How Now Stakes

How Now Stakes

The How Now Stakes is a highly anticipated Group 3 race for thoroughbred mares held mid-way through the annual Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Conducted at the scenic Caulfield Racecourse in late September, the Group 3 How Now Stakes is a set weights plus penalties race for mares run over a 1,200m sprint distance.

The How Now Stakes is also known as the Sportingbet Sprint Series – Heat 2 Stakes.

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The How Now Stakes is worth $100,000 in prizemoney and is often contested by mares that previously competed in earlier spring races including the Group 2 Lets Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

The best lead-up race to the How Now Stakes that punters should keep an eye when making their selections is the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) in August as it is run at the same track over the same distance and under the same conditions.

Mares that run in the How Now Stakes may progress onto other similar distanced mares-only events such as the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) in October.

The How Now Stakes is one of six excellent group races headlining Sir Rupert Clark Stakes Day. The marquee race at the meeting is the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clark Stakes (1400m) and the other Group 1 feature of the day is the Underwood Stakes (1800m).

History

First run in 1999, the How Now Stakes is one of the youngest feature races during the spring racing season.

The inaugural How Now Stakes winner was Snippet’s Lass and since then some quality mares have claimed victory including Lovely Jubly (2003) who set the race record winning in 1:09.0 and Velocitea (2009).

Originally called the Cranbourne Daihatsu Stakes, the race has undergone a number of name changes due to sponsorship and has previously been registered as the Dubai Convetion Bureau Stakes, Emirates Racing Association Stakes and Dubai International Stakes before becoming known as its current title in 2006.

The How Now Stakes was elevated from a Listed race to a Group 3 event in 2005, when Sarah Michelle and Brindabella ran a dead heat.

Past Winners