The 2018 Bletchingly Stakes is a Group 3 contest held each year at the end of July or early August at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne. Run over a short trip of 1200m, the race is weighted under weight for age conditions making it a true test of class.
The 2018 edition of the race has been postponed to Sandown Park on Sunday 6th August due to high winds at the original Caulfield meeting.
The event is worth $150,000 in prize money and is usually either the final Group race of the season in Victoria or the first depending on the calendar.
The Bletchingly Stakes is the type of race targeted by horses that want to get in early before the spring carnival.
This can either be trainers looking to snag a black type win while the best aren’t around yet or trainers that know their horse might take a couple of runs to reach its peak.
It’s one of those races that always has that unique mix of fit horses at the end of their spells and horses first up for their campaign.
The normal progression out of this event is to something like the JJ Liston Stakes or the Memsie Stakes.
It also depends on whether the horse is a genuine sprinter or simply starting here and working up in distance.
2018 Bletchingly Stakes Field
The 2018 Bletchingly Stakes field is published here.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 75x323529x | BLACK HEART BART | Darren Weir | – | 1 | 58.5kg | 113 |
| 2 | 1x11257x8x | VEGA MAGIC | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Damien Oliver | 3 | 58.5kg | 113 |
| 3 | 57x145x001 | VOODOO LAD | Darren Weir | – | 7 | 58.5kg | 107 |
| 4 | 13×2008124 | JUNGLE EDGE | Mick Bell | Kevin Forrester | 9 | 58.5kg | 108 |
| 5 | 39621143×6 | CRYSTAL DREAMER | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Andrew Mallyon | 2 | 58.5kg | 102 |
| 6 | 86125×1751 | CAMDUS (IRE) | Darren Weir | – | 6 | 58.5kg | 96 |
| 7 | 11x6x11112 | INN KEEPER | Symon Wilde | – | 8 | 58.5kg | 95 |
| 8 | 11x1220x3 | JUKEBOX | Ciaron Maher | Ben Melham | 4 | 58kg | 94 |
| 9 | 11x7x | ARDROSSAN | Mick Price | Michael Dee | 5 | 58kg | 7 |
The winners list shows though that some of the best have passed through the Bletchingly Stakes to start their spring campaigns.
Rubitano won it in 2002 before regal Roller got up in 2005.
Since then the mighty Apache Cat triumphed in 2007 with Shoot Out in 2010 and Mid Summer Music in 2011 the more recent winners.
Bletchingly Stakes Winners & Results
Winners and placers in the Bletchingly Stakes since 2000 with winning times.
| Year | Results | Winning Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 Vega Magic | 2 Voodoo Lad | 3 Jungle Edge | 1:10.1 |
| 2017 | 1 Ability | 2 Lankan Rupee | 3 Duke Of Brunswick | 1:14.2 |
| 2016 | 1 Lord Of The Sky | 2 Fast ‘N’ Rocking | 3 Mahuta | 1:11.6 |
| 2015 | 1 Smokin’ Joey | 2 Platinum Rocker | 3 Petrology | 1:11.2 |
| 2014 | 1 Thiamandi | 2 Gig | 3 Nearest To Pin | 1:10.7 |
| 2013 | 1 Second Effort | 2 Academy Jack | 3 Launay | 1:11.5 |
| 2012 | 1 Ready to Rip | 2 Zamorar | 3 Dusty Star | 1:12.8 |
| 2011 | 1 Mid Summer Music | 2 Rue Maple | 3 Stanzout | 1:11.4 |
| 2010 | 1 Shoot Out | 2 Stanzout | 3 Velocitea | 1:11.7 |
| 2009 | 1 Let Go Thommo | 2 Orange County | 3 Mr Baritone | 1:11.5 |
| 2008 | 1 Commanding Hope | 2 Lucky Diva | 3 Red Arrow | 1:11.2 |
| 2007 | 1 Apache Cat | 2 Haradasun | 3 Honalee | 1:09.3 |
| 2006 | 1 Minson | 2 Red Dazzler | 3 Snort | 1:09.3 |
| 2005 | 1 Regal Roller | 2 Super Elegant | 3 Le Zagaletta | 1:13.7 |
| 2004 | 1 Le Zagaletta | 2 Yell | 3 Elvstroem | 1:14.3 |
| 2003 | 1 Super Elegant | 2 Ruby Slipper | 3 The Big Chill | 1:06.3 |
| 2002 | 1 Rubitano | 2 Ruby Slipper | 3 Dandy Kid | 1:03.7 |
| 2001 | 1 Windigo | 2 Piavonic | 3 Flavour | 1:05.1 |
| 2000 | 1 Dandy Kid | 2 Miss Pennymoney | 3 St. Chrisoph | 1:04.3 |
