The Naturalism Stakes is a Group 3 open handicap race that is held each year at Caulfield racecourse during the Melbourne spring racing carnival in September. The race is run over a distance of 2000 metres and worth $125,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 Naturalism Stakes was won by December Draw from At First Sight with Lucky Eighty Eight third.
Held on the same day as the Gr1 Underwood Stakes, the Naturalism Stakes was elevated from listed status to Group 3 status in 2009/2010 racing season.
The Naturalism Stakes has been a good launching pad in recent years for up and coming stayers and being over 2000m it provides a good option for trainers who want to test their horses over a middle distance.
The better class gallopers who contest this event may go on to races like the Gr1 Yalumba Stakes or Gr1 Caulfield Cup, while the lesser likes may tackles easier events such as the Gr2 Moonee Valley Cup or Gr2 Sandown Classic later in the spring.
In recent times only Maldivian (2nd in 2007) has gone on to win one of the big three spring races when he won the 2008 WS Cox Plate, while Zipping (2006) ran second in the 2008 WS Cox Plate. Winners of this race are more likely to win or be more than competitive in similar type handicap events.
December Draw (2011) won a handicap event over 2000m at Flemington before winning this event and recent Naturalism Stakes winners have been Rainbow Styling (2010) and Red Lord (2009).
Spring Carnival Guide The Naturalism Stakes has been a handy guide in recent times to some of the better staying races ahead in both the spring and the autumn. Moudre (3rd in 2010) went on to run second in the Gr3 Geelong Cup in October before winning the Gr3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Derby Day at Flemington.
Speed Gifted (4th in 2009) travelled to Sydney to win the Gr1 The Metropolitan at Randwick and Zagreb (2008) ran third in the Gr1 Australian Cup the following autumn.
Light Vision (2nd in 2008) ran third in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Emirates Stakes day and Baughurst (3rd 2008) went on to win the Gr3 David Jones Cup on Caulfield Cup day before repeating the dose again the following year.
Maldivian (2nd in 2007) took out the 2008 WS Cox Plate, while Dolphin Jo (3rd in 2007) was successful in the 2008 Herbert Power Stakes on Caulfield Guineas day.
2011 Naturalism Stakes result
1. $1.55 December Draw 54.0 M Rodd
2. $9.00 At First Sight 56.0 S King
3. $10.00 Lucky Eighty Eight 53.0 Ms M Payne
then followed
4. $26.00 Above Average 53.0 Ms L Cropp
5. $51.00 Light Vision 54.5 C Symons
6. $71.00 Dream Pedlar 54.5 C Newitt
7. $21.00 Niwot 54.5 D Yendall
8. $26.00 I’m Jake 53.0 D Dunn
9. $14.00 Black And Bent 54.0 G Boss
10. $31.00 Herculian Prince 56.5 B Melham
11. $21.00 My Bentley 53.5 J McDonald
12. $101.00 Guest Wing 53.5 M Walker
13. $26.00 Harris Tweed 58.0 B Rawiller
14. $21.00 Once Were Wild 55.5 D Oliver
15. $61.00 Exceptionally 53.5 D Nikolic
16. $101.00 Montahlia 53.0 I Gundogdu
Margins: 1/2 len, 1 3/4 len Time: 2:02.28
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