A shape shifting race that has had several reinventions, the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes has gone from 'Golden Slipper of the South' to gold plated sire making race for the 21st century.
Headquarters hosted a memorable Cox Plate, and now it's time for one of the best days of racing on the global calendar - Derby Day at Fabulous Flemington!
The day for purists, when the biggest and best pedigrees tend to be on show, and their merits are tested over the extremes of distance.
In successive races for three year olds, the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes field will charge down the famous straight, and the 2500m G1 VRC Derby contenders will strive for the winning post on the same long stretch of turf - which will feel endless to some!
Registered as the Ascot Vale Stakes and inaugurated in 1863, the race we know as the Coolmore Stud Stakes was known as “the Golden Slipper of the South” for two year olds, and remained thus until 1965.
The inaugural winner was the colt Freestone, a half brother to four more stakes winners out of the remarkably versatile matron Fair Ellen, who also counted the 1878 Newmarket Hcp heroine Lady Ellen and the 1865 Melbourne Cup winner Toryboy amongst her progeny.
The Ascot Vale Stakes was originally run in the Autumn, usually on Australian Cup day, and during its early years was taken out by great horses like Newminster, Chesham, Newhaven, Bobadil, Maltster, Woorak, Two, Heroic, Powerscourt, Mollison, High Caste , Comic Court, Blue Era and the last juvenile to take the prize, Star Affair in 1965.
The VRC removed the race from its calendar in that great year of change 1966, and restored it in 1969 as a three year old sprint to be run in the early Spring.
Its very first winner in this new incarnation was one of the greatest, the breed-shaping sprinter and sire Vain.
He was followed by the likes of Century, Taj Rossi, Plush, Toy Show, Surround, Manikato, Tolhurst, Rose Of Kingston, Rancher, Kaapstad, Zeditave, Courtza, Encosta De Lago, Innovation Girl and Alinghi.
In 2006 the club moved the famous race to a premier slot on the opening day of its Spring Carnival. At this time it was awarded overdue G1 status and an increase in prize money. In 2026 the prize purse is $2 million.
A similar race which ran in early September is now the G3 Danehill Stakes - important in its own right, but also a lead up for some of the Coolmore contenders.
In any format, this race has always been a launching pad to the stud careers of some very famous names.
Since 2006 the roll call includes Gold Edition, Northern Meteor, Star Witness, Sepoy, Zoustar, Brazen Beau, Flying Artie, Merchant Navy, Sunlight, Exceedance, Home Affairs and In Secret!
In 2023 Switzerland (Snitzel) got the chocolates and he now stands at Coolmore on a fee of $55k.
2024 was the year of glory for the Zoustar colt Ozzmosis (Newgate, $44k).
Last season Godolphin’s powerhouse colt Tentyris (Street Boss) was all the rage in betting, and duly unleashed a devastating burst of speed to triumph in a new record time. He stands beside his sire at Coolmore with a fee set at $88k.
While the prize money is certainly lucrative, in terms of prestige and stud credentials for the winner, boasting a Coolmore Stud Stakes on the CV is priceless!
