When people look back over the winners of past Christmas Stakes it somehow seems totally appropriate that the 2020 race was won by a horse called Pandemic.

It is now part of the new Summer Sprint Series in Melbourne and is the second of the four race series. The other races are the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington, the Group 3 Standish Handicap at Flemington and the Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley. Racing Victoria announced the changed programming in late 2021, and prizemoney for all four of these races has been boosted. The winner of the Christmas Stakes will be exempt from the ballot for the Oakleigh Plate which should lead to an increase in field size and quality for this race. The distance has been reduced from 1200m to 1100m to give sprinters a better sequence of sprint distances.

Usually raced at Caulfield it was held at Sandown Hillside in 2022.

2024 Christmas Stakes Preview and results

2023 Christmas Stakes Preview and results

2022 Christmas Stakes Preview and results

2021 Christmas Stakes Preview and results

Last mare to win: Marabi (2021)

Last 3YO to win: C&G – Native Soldier (2018); Filly – ?

Fastest time (1100m): Marabi (2021) 1:02:80

Fastest time (1200m): All Too Royal (2019) 1:08:34

Interesting trivia:

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