider $60 million The Everest Racing Carnival, the spring feature is run alongside the lucrative $10 million The Golden Eagle (1500m) for four-year-olds and the $750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m).
In 2024 the event was renamed the Russell Balding Stakes in honour Racing NSW’s former Chairman, Russell Balding, who played a crucial role in the creation and evolution of the now iconic Sydney Everest Carnival and the former Winners Stakes race.
Previously, each season’s edition of this race was renamed in honour of the previous year’s The Everest winner.
On the same date in Melbourne Flemington Racecourse is host to the coveted Victoria Derby Day program that kicks off the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
A set weights plus penalties event open to sprinters aged three and above the Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) takes place over 1300m.
The multi-million-dollar showdown makes an excellent next-up target for horses out of that year’s $20 million The Everest race.
The first four Winners Stakes champions – Pierata (5th in 2019), Gytrash (3rd in 2020), Eduardo (3rd in 2021) and Private Eye (2nd in 2022) – were all The Everest graduates.
The inaugural Winners Stakes was known as the Redzel Stakes in honour of the first and two-time The Everest hero Redzel (2017, 2018).
The 2020 edition ran as the Yes Yes Yes Stakes following the 2019 The Everest success of the Chris Waller-trained three-year-old Yes Yes Yes.
The 2021 Winners Stakes was known as the Classique Legend Stakes after the classy grey who won the 2020 The Everest race.
The 2022 Winners Stakes was named the Nature Strip Stakes following the 2021 The Everest win by Chris Waller’s super sprinter Nature Strip.
The Winners Stakes 2022 form was franked with the runner-up Mazu going on to place third in the following autumn’s Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
The 2023 Winners Stakes ran as the Giga Kick Stakes after the upset 2022 The Everest victory by the then undefeated three-year-old at 20/1.
The 2024 Winners Stakes will take place as the Russell Balding Stakes, meaning the 2023 The Everest winner Think About It will go without an event in his honour.
The 2024 Winners Stakes takes place at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, November 2, 2024 as the Russell Balding Stakes offering $3 million in prize money.
| 2024 Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday, November 2, 2024 |
| Track: | Rosehill Gardens |
| Distance: | 1300m |
| Race Type: | 3YOs & Above – Set Weights + Penalties |
| Status: | Special Condition |
| Prize Money: | $3,000,000 |
2024 Russell Balding Stakes Results
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
2024 Russell Balding (Winners Stakes) Betting
The Russell Balding (Winners Stakes) 2024 betting odds will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and published here at Races.com.au.
Pierata ($2.60 in 2019), Gytrash ($3.60 in 2020) and Eduardo ($3 in 2021) all saluted for the punters giving the favourites in Winners Stakes betting a flawless record after the opening three editions of the event.
In 2022 the Winners Stakes winner Private Eye paid $5.50, while the favourite Lost And Running ran a disappointing seventh.
Private Eye returned to run second in 2023 behind upset winner Bella Nipotina who jumped at Giga Kick Stakes odds of $10 while Think About It ran third as the beaten odds-on favourite.
2024 Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 RUSSELL BALDING STAKES FORM GUIDE
2024 Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Russell Balding Stakes 2024 Tips on the $3 million showdown this Golden Eagle Day in Sydney.
- To Win: #3 Bella Nipotina ($2.70 at time of publish) – BET NOW
How do you bet against a mare in this vein of form? You don’t! Bella made history as the first mare to win The Everest last time out and she stands every chance to salute again in the Russell Balding this weekend at Rosehill to add to her incredible season. Ciaron Maher’s Pride Of Dubai seven-year-old is all class, gets the run of the race from a gun gate four draw, and has big race man C. Williams in the saddle. She is fourth-up and fit, full of confidence after winning the world’s richest turf race, is proven at this track, and has winning form up to 1400m so the 1300m is a non-issue. Won the Tatt’s Tiara at the end of her winter campaign and think she’ll see out the spring a winner in another lucrative event here.
2024 Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) Field
The confirmed Russell Balding Stakes 2024 field of sprinters will be detailed below as soon as available.
Many horses in the field may have contested the previous month’s Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick and Gytrash (2020) was the last to do the double.
