The Ranvet Stakes is a long-standing Group 1 horse race, held over 2000 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney. Run alongside the CoolmoreClassic, the $500,000 Ranvet Stakes takes place under weight for age conditions each March. This event has been raced in Sydney since 1903, and has attracted a number of notable horses over the years.
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The Ranvet Stakes was originally known as the Rawson Stakes, named after Sir Harry Holdsworth Rawson, Governor of New South Wales. It changed to the Segenhoe Stakes between 1988-1990, and has been known as the Ranvet Stakes since 1991. Originally run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles, this event changed length a few times before settling on its current distance of 2000 metres in 2009.
The Ranvet Stakes was a Principal Race between 1903 and 1979, graduating to a Group 1 race in 1980. Due to its long history, a number of notable horses have won this event, including names like Grand Armee in 2005, Tie The Knot in 2000-01, Veandercross in 1993, Super Impose in 1991, and the outstanding Better Loosen Up in 1990.
In earlier years, some of the better known horses who won the Ranvet Stakes include Poseidon in 1908, Nightmarch in 1930, Peter Pan in 1935, Wenona Girl in 1961, and Balmerino in 1976. Some outstanding horses have managed to win this race on more than one occasion, including Columnist in 1947-48, Sky High in 1962-63, Gunsynd in 1973 and 1975, Beau Zam in 1988-89, the previously mentioned Tie the Knot in 2000-01, and Theseo in 2009-10.
In recent years, winners of the Ranvet Stakes include Zavite in 2011, Manighar in 2012, and Foreteller in 2013. The Ranvet Stakes is run alongside the Coolmore Stud Classic on Ladies Day at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, along with a range of supporting events and non racing attractions.
In the News:
Chris Waller insists he will present three horses at the peak of their powers in the Ranvet Stakes but knows his efforts might not be enough to win the race for a second time.
Waller will run last year’s winner Foreteller, as well as Hawkspur and Moriarty in a weight-for-age race at Rosehill on Saturday expected to be dominated by two glamour horses of Australian racing.
Fiorente and It’s A Dundeel have a stranglehold on Ranvet betting and Waller can’t argue with the consensus his trio will find it difficult to cause one of the first real upsets of the Sydney autumn carnival.
That’s because as a trainer with a formidable strike-rate with imports, he appreciates what a horse like Fiorente has brought to the Australian racing landscape since coming from England in 2012.
“He is close to the best certainly to come out over the past five years or so,” Waller said.
“He’s sound, a foolproof horse. There could have been horses come here with more ability but he is sound and he is the real deal.”
Waller says Foreteller is an advertisement for honesty in a racehorse but concedes the two favourites have had his measure.
“He’s just your benchmark of honest horses, he’ll keep your It’s A Dundeels and your Fiorentes honest but whether he can beat them is another thing,” Waller said.
“But he is a horse we are very proud of. He’s won two Group One races but we would be the first to admit he is about a length off being a really good horse.”
Waller thinks the 2013 Queensland Derby winner Hawkspur is coming right and a Rosehill surface with some give in it will boost his chances.
“I think Hawkspur is back in form and he will appreciate the 2000 metres and any cut in the ground will give him his chance to level up against probably some better horses on form,” he said.
Moriarty is the outsider of Waller’s runners but the trainer can’t fault the stayer’s commitment in three autumn runs.
