BELGRAVIA STAKES OVERVIEW

  • The Belgravia Stakes has been run since 1898 and was first won by Scarpia. The son of Neckersgat, ridden by L.Kirk, ran the 1400m sprint in 1.18.00sec.
  • Neckersgat was also the sire of the 1899 winner Tarquin, who was owned by George Towton and ridden by H.Lawrence.
  • Some notable winners of the race include Raconteur (1952), Nicopolis (1962), Jungle Mist (1984), Jungle Dawn (1986), McFlirt (1997), Paris Petard (2006) and Waratah’s Secret (2010).

TRAINER 

  • Grant Williams holds the best record in the Belgravia Stakes with four winners in the past five years.
  • As a solo trainer Williams prepared a winning hatrick: Arcadia Rose (2013), Disposition (2014) and Perfect Reflection (2015).
  • The Williams combination will be represented in the 2018 edition of the Belgravia Stakes with Mystery Miss.
  • Last year (2017) in combination with his wife Alana, he went past Norm Fawcett, Lou Luciani and Trevor Andrews as a four-time winner with Perfect Jewel.
  • Norm Fawcett went back-to-back with London Flyer (1967) and Racalyn (1968) before claiming a third with Blue Nucleus (1976).
  • Trevor Andrews can join the Williams team on four wins when he saddles Princess Pierro.
  • He previous wins have been with The Right Money (2002), Manjar (2005) and King Saul (2011).
  • Simon Miller, who has six of the representatives in Saturday’s Belgravia Stakes, is chasing his third victory after previous success with Miss Solis (2012) and Caipirinha (2016).
  • David Harrison, who saddles Chix Pic, has won the race previously with McFlirt (1997) and Waratah’s Secret (2009).
  • Neville Parnham hopes of a second success rest with Super Stardom after Even Astar won in 2010.
  • Steve Wolfe, Robert and Todd Harvey, Tony Ward, Roy Rogers and Sharon Miller are aiming for their first victory.

JOCKEY

  • Tiger Moore holds the honour as the most successful rider of the Belgravia Stakes.
  • Moore: Hillian (1942), Shonner (1947), Emporium (1957), Baccare (1965) and Tricar (1970).
  • Frank Treen is next with four: Jovial Lad (1950), Maniana (1954), Double Trust (1972) and Elegant Shell (1979).
  • William Pike has a chance of joining Treen as a four-time winner after guiding Arcadia Rose (2013), Perfect Reflection (2015) and Perfect Jewel (2017).
  • Before co-training Perfect Jewel last year, Alana Williams won the race as a jockey in 2004 when partnering Stormy Nova.
  • Shaun McGruddy, Jason Brown, Peter Knuckey, Paul Harvey, Shaun O’Donnell, Pat Carbery, Joe Azzopardi and Jason Whiting are looking to add another Belgravia Stakes scalp.
  • Carbery is after a third followings wins on Megatic (2007) and Miss Solis (2012).
  • O’Donnell also after three wins after guiding Bold Kite (1991) and King Saul (2011).
  • Knuckey won his double aboard Tennessee Rule (1992) and Old Fashion (2002).
  • Whiting can claim a hat trick following success with The Right Money (2002) and Moccasin Bend (2008).
  • Harvey enjoyed wins on Manjar (2005) and Waratah’s Secret (2009).
  • Chris Parnham, who will ride Super Stardom for his dad Neville, can join brothers Steven (Even Astar) and Brad (Disposition) on the Belgravia Stakes honour roll.
  • Joe Azzopardi is looking for his second victory after combining with Caipirinha (2016).
  • Brown scored his first Belgravia Stakes victory after partnering Island Morn (1993).
  • Aaron Mitchell, Dan Staeck, Ben Paterson, Lucy Warwick, Randy Tan and Craig Staples are chasing their first Belgravia Stakes win.

BELGRAVIA STAKES GENDER

  • Colts have won the Belgravia Stakes 45 on occasions
  • Geldings have been successful 33 times.
  • Fillies have won the race 31 times previously including eight of the last 12 years and the past three in succession.
  • Mares have won the Listed race seven times.
  • Entires have had three wins in the race’s history.

BELGRAVIA STAKES BARRIERS SINCE 1966

  • Barrier six the most successful starting position with seven victories.
  • Barriers one, three and five have had six wins
  • Barrier nine has recorded five wins.
  • Barrier 10 has had four wins from the starting position.
  • Barrier eight and 12: three victories.
  • Barriers four and 13: two wins.
  • Barriers seven, 11 and 16 have won once each.
  • The least successful barriers are 14 and 15 which have not recorded wins.

BIGGEST WINNING MARGIN SINCE 1997.
Waratah’s Secret by 3 ¾ lengths in 2009.

FAVOURITES

  • 11 out of the past 21 editions of the Belgravia Stakes have been won by favourites.

LEAD IN PREPARATION.

  • 14 out of the past 20 winners of the Belgravia Stakes have either won or finished first three in their previous races.
  • Two of the winners finished fourth and sixth respectively in their previous race.
  • Four of the 20 winners were first up into the Belgravia Stakes.

Julio Santarelli
www.rwwa.com.au