Ladbrokes Tip: First-up runners with a good fresh record are worth backing to win the Memsie Stakes
The Memsie Stakes is the opening Group 1 race of the annual Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and takes place at Caulfield Racecourse in late August or early September. The headline race at the meeting, the weight-for-age clash is run over 1400m and gives the season’s top milers and stayers an early chance at elite level glory. Worth a lucrative $1 million in prize money, the Memsie Stakes is often contested by horses heading towards the season’s majors including the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Note: In 2020 the prize money for the Memsie Stakes totaled $750,000 due to COVID-19.
Elevated to a Group 1 race in 2013 it has been won by many notable horses including Atlantic Jewel (2013), So You Think (2010), Weekend Hussler (2008), Miss Finland (2007), Makybe Diva (2005), dual champ Sunline (2000 & 2001) and Dane Ripper (1998).
The latest edition of the Memsie Stakes took place on Saturday August 29, 2020 and was won by the favourite Behemoth.
Memsie Stakes Race Info
- Date: Saturday August 29, 2020
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Distance: 1400m
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Status: Group 1
- Prize Money: $1 million ($750,000 in 2020 due to COVID-19)
- First Run: 1899
2020 Memsie Stakes Results
The official Memsie Stakes 2020 results & finishing order will be published in full right here once the Group 1 race is run and won on Saturday August 29, 2020.
- 1st: #7 Behemoth
- 2nd: #6 Mr Quickie
- 3rd: #15 Glenfiddich
The David Jolly-trained Behemoth ($3.30) saluted for the punters in the Memsie Stakes 2020 results, the $6,000 bargain buy enjoying a well-deserved Group 1 Melbourne win on the back of a Group 3 sprint victory in Adelaide.
Colour |
Finish |
No. |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Margin |
Bar. |
Weight |
Penalty |
Starting Price |
 |
1 |
7 |
BEHEMOTH |
David Jolly |
Craig Williams |
|
2 |
59kg |
|
$3.30F |
 |
2 |
6 |
MR QUICKIE |
Phillip Stokes |
Dwayne Dunn |
1.5L |
5 |
59kg |
|
$14 |
 |
3 |
15 |
GLENFIDDICH |
Peter G Moody |
Craig Newitt |
2.25L |
10 |
50.5kg |
|
$6 |
 |
4 |
9 |
CASCADIAN (GB) |
James Cummings |
Damien Oliver |
2.35L |
8 |
59kg |
|
$6 |
 |
5 |
4 |
SO SI BON |
Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes |
Daniel Stackhouse |
2.45L |
3 |
59kg |
|
$21 |
 |
6 |
10 |
BEGOOD TOYA MOTHER |
Daniel Bowman |
Declan Bates |
2.85L |
7 |
59kg |
|
$21 |
 |
7 |
2 |
HARLEM (GB) |
Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes |
Jamie Mott |
3.6L |
6 |
59kg |
|
$101 |
 |
8 |
14 |
PRINCESS JENNI (NZ) |
David Brideoake |
Ethan Brown |
3.8L |
12 |
57kg |
|
$51 |
 |
9 |
8 |
ICONOCLASM |
Danny O’Brien |
Daniel Moor |
4.55L |
1 |
59kg |
|
$81 |
 |
10 |
11 |
MYSTIC JOURNEY |
Adam Trinder |
Billy Egan |
5.55L |
4 |
57kg |
|
$8 |
 |
11 |
5 |
STREETS OF AVALON |
Shane Nichols |
Ben Melham |
5.75L |
13 |
59kg |
|
$15 |
 |
12 |
1 |
REGAL POWER |
Grant & Alana Williams |
William Pike |
5.85L |
9 |
59kg |
|
$12 |
 |
13 |
3 |
GATTING |
Peter G Moody |
Luke Nolen |
6.05L |
11 |
59kg |
|
$31 |
 |
|
12 |
ARCADIA QUEEN |
Grant & Alana Williams |
Damian Lane |
|
0 |
|
|
|
 |
|
13 |
SAVATIANO |
James Cummings |
Mark Zahra |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Memsie Stakes Betting
Memsie Stakes betting is always popular as the markets usually feature some smart types returning from their winter spells. Favourites have a gun record in the race so looking for the horses at the top of the Memsie Stakes odds is always a good bet.
From 2007 – 2019 seven favourites in Memsie Stakes betting saluted for the punters, most recently Black Heart Bart (2016) and Vega Magic (2017). Betting really heats up once the field is out and horses drawn well usually dominate the markets as just one Memsie Stakes winner has jumped from a double digit barrier since 2004 with King’s Rose (11 in 2011).
2020 Memsie Stakes Odds
The season’s top Memsie Stakes 2020 odds and betting market links will be available below as soon as open.
Memsie Stakes Field
The Memsie Stakes field has a capacity of 16 starters, but hasn’t run with its maximum number of contenders since 2000 when Sunline won the first of her two editions of the spring lead-up. The race field has attracted 11 or more starters every year since 2003 apart from in 2005 when Makybe Diva beat home only six rivals.

