Alister Clark Stakes Explained

Surface:	Turf
Class:	Group 2
Horse Race:	Alister Clark Stakes
Location:	Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne
Inaugurated:	1939
Race Type:	Thoroughbred
Sponsor:	Dalton Consulting Engineers (2024)
Distance:	2,040 metres
Track:	Left-handed
Qualification:	Three-year-olds
Weight:	Set weights colts and geldings – 57 kg fillies 55 kg
Purse:	$500,000 (2024)

The Alister Clark Stakes is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race, for three-year-olds, at Set Weights, over a distance of 2040 metres, held annually usually at Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne on a Friday night in March.^[1] Total prize money for the race is A$500,000.

History

The race is named after Alister Clark, the foundation chairman of the Moonee Valley Racing Club and master of Oaklands Hunt Club from 1901 to 1908.^[2] He was also the pre-eminent Australian rose breeder of the twentieth century.^[2]

The race was first run in 1939 and has had changes in distance and grade. The race at times has been a Weight-for-age event for 3-year-olds and over as evident in 1977 when champion three-year-old filly Surround won the race.^[3]

Grade

• 1939–1977 was a Principal race
• 1979 onwards Group 2

Distance

• 1939–1947 – 1 mile (~1600 metres)
• 1948–1963 – miles (~2000 metres)
• 1964–1972 – 1 mile (~1600 metres)
• 1973–1986 – 1600 metres
• 1987–1994 – 2040 metres
• 1995 – 2000 metres
• 1996–1997 – 2040 metres
• 1998–2000 – 1600 metres
• 2001 – 1509 metres
• 2002–2010 – 1600 metres
• 2011 onwards – 2040 metres

Venue

In 1995 the event was held at Flemington.

Winners

• 2023 - Bank Maur^[4]
• 2022 - Prix De Turn^[5]
• 2021 - Grandslam^[6]
• 2020 – Nonconformist^[7]
• 2019 – Global Exchange^[8]
• 2018 – Cliff's Edge^[9]
• 2017 – Hardham^[10]
• 2016 – Tally^[11]
• 2015 – Chill Party^[12]
• 2014 – Pheidon^[13]
• 2013 – Philippi^{[14] [15]}
• 2012 – Highly Recommended^[16]
• 2011 – Domesky^[17]
• 2010 – Linton^[18]
• 2009 – Pre Eminence^[19]
• 2008 – Sound Journey^[20]
• 2007 – Casino Prince^[21]
• 2006 – Spinney^[22]
• 2005 – Lieutenant^[23]
• 2004 – Speedy King^[24]
• 2003 – Titanic Jack^[25]
• 2002 – Royal Code^[26]
• 2001 – Mr. Murphy^[27]
• 2000 – Pins^[28]
• 1999 – Dignity Dancer^[29]
• 1998 – Zonda^[30]
• 1997 – Flak Jacket^[31]
• 1996 – Scenic Royale^[32]
• 1995 – Blevic^[33]
• 1994 – Tristalove^[34]
• 1993 – Sarason^[35]
• 1992 – Naturalism^[36]
• 1991 – Durbridge^[37]
• 1990 – Zabeel^[38]
• 1989 – Bar Landy^[39]
• 1988 – Flotilla^[40]
• 1987 – Vo Rogue^[41]
• 1986 – Lockley's Tradition^[42]
• 1985 – King Phoenix^[43]
• 1984 – Penny Edition^[44]
• 1983 – My Evita^[45]
• 1982 – Fearless Pride
• 1981 – My Brown Jug
• 1980 – Bit of a Skite
• 1979 – Family Of Man
• 1978 – race not held
• 1977 – †Family Of Man / Surround^[3]
• 1976 – Leica Show
• 1975 – race not held
• 1974 – Toltrice
• 1973 – The Frigate
• 1972 – Upstairs
• 1971 – Tauto
• 1970 – Cyron
• 1969 – Begonia Belle
• 1968 – Heroic Stone
• 1967 – race not held
• 1966 – Bowl King
• 1965 – Sir Dane
• 1964 – Sometime
• 1963 – Sometime
• 1962 – Aquanita
• 1961 – Dhaulagiri
• 1960 – Stormy Passage
• 1959 – Wiggle
• 1958 – Baron Boissier
• 1957 – Mac's Amber
• 1956 – Glitzern
• 1955 – St. Joel
• 1954 – Gallant Archer
• 1953 – Hydrogen
• 1952 – Step Aside
• 1951 – Chicquita
• 1950 – Comic Court
• 1949 – Filipino
• 1948 – Money Moon
• 1947 – St. Fairy^[46]
• 1946 – Reperio
• 1945 – Simmering
• 1944 – Lilette
• 1943 – Athol Belle
• 1942 – ‡Tranquil Star / Prince Ronald
• 1941 – Zonda
• 1940 – Pure Gold
• 1939 – Amiable

