Kennedy Cantala Stakes 2021

Ladbrokes Tip: Look for top international milers in Kennedy Cantala betting markets

The Kennedy Mile, currently known as the Kennedy Cantala, is the race formerly run as the ‘Emirates Stakes’, swapped with the ‘Mackinnon Stakes’ during Flemington’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The old Emirates Stakes was transferred to the Cup Carnival’s opening meeting, Victoria Derby Day, and was originally renamed as the Longines Mile before taking place as the Kennedy Mile in 2017 for sponsorship purposes. The race name changed again to the Kennedy Cantala for the 2019 running. It takes place over 1600m under quality handicap conditions and is one of four Group 1 events held on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup runs on the first Tuesday of November.

The event is also known as the registered name, the Cantala Stakes, and has recently been referred to as the Kennedy Cantala due to the sponsorship by luxury retail group Kennedy.

Headlining the card are the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) for three-year-olds, the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) for three-year-old sprinters and Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) – formerly the Myer Classic – for fillies and mares. The Kennedy Cantala offers a lucrative $2 million in prize money as of 2021 and attracts the season’s top local and international milers.

The latest edition of the Kennedy Cantala ran on Saturday October 30, 2021 and was won in a photo-finish thriller by Superstorm ($8). 

2021 Kennedy Cantala Results

The official Kennedy Cantala 2021 Results & Finishing Order will be published below when the race takes place on Saturday October 30, 2021 as part of Victoria Derby Day 2021.

• 1st: #3 Superstorm ($8)
• 2nd: #7 Icebath
• 3rd: #2 Cascadian

Jockey Damien Oliver made it a Group 1 mile double on VRC Derby Day backing-up from his Empire Rose Stakes win on Colette to get the Danny O’Brien-trained Superstorm ($8) first past the post in a diving late victory over the brave The Invitation winner Icebath (2nd) and Doncaster Mile champ Cascadian (3rd) in the 2021 Kennedy Cantala results.

Kennedy Cantala Race Info

• Date: Saturday October 30, 2021
• Track: Flemington Racecourse
• Distance: 1600m
• Conditions: Quality Handicap
• Status: Group 1
• Prize Money: $2 million
• First Run: 1881 (as the Emirates Stakes)

Kennedy Cantala Odds

Kennedy Cantala betting markets are dominated by proven milers with a good record over the 1600m and those horses that could be dropping back from a 2000m run in a race like the Cox Plate.

Previous Flemington experience doesn’t usually shorten a galloper’s odds, rather their class and ability over the 1600m as well as previous weight-for-age form are the better indicators of Cantala Stakes betting market positions.

Favourites in Kennedy Cantala betting have a good recent record, but upsets are not uncommon including in 2017 when Le Romain saluted at $12 odds in the race then known as the Cantala Stakes.

In 2017 the Kennedy Cantala odds on the winner Shillelagh were also generous, $12, while the favourite in betting that year Tosen Stardom ($4.80) only managed to run eighth. Best Of Days ($12 in 2018) also scored an upset at double-figure Cantala Stakes betting, as did Yulong Prince ($10 in 2020). In 2021 Superstorm won the Kennedy Cantala at $8 odds.

Cascadian posted his third consecutive top three run in the Kennedy Cantala results in 2021. The Godolphin galloper ran 3rd in 2019, 2nd in 2020 and 3rd again in 2021.

2021 Kennedy Cantala Betting

The season’s updated Kennedy Cantala 2021 odds and betting market links will be available below as soon as open so stay tuned for the best Kennedy Cantala betting prices on your favourite spring milers.

Kennedy Cantala Tips

Looking at top international contenders, strong milers and horses with form over the 1600m are good race tips. Because of the testing Flemington straight (1200m), this Group 1 is suited to genuine milers and or stayers more than horses coming up from 1400m in distance.

Other key Kennedy Cantala tips include looking for the top performing spring gallopers out of traditional lead-up races like the Crystal Mile and Toorak Handicap. Fierce Impact (2019) was the last horse to complete the Toorak Handicap – Kennedy Cantala double. In 2021 Superstorm won the Kennedy Cantala improving on a lead-up third in the Toorak Handicap trifecta.

Another good lead-up into the Kenendy Cantala Stakes race is the Group 3 Coongy Handicap (2000m) held at Caulfield on Cup Day, a double recently completed by Best Of Days (2018).

2021 Kennedy Cantala Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ insider Kennedy Cantala 2021 betting tips and race selections will be detailed below the week of the showdown so stay tuned for the 1600m specialists to back and sack in the Derby Day support act.

