Racing on Australia Day takes The Valley back to 1998 when on January 26, the Moonee Valley Racing Club flicked the switch on night racing in Victoria.
30,000 patrons walked through the turnstiles for the first thoroughbred metropolitan races held under lights and those in attendance witnessed the John Morish trained Stella Cadente take out the Australia Stakes (registered as the William Reid Stakes). The victory gave Shane Dye a double, with the hoop having also taken out the opening race aboard Vitrinite.
This evening, the MVRC celebrates its 20-year anniversary since the launch of night racing, where Paul Kelly played to an adoring crowd and Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett announced a new era of racing for the state alongside special guests Rex Hunt, Roy Higgins and the like.
In the 19 years that have followed, attendances have continued to flourish and the night racing program enhanced.
The Australia Stakes, which was first run in 1989, boasts an honour roll of greats including Schillaci, Yell and El Segundo. In more recent years, racegoers have been treated to champion mare Black Caviar winning the race on two occasions in 2010 and 2012, while Malaguerra equalled the race record in last year’s edition.
We take a look back at the some of the greatest editions of the Australia Stakes.
1993 – Schillaci: From humble beginnings winning a Kyneton maiden on debut, the eight-time Group 1 winner trained by Lee FThereedman won the 1993 version. His Australia Stakes campaign included wins in the Rubiton Stakes and the Lightning Stakes, but also a defeat at the course when extremely short in the William Reid. He started $2.75 in the Australia Stakes defeating Umatilla and would go on to win the George Ryder Stakes two weeks later.
1998 – Flavour: The well named Woodlands gelding, from the dam Ice Cream Sundae, won three races at The Valley and started at odds of $14 when Greg Childs rode him to victory in 1998. Unsurprising after below par effort in the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket with regular rider of the cerise Darren Gauci opting for stablemate Sports. He would return later that year to win the Ian McEwen Stakes.
2003 – Yell: Another Hawkes galloper who has their name on the honour roll, Yell had a faultless start to his 2003 campaign winning three races in a row including the Carlyon Stakes, C.F. Orr and Futurity Stakes. Such was the depth of the race in 2003, Yell was sent out $4.60 and defeated the likes of Dash For Cash, Spinning Hill, Falvelon and Bel Esprit.
2010-2012 – Black Caviar: The great mare was in vastly different stages of her career in her two attempts at the Australia Stakes. After injuring herself in 2009 Danehill Stakes when close to defeat, The Valley feature was used as her return, where she started $1.70 and accounted for Here de Angels. It was again used to resume her autumn campaign in 2012 when shooting for 17 straight wins and on path to her Royal Ascot mission. Needless to say, she comfortably saluted!