Pago Pago Stakes

The Pago Pago Stakes is a Group 2 race for two-year-old colts & geldings held annually in late March at Rosehill racecourse in Sydney, New South Wales during the autumn carnival. The race is run over a distance of 1200 metres under set weight conditions and worth $150,000 in prizemoney. The 2010 Pago Pago Stakes was won by Brightexpectations from Blackball with Hinchinbrook third.

The race has been named the 'Darley Stakes' in recent years and the race winner is exempt from ballot for the Golden Slipper Stakes.

Pago Pago Stakes info
Date:	Saturday 27th March 2010
Track:	Rosehill racecourse, Sydney
Distance:	1200 metres
Race Type:	2yo C&G - Set Weights
Status:	Group 2
Prizemoney:	$150,000
2010 Winner:	Brightexpectations

The Pago Pago Stakes is run one week before the Gr1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) and gives two-year-old colts & geldings their last chance to qualify for the Slipper, as the winner of this race is exempt from any ballot. The Gr3 Skyline Stakes is the typical lead-up race to this event and Shogun Lodge (1999) was the last galloper to win both races.

Stratum (2005) was the last 2yo to win this race and then go on to win the Slipper the following week and two-year-old colts & geldings planning to run in the Golden Slipper may use this race as their final tune up run.

The Gr2 Magic Night Stakes for fillies takes place on the same program and this race is the male equivalent of that race. Both races are held on Gr1 Rosehill Guineas Day at Rosehill.

Brightexpectations (2010) ran second in the Skyline Stakes prior to his decisive win in this event and recent winners of the Pago Pago Stakes have been Tickets (2009) and Sidereus (2008).

2010 Pago Pago Stakes result
1. $2.60 Brightexpectations 55.5 N Rawiller
2. $21.00 Blackball 55.5 K Mc Evoy
3. $2.70 Hinchinbrook 55.5 S Katsidis

Then Followed:
4. $9.50 Skorost 55.5 G Schofield
5. $61.00 Gold Arena 55.5 Tommy Berry
6. $91.00 Unflinchingresolve 55.5 C Munce
7. $7.50 Pressday 55.5 D Oliver
8. $61.00 Dux Bellorum 55.5 B Shinn
9. $101.00 The Last General 55.5 M Rodd
10. $61.00 Choiseul 55.5 Peter Wells

Margins: 3-1/4 Len, 1-1/4 Len
Time: 1:10.89

2010 Pago Pago Stakes: Brightexpectations led clearly on settling and got away rounding the turn and then kicked right away at the 350m mark to open up a commanding lead. He kept going strongly to win in brilliant fashion from the fast finishing Blackball second, while Hinchinbrook ran home well for third after always being well back.

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Pago Pago Stakes recent winners & placegetters

Year	Winner	2nd	3rd	Time
2010	Brightexpectations	Blackball	Hinchinbrook	1:10.8
2009	Tickets	New Day Rising	Stryker	1:11.2
2008	Sidereus	Over The Wicket	Dubai To Sydney	1:11.9
2007	Deferential	Cecconi	Acey Ducey	1:10.5
2006	Tarleton	Empires Choice	Rubric	1:10.6
2005	Stratum	Power Of Destiny	Seidnazar	1:09.2
2004	Genius And Evil	Fastnet Rock	High Priority	1:10.1
2003	Danbird	Hipwell	Winestock	1:10.2
2002	Planchet	Choisir	Strictly Smart	1:09.9
2001	Red Hannigan	Dash For Cash	Shags	1:09.9
2000	De France	Ombra Della Sera	Veteran	1:11.5
1999	Shogun Lodge	High Rolling	Cullen	1:10.3
1998	Paris Dream	Brilliance	Arena	1:10.2
1997	Encounter	Dance Beat	Irish Air	1:09.8
1996	Babu's Boy	Magic Of Sydney	Intergaze	1:09.5
1995	Strategic	Zedrich	Daney Boy	1:09.7
1994	Lord Jim	Code	Call Me Pal	1:11.3
1993	Jetball	Sports Works	Allez Glen	1:10.0
1992	Yachtie	King Marauding	Moville Dancer	1:11.5
1991	Big Dreams	Umatilla	Delphinus	1:09.9
1990	Pagan Jest	Our Horizon	Thegra	1:15.0
1989	Straussbrook	Snowplough	So Fast	1:12.7
1988	Zeditave	Star Watch	Astrologist	1:11.8