The Australia Stakes at The Valley is always an exciting race. Not always because it’s a good contest, but because it means that Group 1 racing is only a couple of weeks away from making its return!

This year however, it’s for both reasons. We had a good chat about it in the office this week and no one can remember an edition of the Australia Stakes that is stronger than 2020’s. Only nine horses have been confirmed for a start, but five are previous winners at the highest level and there’s a case to be made for nearly all of them.

If this is a sign of things to come, we’re set for a memorable year. My 2020 Australia Stakes tips can be found below.

Suggested Bets

• 4 Units straight out #1 Hey Doc
• Boxed Trifecta of the selections below

Australia Stakes – Winner

No. 1 Hey Doc

Hey Doc is truly one of the country’s best sprinters and loves racing at The Valley. He won the Australian Guineas a few years ago on talent alone and has since recorded enormous wins in a couple of Group 1 sprints, featuring some world-class horses. He resumed from a long lay off to finish third in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan at Sandown in November before producing an utterly dominant performance to win the Winterbottom in Perth. Anything close to that would have him crowned the 2020 Australia Stakes winner.

Australia Stakes – 2ND

No. 4 Begood Toya Mother

I wasn’t convinced that Begood Toya Mother was quite up to the top level until spring, but I am more than converted and I think that he can run a bold first-up race in the Australia Stakes. The stable star for Warrnambool-based trainer Daniel Bowman has recorded a career total of eight wins and one placing from his thirteen starts and has continued to improve as the bar has been raised; peaking with his maiden Group 1 win in spring’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m). He’ll be better for whatever he does here, but I think his class will take him a long way.

Australia Stakes – 3RD

No. 9 Microphone

Microphone was clearly not at his best during one lacklustre run in spring, but he has reportedly returned to his old brilliant self and he could prove to be the value in Australia Stakes betting ($6.50 at publish). The Exceed And Excel colt was a star two-year-old; finished no worse than second through six starts and winning the Group 1 Sires’ most notably. He’s had the benefit of a trial in the lead up to this race and will carry only 55kgs as the field’s sole three-year-old.

Australia Stakes – 4TH

No. 2 Scales Of Justice

Scales Of Justice returned to his brilliant best during spring and his proven fresh form could prove the difference in the Australia Stakes. The seven-year-old son of Not A Single Doubt resumed for an impressive win in the Group 3 Bletchingly over 1200m in early spring; running third behind the talented Dalasan in Adelaide before claiming his second career Group 1 title in the Memsie. He rarely runs a bad race and as long as he handles the unique conditions at The Valley, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish of the Australia Stakes.