Betting on the George Main Stakes:
Randwick Race Course
George Main Stakes Race Odds: Sportsbet | IASbet | Centrebet
The George Main Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred weight-for-age horse race that is held annually during the later part of September at the Randwick racecourse. This 1600-metre Group 1 event that is part of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival has a 2009 prize pool of AUD$300,000. The winner of this race will automatically compete at the Epsom Handicap.
This race is named after former Australian Jockey Club chairman George Main. He and his wife Mary lived on the Retreat grazing property that is located to the west of Cootamundra on the southwestern part of New South Wales. Main bred racehorses and tended to sheep in his property.
In 2009, Road to Rock won the George Main Stakes while Black Piranha and Onemorenomore finished second and third respectively. During the race’s initial stages, Court Command took charge and he kept Black Piranha from surging ahead.
However, Black Piranha grabbed the lead at the 200 metre mark but Onemorenomore momentarily overtook Black Piranha. In a last ditch effort, Road to Rock made a superb run at the home stretch to win the race. Meanwhile, Onemorenomore ran out of gas to finish third.
The George Main Stakes is a great race for top of the line race horses that compete under weight-for-age conditions. This race attracts the best mile-race horses and some of the best 2000-metre race horses. This solid bunch makes the George Main Stakes one of the more exciting races during the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.
Being a classic spring race, the George Main Stakes has stood the test of time and it has been claimed by some of the best race horses like Shaftesbury Avenue in 1990, Encounter in 1997, Defier in 2002, Lohnro in 2003 and Grand Armee in 2004. Kingston Town won back-to-back George Main Stakes in 1981 and 1982.
Those who have competed at the George Main Stakes usually compete at the Group 1 Epsom Handicap since the latter is held at the same racecourse a week after the former. Rock Kingdom, a sixth place finisher in the 2009 George Main Stakes, went on to win the Epsom Handicap of the same year. Meanwhile, 2009 George Main Stakes winner Road To Rock finished third at the same Epsom Handicap.
George Main Stakes Recent History
|
Year |
Winner |
2nd |
3rd |
Time |
|
2009 |
Road to Rock |
Black Piranha |
Onemorenomore |
1:35.5 |
|
2008 |
Mentality |
Theseo |
Gallant Tess |
1:34.6 |
|
2007 |
Race Not Run |
|||
|
2006 |
Racing To Win |
Red Dazzler |
Desert War |
1:33.8 |
|
2005 |
Mr Celebrity |
Shania Dane |
Outback Prince |
1:34.6 |
