The St George Stakes is a Group 2 Weight-for-age race held each February at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne during the Melbourne autumn racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 1800 metres and is worth $200,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 St George Stakes was won by Heart Of Dreams from Precedence with Spacecraft third.
Taking place on Blue Diamond Stakes day, the Melbourne Racing Club's major race day of the autumn, the St George Stakes is held alongside feature races including the Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes, Gr1 Futurity Stakes & Gr1 Oakleigh Plate.
The St George Stakes is generally a good quality weight-for-age event that provides the ideal lead up race to the premier weight-for-age distance event of the Melbourne autumn, the Gr1 Australian Cup which takes place on Super Saturday at Flemington in early March. Horses contesting this race may come via the Gr1 CF Orr Stakes held earlier in the carnival, with Elvstroem (2005) being the last horse to win both races.
The honour roll of winners for this race sees many a top class galloper's name etched upon it, including horses such as Pompeii Ruler (2007), Lonhro (2004), Northerly (2002-03), Istidaad (1999), Dane Ripper (1998), Durbridge (1994-95), Let's Elope (1992), Vo Rogue (1988-89) and all of them went on to win the Australian Cup.
Heart Of Dreams (2011) ran 2nd in the CF Orr Stakes prior to winning this race and recent St George Stakes winners have been La Rocket (2010) and Theseo (2009).
2011 St George Stakes result
1. $2.40 Heart Of Dreams 59.0 D Oliver
2. $19.00 Precedence 59.0 S Arnold
3. $9.00 Spacecraft 59.0 G Boss
then followed
4. $9.50 Ginga Dude 59.0 M J Walker
5. $9.50 Lord Pyrus 59.0 J Cassidy
6. $101.00 Wind Shear 59.0 S Baster
7. $12.00 Shocking 59.0 C Brown
8. $12.00 Moudre 59.0 C Williams
9. $11.00 Linton 59.0 M Rodd
10. $81.00 Hanks 59.0 L Nolen
11. $31.00 Speed Gifted 59.0 M Zahra
12. $31.00 Faint Perfume 57.0 B Melham
13. $101.00 Rebel Soldier 58.5 B Rawiller
