Alister Clark Stakes 2025

Ladbrokes Tip: Alister Clark Stakes runners often head to Sydney next for the ATC Derby in April

The latest edition of the Alister Clark Stakes takes place on Saturday March 22, 2025 at The Valley on William Reid Stakes Day on the same day as Sydney’s Golden Slipper Day card and saw Ciaron Maher’s favourite Shanwah ($2.20F) earn a shot at the ATC Derby with a stunning two-length victory. 

2025 Alister Clark Stakes Results

The official Alister Clark Stakes 2025 Results & full finishing order will be announced below when the race is run and won on Saturday March 22, 2025.

• 1st: #2 Shanwah 
• 2nd: #4 Imperialist
• 3rd: $6 Statuario

Ciaron Maher’s rising star son of boom sire Too Darn Hot, Shanwah ($2.20F), went back-to-back at Group 2 level with the Autumn Classic winner dominating the 2025 Alister Clark Stakes results with an impressive two length win for the punters to earn a shot at the Group 1 Australian Derby at Randwick on April 5.

2025 Alister Clark Stakes Odds

The latest Alister Clark Stakes 2025 odds will be available below as soon as we open betting on the Moonee Valley Group 2 so bookmark this page for access to the markets.

The Alister Clark Stakes is a Group 2 race run traditionally under the lights at Moonee Valley Racecourse during a stand-alone Friday night meeting during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival in mid-late March each year.

2021 Alister Clark Stakes winner Grandslam. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

For 2021 the race was moved to the Saturday race card at The Valley to accompany the third edition of the The All-Star Mile (1600m) before reverting back to its usual Friday night time-slot in 2022 on the eve of The All-Star Mile held back at Flemington for the fourth edition.

In 2023 both The All-Star Mile and the Alister Clark Stakes again ran on the Saturday on the same date as the Golden Slipper Stakes in Sydney.

In 2024 the Alister Clark Stakes took place on William Reid Stakes Day at The Valley on the Saturday after the All-Star Mile ran at Caulfield.

The 2025 Alister Clark Stakes remains part of the Saturday William Reid Stakes meeting at Moonee Valley in late March. 

Contested over 2040m, the same distance as the coveted Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate during the Spring, the event serves as a potential lead-up for young stayers heading to Sydney.

Open only to three-year-old horses it is a set weights race and currently offers $500,000 in prize money.

The race used to be considered a lead-up to the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) in Sydney, but a change of scheduling sees the better graduates now head to Royal Randwick during ‘The Championships’ for a shot at the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m).

In 2012 Ethiopia ran second to Highly Recommended in the Alister Clark Stakes before winning the Australian Derby next start as a $14 chance in betting for the Group 1. The 2017 Alister Clark Stakes winner Hardham meanwhile finished third in the ATC Derby trifecta next start.

In 2021 Young Werther ran second in both the Alister Clark Stakes and the ATC Derby, while Explosive Jack improved on his third in the Group 2 to win the Australian Derby – South Australian Derby double at his next two starts before finishing third in the Queensland Derby results.

The 2023 Alister Clark Stakes form also held up in the Australian Derby with the runner-up Suizuro crossing third in the Group 1 trifecta in Sydney next start.

Alister Clark Stakes Race Info

• Date: Saturday March 22, 2025
• Track: Moonee Valley Racecourse
• Distance: 2040m
• Conditions: 3YO – Set Weights
• Status: Group 2
• Prize Money: $500,000
• First Run: 1939

Alister Clark Stakes Betting

Alister Clark Stakes odds are usually led by three-year-old colts and geldings boasting good lead-up form over at least a mile (1600m). Previous Melbourne runs and experience at the notoriously tight Moonee Valley circuit are also pluses and affect Alister Clark Stakes betting.

Horses coming off a good Autumn Classic run over the 1800m at Caulfield also feature prominently in the markets with Global Exchange (2019) the latest to do the double.

In 2020 the Autumn Classic winner Adelaide Ace jumped odds-on favourite in the Alister Clark Stakes only to run second behind the Autumn Classic runner-up Nonconformist who turned the tables.

Shanwah (2025) was the last horse to complete the Autumn Classic / Alister Clark Stakes double. 

Favourites have an excellent recent record in the race, and prior to Prix De Turn ($26 in 2022) the last double figure Alister Clark Stakes winner was Hardham ($12 in 2017).

There was a notable upset in 2024 however with the beaten favourite Quintessa finishing runner-up behind 50/1 outsider Antrim Coast.

Shanwah ($2.20 in 2025) was the last favourite in the Alister Clark Stakes to win. 

Alister Clark Stakes betting markets open on the Wednesday before the race after final acceptances close and the barriers are released.

Alister Clark Stakes Field

Alister Clark Stakes winner Tally (2016) went on to run third in that year’s Australian Derby trifecta in Sydney. Photo Credit: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Alister Clark Stakes race field attracts a line-up of promising young staying types.

