Ladbrokes Tip: The John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) serves as a key lead-up into the Group 1 The Goodwood each autumn
The next edition of the DC McKay Stakes takes place on Saturday April 26, 2025 at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide as the John Hawkes Stakes.
2025 John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) Odds
The latest John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) 2025 odds will be available below once the Adelaide Racing Carnival markets on the short-distance feature are announced the week of the race.
The John Hawkes Stakes -formerly the DC McKay Stakes – is an important Group 3 sprint race run and won at Morphettville Racecourse in South Australian during the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival.
2022 DC McKay Stakes winner Free Of Debt. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
Contested over 1100m, the quality handicap event takes place in early May as a key support race on the popular Robert Sangster Stakes Day card.
The meeting is headlined by the Group 1 $1,000,000 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m), Group 1 $1,000,000 Australasian Oaks (2000m), Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m), and the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m).
Like the Tobin Bronze Stakes, the John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) is considered a good preparation race for sprinters heading towards the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) later during the carnival.
Eight horses have completed the DC McKay Stakes – The Goodwood double throughout history: Grey John (1969), Wise Virgin (1973), Puncheon (1976), Comaida Boy (1979), Lord Galaxy (1986), Boardwalk Angel (1989), Despatch (2019), and most recently Savatoxl (2021).
DC McKay Stakes prize money is currently set at $150,000 and the event, which gained Group 3 status in 1980, was inaugurated in 1968.
It was previously named in honour of former SAJC committeeman and prolific South Australian horse owner D.C. McKay before being renamed as the John Hawkes Stakes ahead of the 2024 edition.
John Hawkes Stakes Race Info
- Former Race Name: DC McKay Stakes (until 2024)
- Date: Saturday April 26, 2025
- Track: Morphettville Racecourse
- Distance: 1100m
- Conditions: Quality Handicap
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $150,000
- First Run: 1968
2025 John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) Results
The official DC McKay Stakes Results 2025 and Finishing Order will be available right here once the race takes place on Saturday April 26, 2025.
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) Betting
DC McKay Stakes betting on the event currently run as the John Hawkes Stakes opens soon after the release of the final field the week of the race and is dominated by in-form local sprinters. Runners with proven form at the track and distance usually head the DC McKay Stakes odds as do previous Group winners.
Thermal Current ($3.70 in 2015) was the last favourite in DC McKay Stakes betting to win.
There was a notable upset in 2022 with Free Of Debt winning at DC McKay Stakes odds of $26.
John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) Field
Savatoxl (2021) is the last horse to complete the DC McKay Stakes – The Goodwood race double in the same year. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
The John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) race field attracts mainly local sprinters that have been racing well over the previous weeks in South Australia.
Many gallopers in the DC McKay Stakes field come via a run in the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) at the same track and distance a fortnight earlier.
The John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) nominations close the Monday before the race runs on the Saturday with the final field and barrier draw released on the Wednesday.
2025 John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) Field
The official John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) 2025 Final Field & Barrier Draw is announced the Wednesday of race week and will be published below.
2025 John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) Nominations
The early John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) 2025 Nominations are taken the Monday ahead of the event and will be updated in full below.
John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) Form Guide
The John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) form guide features all the information punters need to know before placing a bet like the barriers, jockeys, trainers and lead-up runs of the three-year-olds in the field.
Looking for runners coming off a top three finish, proven Morphettville performers and other Black-Type place-getters are all crucial when doing the DC McKay Stakes form.
The DC McKay Stakes form has gone on to stack-up in tougher races many times over the years most recently in 2021 with the winner Savatoxl going on to win The Goodwood next start. Savatoxl also went on to win the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield that spring and retuned to post a second DC McKay Stakes victory in 2023.
Behemoth (2020) won the DC McKay Stakes and went on to win three Group 1 races in Melbourne completing that year’s Memsie Stakes – Sir Rupert Clark Stakes double before a successful Memsie title defence in 2021. Behemoth also famously ran third in the 2021 $5 million The All-Star Mile (1600m).
2025 John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) 2025 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) Tips
John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) tips include looking for locally-trained sprinters coming off a top three finish over the a similar distance last time out and those with proven ability at the Morphettville track.
Horses at single-figures in DC McKay Stakes betting – but not the favourites – have a dominant record and make a top betting tip. From 2016 – 2023 all but two of the DC McKay Stakes winners started under $10 in betting but were not the favourites to win.
The latest horses to win at double-figures were Karacatis ($17 in 2017) who won the event at his fourth attempt and Free Of Debt ($26 in 2022).
It is also a good tip to avoid the mares as since 2004, Sprightly Lass (2018) is the sole mare to beat home the boys in the DC McKay Stakes results.
