Naturalism Stakes 2021

Ladbrokes Tip: The Naturalism Stakes serves as a good lead-up into the Caulfield Cup!

Held on a weekend in mid to late September during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival at Caulfield Racecourse, the Naturalism Stakes – run as the MRC Foundation Cup – is a Group 3 race for horses aged three and above contested over 2000m.

The quality handicap race is one of five Group races at the meeting that is headlined by the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1800m) and also featuring the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) and Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) races in 2021.

The Naturalism Stakes has been recently been run as the MRC Foundation Cup and offers $200,000 in prize money as well as a ballot exemption into the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) the following month.

Jameka (2016) was the last stayer to complete the Naturalism Stakes – Caulfield Cup double.

The latest edition of the Naturalism Stakes ran on Saturday September 18th, 2021 as the MRC Foundation Cup and saw the favourite Nonconformist narrowly salute for the punters. 

2021 Naturalism Stakes Results

The official Naturalism Stakes 2021 results & finishing order will be published below once the race is run and won on Saturday September 18th, 2021.

• 1st: #11 Nonconformist
• 2nd: #4 Delphi
• 3rd: #15 Tralee Rose

The Group 1 Caulfield Cup now calls for the Grahame Begg-trained Nonconformist ($4.40) following the five-year-old’s narrow win in the 2021 Naturalism Stakes results.

Naturalism Stakes Race Info

• Run As: MRC Foundation Cup
• Date: Saturday September 18th, 2021
• Track: Caulfield Racecourse
• Distance: 2000m
• Conditions: 3YOs and above – Quality Handicap
• Status: Group 3
• Prize Money: $200,000
• First Run: 1983

Naturalism Stakes Betting

Naturalism Stakes betting markets are dominated each year by in-form staying types with proven ability over 2000m and further in distance.

Well-weighted runners, those with a strong record at the Caulfield track as well as any past Group 1 horses down in grade are usually at short Naturalism Stakes odds in the spring.

Nonconformist ($4.40 in 2021) was the last favourite in Naturalism Stakes betting to win.

2021 Naturalism Stakes Odds

The latest Naturalism Stakes 2021 betting odds and links to our Caulfield racing markets will be open below as soon as released so stay tuned for the top odds on the Caulfield Cup-bound stayers this spring.

Naturalism Stakes Tips

Good Naturalism Stakes tips include backing progressive stayers with form over 2000m plus and any Group 1 horses down in grade.

Gallopers with a strong spring lead-up and solid strike-rate at the Caulfield track also make a nice bet in Naturalism Stakes tipping.

2021 Naturalism Stakes Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ insider Naturalism Stakes 2021 betting tips and Group 3 racing picks for the Caulfield Cup lead-up race will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the horses to lock-in for the win and to take in Group 1 futures markets on the mile and a half feature next race.

• To Win: #15 Tralee Rose ($5.50 at time of publish)

Open edition full of Caulfield Cup hopefuls and this nicely-bred Tavistock mare for Warrnambool’s Symon Wilde looks a huge chance second-up. She was fourth in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup over the two miles last time in before an eye-catching returning running third first-up in the Listed Heatherlie Handicap here from out wide. Craig Williams retains the ride and she’s drawn better near the inside here, still nicely weighted with on 54kg.

Naturalism Stakes Field

The Naturalism Stakes field attracts a line-up of the season’s promising stayers heading towards a Caulfield Cup target the next month.

Following the Naturalism Stakes, some of the more dour stayers may target the Group 3 $750,000 The Bart Cummings on Turnbull Stakes Day as a Melbourne Cup lead-up.

2021 Naturalism Stakes Field

The official Naturalism Stakes 2021 Final Field & Barriers are released the Wednesday of race week and will be published below.

The 2021 Naturalism Stakes field – known as the MRC Foundation Cup field – features a capacity line-up of Spring Cup hopefuls led in betting by Nonconformist coming off a Feehan Stakes fourth and Craig Williams’ mount Tralee Rose who ran fourth in the Adelaide Cup last prep.

2021 Naturalism Stakes Nominations

The Naturalism Stakes 2021 Nominations are taken the Monday of race week and the list of early entries will be provided below once announced.

Naturalism Stakes Form Guide

The Naturalism Stakes form guide details to punters all the need-to-know information from trainers and jockeys to barriers and lead-up runs.

The Naturalism Stakes form has also stacked up in tougher spring races in recent years including the Caulfield Cup and Moonee Valley’s prestigious Cox Plate.

2021 Naturalism Stakes Form Guide

A link to our detailed Naturalism Stakes 2021 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

Naturalism Stakes Results

Notable recent Naturalism Stakes winners include Zipping (2006), Mr O’Ceirin (2012), Jameka (2016) and subsequent dual Group 1 Australian Cup hero Harlem (2017).

Naturalism Stakes Winners