Festival Stakes

PHEARSON winning the JAMES SQUIRE FESTIVAL STAKES at Rosehill in Australia. Picture: Steve Hart

The Festival Stakes is a Group 3 race run under Quality conditions for the milers at Rosehill conducted by the Australian Turf Club.

The Festival Stakes is run over 1500m. It was first run in 1948 and was won by Cragside.

The Festival Stakes was originally over 1400m and has been as short as 1280m but has been at 1500m since 2008.

The Festival Stakes was a Principal Race then Listed from 1979 before gaining Group 3 status from 2016.

Twice the race has been run at Canterbury but most editions were at Rosehill.

It is a vital lead up to the Villiers Stakes but only Monton, Utzon, Ike's Dream and Castanea have done the double.

The Festival Stakes was worth $250,000 in 2024.

Notable winners of the Festival Stakes include Ellsberg (2021), Mighty Lucky (2015), Malavio (2012), Monton (2011), Eremein (2008), Utzon (2006), Ike's Dream (2005), This Manshood (2002/2003), Adam (2000), Ice Cream Sundae (1990), At Sea (1985), Manuan (1984), Just Ideal (1976), King Bogan (1970) and Coniston (1951).

The 2023 Festival Stakes was won by Phearson from Williamsburg and Rustic Steel.

Results

02 Dec 2023, JAMES SQUIRE FESTIVAL STAKES , PHEARSON 1500m 1:29.04 \| ROSEHILL \| TOM SHERRY \| BRAD WIDDUP
26 Nov 2022, FURPHY FESTIVAL STAKES , DAJRAAN 1500m 1:27.96 \| ROSEHILL \| TIM CLARK \| G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
27 Nov 2021, Petaluma Festival Stakes , ELLSBERG 1500m 1:32.04 \| ROSEHILL \| MS RACHEL KING \| G RYAN & S ALEXIOU
28 Nov 2020, Festival Stakes , OUTRAGEOUS 1500m 1:29.25 \| ROSEHILL \| TOMMY BERRY \| MICHAEL & WAYNE & JOHN HAWKES
30 Nov 2019, Iron Jack Festival Stakes , RANIER 1500m 1:29.46 \| ROSEHILL \| KATHY O'HARA \| JAMES CUMMINGS
01 Dec 2018, Festival Stakes , MY NORDIC HERO 1500m 1:29.10 \| ROSEHILL \| HUGH BOWMAN \| CHRIS WALLER
02 Dec 2017, Festival Stakes , TESTASHADOW 1500m 1:31.67 \| ROSEHILL \| JASON COLLETT \| GARY PORTELLI
03 Dec 2016, Steel Builders Festival Stakes , SWEET REDEMPTION 1500m 1:29.63 \| ROSEHILL \| BRENTON AVDULLA \| G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
28 Nov 2015, Sky Thoroughbred Festival Stks , MIGHTY LUCKY 1500m 1:29.49 \| ROSEHILL \| NATHAN THOMAS \| FRED COWELL
29 Nov 2014, Festival Stakes , I'M IMPOSING 1500m 1:28.51 \| ROSEHILL \| TYE ANGLAND \| CHRIS WALLER

02 Dec 2023, JAMES SQUIRE FESTIVAL STAKES , PHEARSON 1500m 1:29.04 | ROSEHILL | TOM SHERRY | BRAD WIDDUP

26 Nov 2022, FURPHY FESTIVAL STAKES , DAJRAAN 1500m 1:27.96 | ROSEHILL | TIM CLARK | G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT

27 Nov 2021, Petaluma Festival Stakes , ELLSBERG 1500m 1:32.04 | ROSEHILL | MS RACHEL KING | G RYAN & S ALEXIOU

28 Nov 2020, Festival Stakes , OUTRAGEOUS 1500m 1:29.25 | ROSEHILL | TOMMY BERRY | MICHAEL & WAYNE & JOHN HAWKES

30 Nov 2019, Iron Jack Festival Stakes , RANIER 1500m 1:29.46 | ROSEHILL | KATHY O'HARA | JAMES CUMMINGS

01 Dec 2018, Festival Stakes , MY NORDIC HERO 1500m 1:29.10 | ROSEHILL | HUGH BOWMAN | CHRIS WALLER

02 Dec 2017, Festival Stakes , TESTASHADOW 1500m 1:31.67 | ROSEHILL | JASON COLLETT | GARY PORTELLI

03 Dec 2016, Steel Builders Festival Stakes , SWEET REDEMPTION 1500m 1:29.63 | ROSEHILL | BRENTON AVDULLA | G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT

28 Nov 2015, Sky Thoroughbred Festival Stks , MIGHTY LUCKY 1500m 1:29.49 | ROSEHILL | NATHAN THOMAS | FRED COWELL

29 Nov 2014, Festival Stakes , I'M IMPOSING 1500m 1:28.51 | ROSEHILL | TYE ANGLAND | CHRIS WALLER

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