The 2024 Russell Balding Stakes field features a dozen quality spring staying types led in betting by Ciaron Maher’s last start The Everest winning mare Bella Nipotina.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x26034x466 | PRIVATE EYE | Joseph Pride | Jay Ford | 1 | 57.5kg | 112 | ||
| 2 | x28211x6x4 | KING OF SPARTA | Peter Snowden | Joao Moreira | 5 | 57.5kg | 111 | ||
| 3 | 241221×231 | BELLA NIPOTINA | Ciaron Maher | Craig Williams | 4 | 56.5kg | 120 | ||
| 4 | 1x1x254x15 | SUNSHINE IN PARIS | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Tommy Berry | 9 | 56.5kg | 114 | ||
| 5 | 1112120×76 | LADY LAGUNA | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Tyler Schiller | 10 | 56.5kg | 113 | ||
| 6 | x50172x325 | MAZU | Joseph Pride | Nash Rawiller | 7 | 56.5kg | 111 | ||
| 7 | x1000x3905 | PHEARSON | Brad Widdup | Tom Sherry | 11 | 56.5kg | 101 | ||
| 8 | x25450x052 | COAL CRUSHER | Joseph Pride | Chad Schofield | 3 | 56kg | 111 | ||
| 9 | 1412x9817x | TAMERLANE | James Cummings | Ben Melham | 2 | 56kg | 107 | ||
| 10 | 6x870926x0 | ROCKETING BY | David Pfieffer | Kerrin McEvoy | 8 | 56kg | 96 | ||
| 11 | 8x7895297x | FLYING CRAZY | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Reece Jones | 12 | 56kg | 90 | ||
| 12 | 22x344x110 | I AM ME | Ciaron Maher | Zac Lloyd (a) | 6 | 55.5kg | 115 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 Russell Balding Stakes (Winners Stakes) Nominations
Nominations for the 2024 Russell Balding Stakes close the Monday of race week.
Winners Stakes / Russell Balding Stakes History
The Winners Stakes was first run in 2019 and won by the punters’ pick Pierata who improved on a lead-up fifth in that year’s The Everest race.
In its second running The Everest third place-getter Gytrash made it two-from-two for the favourites saluting in the 2020 race run on a Heavy track.
The flawless run of favourites continued with that year’s The Everest third place-getter Eduardo saluting for the punters at $3 in 2021. Eduardo won in 1:15.16 a record for the race.
Winners Stakes prize money was increased from $1 million to $3 million ahead of the 2022 edition which saw that year’s The Everest runner-up Private Eye win the race run as the Nature Strip Stakes.
Bella Nipotina for her 2023 upset became the first mare to salute in the Winners Stakes.
In 2024 the event was renamed the Russell Balding Stakes.
Past Winners Stakes / Russell Balding Stakes Winners
Previous Winners Stakes / Russell Balding Stakes winners going back to the race’s inauguration in 2019 are detailed below.
| YEAR | WINNER | 2ND | 3RD | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024(Russell Balding Stakes) | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2023(Giga Kick Stakes) | Bella Nipotina | Private Eye | Think About It | 1:15.50 |
| 2022(Nature Strip Stakes) | Private Eye | Mazu | Kementari | 1:15.93 |
| 2021(Classique Legend Stakes) | Eduardo | Lost And Running | Standout | 1:15.16 |
| 2020(Yes Yes Yes Stakes) | Gytrash | Haut Brion Her | Imaging | 1:17.85 |
| 2019(Redzel Stakes) | Pierata | Trekking | Le Romain | 1:16.59 |
Race comments
BELLA NIPOTINA (3) courageous mare who was ridden a treat from the outside gate when sitting on the speed for a fighting nose win over 1200m in the G1 The Everest at Randwick last time out. Won this race last year and she should be able to defend her title from the good gate. SUNSHINE IN PARIS (4) snagged back early from the sticky draw and returned good sectionals late when a narrow fifth over 1200m in the G1 The Everest at Randwick. Poorly drawn again but racing like she will appreciate this trip. Good enough to take this out. KING OF SPARTA (2) massive performance first-up from the outside gate when rattling late to finish fourth over 1200m at Randwick in the G3 Sydney Stakes on October 19. Dynamite second-up and has each-way prospects. PRIVATE EYE (1) tough old gelding who won this race in 2022. Kept finding from the awkward gate when a close-up sixth over 1200m at Randwick in the G1 Everest. Winkers go on and can race closer from the inside gate.