Barb Raider was a bit like that last year and it might be the case again in the 2023 Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
2023 KEWNEY STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The A.V. Kewney Stakes is Group 2 race for three-year-old fillies conducted by the Victoria Racing Club at Flemington.
The Kewney Stakes was first run in 1952 and honoured Arthur V. Kewney, who served as secretary of the Victoria Racing Club for 21 years from 1925 until 1946.
From its introduction in 1952 the Kewney Stakes was run under set weight conditions with penalties over 10 furlongs/2000m until 1984. From 1985 to 2009 the Kewney Stakes was run over 1600m and then at 1400m since 2010. It went back to 1600m in 2021.
The Kewney Stakes has been a Group 2 race since 1979 and has been run under set weight conditions with all fillies carrying 55.5kg since 1998.
The race is traditionally run on Newmarket Handicap day at Flemington. Only once has the Kewney Stakes been run at another course in 2007 when it was transferred to Caulfield due to reconstruction work at Flemington.
Kewney Stakes winners have a history of going on to race successfully in classic races, more so when the race distance was run over 2000m or 1600m.
Seven fillies have won the Kewney Stakes/AJC Oaks double (Sanderae, Gay Satin, Dual Quest, Lowland, Gay Poss, Gossiper, How Now).
Another six fillies have won the Kewney Stakes/Schweppes Australasian Oaks double - Send Me An Angel, Mannerism, Tristalove, Anamato, Zarita and Gallica – but again none since the Kewney Stakes was reduced in trip.
Another pertinent double is the Angus Armanasco Stakes/Kewney Stakes which has been won by seven fillies since 1980, the last being Zarita in 2008.
There have also been four fillies win The Vanity/Kewney Stakes double – Tennessee Vain, Ballet Society, Solicit and Barb Raider.
In 2010 Faint Perfume went from the Kewney Stakes to Sydney to win the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill before running second in the G1 ATC Oaks at Randwick. Tennessee Vain, Northwood Plume and Special Harmony also won the Kewney Stakes/Vinery (Storm Queen) Stakes double.
The 2023 Kewney Stakes was worth $300,000 in prizemoney.
Notable winners of the Kewney Stakes include Waltzing Lady, Gay Satin, Wiggle, Lowland, Gay Poss, Sanderae, Gossiper, Love Aloft, Cap D'Antibes, How Now, In Pursuit, Sun Sally, Deck The Halls, Mapperley Heights, Love A Kiss, Tennessee Vain, Mannerism, Tristalove, Northwood Plume, Sunline, Elegant Fashion, Special Harmony, Zarita, Faint Perfume, Solicit and I Am A Star.
The 2022 Kewney Stakes was won by Barb Raider from Argentia and Mokulua.
