Expressway Stakes

The Expressway Stakes is a Group 2 Weight-for-age race held each February at Rosehill racecourse in Sydney, New South Wales. The race is run over a distance of 1200 metres and is worth $200,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 Expressway Stakes was won by Centennial Park from Love Conquers All with Hot Danish third.

Expressway Stakes info
Date:	Saturday 11th February 2012
Track:	Rosehill racecourse, Sydney
Distance:	1200 metres
Race Type:	Weight-for-age
Status:	Group 2
Prizemoney:	$200,000
2011 Winner:	Centennial Park

The Expressway Stakes is the first weight-for-age group race of the new year in Sydney and it suits fit, in-form sprinters or returning stars of the turf. The race has been won by some of our finest gallopers, including the likes of Lonhro (2003), Saintly (1996), Joanne (1992) and At Sea (1988).

The 1200m distance of the Expressway Stakes lends itself to sprinters who may have raced well over the Xmas period in Sydney and might want to tackle a harder event to see if they are up to the task, while better class gallopers might use this race as a springboard to the feature autumn races up ahead.

Horses contesting this race may continue on to the Gr2 Apollo Stakes in a fortnight at the same track as it is raced under the same weight-for-age conditions but steps up in distance to 1400 metres.

Centennial Park (2011) won this race when resuming from a spell and recent Expressway Stakes winners include Rangirangdoo (2010) and Burdekin Blues (2009).

2011 Expressway Stakes result
1. 11.00 Centennial Park 58.5 C Brown
2. 3.20 Love Conquers All 58.5 J Cassidy
3. 2.00 Hot Danish 56.5 T Clark

Then followed:
4. 14.00 Danleigh 58.5 J Bowman
5. 16.00 Lorne Dancer 58.5 N Rawiller
6. 9.50 Border Rebel 58.5 Timothy Bell

Margins: 3/4 len, 1/2 head
Time: 1:10.25

2011 Expressway Stakes: Centennial Park was ridden patiently back in the field during the race and came with a well timed run in the straight to hit the lead inside the final 150m to score a very good win. Love Conquers All raced on the pace to finish second after hitting the lead momentariily at the 200m mark, while Hot Danish led until the 200m mark before running a close-up third.

Expressway Stakes recent winners & placegetters

Year	Winner	2nd	3rd	Time
2011	Centennial Park	Love Conquers All	Hot Danish	1:10.2
2010	Rangirangdoo	Dao Dao	McClintock	1:12.6
2009	Burdekin Blues	Gold Trail	Hurried Choice	1:09.7
2008	Paratroopers	He's Canny	Sniper's Bullet	1:09.6
2007	Mentality	Fashions Afield	More Than Lucky	1:10.0
2006	Court's In Session	Shania Dane	Primus	1:09.1
2005	Court's In Session	Our Egyptian Raine	Grand Armee	1:09.5
2004	Sportsman	Thorn Park	Excellerator	1:08.4
2003	Lonhro	Belle Du Jour	Carael Boy	1:10.7
2002	Ateates	Viscount	Caissa	1:11.2
2001	Tie The Knot	Referral	Landsighting	1:10.0
2000	Mr Innocent	Adam	Commands	1:09.3
1999	Kidman's Cove	General Nediym	Tie The Knot	1:10.1
1998	Hockney	Masked Party	Irish Air	1:15.9
1997	Cangronde	Juggler	Alsolaire	1:04.9
1996	Saintly	Juggler	Star Dancer	1:09.9
1995	Moss Rocket	Big Dreams	Pharaoh	1:10.9
1994	Soho Square	Big Dreams	All Our Mob	1:10.2
1993	Let's Hurry	Kinjite	Office	1:09.7
1992	Joanne	All Archie	Burrendah Boy	1:14.1
1991	Potrero	Livistona Lane	Magic Gleam	1:11.2
1990	Race Not Run	-	-
1989	Groucho	At Sea	Campaign King	1:09.3
1988	At Sea	Prince Anton	Omnicorp	1:09.1