Ladbrokes Tip: The John F. Feehan Stakes is a nice lead-up for Cox Plate types each spring

The Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes – now known as the John F. Feehan Stakes and previously as the Ladbrokes Feehan Stakes due to sponsorship – is a Group 2 race held on a Saturday in early September at Moonee Valley Racecourse during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

A mile clash contested over 1600m under weight-for-age conditions, the race ran as the John F Fehan Stakes from 1984 – 2004 and has reverted back to its original name.

The John Feehan Stakes offers a total of $250,000 in prize money and takes place on the same day as the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) for the spring sprinters.

It is a nice spring starting point for gallopers targeting Australasia’s weight-for-age championship, the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) back at Moonee Valley in late October.

The last winner to go on and take out the Cox Plate was El Segundo (2007).

Dual Cox Plate winners Fields Of Omagh (2002), Northerly (2001) and the mighty New Zealand-trained mare Sunline (2000) also all have their name on the John F. Feehan Stakes winners’ list.

The John F. Feehan Stakes is also a key lead-up into the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) held at Caulfield. Homesman (2nd in 2018) was the last Underwood Stakes winner to come out of the John F. Feehan Stakes, a race he won the following year (2019) before a second in the Underwood.  

The latest edition of the John F. Feehan Stakes takes place on Saturday September 5, 2020.

2020 John F Feehan Stakes Results

The official 2020 John F. Feehan Stakes Results will be published in full below once the race is run and won on Saturday September 5, 2020.

• 1st: TBD
• 2nd: TBD
• 3rd: TBD

John F. Feehan Stakes Race Facts

• Date: Saturday September 5, 2020
• Track: Moonee Valley Racecourse
• Distance: 1600m
• Conditions: Weight-for-age
• Status: Group 2
• Prize Money: $250,000
• First Run: 1948

Feehan Stakes Betting

Feehan Stakes odds are led by proven weight-for-age performers racing first or second-up in the mile showdown who have good records when fresh.

Previous experience at the tight Moonee Valley circuit and runners that have a strong record over 1600m – 2000m also feature highly up the Feehan Stakes betting markets each spring.

Single-figure hopefuls have a strong record in the event including the recent win by Homesman ($5 in 2019). 

2020 Feehan Stakes Odds

The season’s top John F. Feehan Stakes 2020 odds will be provided below as soon as betting on the Cox Plate lead-up opens.

Feehan Stakes Field

2019 Feehan Stakes winner Homesman. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The John F. Feehan Stakes field features a classy line-up of weight-for-age, Cox Plate hopes.

Many are kicking off their spring campaigns in the mile clash and are heading towards tougher spring assignments including the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) three weeks later at Caulfield Racecourse and the Cox Plate.

In 2015 Mourinho finished sixth in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes, a race he was second to the previous year, before winning the Underwood Stakes next start. The 2014 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes third placed Foreteller also won the Underwood next time out.

Bonneval (2016) was the last galloper to complete the Feehan Stakes – Underwood Stakes double in a single season. In 2018 Homesman improved on a second in the Feehan Stakes to win the Underwood Stakes and later finish runner-up in the Caulfield Cup results. Homesman returned in 2019 to win the John F. Feehan Stakes.

One lead-up into the race is the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) run at Caulfield in mid-August. In 2015 The Cleaner ran second in the PB Lawrence before successfully defending his Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes title having won the race in 2014.

Another possible lead-up run into the Group 2 is the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in late August, a race the 2013 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes winner Fiorente ran sixth in first-up. Fiorente went on to place third in that year’s Cox Plate before his victory in the iconic Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.

In 2012 Happy Trails ran second in the Memsie Stakes before his Dato’ win. Three starts later he took out the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

2020 Feehan Stakes Field

The official John F. Feehan Stakes 2020 Field & Barriers are released the Wednesday leading-up to The Valley feature, the full line-up to be published below.

Feehan Stakes Tips

Sticking with horses under $10 for the win with experience in Group 1 company, proven form at Moonee Valley Racecourse and that have ability in weight-for-age races are good Feehan Stakes Stakes tips.

Looking at runners that finished in the top four in the Memsie Stakes and that contested the previous year’s race are also helpful tips when it comes to Place and Exotic bets on the Group 2 feature.

Feehan Stakes Form Guide

The Feehan Stakes form guide features all the crucial information for punters including saddlecloth numbers, jockeys, trainers, barriers and the lead-up runs of the horses in the field. The John F. Feehan Stakes form has held up in many Group 1 spring races in recent years including the Cox Plate.

In 2013 Fiorente won the race before a third in the Cox Plate. Other  winners to finish third in the Cox Plate in the same season include Rekindled Interest (2011) and Whobegotyou (2010).

2020 Feehan Stakes Form Guide

A link to our detailed John F. Feehan Stakes 2020 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

Dato Tan Chin Nam / Feehan Stakes Results

Horses under $10 for the win have dominated the John F. Feehan Stakes results of the past decade.

Notable winners of the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes – now the Feehan Stakes – include The Cleaner (2014-15), Fiorente (2013), Whobegotyou (2009-10) and El Segundo (2007).

Dato’ Tan Chin Nam / Feehan Stakes Winners