The Missile Stakes is a Group 3 weight-for-age event held each year at Randwick racecourse in Sydney, New South Waes. Run over a over a distance of 1200 metres with $125,000 in prizemoney, the 2011 Missile Stakes was won by Rain Affair from Winter King with Pinwheel third.
With the first day of the 2011/2012 racing season falling on a Monday the Missile Stakes was the first group race of the 2011 Sydney spring racing carnival.
The Missile Stakes is usually contested by solid winter sprinters or quality horses returning from a spell and heading for a spring campaign. The race can be won by a fit, honest type who excels on the day or a fresh classy type who is simply too good. Some of the better gallopers to have won the Missile Stakes include Dance Hero (2005), Lonhro (2002) and Guineas (1997).
Many gallopers contesting this event will consider tackling upcoming weight-for-age races such as the Gr2 Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm later in the month or the Gr2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick in September and Danleigh (2nd in 2010) went on to run second in the Warwick Stakes after finishing second in this race.
More recently, Gold Trail (2nd in 2009) took out the Gr2 The Shorts later in the spring after finishing second in this race and the Missile Stakes can often provide a springboard to future spring success for entrants.
Rain Affair (2011) won the At Sea Handicap over 1200m at Randwick before winning this event and recent Missile Stakes winners include Love Conquers All (2010) and Teasing (2009).
2011 Missile Stakes result
1. $1.90 Rain Affair 58.5 C Brown
2. $61.00 Winter King 58.5 J Cassidy
3. $7.00 Pinwheel 58.5 K McEvoy
then followed
4. $21.00 Neeson 58.5 C Reith
5. $13.00 Centennial Park 58.5 T Angland
6. $9.00 Triple Elegance 58.5 D Oliver
7. $4.20 Squamosa 58.5 N Rawiller
8. $301.00 O’Crikey 58.5 B Avdulla
9. $51.00 Here De Angels 58.5 J Penza
Margins: Short 1/2 head, 3/4 len Time: 1:10.71 (race record)
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