Kennedy Cantala Stakes Race Information

The Emirates Stakes was moved from the final day of the Melbourne Cup Spring Racing Carnival at Flemington to Victoria Derby Day in 2016 and was changed back to its older name of the Cantala Stakes. In 2017 it was renamed the Kennedy Mile.

  • Race Type: Group 1
  • Distance: 1600 metres
  • Conditions: Open handicap, 3YO & upwards
  • Track: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
  • Prizemoney: $3,000,000
  • Date: Saturday 11 November 2023

Kennedy Cantala Stakes Race History

See the 2023 Champions Mile Preview and results

See the 2022 Champions Mile Preview and results

See the 2021 Cantala Stakes Preview and results

See the 2020 Cantala Stakes Preview and Results

The ‘Stakes’ were first run in 1881 and form a perfect conclusion to the Melbourne Cup lead-up. The feature race of the day is the Group 1 Victoria Derby, a three-year-old weight-for-age run over 2500m which offers over $2,000,000 in prize money.

Useful Facts

Last mare to win: Shillelagh (2017)

Last 3YO to win: C&G – Skyjack (1974); Filly – Storm Queen (1966)

Multiple winners: Seascay (1994 & 1995); Heroic Stone (1965 & 1967); Aquanita (1960 & 1961); Amounis (1926 & 1929); Iolaire (1907 & 1908).

Fastest time (1600m): Scenic Peak (2002) 1:33:4

Interesting trivia: Longshots win quite often.

Previous winners of the Kennedy Cantala Stakes

Winners of past Cantala Stakes include horses that go on to win major spring races.

Year First Second Third
2023 Pride Of Jenni Mr Brightside Alligator Blood
2022 Alligator Blood Tuvalu Mr Brightside
2021 Superstorm Icebath Cascadian
2020 Yulong Prince Cascadian Rock
2019 Fierce Impact Fifty Stars Cascadian
2018 Best Of Days (GB) Le Romain Peaceful State
2017 Shillelagh (NZ) Tom Melbourne (IRE) Wyndspelle (NZ)
2016 Le Romain McCreery Tivaci
2015 Turn Me Loose Politeness Rock Sturdy
2014 Hucklebuck Lucky Hussler The Cleaner
2013 Boban Smokin’ Joey Speediness
2012 Happy Trails Fawkner Secret Admirer
2011 Albert The Fat King’s Rose Secret Admirer
2010 Wall Street Dao Dao Chasm
2009 All American So You Think Gold Salute
2008 All Silent Sea Battle Mimi Lebrock
2007 Tears I Cry Bird Dancer Shinzig
2006 Divine Madonna Niconero Valedictum
2005 Valedictum Infinite Grace Shania Dane
2004 Sky Cuddle Lad Of The Manor Skewiff
2003 Titanic Jack True Glo Crawl
2002 Scenic Peak Crawl Excellerator
2001 Desert Eagle Emission La Bella Dama
2000 Testa Rossa Weasel Will Crawl

From the archives:

2018 Cantala Stakes Preview & Tips:

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

A full field of 16 runners plus 4 emergencies accepted for the $1,000,000 2018 Kennedy Mile (Cantala Stakes). Six of them had their last start in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes, four in the G1 Toorak and two in the G2 Crystal Mile. Six are trained by Chris Waller, four by Darren Weir and two by James Cummings. Following the early scratching of Crack Me Up, first emergency Best Of Days will get a run. The betting is fairly open with Land Of Plenty the early favourite after his win in the Toorak Handicap last outing. Second favourite is Hartnell who was 2nd in that race and meets the winner better at the weights. Third favourite is Cliff’s Edge who won the G2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley last start and only has 52kg here.

Le Romain won this race in 2016 and was 2nd to Winx in the George Main Stakes before 4th in The Everest. Best Of Days won the G3 Coongy Cup last outing while Peaceful State was 3rd in the G3 Moonga Stakes. Noire is the only mare in the race and with a record of 7 wins from 16 starts she is not without a chance. Iconoclasm has won his last 2 starts in lower grade races and drops 7kg here. All other runners are currently 15 to 1 or longer, including Tom Melbourne who was 2nd in this race last year.

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

Jo’s Tips
1 Hartnell
4 Land of Plenty
11 Cliff’s Edge
2 Le Romain