2025 John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider John Hawkes Stakes (DC McKay Stakes) 2025 betting tips and Adelaide autumn racing selections will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the sprinters to back and sack in your Morphettville tips this season.
John Hawkes Stakes / DC McKay Stakes Results
Notable horses to head the John Hawkes Stakes / DC McKay Stakes race results in recent years include subsequent star stallion I Am Invincible (2009), Despatch (2019), Behemot (2020), and dual champion Savatoxl (2021 & 2023).
Streetcar Magic from 2011 holds the current DC McKay Stakes record winning in 1 minute 02.10 seconds.
Past DC McKay Stakes / John Hawkes Stakes Winners
Recent DC McKay Stakes / John Hawkes Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 1988 are detailed in the below table.
| Year |
Winner |
2nd |
3rd |
Time |
| 2025 |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
| 2024 |
Extremely Lucky |
Sans Doute |
What You Need |
1:04.57 |
| 2023 |
Savatoxl |
Larimer Street |
General Beau |
1:05.0 |
| 2022 |
Free Of Debt |
Savatoxl |
The Inferno |
1:04.7 |
| 2021 |
Savatoxl |
Pandemic |
Street Life |
1:03.3 |
| 2020 |
Behemoth |
Kabini |
Bold Star |
1:04.4 |
| 2019 |
Despatch |
Zalmona |
Haunted |
1:03.6 |
| 2018 |
Sprightly Lass |
One More Daisy |
Santa Ana Lane |
1:03.2 |
| 2017 |
Karacatis |
Reldas |
Kaepernick |
1:03.9 |
| 2016 |
Super One |
Daytona Grey |
Heart Of A Lion |
1:03.6 |
| 2015 |
Thermal Current |
Yesterday’s Songs |
Minaj |
1:03.6 |
| 2014 |
Essay Raider |
Karacatis |
Siwa Lady |
1:03.2 |
| 2013 |
General Truce |
Karacatis |
Honey Flower |
1:04.6 |
| 2012 |
Outlandish Lad |
Kulgrinda |
Go The Knuckle |
1:04.4 |
| 2011 |
Streetcar Magic |
Valentine Miss |
Pinwheel |
1:02.1 |
| 2010 |
Catapulted |
Solchow |
Augusta Proud |
1:02.3 |
| 2009 |
I Am Invincible |
Augusta Proud |
Blahnik |
1.03.0 |
| 2008 |
Idalou |
Tramuntana |
Blahnik |
1:03.3 |
| 2007 |
Here De Angels |
Terango |
El Maze |
1:02.5 |
| 2006 |
Shablec |
Leone Chiara |
Social Glow |
1:03.0 |
| 2005 |
Bomber Bill |
General Bayton |
Gee I Jane |
1:03.4 |
| 2004 |
Paraca |
Super Elegant |
Squillani |
1:03.7 |
| 2003 |
Super Elegant |
Deprave |
Agalia |
1:03.1 |
| 2002 |
Libidinious =1 |
Windigo =1 |
Johns Brother |
0:56.0 |
| 2001 |
Sudurka |
Suit |
Kapuna |
1:04.1 |
| 2000 |
Perak Gold |
Marstic |
Astig |
1:03.5 |
| 1999 |
Loafer |
Razamataz |
Appoint |
1:03.4 |
| 1998 |
Toledo |
Declar |
Appoint |
1:03.5 |
| 1997 |
Clang |
Blazing Reality |
Billy Dazzler |
1:05.6 |
| 1996 |
Dr Zackary |
Mad Shaviri |
Hero Wind |
1:02.7 |
| 1995 |
Latin Villa |
Hero Wind |
Chevite |
1:03.4 |
| 1994 |
Harkaway |
Yankee Dapper |
Kicks |
1:03.5 |
| 1993 |
Colebrook |
Asian Incline |
Oozook |
1:05.1 |
| 1992 |
Scornsome |
Umatilla |
Bar Flyer |
1:05.1 |
| 1991 |
Euclase |
Beau George |
Sweet Chariot |
1:03.5 |
| 1990 |
Medicine Kid |
Comedy Dancer |
Silver Dupion |
1:04.0 |
| 1989 |
Boardwalk Angel |
Jet Fighter |
Kingston Heritage |
1:04.6 |
| 1988 |
Beau George |
Melody Hit |
Lord Galaxy |
1:04.1 |
FAQ
When is the DC McKay Stakes (John Hawkes Stakes) 2025?
Saturday April 26, 2025
What is the prize money for the DC McKay Stakes (John Hawkes Stakes) 2025?
$150,000
Where is the DC McKay Stakes (John Hawkes Stakes) 2025?
Morphettville Racecourse, 79 Morphett Road. Morphettville SA 5043