Festival Stakes
Looking for this year’s Festival Stakes betting odds, tips and form? The expert tipsters at Neds have put together everything you need to know on the race.

A part of the ATC Summer fixture since 1948, the Festival Stakes is a Group 3 feature race taking place at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in late November or early December annually.
Contested over 1500m and worth $250,000 in prize money, this quality handicap clash also offers the Festival Stakes winner a ballot exemption into the Group 2 $2 million The Ingham Stakes (1600m) – formerly known as the Villiers Stakes – run at Royal Randwick a fortnight later.
Monton (2011) was the last galloper to take out the popular Festival Stakes – Villiers Stakes double.
In 2022 Kirwan’s Lane improved on a Festival Stakes third to win The Ingham next start.
Festival Stakes 2024 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday November 30, 2024
- Track Location: Rosehill Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Right-handed
- Race Distance: 1,500 metres
- Weight Conditions: Quality Handicap
- Qualification: Three-year-olds and over
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Operator: Australian Turf Club
- Prize Purse: $250,000
- Inaugural Race: 1948
- 2024 Festival Stakes Winner: TBD
festival Stakes 2024 RESULTS
The official 2024 Festival Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday November 30, 2024.
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
Festival Stakes Betting 2024
There are many different ways to bet on the Festival Stakes, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
Bet Type | How To Place This Type Of Bet In This Year’s Festival Stakes |
---|---|
Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Festival Stakes. |
Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Festival Stakes. Pays less than a win bet, but offers safer odds. |
Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Festival Stakes, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Festival Stakes, in order to win the Quinella. |
Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Festival Stakes to win the Exacta. |
Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Festival Stakes to win the Trifecta. |
First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Festival Stakes to win the First 4. |
Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Festival Stakes, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet On The Festival Stakes in 2024
- Login at neds.com.au
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Festival Stakes Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Festival Stakes 2025 Odds
Early market betting odds on the 2025 Festival Stakes will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit neds.com.au.
Which Horse Will Win The Festival Stakes in 2024
The best way to pick which horse will win the Festival Stakes in 2024 is to take into account their lead-up form in similar grade races, proven Group performers, Sydney-trained gallopers and those with previous form at the distance.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Festival Stakes winner include:
- Chatham Stakes – Flemington’s Chatham Stakes has served as a credible guide to the Festival Stakes in Sydney over recent years.
- Milers – Looking for horses proven over the mile can be an advantage in this race.
- Class Factor – It may only hold Group 3 status but lots of quality gallopers have won the Festival Stakes, so looking for the class horse in the race can be a nice tip.
Festival Stakes Favourites 2024
Favourites in Festival Stakes 2024 betting include the in-form Ciaron Maher-trained Little Dance winner St Lawrence chasing a hat-trick, 40-start veteran Private Eye for Joe Pride, and last start Newcastle winner Uzziah carrying just 53kg.
Ranier ($6EF) followed by Ellsberg ($2.40 in 2021) are the last favourites or equal Festival Stakes favourites to win.
There was an upset Festival Stakes result in 2023 with Phearson winning at $17 odds.
Festival Stakes 2024 Field
The official 2024 Festival Stakes field of final acceptances is announced the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The Festival Stakes 2024 final field features a bumper line-up of summer mile types led in betting by Little Dance winner St Lawrence.
Festival Stakes 2024 Tips
Favourite: #6 St Lawrence ($5.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Best Bet: #6 St Lawrence to salute for the punters (see above) – BET NOW
Best Roughie: #5 Felix Majestic ($18 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Our exclusive 2024 Festival Stakes tips will be published above the week of the race and a full betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2024 FESTIVAL STAKES DAY PREVIEW & TIPS
Festival Stakes Race Day 2024
2024 Festival Stakes Day takes place on Saturday the 30th of November 2024 at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.
The key support races on the Festival Stakes Day program include the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) and Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m).
