Canterbury Stakes Race Information

The Canterbury Stakes is an important middle-distance sprint event in the Sydney autumn racing carnival. It is a weight-for-age 1300 metre race for horses three-years-old and up, and is held by the Australian Turf Club at Randwick in March.

  • Race Type: Group 1
  • Distance: 1300 metres
  • Conditions: Weight for age, 3YO & upwards
  • Track: Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales
  • Prizemoney: $750,000
  • Date: Saturday 9 March 2024

Canterbury Stakes Race History

See the 2024 Canterbury Stakes Preview and results.

See the 2023 Canterbury Stakes Preview and results.

See the 2022 Canterbury Stakes Preview and results.

The Canterbury Stakes began as a principal race over 6 furlongs. It was first held in 1929 and was won by Amounis. In 1973 the distance was converted to 1200 metres, and in 1979 the race was elevated to Group 2 status. In 2004 the distance was changed to 1300 metres, although in 2008 it was run over 1550 metres. It was upgraded to Group 1 level in 2013 and was moved to Randwick for the first  time in 2014.

The race was moved to Randwick Guineas day in 2014. Previously it was the same day as the Group 1 Coolmore Classic and Ranvet Stakes, and the Group 2 Moet & Chandon Stakes, Todman Stakes and Phar Lap Stakes. The winner is exempt from ballot for the George Ryder Stakes held 2 weeks later on Golden Slipper Day. Runners often go on to contest the TJ Smith Stakes and the All Aged Stakes. Major lead-up races are the Group 2 Challenge Stakes over 1000 metres the week before and the Group 2 Apollo Stakes over 1400 metres in February.

Useful Facts

Last mare to win: Forbidden Love (2022)

Last 3YO to win: C&G – Holler (2016); Filly – Emancipation (1983)

Multiple winners: More Joyous (2011 & 2012); At Sea (1988 & 1989); Sky High (1961 & 1962); San Domenco (1950 & 1951); Holdfast (1930, 1931 & 1932).

Fastest time (1300m): Trapeze Artist (2019) 1:14:19

Interesting trivia: In 2021 Savatiano ridden by Hugh Bowman was 1st across the line but nearly a year later was disqualified after a protracted investigation after returning a positive swab. This meant Hugh Bowman went from 100 Group 1 wins to 99 but reclaimed his 100th when he won this race in 2022.

Previous winners of the Canterbury Stakes

Five horses have managed to win this race on more than one occasion. The most recent was More Joyous who scored in 2011 and 2012. At Sea won in 1988 and 1989, Sky High won in 1961 and 1962, San Domenco won in 1950 and 1951 and Holdfast won in three consecutive years of 1930, 1931 and 1932.