Black Heart Bart (2016) is one of the most notable recent Memsie Stakes winners. Photo Credit: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Horses traditionally run in the Memsie Stakes field first-up and in 2015-16 the winner had their last start in Brisbane’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap the previous June with Boban (2015) and Black Heart Bart (2016) both improving on seconds in that winter feature.
The best out of the Memsie Stakes field traditionally back-up a fortnight later at Flemington in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), the double last completed by Dissident (2014).
In more recent years horses out of the Memsie Stakes field have headed back to Sydney for a shot at the world’s richest race on turf – The Everest. In 2017 The Everest winner Vega Magic represented one of The Everest slot-holders and finished runner-up to Redzel in the inaugural edition of the event that is now worth $14 million in 2019.
The Memsie Stakes final acceptances are released on the Wednesday before the race runs on a Saturday and the nominations close that Monday.
2020 Memsie Stakes Field
The official Memsie Stakes 2020 field and barriers will be published in full below once final acceptances are taken by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday of race week.
Fifteen horses make-up the 2020 Memsie Stakes final field including last-start Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes winning mare Savatiano (11) chasing her first Group 1 success and early favourite Behemoth (2) coming off a Group 3 win in Adelaide.
- Scratchings: #12 Arcadia Queen (13) was scratched just eight minutes from the official scratchings deadline on Saturday morning due to the Cox Plate hopeful suffering from a stone bruise. #13 Savatiano was a late scratching about an hour out from the race on vet’s advice.
No |
Last 10 |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Barrier |
Weight |
Penalty |
Hcp Rating |
1 |
2161x421x9 |
REGAL POWER |
Grant & Alana Williams |
William Pike |
9 |
59kg |
|
112 |
2 |
6380x4549x |
HARLEM (GB) |
Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes |
Jamie Mott |
6 |
59kg |
|
107 |
3 |
02752x940x |
GATTING |
Peter G Moody |
Luke Nolen |
12 |
59kg |
|
110 |
4 |
84644116×4 |
SO SI BON |
Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes |
Daniel Stackhouse |
3 |
59kg |
|
106 |
5 |
89x3210x27 |
STREETS OF AVALON |
Shane Nichols |
Ben Melham |
15 |
59kg |
|
110 |
6 |
x3002x902x |
MR QUICKIE |
Phillip Stokes |
Dwayne Dunn |
5 |
59kg |
|
105 |
7 |
24184x14x1 |
BEHEMOTH |
David Jolly |
Craig Williams |
2 |
59kg |
|
105 |
8 |
014x02318x |
ICONOCLASM |
Danny O’Brien |
Daniel Moor |
1 |
59kg |
|
101 |
9 |
13x25319x4 |
CASCADIAN (GB) |
James Cummings |
Damien Oliver |
8 |
59kg |
|
106 |
10 |
x161x777x4 |
BEGOOD TOYA MOTHER |
Daniel Bowman |
Declan Bates |
7 |
59kg |
|
106 |
11 |
1x1255x5x8 |
MYSTIC JOURNEY |
Adam Trinder |
Billy Egan |
4 |
57kg |
|
112 |
12 |
3111x105x5 |
ARCADIA QUEEN |
Grant & Alana Williams |
Damian Lane |
13 |
57kg |
|
110 |
13 |
01x12766x1 |
SAVATIANO |
James Cummings |
Mark Zahra |
11 |
57kg |
|
111 |
14 |
x7104x356x |
PRINCESS JENNI (NZ) |
David Brideoake |
Ethan Brown |
14 |
57kg |
|
102 |
15 |
9x2502162x |
GLENFIDDICH |
Peter G Moody |
Craig Newitt |
10 |
50.5kg |
|
88 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2020 Memsie Stakes Nominations
Punters get an early indication of the horses that will line-up in the opening Group 1 race in Melbourne for the spring when the Memsie Stakes 2020 nominations are taken on the Monday leading-up to the race.
The 2020 Memsie Stakes nominations attracted 21 runners led in betting by first-up Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes winner Savatiano for Godolphin. Class WA mare Arcadia Queen is the other best in the early markets, while the David Jolly-trained Behemoth coming off the Group 3 Spring Stakes win in Adelaide is also a standout nominee.