Festival Stakes Barrier Draw 2024
The 2024 Festival Stakes barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and will be published in our above Festival Stakes Field section.
Festival Stakes Nominations 2024
2024 Festival Stakes nominations close at 11 AM on the Monday of race week.
Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6034×46658 | PRIVATE EYE | G | 7 | Joseph Pride | 1 | 60.5kg | 60.5kg | 110 | |
2 | 16x0140x17 | MIGHTY ULYSSES (GB) | G | 6 | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 2= | 58.5kg | 58.5kg | 106 | |
3 | x8010x0180 | UNCLE BRYN (GB) | G | 7 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 2= | 58.5kg | 58.5kg | 106 | |
4 | x57208x8x8 | HOO YA MAL (GB) | G | 6 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 4 | 57kg | 57kg | 103 | |
5 | 0x766x1004 | CHRYSAOR | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 5= | 55kg | 55kg | 99 | |
6 | 06x020x009 | CONVERGE | G | 6 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 5= | 55kg | 55kg | 99 | |
7 | 3×08496342 | FELIX MAJESTIC | G | 5 | Gary Nickson | 5= | 55kg | 55kg | 99 | |
8 | x342332611 | ST LAWRENCE (NZ) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 5= | 55kg | 55kg | 99 | |
9 | 211x621x20 | XIDAKI | G | 4 | Peter Snowden | 9 | 54.5kg | 54.5kg | 98 | |
10 | 74132×5506 | COASTWATCH | G | 6 | Richard & Will Freedman | 10 | 54kg | 54kg | 97 | |
11 | 5152x203x0 | COTEHELE (NZ) | G | 6 | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 11= | 54kg | 53kg | 95 | |
12 | 915117×007 | DIAMOND DIESEL | G | 8 | Adam Duggan | 11= | 54kg | 53kg | 95 | |
13 | 3113×54940 | KINTYRE | G | 4 | Gary Portelli | 11= | 54kg | 53kg | 95 | |
14 | 225×105476 | ROBUSTO | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 11= | 54kg | 53kg | 95 | |
15 | 835387×519 | KING OF THE CASTLE (NZ) | G | 8 | Joseph Pride | 15= | 54kg | 53kg | 94 | |
16 | x062410x7x | TANNHAUSER | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 15= | 54kg | 53kg | 94 | |
17 | 311x112x87 | QUEUES LIKELY (GB) | M | 4 | Bjorn Baker | 17 | 54kg | 53kg | 93 | |
18 | 511639x08x | SO UNITED | G | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 18 | 54kg | 53kg | 92 | |
19 | 34x190x07x | SNOW PATROL (NZ) | G | 4 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 19 | 54kg | 53kg | 90 | |
20 | 7059x0040x | SO DAZZLING (NZ) | M | 5 | John Sargent | 20= | 54kg | 53kg | 87 | |
21 | 1x4890x062 | SUPER HELPFUL | G | 6 | Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | 20= | 54kg | 53kg | 87 | |
22 | 710542×131 | UZZIAH | G | 6 | Scott Aspery | 22 | 54kg | 53kg | 86 | |
23 | 9115×13 | WARNIE (IRE) | H | 4 | Ciaron Maher | 23 | 54kg | 53kg | 85 | |
24 | 1x913x2211 | NEED SOME LUCK | G | 4 | Peter Snowden | 24= | 54kg | 53kg | 81 | |
25 | 9x860686x4 | PERFECT THOUGHT | G | 5 | John Sargent | 24= | 54kg | 53kg | 81 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Festival Stakes Weights 2024
Quality handicap conditions apply to this race. The lowest handicap weight allowed is 54 kg. Final 2024 Festival Stakes weights are announced at 4 PM on the Tuesday of race week with weights on the final acceptances to be published in our above Festival Stakes Field section.
2024 Festival Stakes Topweight:
- #1 Private Eye (60.5kg)
Festival Stakes Acceptances 2024
2024 Festival Stakes final acceptances must be declared before 9 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Festival Stakes Field section.
