Ladbrokes Tip: The Autumn Stakes makes a good lead-up into the Australian Guineas each autumn

The Autumn Stakes is one of the first Group 2 races held during the annual Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival and runs at Caulfield Racecourse on C.F. Orr Stakes Day in mid-February.

The meeting’s card is headlined by the season’s first elite level race – the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m), and the Autumn Stakes for three-year-olds is one of three Group 2 support acts on the bill. Run over 1400m at set weights plus penalties, the Autumn Stakes offers a total of $200,000 in prize money and young horses often kick off their autumn campaigns in the race.

It also serves as a key early lead-up into the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington the following month and the double was recently achieved by Light Fantastic (2008).

The latest edition of the Autumn Stakes ran on Saturday February 6, 2021 and was won by Poland on way to the Australian Guineas. 

Autumn Stakes Race Info

• Date: Saturday February 6, 2021
• Track: Caulfield Racecourse
• Distance: 1400m
• Conditions: 3YO Set Weights + Penalties
• Status: Group 2
• Prize Money: $200,000
• First Run: 1968

2021 Autumn Stakes Results

The full Autumn Stakes 2021 Results & Finishing Order will be known on Saturday February 6, 2021 and published right here so stay tuned.

• 1st: #8 Poland
• 2nd: #2 Amish Boy
• 3rd: #7 It’sourtime

The Michael Moroney-trained So You Think colt Poland enjoyed a first-up upset in the 2021 Autumn Stakes results defeating the beaten favourite Amish Boy by a length first-up.

Autumn Stakes Betting & Odds

Autumn Stakes betting markets traditionally open after the field is announced on the Wednesday prior to the event running on CF Orr Stakes Day on the Saturday.

Three-year-olds proven over 1400m or further dominate the Autumn Stakes odds, as do those with Group 1 form the previous season and Melbourne race experience. Favourites and single-figure hopefuls have a solid record running top three in the Autumn Stakes.

Microphone ($2.60 in 2020) was the last favourite in Autumn Stakes betting to salute.

2021 Autumn Stakes Odds

The updated Autumn Stakes 2021 betting odds will be available below as soon as released.

Autumn Stakes Field

The Autumn Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of three-year-old gallopers each year, many racing first-up for the autumn. If not resuming in the Autumn Stakes, runners may come off a lead-up run in something like the Group 3 Manfred Stakes.

Mahuta (2016) backed-up from a Magic Millions 3YO Guineas win to salute in the Autumn Stakes results. Photo Credit: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Many Autumn Stakes hopefuls go on to contest the following month’s Australian Guineas over the Flemington mile.

Autumn Stakes nominations are taken the Monday before the race with final acceptances and barriers out on the Wednesday.

2021 Autumn Stakes Field & Barrier Draw

The official Autumn Stakes 2021 Field & Barriers are announced by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday of race week and published in full below so stay tuned for the full line-up of gun autumn three-year-olds.

The 2021 Autumn Stakes final field features 10 smart three-year-olds led in betting by last start runner-up in the Gold Coast’s $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas Amish Boy.

2021 Autumn Stakes Nominations

The Autumn Stakes 2021 nominations are taken on the Monday leading-up to CF Orr Stakes Day and the list of early entries will be available below once announced.

The spring’s Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes winner Crosshaven headlines the 21 Autumn Stakes 2021 nominations for this weekend, the Lindsay Park-trained youngster also nominated for the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes against the older horses.

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Autumn Stakes Tips

Autumn Stakes tips include looking for a runner under $10 for the win with proven Melbourne form in similar company.

Runners proven over the distance (1400m) or further also make a good Autumn Stakes betting tip, with Thunder Fantasy winning the race first-up in 2014 after a third in the previous year’s Victoria Derby (2500m).

The winning strike rate for favourites is only fair, but they make excellent place bets and shouldn’t be left out of Autumn Stakes tips more often than not.

2021 Autumn Stakes Tips

Our expert Autumn Stakes 2021 tips will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned.

• To Win: #3 Young Werther ($8.50 at time of publish) 

An open race and like the price on the Danny O’Brien-trained Young Werther. True, this consistent Kiwi-bred Tavistock gelding will be better over further, but think first-up the distance will be okay. He races fresh last seen running a close third in Flemington’s Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) and has been in the money in all three starts to date. Geelong winner over 1500m on debut before a Black-Type second at HQ. Sees Caulfield for the first time, but he’s a chance at a good quote.

Autumn Stakes Form Guide

The Autumn Stakes form guide details all of the must know info like the jockeys, trainers and lead-up form of the runners in the field along with their barriers. Looking at the form for first-up runners that have a good strike rate when resuming who have winning form over 1400m or further is important.

The Autumn Stakes form has also stacked up in the Australian Guineas in recent years including 2014 Autumn Stakes winner Thunder Fantasy running third in the Group 1 next start. Heart Of Dreams (2009) also ran third in the Autumn Stakes before winning that year’s Australian Guineas.

In 2019 the Autumn Stakes winner Hawkshot went on to finish second behind gun filly Mystic Journey next start in the Australian Guineas results.

Earlier, in 2013 Autumn Stakes runner-up Fiveandahalfstar went on to run second in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) two runs later and second in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) in Sydney after that before a win in the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) that autumn at Rosehill Gardens.

2021 Autumn Stakes Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive Autumn Stakes 2021 Form Guide will be provided below the week of the race.

Autumn Stakes Results

The Autumn Stakes results have been dominated by single-figure hopes in recent years and have produced plenty of strong Group 1 performers over time.

Notable recent Autumn Stakes winners include Apache Cat (2006), Light Fantastic (2008), Denman (2010), Mahuta (2016) and Microphone (2020).

Autumn Stakes Winners