Moonga Stakes

The Moonga Stakes is a Group 3 event for open horses raced held each year at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne. The race is run over a distance of 1400 metres under set weight plus penalty conditions and worth $125,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 Moonga Stakes was won by Love Conquers All from Albert The Fat with Pinwheel third.

The race has been ran as the 'Betfair Stakes' in recent times and takes place on the final day of the Melbourne Racing Club's three-day racing carnival on the same day as the MRC's most prestigious Group 1 race, the Caulfield Cup.

Moonga Stakes info
Date:	Saturday 20th October 2012
Track:	Caulfield racecourse, Melbourne
Distance:	1400 metres
Race Type:	4yo&Up - Set Weights + Penalty
Status:	Group 3
Prizemoney:	$125,000
2011 Winner:	Love Conquers All

The Moonga Stakes is a set weights and penalty race for 4yo and upwards horses and has been won by some quality types over the years including Assertive Lad (2002), Flavour (2001), Rough Habit (1992) and the mighty frontrunner Vo Rogue (1988).

Suiting horses who might go on to similar or stronger races from 1400m to 1600m during the carnival period, the Moonga Stakes typically attracts more than handy gallopers who might go on and pick up a major race every now and then.

Love Conquers All (2011) ran third in the Gr2 Premiere Stakes over 1200m at Randwick prior to winning this event and recent Moonga Stakes winners include Rothera (2010) and McClintock (2009).

Spring Carnival Guide
Winners and placegetters of this race might tackle the major races from 1200m to 1600m during the spring carnival and be very competitive without winning too many.

Hurtle Myrtle (5th in 2011) managed to win the Gr1 Myer Classic over 1600m at Flemington at her next start, while Gathering (5th in 2010) headed to Perth in November to win the Gr1 Railway Stakes over 1600m at Ascot racecourse.

2011 Moonga Stakes result
1. $4.80 Love Conquers All 57.5 D Beadman
2. $11.00 Albert The Fat 57.5 N Rawiller
3. $6.50 Pinwheel 57.5 K McEvoy

then followed
4. $26.00 Amaethon 56.5 C Symons
5. $11.00 Hurtle Myrtle 55.5 G Schofield
6. $10.00 Launay 56.5 M Zahra
7. $20.00 Utah Saints 55.5 J Winks
8. $10.00 Phelan Ready 55.0 B Rawiller
9. $21.00 Rothera 56.5 C Newitt
10. $10.00 Budriguez 56.5 D Oliver
11. $6.50 Varenna Miss 54.5 D Dunn
12. $51.00 Danzylum 56.5 L Currie

Margins: 1 1/2 len, 3/4 len
Time: 1:21.95

Moonga Stakes recent winners & placegetters
Year	Winner	2nd	3rd	Time
2011	Love Conquers All	Albert The Fat	Pinwheel	1:21.9
2010	Rothera	Sniper's Bullet	Jungle Ruler	1:25.8
2009	McClintock	Rightfully Yours	Kiloton	1:22.7
2008	Royal Discretion	Turffontein	Stickpin	1.23.6
2007	Lord Of The Dance	Polish Clown	Solar Secret	1:22.6
2006	Perfectly Ready	Live In Vain	Caprizzi Strip	1:22.3
2005	Volitant	Yell	Shadow	1:21.3
2004	Amtrak	Pink Fit	Monahan Tweed	1:24.6
2003	Thorn Park	Lord Volksraad	Regal Roller	1:22.5
2002	Assertive Lad	El Nino	Prince Rubiton	1:22.9
2001	Flavour	Inspire	Make Mine Magic	1:24.8
2000	Cellar	Hire	Weasel Will	1:21.8
1999	Another Neptune	Strident	Weasel Will	1:23.5
1998	Buster Jones	Blazing Steel	Bezeal Bay	1:24.3
1997	Monets Cove	Delsole	Confiscate	1:22.6
1996	Mamzelle Pedrille	Hero Wind	Hunza Court	1:24.6
1995	Royal Blue	Taos	Social Rule	1:24.2
1994	Star Dancer	Chemin De Fer	Sportsbeat	1:23.2
1993	Cogitate	Cocky Beau	Unequalled	1:22.7
1992	Rough Habit	Rare Chance	Black Rouge	1:30.0
1991	Steineck	Pontormo	Prince Ormenium	1:23.8
1990	Royal Pay	Sioux Chief	Procol Harum	1:27.3
1989	Heavenly View	Better Loosen Up	Acid Print	1:23.2
1988	Vo Rogue	Prismatic Star	Jet Fighter	1:23.1