Historical Analysis of the All Aged Stakes

ALL AGED STAKES - G1 1400m

When the AJC restructured the carnival in 2004, the All Aged Stks had one of the biggest changes. It was reduced to 1400m and being run as a followed on from the TJ Smith not a mile consolation prize for the Doncaster.

The race gets lost a bit in the momentum of the carnival and a name change could be in order but the winners since it’s been 7 furlongs have been quality.

A WFA race is always better when the 3yos can test themselves against the older horse so let’s find out if we can find one.

PROFILING THE RACE

o Race changed to 1400m in 2004.

o Small fields have beset this race, especially since the shortening in distance.

o Surprisingly poor record for the 3yos overall although fillies won it in 2012 & 2016 and a colt in 2013.

o Gai has five wins.

o A great race for those well in the market.

o Last 10 Winners Most Prevalent Age of winner - 5yos (5 times)

o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner - $5

o Breakdown of winners - 4 geldings, 2 mares, 1 entire, 1 colt & 2 fillies.

o Races that the winner ran in prior - TJ Smith Stks (4), George Ryder Stks (1), Doncaster Mile (1), The Galaxy (1), Sapphire Stks (1), Futurity Stks (2)

RECENT WINNERS

2016 - ENGLISH 3f (Encosta De Lago x Court) ($6)

Jockey: Sam Clipperton, Trainer: Gai Waterhouse

Barrier: 7, Weight: 54.5kg, Gross Time: 1:22.90

Margin: 0.2L, Track: Soft (5), Starters: 8

2nd: Black Heart Bart (59.0kg), 3rd: Kermadec (59.0kg)

Review: Gai Waterhouse hadn’t had a great trot over the Autumn carnival but to end it with a G1 was a nice turnaround. English was a filly who’d been flying this entire campaign. Remember she had run second the Slipper but missed the Spring and the benefits showed.

Through the entire sprint series she was fantastic, winning the Challenge, hurtling home from 25 lengths away in the Galaxy and a top third in the TJ Smith before this win. It set up superbly for her as she just tracked up the speed which wasn’t as hot in a 1400m race.

Coming to the turn Clipperton got mobile before being pocketed, used her turn of foot to get a break then held off the rivals. She so deserved that.

2015 - DISSIDENT 4h (Sebring x Diana’s Secret) ($10)

Jockey: Jim Cassidy, Trainer: Peter Moody

Barrier: 6, Weight: 59.0kg, Gross Time: 1:24.60

Margin: 0.2L, Track: Slow (6), Starters: 13

2nd: Wandjina (56.5kg), 3rd: Chautauqua (59.0kg)

Review: In a race which contained nine G1 winners, it was nearly the championship sprint, ironically not in The Championships. It included a few 3yos, some top horses on the back up and some fresh off breaks.

It was run at a slow rate. Those at the front were favoured and with one of the great front running riders on, Dissident was always a danger. Terravista was wide, Chautauqua got back and not out fast enough and some ran poorly.

Cassidy got stuck into him and the entire responded. He just got past the Australian Guineas winner and held the rest off. He was retired to stud after that.

2014 - HANA'S GOAL 5m (Orewa Matteruze x Shanghai Jell) ($10)

Jockey: Nash Rawiller, Trainer: Kazuhiro Kato

Barrier: 6, Weight: 57.0kg, Gross Time: 1:24.64

Margin: 2L, Track: Slow (6), Starters: 8

2nd: Weary (59.0kg), 3rd: Tiger Tees (59.0kg)

Review: The Championships had brought two horses from overseas - Gordon Lord Byron and Hana’s Goal. The first one scored a G1 in the George Ryder and now the Japanese mare did the same in the All Aged.

In a race which was very much down on previous years, her chances were enhanced when there were three very important scratchings from the race, potentially three of the four favourites.

Rawiller was able to let her find her feet but unlike the Coolmore and Doncaster where she was 15 lengths off the lead, here she was only six. He pulled her right to the outside and ran over them easily. Will we see more of these international invaders?