• To Win: #3 Superstorm ($11 at time of publish) 

No doubt the form around favourite Mr Brightside is strong, but going for value with 10/1 shot Superstorm racing in consistent fashion this prep. Group 2 Feehan Stakes winner two back over the mile before back-to-back Group 1 thirds behind Zaakin in the Underwood (1800m) and I’m Thunderstruck in the Toorak (1600m). Only go on a Heavy track produced a sixth to Colette in Sydney’s Golden Eagle last year three lengths beaten and has won on Slow going. Is rock hard fit and can surprise at a price.

Kennedy Cantala Field

The Kennedy Cantala field features a class line-up of top milers from both local and international stables. The decision by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) and Racing Victoria in 2016 to turn the old Emirates Stakes into the Cantala Stakes and bring the race forward a week was made with the hope overseas connections would bring milers to Australia along with their Melbourne Cup hopes during the carnival. The race was renamed in 2017 as the Kennedy Cantala and in 2019 runs as the Kennedy Cantala, accounting for the event’s registered name as well as the sponsor with Kennedy.

Horses come into the race field via earlier spring lead-ups in Victoria including Moonee Valley’s Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) on Cox Plate Day the week before. In 2015 when the event was run as the ‘Emirates Stakes’ a week later on the spring carnival calendar, Turn Me Loose completed the Crystal Mile – Emirates Stakes (now Kennedy Cantala) double.

Another possible lead-up run for horses heading into the Kennedy Cantala field is Caulfield’s Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) run in mid-October, which the 2014 Emirates Stakes runner-up Lucky Hussler won on way to his Group 1 placing behind Hucklebuck.

Cox Plate horses that aren’t heading towards the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes could also drop back in distance for a shot at the event.

Following a run in the Kennedy Cantala field in 2021 horses may be tempted to run a fortnight later in the Listed $500,000 Cranbourne Cup, that race moved from October to November and shortened from 2025m to 1600m.

Nominations close the Monday before the race runs on a Saturday in late October or early November, with the field and barriers released on the Wednesday.

2021 Kennedy Cantala Field

The official Kennedy Cantala 2021 Final Field & Barrier Draw will be published below once announced on the Wednesday of race week so stay tuned to see what gun spring milers contest the $2 million Victoria Derby Day feature.

The 2021 Kennedy Cantala field features a smart line-up of top gallopers including the in-form Mr Brightside coming off a Seymour Cup win and Icebath who took out Sydney’s $2 million The Invitation last weekend.

• Scratched: #8 Lunar Fox (7); #16 Flash Aah (5)

2021 Kennedy Cantala Nominations

The early Kennedy Cantala 2021 Nominations close on the Monday leading-up to Cox Plate Day about two weeks out from the race, with the full list of entries to be listed below.

Thirty-one milers make-up the Kennedy Cantala 2021 nominations including Icebath who won last weekend’s $2 million The Invitation in Sydney and Mr Brightside coming off six straight wins including the Seymour Cup that is proving a hot form race.

   

Le Romain (2016) was the first winner of the now Kennedy Cantala after the change of race dates and conditions for the old Emirates Stakes race. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.

Kennedy Cantala Form Guide

The Kennedy Cantala form guide lists all the must know facts like saddlecloth numbers, jockeys, barriers and the lead-up runs of the horses in the field.

Checking the form guide for strong performers over the distance coming off lead-up runs in races like the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley or Caulfield’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) is important when placing bets on the Victoria Derby Day clash.

Kennedy Cantala Form Facts

• Only three mares have won the race since 2000  – Shillelagh (2017), Divine Madonna (2006) and Sky Cuddle (2004)
• Horses down the Kennedy Cantala weights have the best record with Happy Trails (58kg in 2012) and Superstorm (56kg in 2021) the only to carry more than 55.5kg since 2000
• Kennedy Cantala favourites only have a fair strike rate in the past decade opening up value further down the markets
• Unplaced Cox Plate graduates have a solid winning strike rate backing-up in the Kennedy Cantala field

2021 Kennedy Cantala Form Guide

A link to comprehensive Kennedy Cantala 2021 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

Kennedy Cantala Results

The Kennedy Cantala results up until 2016 are those of the old Emirates Stakes. Notable recent winners include Turn Me Loose (2015), Boban (2013), All Silent (2008) and Tesa Rossa (2000).

Recent Kennedy Cantala Winners