Festival Stakes Jockeys 2024
The final riders announcement is at 12 PM on the Wednesday of race week, and the official 2024 Festival Stakes jockeys will be published in our above Festival Stakes Field section.
Festival Stakes Scratchings 2024
2024 Festival Stakes scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday the 30th of November 2024.
- #13 Need Some Luck (14)
Festival Stakes Prize Money 2024
The 2024 Festival Stakes prize purse is worth $250,000 in total, distributed from places first through to tenth. There is a bonus for the winner, in the form of an exemption from The Ingham Stakes ballot.
Place | Prize Money |
---|---|
1st | $140,000 |
2nd | $46,250 |
3rd | $22,400 |
4th | $11,000 |
5th | $6,100 |
6th | $4,000 |
7th | $3,500 |
8th | $3,500 |
9th | $3,500 |
10th | $3,500 |
Festival Stakes Race Number 2024
The 2024 Festival Stakes race number is scheduled as Rosehill Race 8 at 4:45pm (AEDT) on Saturday November 30, 2024. There are ten races in total that day at Rosehill Racecourse.
Festival Stakes Form Guide 2024
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can below for a link to our full 2024 Festival Stakes form guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 FESTIVAL STAKES FORM GUIDE
Festival Stakes Live 2024
You can watch or listen to the 2024 Festival Stakes live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing NSW
Festival Stakes Winners
Winners of the Festival Stakes going back to 1999 are displayed in the table below.
Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
2023 | Phearson | Brad Widdup | Tom Sherry | 54kg | 1:29.04 |
2022 | Dajraan | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 53kg | 1:27.96 |
2021 | Ellsberg | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Rachael King | 53kg | 1:32.04 |
2020 | Outrageous | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 54kg | 1:29.25 |
2019 | Ranier | James Cummings | Kathy O’Hara | 53kg | 1:29.46 |
2018 | My Nordic Hero | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 56kg | 1:29.10 |
2017 | Testashadow | Gary Portelli | Jason Collett | 57kg | 1:31.67 |
2016 | Sweet Redemption | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Brenton Avdulla | 54kg | 1:29.63 |
2015 | Mighty Lucky | Fred Cowell | Nathan Thomas | 54kg | 1:29.49 |
2014 | I’m Imposing | Chris Waller | Tye Angland | 55.5kg | 1:28.51 |
2013 | White Sage | John O’Shea | James McDonald | 54kg | 1:30.00 |
2012 | Malavio | Steve Englebrecht | Nathan Berry | 55kg | 1:28.72 |
2011 | Monton | Ron Quinton | Sam Clipperton | 55.5kg | 1:28.63 |
2010 | Dysphonia | Peter Snowden | Tommy Berry | 53kg | 1:31.68 |
2009 | Rabbuka | Gai Waterhouse | Joshua Parr | 58kg | 1:28.72 |
2008 | Voice Commander | Nick Olive | Tye Angland | 53kg | 1:29.25 |
2007 | Eremein | Allan Denham | Danny Nikolic | 61kg | 1:33.92 |
2006 | Utzon | Les Bridge | Lenny Beasley | 59kg | 1:22.69 |
2005 | Spirit Of Tara | Gerald Ryan | Jeff Penza | 54kg | 1:24.83 |
2004 | Ike’s Dream | John Hawkes | Darren Beadman | 54.5kg | 1:21.82 |
2003 | This Manshood | Tim Martin | Zac Purton | 60kg | 1:22.69 |
2002 | This Manshood | Tim Martin | Lane Moloney | 55kg | 1:23.98 |
2001 | Nanny Maroon | Paul Englebrecht | Robert Thompson | 54kg | 1:22.35 |
2000 | Adam | Ray Brock | Justin Sheehan | 58kg | 1:17.02 |
1999 | Highest Calibre | Les Bridge | Brad Pengelly | 52kg | 1:16.18 |