Many are heading towards longer distance features in Sydney and the three-year-olds in the Melbourne Group 2 come via a number of different lead-ups. Horses may come out of earlier autumn features including the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield.

The latest horses to complete the Autumn Classic – Alister Clark Stakes double were Tally (2016), Global Exchange (2019), and Shanwah (2025). 

Another possible lead-up is the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington, a race the 2015 Alister Clark Stakes runner-up Stratum Star finished third in. The previous year in 2014 Surge Ahead ran sixth in the Australian Guineas before his Alister Clark Stakes third to Pheidon. More recently, the 2018 Alister Clark Stakes winner Cliff’s Edge improved on a lead-up seventh in the Australian Guineas to win.

In 2021 Grandslam improved on a 12th in the Australian Guineas to win the Alister Clark Stakes by six lengths.

The next year, Prix De Turn also atoned for a lead-up 12th in the Australian Guineas to score an upset in the 2022 Alister Clark Stakes at $26 defeating fellow 25/1 roughie Can’t Go Wrong.

The Australian Guineas form again held in 2023 with Bank Maur coming off a Group 1 fourth to win the Group 2 at The Valley.

The Alister Clark Stakes nominations close the Wednesday before the race followed by the final field and barrier draw released on the Wednesday.

2025 Alister Clark Stakes Field

The official Alister Clark Stakes 2025 field and barriers are due for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below so stay tuned.

The Alister Clark Stakes 2025 final field features a quality line-up of three-year-old staying types led in betting by Ciaron Maher’s last start Autumn Classic winner Shanwah.

2025 Alister Clark Stakes Nominations

The early Alister Clark Stakes 2025 nominations close the Monday ahead of the feature at Moonee Valley and will be made available here once confirmed.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Alister Clark Stakes Tips

Bank Maur was good off a Group 1 Australian Guineas fourth to win the 2023 Alister Clark Stakes. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Alister Clark Stakes tips include looking for horses with good lead-up form in Melbourne, runners proven over similar distance and those high up the markets.

Favourites have a good recent record in the Alister Clark Stakes so laying the favourite is best avoided.

The latest favourites to salute were Cliff’s Edge ($1.70 in 2018), Global Exchange ($2.50 in 2019), and Shanwah ($2.20 in 2025). 

Another good Alister Clark Stakes betting tip is to back the best finishers in the Autumn Classic that will be suited to the step-up in distance.

2025 Alister Clark Stakes Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ exclusive Alister Clark Stakes 2025 betting tips on the three-year-old stayers to back and sack in the Moonee Valley Group 2 will be detailed below a couple of days out from the race so stay tuned.

The favourite Shanwah is going too strong to bet against for mine in Saturday’s Alister Clark Stakes. This marks the flying son of sire of the moment Too Darn Hot’s first run at The Valley, and how he handles the tight circuit will be key. Chases a fourth win on the trot after an eye-catching 1.5 length victory in Caulfield’s Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) on Blue Diamond Day a month ago. Kept fit with a subsequent Cranbourne hit out. Was a big leap in grade to do what he did in the Group 2 last time out on speed boxing on well and will only take improvement and confidence out of it. Ethan Brown comes aboard from barrier 2 and the horse looks like he’ll see out the 2040m.

Alister Clark Stakes Form Guide

The Alister Clark Stakes form guide lists all of the crucial information punters need including the jockeys, trainers, barriers and lead-up runs of the horses in the field.

The Autumn Classic has been a solid form guide for the Alister Clark Stakes in recent years. When doing the Alister Clark Stakes form it is key to look for the class three-year-old with past Group 1 racing experience and those heading towards a run in the ATC Derby.

The 2024 Alister Clark Stakes form was franked with the runner-up Quintessa running fourth next-up up the Group 1 ATC Oaks in Sydney, while the winner Antrim Coast ran fourth in the SA Derby results that season.

2025 Alister Clark Stakes Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive Alister Clark Stakes 2025 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

Alister Clark Stakes Results

Single-figure hopefuls and the favourites have dominated the Alister Clark Stakes race results in recent years.

Notable recent Alister Clark Stakes winners include Cliff’s Edge (2018), Highly Recommended (2012), Linton (2010), and Casino Prince (2007).

Tristalove (1994) was the last Alister Clark Stakes winning filly.

Recent Alister Clark Stakes Winners

Past Alister Clark Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.

FAQ

Who won the 2025 Alister Clark Stakes?

The 2025 Alister Clark Stakes was won by three-year-old Too Darn Hot gelding Shanwah at $2.20 favouritism for trainer Ciaron Maher with jockey Ethan Brown aboard on 57kg from barrier 2 to win by 2 lengths in a time of 2:10.65.

When is the Alister Clark Stakes 2025?

What is the prize money for the Alister Clark Stakes 2025?

$500,000

Where is the Alister Clark Stakes 2025?

Moonee Valley Racecourse, Feehan Ave Moonee Ponds Vic 3039