† Dead heat
‡ Race run in Divisions^[47]

See also

• List of Australian Group races
• Group races

Notes and References

1. Web site: Winners and Past Results for the Alister Clark Stakes . Pro Group Racing Australia. 2014. 7 March 2015.
2. Web site: Clark, Alister – Australian Dictionary of Biography. 1981. 10 March 2013. H. E. Rundle. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 8, (MUP).
3. News: Mooney Valley (Official results). The Age, Melbourne. 28 March 1977. 10 March 2013. 27 (column 1).
4. Web site: 2023 Result – Dalton Consulting Engineers Alister Clark Stakes (held 18 March 2023). breednet.com.au. 17 March 2024.
5. Web site: 2022 Result – Dalton Consulting Engineers Alister Clark Stakes (held 18 March 2022). breednet.com.au. 20 March 2022.
6. Web site: 2021 Result – Dalton Consulting Engineers Alister Clark Stakes (held 13 March 2021). breednet.com.au. 20 March 2022.
7. Web site: 2020 Result – Alister Clark Stakes (held 13 March 2020). breednet.com. 13 March 2019.
8. Web site: 2019 Result – Crown Resorts Alister Clark Stakes (held 14 March 2019). breednet.com. 15 March 2019.
9. Web site: 2018 Result – Hacer Group Alister Clark (held 16 March 2018). breednet.com. 16 March 2018.
10. Web site: 2017 Result – William Hill Alister Clark (held 17 March 2017). breednet.com. 17 March 2017.
11. Web site: 2016 Result – William Hill Alister Clark (held 18 March 2016). breednet.com. 18 March 2016.
12. Web site: 2015 Result – William Hill Alister Clark Stks (held 20 March 2015). breednet.com. 21 March 2015.
13. Web site: 2014 Result – Sportingbet Alister Clark Stks (held 14 March 2014). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
14. Web site: 2013 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 15 March 2014). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
15. Web site: Peter Gelegotis Fined; Hvasstan Disqualifed . 14 June 2013 . Racing and Sports . 8 October 2013.
16. Web site: 2012 Result – Top Cut Alister Clark Stks (held 16 March 2012). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
17. Web site: 2011 Result – Top Cut Alister Clark Stakes (held 18 March 2011). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
18. Web site: 2010 Result – Top Cut Alister Clark Stakes (held 13 February 2010). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
19. Web site: 2009 Result – Top Cut Alister Clark Stakes (held 14 February 2009). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
20. Web site: 2008 Result – Alister Clark Stakes (held 16 February 2008). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
21. Web site: 2007 Result – Top Cut Alister Clark Stks (held 17 February 2007). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
22. Web site: 2006 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 18 February 2006). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
23. Web site: 2005 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 19 February 2005). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
24. Web site: 2004 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 20 March 2004). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
25. Web site: 2003 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 22 March 2003). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
26. Web site: 2002 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 23 March 2002). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
27. Web site: 2001 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 3 February 2001). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
28. Web site: 2000 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 10 February 2000). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
29. Web site: 1999 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 6 February 1999). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
30. Web site: 1998 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 7 February 1998). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
31. Web site: 1997 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 15 March 1997). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
32. Web site: 1996 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 16 March 1996). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
33. Web site: 1995 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 18 March 1995). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
34. Web site: 1994 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 19 March 1994). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
35. Web site: 1993 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 13 March 1993). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
36. Web site: 1992 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 14 March 1992). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
37. Web site: 1991 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 16 March 1991). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
38. Web site: 1990 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 17 March 1990). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
39. Web site: 1989 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 18 March 1989). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
40. Web site: 1988 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 19 March 1988). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
41. Web site: 1987 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 14 March 1987). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
42. Web site: 1986 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 15 March 1986). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
43. Web site: 1985 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 16 March 1985). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
44. Web site: 1984 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 17 March 1984). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
45. Web site: 1983 Result – Alister Clark Stks (held 19 March 1983). breednet.com. 7 March 2015.
46. Web site: St. Fairy Beats Topliners at Valley - ATTLEY MISSES A PLACE (1947 Results  - Alister Clark Stakes held 15 March 1947) . . 3 . 14 April 2020. 17 March 1947. Gothic.
47. News: TRANQUIL STAR AT THE VALLEY – Saul's Return To Form – including (Official results). The Advertiser. 29 March 1942. 5 March 2013. Trove Digitized Newspapers. 7 (column 3).