Hill Stakes

Looking for early info on this year’s Hill Stakes? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.

Run over 2000 metres, the Hill Stakes is a Group 2 race taking place at Randwick Racecourse. With a $1,000,000 prize purse as of 2021, the weight-for-age event serves as a key lead-up to the upcoming elite level races interstate in Melbourne including the Cox Plate, although the Hill Stakes – Cox Plate double hasn’t been completed since Saintly (1996). 

Originally a Principal Race, this race has been held as Group 2 from 1979 onwards. The race has been held at Rosehill Gardens, Canterbury Park, as well as its current home at Randwick Racecourse.

The Hill Stakes is also now one of four lead-up races that offer a $500,000 bonus to any horse that can win it along with the $500,000 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) run on The Golden Eagle Day in late October.

Hill Stakes 2021 – Quick Information

• Race Day: Saturday, October 2nd, 2021
• Track Location: Randwick Racecourse
• Track Surface: Turf
• Track Direction: Right-handed
• Race Distance: 2,000 metres
• Weight Conditions: Weight for age
• Type: Thoroughbred
• Grade: Group 2
• Operator: Randwick Racecourse
• Prize Purse: $1,000,000
• Inaugural Race: 1921
• 2021 Hill Stakes Winner: Think It Over

Hill Stakes 2021 RESULTS

The official 2021 Hill Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday October 2nd, 2021. 

1. #1 Think It Over
2. #3 Shared Ambition
3. #5 Cepheus

The Kerry Parker-trained Chelmsford Stakes winner Think It Over ($1.75) saluted for the punters as the odds-on favourite in a thrilling photo finish 2021 Hill Stakes result over Shared Ambition.

Hill Stakes Betting 2021

There are many different ways to bet on the Hill Stakes, we’ve included some of the most popular options below:

How To Bet On The Hill Stakes in 2021

1. Join up at neds.com.au
2. Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
3. Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
4. Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Hill Stakes Betting above).
5. Select the horse(s) for the race.

Which Horse Will Win The Hill Stakes in 2021?

The best way to pick which horse will win the Hill Stakes is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, look at the trainer’s record in the race and check the runners’ 2000m record. 

Additional factors to consider when picking the Hill Stakes winner include: 

• Sydney Stunners – Local horses, especially those with experience at getting a win at Royal Randwick, should perform well in this one.
• Hot Lead Up – If you’re looking for a lead up race, you can’t go past the Chelmsford Stakes. Plenty of place-getters from this race have gone on to get a place or even win in the Hill Stakes. Think It Over (2021) was the last horse to complete the Chelmsford Stakes – Hill Stakes double. 
• Group 1 Galore – Previous Group 1 winners down in grade winding-up for Melbourne do well in the Hill Stakes.

Hill Stakes 2021 Favourites

Early favourites in 2021 Hill Stakes betting include Think It Over coming off a third to Verry Elleegant in the George Main Stakes last start and Queensland Oaks winner Duais second-up off a good return at Newcastle. 

Verry Elleegant ($2.40 in 2019) and Think It Over ($1.75 in 2021) are the latest Hill Stakes favourites to win.

Hill Stakes Field 2021

The official 2021 Hill Stakes field of final acceptances is announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below. 

The 2021 Hill Stakes field is down to just seven runners with Think It Over approaching odds-on territory to return to winning form off his good George Main third over a mile here last start.

• Scratched: #7 Verry Elleegant (7) has been scratched from the Hill Stakes field in favour of a Melbourne run in Saturday’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) against Incentivise.

Hill Stakes 2021 Tips

Favourite: #1 Think It Over ($2 at time of publish)

Best Bet: #8 Duais ($5 at time of publish)

Best Roughie: #3 Shared Ambition ($7 at time of publish) 

Our insider Hill Stakes 2021 betting tips will be detailed above the week of the race and a full preview available on the Neds Blog.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2021 EPSOM HANDICAP DAY PREVIEW & TIPS

Hill Stakes Race Day 2021

The 2021 Hill Stakes takes place as part of the Epsom Handicap Day card at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday October 2, 2021. The meeting is host to plenty of Group races including three elite level features with the running of the:

• Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m);
• Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m); and the
• Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m).

Hill Stakes 2021 Barrier Draw

The 2021 Hill Stakes barrier draw will be released to the public the Wednesday leading-up to the event and will be published in our above Hill Stakes Field section. 

Hill Stakes Nominations 2021

Nominations close by 11:00 AM on Monday, the 27th of September, 2021. 

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Hill Stakes 2021 Weights

Standard weight for age conditions apply to this race. Final weights will be announced by 4:00 PM on Tuesday, the 28th of September, 2021 and published in our above Hill Stakes Field section. 

Hill Stakes 2021 Acceptances

Acceptances must be declared before 9:00 AM on Wednesday, the 29th of September, 2021 and published in our above Hill Stakes Field section. 

Hill Stakes 2021 Jockeys

The final riders announcement is at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, the 29th of September, 2021 and published in our above Hill Stakes Field section. 

Hill Stakes Scratchings 2021

Scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, the 2nd of October, 2021.

2021 Hill Stakes Scratchings:

• #7 Verry Elleegant (7)

Hill Stakes Prize Money 2021

The Hill Stakes prize purse is worth $1,000,000 in total having been doubled ahead of the 2021 edition, distributed from places first through tenth.

Hill Stakes Race Number 2021

The 2021 Hill Stakes is set to run as Randwick Race 5 at 2:10pm (AEST) on Saturday, the 2nd of October, 2021. There are ten races in total that day at Randwick Racecourse.

Hill Stakes 2021 Form Guide

The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2021 Hill Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2021 HILL STAKES FORM GUIDE

Hill Stakes Live 2021

You can watch or listen to the 2021 Hill Stakes live, across the following mediums.

Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)

Radio: Radio Sport National

Hill Stakes Winners

Winners of the Hill Stakes going back to the year 2000 are displayed in the table below. If you would like to see results going further back in history, please visit our winners page for this race.