The Rubiton Stakes is a Group 3, Set Weights + Penalty race held annually each February at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne during the the Melbourne autumn racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 1100m set weight & penalties conditions and offers prizemoney of $125,000. The 2011 Rubiton Stakes was won by Catapulted from Avenue and Solar Charged in third place.
The Rubiton Stakes takes place on Gr1 CF Orr Stakes day, the second biggest raceday of the Melbourne Racing Club's autumn carnival, after Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes day.
The Rubiton Stakes is a good quality weight-for-age sprint race for the time of the year and has been won by some talented types throughout the years. Top class gallopers such as Flavour (1999), Spartacus (1997), Schillaci (1995), Redelva (1991) and Zeditave (1989) have all won this event.
The race suits quality gallopers resuming from a spell and perhaps aiming at the feature autumn sprints or above average in-form gallopers wanting to test themselves in better class.
The Rubiton Stakes offers the ideal tune-up for the Gr1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington, or Caulfield's premier autumn sprint, the upcoming Gr1 Oakleigh Plate. Eagle Falls (7th in 2011) won the Oakleigh Plate at his next start, while Avenue (2nd in 2011) finished runner-up in the same race.
Smart weight-for-age sprinters contesting this race might also go on and tackle the prestigious Gr1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley in March, as it is run under the same conditions but over 1200 metres.
Catapulted (2011) finished strongly to win this event first-up from a spell and recent Rubiton Stakes winners include Here De Angels (2010) and Mind Your Head (2009).
2011 Rubiton Stakes result
1. $3.70 Catapulted 58.0 M Rodd
2. $8.50 Avenue 56.0 L Nolen
3. $6.00 Solar Charged 53.0 G Boss
then followed
4. $71.00 Time Matters 55.5 N Hall
5. $7.50 Acorns 55.5 D Oliver
6. $9.00 Faster Son 56.0 C Williams
7. $12.00 Eagle Falls 57.0 S Arnold
8. $5.50 Reward For Effort 57.0 B Melham
9. $13.00 Winter King 57.0 C Brown
10. $61.00 Wordmaster 55.5 C Symons