The Caulfield Yalumba Stakes is a Group 1 weight-for-age
race over 2000 metres steeped in history. The race is held in October
each year at Caulfield during the Spring Racing Carnival.
Race Type: Group 1 WFA 3YO
& up
Distance: 2000m
Track: Caulfield Racecourse,
Melbourne, Victoria
The Caulfield Stakes was first run over 9 furlongs on Melbourne Cup
Day in 1886 when it was won by a horse called Isonomy. It was transferred
to Guineas Day in 1887, and in 1887 and 1888 it was ran over 10 furlongs.
In 1889 it returned to the 9 furlong distance which was run until 1967.
In 1968 the distance was made 2000 metres, and in 1979 it was made a
Group 1 race.
The WFA race is for three-year-olds and up and carries prizemoney of
$400,000. Previously the race was known as the Caulfield Stakes but
since 1997 it has been referred to as the Yalumba Stakes. The last three-year-old
to win was Mighty Kingdom in 1979, and no three-year-old filly has ever
won the race
Champions are scattered all through the list of past winners, and there
are many horses that have won both the Yalumba Stakes and the Cox Plate,
which is the most prestigious weight-for-age race in Australia. The
list of Yalumba and Cox Plate winners includes Northerly (2001), Might
and Power (1998), Almaarad (1989), Bonecrusher (1986), Kingston Town
(1981 & 1982), Family of Man (1977), Gunsynd (1972), Rising Fast
(1954), Amana (1943), Tranquil Star (1942), Ajax (1938) and Young Idea
(1936).
Tranquil Star is the only mare to complete this double, while Rising
Fast in 1954 also won the Melbourne Cup, Turnbull Stakes, Mackinnon
Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in an unparalleled spring campaign.
