Group I race | |
Location | Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1925 |
Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
Sponsor | TAB (2024) |
Race information | |
Distance | 1,600 metres |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Right-handed |
Qualification | Three years old and older |
Weight | Weight for Age |
Purse | A$1,000,000 (2024) |
Bonuses | exempt from ballot for Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Cup |
The Verry Elleegant Stakes, registered as the Chipping Norton Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, run at weight for age, over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in February or March. Prizemoney is A$1,000,000.
The race is a major preparatory race for the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Cup as the winner is exempt from ballot for entry into each race. [1]
The race is named after the suburb Chipping Norton located in Liverpool located 27 kilometres south-west of Sydney. The race is usually held together with the Liverpool City Cup as part of the City of Liverpool festivities. [2]
Some outstanding champions have won this race including Phar Lap, Tranquil Star, Bernborough and Tulloch and Super Impose.
Tie the Knot won the race four consecutive times, [1] a feat matched by Winx in March 2019.
The Chelmsford Stakes is a Tattersalls Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race run over 1600 metres at Weight for Age at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia, in September. Prize money is A$250,000.
The Ranvet Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older over a distance of 2,000 metres, held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in March. Total prize money is A$1,000,000.
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes, formerly known as the Queen's Plate, AJC Plate, and AJC King's Cup, is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race run over a distance of 2,000 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia, in the autumn during the ATC Championships series. Prize money in 2013 was A$500,000 and was increased to A$4,000,000 in 2014 to become the richest race of the Sydney Autumn Carnival and as of 2020 the third richest WFA race in Australia.
The King Charles III Stakes, is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in September. Total prize money for the race is A$5,000,000.
The Apollo Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for three years and older, held under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 1400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in February. Total prize money for the race is A$250,000.
The Expressway Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred open horse race for three-year-olds and older, run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 1200 metres at Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in late January or early February. Prizemoney is A$200,000.
The Hill Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race run at Weight for Age over a distance of 2000 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in September. Total prize money for the race is A$2,000,000.
The Winx Stakes, registered as the Warwick Stakes, is a Group 1 Australian Turf Club thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, for three-year-olds and older over a distance of 1400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in August. Prize money is currently A$500,000.
The Turnbull Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, for horses four years old and older, run under set weights with penalties conditions over a distance of 2,000 metres. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in early October. Total prize money is A$750,000.
The Light Fingers Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race, for three-year-old fillies at set weights, over a distance of 1200 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia every February.
The Arrowfield 3YO Sprint, registered as the Royal Sovereign Stakes, is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race, for three-year-olds at set weights over a distance of 1200 metres, held at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in April during the ATC Championships Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$1,000,000.
The Skyline Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for colts and geldings aged two years old, at set weights, over a distance of 1,200 metres. It is held annually at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in late February or early March.
The San Domenico Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1100 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney in August. Prizemoney is A$200,000.
The Silver Shadow Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies, run at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1200 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in August. Total prizemoney for the race is A$200,000.
The Furious Stakes is a City Tattersalls Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies, at set weights, over a distance of 1200 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in September. Total prizemoney for the race is A$250,000.
The Colin Stephen Quality Handicap is an Australian Turf Club Group 3 Thoroughbred open quality handicap horse race for horses three years old and older, over a distance of 2400 metres, held annually at Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney, Australia, in September. Total prize money for the race is A$250,000.
The Phar Lap Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, at set weights, over a distance of 1500 metres, held annually at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in March. Total prize money is A$300,000.
The Surround Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies, run at set weights over a distance of 1400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in late February or early March. Total prize money for the race is A$600,000.
Chris Waller, is a Hall of Fame trainer in Australian Thoroughbred racing best known for training the racemare Winx, a four-time winner of Australian Horse of the Year honours.
Verry Elleegant was a New Zealand-bred Australian-trained Thoroughbred racehorse that won 11 Group One races. She was crowned the 2020/2021 Australian Racehorse of the Year, and was the winner of the 2021 Melbourne Cup and 2020 Caulfield Cup.