The most successful jockey in the Canterbury Stakes is Darren Beadman. He has won seven times in 1988, 1989, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Year Winner Second Third
2024 Lady Laguna Think About It Espiona
2023 Artorius Imperatriz Electric Girl
2022 Forbidden Love Lighthouse Private Eye
2021 Mizzy * Masked Crusader Bivouac
2020 The Bostonian Savatiano Mister Sea Wolf
2019 Trapeze Artist Shoals Prompt Response
2018 Happy Clapper Global Glamour Invincible Gem
2017 Le Romain Chautauqua Hauraki
2016 Holler First Seal Kermadec
2015 Cosmic Endeavour Catkins Criterion
2014 Appearance Zoustar Red Tracer
2013 Pierro More Joyous Solzhenitsyn
2012 More Joyous Monton Metal Bender
2011 More Joyous Love Conquers All Demerit
2010 Hot Danish Mr Baritone Demerit
2009 All Silent Forensics Royal Discretion
2008 Mentality Racing To Win Sniper’s Bullet
2007 Malcolm Cheeky Choice Kosi Bay
2006 Paratgroopers Patezza Dance Hero
2005 Dance Hero Falkirk Ike’s Dream
2004 Yall Grand Armee True Glo
2003 Defier Cosmic Rays Gordo
2002 Empire Diamond Dane Shogun Lodge
2001 Shogun Lodge Assertive Lad El Mirada
2000 Easy Rocking Referral Guineas
1999 Kidman’s Cove Prowl Shinkansea
1998 Quick Flick Guineas Masked Party
1997 All Our Mob Quick Flick Sovereign State
1996 Sprint By Peruzzi Identikit
1995 Miss Kariba Alert Me Navy Seal
1994 Al Akbar Big Dreams Just Awesome
1993 Big Dreams Cavalier Spearman
1992 Alishan Schillaci Old Role
1991 Show County All Archie Zabeel
1990 Straussbrook Cole Diesel Groucho
1989 At Sea Campaign King Groucho
1988 At Sea Targlish Prince Anton
1987 Placid Ark Campaign King Blazing Keel
1986 Avon Angel Concrete Riverdale
1985 Chimes Square Riverdale Royal Troubador
1984 Sir Dapper Red Tempo Razor Sharp
1983 Emancipation Marquee Star Grey Receiver
1982 Manikato Opera Prince Ubetido
1981 Turf Ruler Shaybisc Hit It Benny
1980 Stage Hit Asian Beau Jewel Flight
1979 Bernard Manawapoi Cool Minstrel
1978  ** Race not held **
1977 Romantic Dream Luskin Star Luskin Star
1976 Hartshill Crimson Cloud Makara
1975 Leica Show Leica Lover Silver Shadow
1974 Favoured Americano Kista
1973 I’m Scarlet Purple Patch Starplus
1972 Playbill Lowland Luck Chorus Girl
1971 Baguette Welsh Prince Lowland Luck
1970 Broker’s Tip Spillane King Bogan
1969 Fair Law The Snow Burner Zephyrus
1968 Cabochon Academy Star Nebo Road
1967 Prince Max Somebody Mclauchlin
1966 Academy Star Calmness Time And Tide
1965 Aureo Arcadus Time And Tide
1964 Eskimo Prince Port Fair The Tempest
1963 Kevejon Sky High Wenona Girl
1962 Sky High Wenona Girl No Match
1961 Sky High Wenona Girl Flash Time
1960 Wanton Lass Grecian Vale Quiet Life
1959 Up And Coming Cornelius Grey Ghost
1958  ** Race not run **
1957 Prince Jambo Gentle Lu Mandingos
1956 Starover Knave Teranyan
1955 Star Realm Prince Morvi Stirrup Cup
1954 Iroquois Regoli Tarien
1953 Regoli Tarien Iroquois
1952 Joy Lad San Domenico True Leader
1951 San Domenico Aerofoil Davey Jones
1950 San Domenico Hava Chat Dynamite
1949 Bernbrook Lady Piroette Denali
1948 Gay Monarch Deepsea Earl Pen Theus
1947 Shannon Deepsea Victory Lad
1946 Good Idea Magnificent Flight
1945 Sleepy Fox Civic Pride Flight
1944 Tea Rose Modulation Hall Stand
1943 Katanga Nobleman Hall Stand
1942 Yarralla Flying Knight Winnipeg
1941 Reading High Caste Amiable
1940 Beaulivre Reading High Caste
1939 Beau Vite Gold Rod Brazandt
1938 Gold Rod Stretto King’s Head
1937 The Marne Lynch Law Mala
1936 Arachne Cuddle Some Boy
1935 Bulldozer Kuvera The Raider
1934 Lough Neagh Golden Wings Whittingham
1933 Chatham Tom Pinch Carefree
1932 Holdfast Greensea Autopay
1931 Holdfast Gesture Casque D’Or
1930 Holdfast Fuji San Nightmarch
1929 Amounis Paganelli Margarethal

Canterbury Stakes Preview & Tips 2018

Track: Soft  Weather: Fine

There are only 9 runners for the $500,000 Bisley Workwear Canterbury Stakes and the betting is very open. The early favourite is Clearly Innocent who got into all sorts of problems when resuming for 6th in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes which he arguably should have won. On the second line of betting are Epsom winner Happy Clapper who has a great first-up record, and Global Glamour who was caught near the line for a close 2nd in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes over 1400m last start.

Endless Drama won the Apollo Stakes, while Invincible Gem has an excellent first-up record and resumes here. Showtime was headed late for 3rd in the Futurity Stakes and may appreciate the shorter distance. Foxplay returned for a close 3rd in the Millie Fox and has a good record at the track. Tulip won the Group 3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes last outing. Derryn is the outsider in the field.

The following are the top 4 selections from our tipster panel for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
1 Happy Clapper
3 Endless Drama
2 Clearly Innocent
7 Global Glamour