The Norman Robinson Stakes is a Group 3 race for three-year-olds that is held annually each October at Caulfield racecourse, Melbourne during the spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 2000 metres and worth $125,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 Norman Robinson Stakes was won by Sabrage from Sangster with Niagara third.
Held on the final day of the Melbourne Racing Club's three-day racing carnival, the Norman Robinson Stakes takes place on the same day as the MRC's premier race, the Group 1 Caulfield Cup.
The Norman Robinson Stakes is the first of the middle distance staying events for three-year-old gallopers in Melbourne during the spring carnival. Run two weeks before the Gr1 AAMI Victoria Derby, trainers can use this race as a test or lead-up race to the longer staying races ahead for for three-year-olds.
Raced under set weight conditions, the better horses have an advantage and the race itself is usually won by a handy 3yo rather than a topliner as recent history shows.
Horses who previously contested races likes the Gr2 Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley on Grand Final eve or the the Gr 1 Caulfield Guineas the previous Saturday at the same track and ran the race out strongly might consider continuing on to this race. Three-year-olds who handle the 2000m distance of this race will generally go on and tackle the Victoria Derby at Flemington in a fortnight.
Sabrage (2011) ran third in the Stutt Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley prior to scoring in this event and recent Norman Robinson Stakes winners include Retrieve (2010) and Shamoline Warrior (2009).
Spring Carnival Guide
Winners and placegetters in this race could possibly head towards the Geelong Classic on Geelong Cup day, the AAMI Vase on Cox Plate day at Moonee Valley, or the AAMI Victoria Derby at Flemington, which are all distance events for three-year-old gallopers.
Sangster (2nd in 2011) won the AAMI Victoria Derby at his next start and Sabrage finished third in the same race. Prior to that, Retrieve (2010), Pre Eminence (2008) and Headturner (2nd in 2005) all finished third in the Victoria Derby after winning this race.
2011 Norman Robinson result
1. $9.00 Sabrage 55.5 D Oliver
2. $5.50 Sangster 55.5 J McDonald
3. $3.50 Niagara 55.5 N Rawiller
then followed
4. $8.50 Costly Commitment 55.5 C Newitt
5. $10.00 Zabeelionaire 55.5 S Baster
6. $16.00 Vatuvei 55.5 LNolen
7. $31.00 Trump 56.0 D Browne
8. $7.50 Isopach 56.0 D Nikolic
9. $41.00 Scelto 55.5 D Dunn
10. $51.00 Sleep’N Pete 55.5 G Schofield
11. $71.00 Chieftain Jack 55.5 N Hall
12. $51.00 Pump It 55.5 C Brown
13. $51.00 Bashan 55.5 M Rodd
14. $151.00 Gorilla’S Mist 55.5 L Currie
Margins: Long head, 1 1/4 len Time: 2:03.00
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