|
Last 10 |
Horse |
Sex |
Age |
Trainer |
Hcp Rating |
1 |
3111x105x5 |
ARCADIA QUEEN |
M |
5 |
Grant & Alana Williams |
110 |
2 |
x161x777x4 |
BEGOOD TOYA MOTHER |
G |
6 |
Daniel Bowman |
106 |
3 |
24184x14x1 |
BEHEMOTH |
G |
5 |
David Jolly |
105 |
4 |
115x97437x |
BENITOITE |
M |
5 |
Clinton McDonald |
84 |
5 |
13x25319x4 |
CASCADIAN (GB) |
G |
6 |
James Cummings |
106 |
6 |
63x848115x |
GALAXY RAIDER |
G |
8 |
Grahame Begg |
95 |
7 |
02752x940x |
GATTING |
G |
7 |
Peter G Moody |
110 |
8 |
9x2502162x |
GLENFIDDICH |
C |
3 |
Peter G Moody |
88 |
9 |
11x0x16232 |
GREAT AGAIN |
G |
8 |
Lindsey Smith |
100 |
10 |
6380x4549x |
HARLEM (GB) |
G |
9 |
Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes |
107 |
11 |
014x02318x |
ICONOCLASM |
H |
6 |
Danny O’Brien |
101 |
12 |
x3002x902x |
MR QUICKIE |
G |
5 |
Phillip Stokes |
105 |
13 |
1x1255x5x8 |
MYSTIC JOURNEY |
M |
5 |
Adam Trinder |
112 |
14 |
331121x |
NONCONFORMIST |
G |
4 |
Grahame Begg |
95 |
15 |
x7104x356x |
PRINCESS JENNI (NZ) |
M |
5 |
David Brideoake |
102 |
16 |
2161x421x9 |
REGAL POWER |
G |
5 |
Grant & Alana Williams |
112 |
17 |
01x12766x1 |
SAVATIANO |
M |
6 |
James Cummings |
111 |
18 |
6535022172 |
SIRCCONI |
G |
6 |
Nick Ryan |
100 |
19 |
84644116×4 |
SO SI BON |
G |
7 |
Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes |
106 |
20 |
89x3210x27 |
STREETS OF AVALON |
G |
6 |
Shane Nichols |
110 |
21 |
x4111124x5 |
YULONG JANUARY |
G |
5 |
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
98 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Memsie Stakes Tips
Memsie Stakes tips historically have the favourite predicted as the one to beat as history shows the shorter priced horses have an outstanding recent record in the weight-for-age race.
Classy miler – stayer types are also popular in the tipping as all seven winners from 2010 – 2016 had their lead-up run into the race in Group 1 company, including two that came out of an autumn run in the Doncaster Mile with Dissident (12th in 2014) and Sincero (4th in 2012).
2020 Memsie Stakes Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Memsie Stakes 2020 betting tips and early spring Group 1 race selections will be detailed below the week of the race so bookmark this page for the horses to back and sack in the Caulfield classic.
Memsie Stakes Form Guide
The Memsie Stakes form guide has all the details you need to know before placing your bets on the season’s opening Group 1 clash. Along with the saddlecloth numbers, trainers, jockeys and barriers the form guide shows the recent lead-up runs of all the runners and their starting price in the markets. Looking for horses that have previous Group 1 experience, run well fresh and are drawn well are all important things the form guide will show you.
Memsie Stakes Form Facts
- All seven Memsie Stakes winners from 2010 – 2016 had their final lead-up run in Group 1 company
- The Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane produced back-to-back winners in 2015 and 2016
- Since 2003 just one victor has jumped form a double-digit barrier
- Favourites saluted in the race eight times from 2008 – 2020 most recently Behemoth ($3.30 in 2020)
2020 Memsie Stakes Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Memsie Stakes 2020 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Memsie Stakes Results
The results and finishing order are published when the WFA feature runs at Caulfield on the first major meeting of the spring in Melbourne. The results show the winner, successful quinella and trifecta as well as the margin and time run to see if any records are broken.
Memsie Stakes Winners
Year |
Winner |
2nd |
3rd |
Time |
2020 |
Behemoth |
Quick Thinker |
Glenfiddich |
1:22.7 |
2019 |
Scales Of Justice |
So Si Bon |
Alizee |
1:22.14 |
2018 |
Humidor |
Kementari |
Kings Will Dream |
1:23.2 |
2018 |
Vega Magic |
Black Heart Bart |
Tosen STardom |
1:23.3 |
2016 |
Black Heart Bart |
Rising Romance |
Mahuta |
1:23.9 |
2015 |
Boban |
Entirely Platinum |
Stratum Star |
1:24.6 |
2014 |
Dissident |
Sweet Idea |
Puissance De Lune |
1:22.7 |
2013 |
Atlantic Jewel |
Ferlax |
Super Cool |
1:24.4 |
2012 |
Sincero |
Happy Trails |
Second Effort |
1:23.2 |
2011 |
King’s Rose |
Heart Of Dreams |
Red Colossus |
1:23.4 |
2010 |
So You Think |
Whobegotyou |
Shoot Out |
1:26.6 |
2009 |
Mic Mac |
Whobegotyou |
Zarita |
1:24.4 |
2008 |
Weekend Hussler |
Maldivian |
Pompeii Ruler |
1:23.2 |
2007 |
Miss Finland |
Haradasun |
Tipungwuti |
1:24.2 |
2006 |
El Segundo |
Casual Pass |
Apache Cat |
1:23.2 |
2005 |
Makybe Diva |
Barely A Moment |
Regal Roller |
1:26.7 |
2004 |
Regal Roller |
Pacific Dancer |
Delzao |
1:23.0 |
2003 |
Le Zagaletta |
Super Elegant |
Out Of Options |
1:25.2 |
2002 |
Magical Miss |
Fields Of Omagh |
Dash For Cash |
1:24.0 |
2001 |
Sunline |
Piavonic |
Rum |
1:25.5 |
2000 |
Sunline |
Umrum |
Oliver Twist |
1:25.4 |