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Missile Stakes

Australia | FEATURE RACE GUIDE

History

SCHWARZ winning the DARLEY MISSILE STAKES (G2) at Randwick in Australia.
SCHWARZ winning the DARLEY MISSILE STAKES (G2) at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Steve Hart

The Missile Stakes is a Group 2 race run under Set Weights and Penalties conditions for open sprinters conducted by the Australian Turf Club.

The Missile Stakes is run over 1200m and is the first group race of the season in Sydney.

It was first run in 1978 and won by Idol.

The Missile Stakes has been run over shorter than 1200m until 2010. It was predominantly at Rosehill (1978-2011) but then at Warwick Farm in 2012 before moving to Randwick. It was back at Rosehill in 2019. They ran the 2021 edition at Randwick due to coronavirus protocol restrictions and stayed there.

The Missile Stakes was a Group 3 race from 1980 until it became G2 in 2014.

It was always a WFA conditions but became a Set Weights and Penalties race from 2020.

The 1984 Missile Stakes was run with a flag start and was won by Plus Vite at 100-1.

The race was previously run at the end of the season allowing two year olds to run. Commands won as a juvenile.

Pompeii and Teasing were the only mares to win since 1994 before Sweet Idea and then Tycoon Tara plus Invincible Gem, Alizee and I Am Me. Ironically Klokka and Joanne won the four runnings from 1991 onwards.

Lonhro ran in consecutive Missile Stakes in 2001 and 2002 but because of the dates, one was as a 2yo and one was as a 4yo.

The 2022 edition was notable for the upset as a 70-1 shot Hard Empire beat home 25-1, 15-1 and 20-1 outsiders.

Due to bad weather the 2025 Missile was abandoned without being re run.

The 2025 Missile Stakes was run for prizemoney of $300,000.

Notable winners of the Missile Stakes include Eduardo (2020), Alizee (2019), Pierata (2018), Tycoon Tara (2016), Sweet Idea (2014), Rain Affair (2011/2013), Love Conquers All (2010), Dance Hero (2005), Spark Of Life (2004), Lonhro (2002), Commands (1999), Guineas (1997), Klokka (1993/1994), Joanne (1991/1992), Potrero (1990), Campaign King (1987/1988), Row Of Waves (1985) and Razor Sharp (1982).

The 2024 Missile Stakes was won by Schwarz from Arctic Glamour and Shezanalister.


Racing and Sports

Previous Missile Stakes Winners

Date Horse Jockey WT Trainer BP
SCHWARZ (AUS) 4H
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - SUMMER SHAM (AUS) NOT A SINGLE DOUBT (AUS)
JAMES MCDONALD 56.5 JOHN O'SHEA & TOM CHARLTON 9
I AM ME (AUS) 5M
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - MEFNOODA (AUS) MEDAGLIA D'ORO (USA)
TIM CLARK 54.0 C MAHER & D EUSTACE 1
HARD EMPIRE (AUS) 9G
HARD SPUN (USA) - LAST QUILL (AUS) LAST TYCOON (IRE)
RACHEL KING 56.0 TOBY & TRENT EDMONDS 2
PHOBETOR (AUS) 6G
DREAM AHEAD (USA) - ONEFORALL (AUS) DUBAI DESTINATION (USA)
TOMMY BERRY 56.0 MICHAEL COSTA 2
EDUARDO (AUS) 7G
HOST (CHI) - BLUSHING (AUS) FANTASTIC LIGHT (USA)
N RAWILLER 56.0 JOSEPH PRIDE 2
ALIZEE (AUS) 5M
SEPOY (AUS) - ESSAOUIRA (AUS) EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS)
HUGH BOWMAN 56.5 JAMES CUMMINGS 3
PIERATA (AUS) 4H
PIERRO (AUS) - NOVEMBER FLIGHT (AUS) FLYING SPUR (AUS)
JAMES MCDONALD 58.5 GREGORY HICKMAN 8
INVINCIBLE GEM (AUS) 4M
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - DIAMOND DAY (AUS) MARWINA (AUS)
C W BROWN 56.5 KRIS LEES 6
TYCOON TARA (AUS) 6M
WRITTEN TYCOON (AUS) - MOSSTARA (AUS) ENCORES (NZ)
B SHINN 56.5 P & P SNOWDEN 4
BURBERO (NZ) 7G
O'REILLY (NZ) - ROYAL REMEDY (AUS) ROYAL ACADEMY (USA)
RORY HUTCHINGS 58.5 BJORN BAKER 6
SWEET IDEA (AUS) 4M
SNITZEL (AUS) - FLIDAIS (AUS) TIMBER COUNTRY (USA)
TOMMY BERRY 56.5 MS G WATERHOUSE 7
RAIN AFFAIR (AUS) 6G
COMMANDS (AUS) - I BELIEVE (AUS) OCTAGONAL (NZ)
N RAWILLER 58.5 JOSEPH PRIDE 4
PINWHEEL (AUS) 7G
LONHRO (AUS) - QUILT (AUS) DANEHILL (USA)
K MCEVOY 58.5 PETER SNOWDEN 5
RAIN AFFAIR (AUS) 4G
COMMANDS (AUS) - I BELIEVE (AUS) OCTAGONAL (NZ)
C W BROWN 58.5 JOSEPH PRIDE 5
LOVE CONQUERS ALL (AUS) 4H
MOSSMAN (AUS) - SHE'S A MEANIE (NZ) PRINCE SALIERI (AUS)
J CASSIDY 58.5 MICHAEL & WAYNE & JOHN HAWKES 2
TEASING (AUS) 7M
MORE THAN READY (USA) - TURNED ON (AUS) SWITCH IN TIME (IRE)
C MUNCE 56.5 T R MARTIN 9
CAPTAIN BAX (AUS) 7G
SNIPPETS (AUS) - SNOW FINCH (IRE) STORM BIRD (CAN)
TIM CLARK 58.5 KRIS LEES 3
GERMAN CHOCOLATE (AUS) 5G
KENNY'S BEST PAL (AUS) - CARINA (AUS) RORY'S JESTER (AUS)
Z PURTON 58.5 W P CAVE 6
IMPRISONED (AUS) 5G
COMMANDS (AUS) - SAD (AUS) SOVEREIGN RED (NZ)
M RODD 57.5 JOHN O'SHEA 6
DANCE HERO (AUS) 3G
DANZERO (AUS) - GYPSY DANCER (NZ) DANCE OF LIFE (USA)
L BEASLEY 57.0 MS G WATERHOUSE 3
SPARK OF LIFE (AUS) 3G
NINE CARAT (USA) - SPARKLING BOUNTY (AUS) CELSIUS (AUS)
C MUNCE 57.0 ALLAN DENHAM 1
POMPEII (AUS) 5M
JUST AWESOME (AUS) - BLAZING PALACE (NZ) PALACE MUSIC (USA)
C W BROWN 55.0 GARRY WHITE 4
LONHRO (AUS) 4H
OCTAGONAL (NZ) - SHADEA (NZ) STRAIGHT STRIKE (USA)
D BEADMAN 57.5 JOHN HAWKES 5
SPORTSBRAT (AUS) 4G
SPORTS WORKS (AUS) - OH CONGO (AUS) BLUE AND GOLD (AUS)
HUGH BOWMAN 57.5 GARY PORTELLI 6
PADSTOW (AUS) 5G
FRANCIS BACON (GB) - JON'S PLEASURE (AUS) JON GEORGE (GB)
L BEASLEY 57.5 JOHN SIZE 5

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