2023 Sunline Stakes: Race History

G1 mares often salute in the Sunline Stakes run at Moonee Valley on Friday.

SHOUT THE BAR winning the Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley in Australia.
SHOUT THE BAR winning the Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley in Australia. Picture: Racing Photos

Shout The Bar was definitely one of those. Will it happen again in the 2023 Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday?

2023 SUNLINE STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Sunline Stakes is a Group 2 race for fillies and mares conducted by the Moonee Valley Racing Club at Moonee Valley.

The Sunline Stakes was first run in 1977 when it was a handicap and known as the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. It became a WFA race in 1988 and carried that name until 1999. It was run as the Anthea Crawford Stakes in 2000.

The race has been run as the Sunline Stakes since 2001 in honour of the champion New Zealand mare who won the WS Cox Plate twice and was Australian Horse of the Year three times.

The Sunline Stakes was a Listed race from 1981 until 1990, Group 3 from 1991 and 1995 and has been Group 2 since 1996.

The Sunline Stakes is run over 1600m for fillies and mares under WFA conditions.

The race distance has been 1600m with the exception of 1995 (1623m when run at Flemington) and 2005 when the distance was 1500m.

Only five fillies have won the Sunline Stakes since it went to weight-for-age with I Am A Star the most recent.

The 2023 Sunline Stakes was worth prizemoney of $300,000.

Notable winners of the Sunline Stakes include Princess Veronica, Bianco Flyer, Boardwalk Angel, Acushla Marie, Excited Angel, Burning Embers, Rose O'War, Sylvaner, Beautiful Gem, Zarita, Noble Protector, Shout The Bar and the only dual winner Spirit Song.

The 2022 Sunline Stakes was won by Shout The Bar from Barb Raider and Flying Mascot.


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