7^th of Series

Prizemoney: $2,500,000

Standard Weight-For-Age. Apprentices can claim.

The winner of the following races will be granted automatic entry into the 2025 Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m);
Group 1 MRC C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) – Feb 8 @ Caulfield
Listed VRC The Elms Handicap (1400m) – Feb 15 @ Flemington
Group 1 MRC Futurity Stakes (1400m) – Feb 22 @ Caulfield
Group 2 TAB Blamey Stakes (1600m) – Mar 1 @ Flemington
Group 1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) – Mar 8 @ Flemington

Last year’s winner – Pride Of Jenni (Caulfield)

152^nd of Series

Registered Name: VRC Newmarket Handicap

Prizemoney: $1,506,485

Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.

The winner of the following races will be exempt from ballot for the 2025 Group 1 Yulong Newmarket Handicap (1200m);
Group 3 VRC Standish Handicap (1200m) – Jan 11 @ Flemington
Group 2 MVRC Australia Stakes (1200m) – Jan 24 @ Moonee Valley
Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) – Feb 15 @ Flemington
Group 1 MRC Oakleigh Plate (1100m) – Feb 22 @ Caulfield

Last year’s winner – Cylinder

156^th of Series

Prizemoney: $304,485

2YO Set Weights. Apprentices cannot claim.

Last year’s winner – Traffic Warden

74^th of Series

Registered Name: A.V Kewney Stakes

Prizemoney: $304,485

3YO Fillies Set Weights. Apprentices cannot claim.

Race History

A.V KEWNEY (1872–1956)

Arthur Vaux Kewney succeeded Henry Byron Moore in 1925 as Secretary (Chief Executive Officer) of the Victoria Racing Club. Born in England, coming to the Western Australian goldfields in his youth, he worked as a mining company manager and accountant before becoming Secretary of the Kalgoorlie Racing Club (1915–19) and then of the South Australian Jockey Club (1919–25). At Flemington, he remained at the helm for 21 years, through the Depression decade and the Second World War. He retired aged 74 in 1946. The A.V. Kewney Stakes was inaugurated in his honour in 1952.

Last year’s winner – Autumn Angel

34^th of Series

Prizemoney: $203,285

4YO & Upwards Mares Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.

Last year’s winner – Eternal Flame (NZ)

Prizemoney: $203,285

Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.

Maidens at time of entry are ineligible.

Race History

SHAFTESBURY AVENUE (Salieri (USA) – Lady Upstage (GB))

A versatile Australian-bred racehorse who won six Group 1 races from 1000 to 2000 metres, and was also placed in the 1991 Japan Cup over 2400 metres. He was a regular rival of Super Impose, and the head-to-head scoreline read four apiece in their eight clashes. Trained by Bart Cummings, the big chestnut gelding won the Lightning Stakes-Newmarket Handicap double in 1991 at Flemington. He carried the highest weight to victory in the Newmarket Hcp since Gold Stakes in 1959 and was Bart’s eighth winner of the time-honoured race.

Last year’s winner – Von Hauke (NZ)

Prizemoney: $178,285

2YO Fillies Set Weights. Apprentices cannot claim.

Race History

OTTAWA STAKES

This sprint for two-year-old fillies was first run as a new race in 1932, originally on the fourth day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival – strangely enough replacing the former feature race on that day, known as the Victoria Steeplechase. It was part of a strategy by the VRC to offer greater opportunities for fillies as an incentive to breeders, being introduced in the same year as the Edward Manifold Stakes in October and, for Derby Day, the Wakeful Stakes for three-year-old fillies aiming for the VRC Oaks. Why ‘Ottawa’? In 1932 the British Empire Economic Conference was held in the Canadian capital to discuss ways of helping the nations find a way out of the great economic depression.

Last year's winner - Eneeza

Prizemoney: $200,000

3YO & Upwards Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.

Last year’s winner – Young Werther (NZ)

Prizemoney: $150,000

3YO Quality Handicap. Apprentices can claim.

Prizemoney: $80,000

Benchmark 84 Handicap. Apprentices can claim.