The Autumn Stakes is a Group 2 set weights & penalty race for three-year-olds that takes place each February at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne during the the Melbourne autumn racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 1400 metres and has prizemoney of $180,000. The 2011 Autumn Stakes was won by Dusty Star from Under The Eiffel with Eclair Mystic third.
Held on Gr1 C.F. Orr Stakes day, the Melbourne Racing Club's second biggest day of the autumn carnival, second only to Blue Diamond Stakes day, the Autumn Stakes has been run as the ''D'Urban Stakes' in recent years.
The Autumn Stakes is a good quality three-year-old race in the autumn and serves as a good lead up event to the Gr1 Australian Guineas which is held on Super Saturday at Flemington in mid March. Heart Of Dreams (3rd in 2009) went on to win the Guineas after placing in this event.
A number of quality gallopers have won this race over the years including Denman (2010), Apache Cat (2006), Special Harmony (2004), Titanic Jack (2003), Dignity Dancer (1999) and St Covet (1995).
The set weight plus penalty conditions of this event gives an advantage to the classier three-year-olds engaged and more often than not the best horse in the race will typically make his presence felt and prove a tough nut to crack.
Dusty Star (2011) won a 3yo handicap event over 1400m at Flemington before scoring in this event and recent Autumn Stakes winners include Denman (2010) and Fravashi (2009).
2011 Autumn Stakes result
1. $7.00 Dusty Star 55.5 C Williams
2. $2.60 Under The Eiffel 55.5 J Mott
3. $4.20 Eclair Mystic 57.0 C Symons
then followed
4. $11.00 Roadtrain 55.5 D Oliver
5. $20.00 Eclair Surprise 57.5 L Nolen
6. $11.00 Servant 55.5 B Melham
7. $21.00 Hollowlea 58.0 N Hall
8. $11.00 Run For Levi 57.0 C Newitt
9. $31.00 I Think I Do 55.5 C W Brown
10. $61.00 Gilded Spur 55.5 G Boss
11. $101.00 Kerchings 55.5 D Nikolic
