The Shorts

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

Run over 1,100 metres, The Shorts is a Group 2 race taking place at Randwick Racecourse in mid-September as part of George Main Stakes Day.

With a $500,000 prize purse, the event is a set weights plus penalties sprint for the short distance specialists and serves as a key lead-up to the world’s richest turf race – the $15 million The Everest.

In 2017 Redzel won The Shorts before becoming the inaugural The Everest winner. The 2019 The Shorts winner Pierata ran fifth in that year’s The Everest race but then won the $1 million Winners Stakes named that year in honour of the previous season’s The Everest champ, Redzel, who went back-to-back in 2017-18.

Classique Legend (2020) is the last sprinter to complete The Shorts – The Everest double.

In 2021 Eduardo improved on his second from the year before to win The Shorts and defeat the favourite Nature Strip.

The Shorts 2021 – Quick Information

• Race Day: Saturday, September 18th, 2021
• Track Location: Randwick Racecourse
• Track Surface: Turf
• Track Direction: Right-handed
• Race Distance: 1,100 metres
• Weight Conditions: Weight for age
• Qualification: Set weights (with penalties)
• Type: Thoroughbred
• Grade: Group 2
• Operator: Randwick Racecourse
• Prize Purse: $500,000
• Inaugural Race: 1867
• 2021 The Shorts Winner: Eduardo

The Shorts 2021 RESULTS

The official 2021 The Shorts Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday September 18, 2021. 

1. #2 Eduardo
2. #1 Nature Strip
3. #3 Gytrash

Joe Pride’s resuming The Galaxy – Doomben 10,000 double winner Eduardo ($5.50) was outstanding first-up defeating the favourite Nature Strip in a gripping 2021 The Shorts result ahead of their rematch in the $15 million The Everest.

The Shorts Betting 2021

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

How To Bet On The Shorts 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 The Shorts Betting above).
5. Select the horse(s) for the race.

Which Horse Will Win The Shorts in 2021?

The best way to pick which horse will win The Shorts in 2021 is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, their short-distance record over 1100m and any previous Group race experience against similar rivals. 

Additional factors to consider when picking The Shorts winner include: 

• Local Edge – Sydney horses, especially those with plenty of Randwick Racecourse experience, have a strong record in The Shorts results. 
• Past Performers – Sprinters returning for a second shot in The Shorts traditionally perform well in the Group 2.
• Group 1 Runners – Proven Group 1 winners down in grade for The Shorts have a strong strike-rate.

The Shorts Favourites 2021

Early The Shorts 2021 favourites include Chris Waller’s outstanding sprinter Nature Strip and first-up The Heath 1100 winner Masked Crusader. 

Pierata ($2.70 in 2019) followed by Classique Legend ($4.40 in 2020) are the latest favourites in The Shorts betting to win.

The Shorts Field 2021

The official 2021 The Shorts field of final acceptances is announced the Wednesday leading-up to the race and will be published in full below.

The Shorts 2021 final field features an outstanding field full of confirmed and hopeful The Everest horses including the Chris Waller-trained favourite Nature Strip coming off a win fresh in the Concorde Stakes.

• Scratched: #6 Wild Ruler (8)

The Shorts 2021 Tips

Favourite: #1 Nature Strip ($2.35 at time of publish)

Best Bet: #2 Eduardo ($8.50 at time of publish)

Best Roughie: #3 Gytrash ($14 at time of publish)

Our exclusive The Shorts 2021 betting tips will be published above the week of the race and a full tipping preview available on the Neds Blog.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2021 GEORGE MAIN STAKES DAY PREVIEW & TIPS

The Shorts Race Day 2021

Race day takes place on Saturday, the 18th of September 2021 as part of the George Main Stakes Day 2021 card at Royal Randwick. The Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) for the elite milers is the feature of the meeting, which also hosts the: 

• Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m);
• Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m); and the
• Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m).

The Shorts Barrier Draw 2021

The 2021 The Shorts barrier draw will be released the Wednesday of race week and published in our above The Shorts Field section. 

The Shorts Nominations 2021

Nominations close by 11:00 AM on Monday, the 13th of September, 2021. 

The Shorts Weights 2021

Set weights with penalties apply to this race. Final weights will be announced by 4:00 PM on Tuesday, the 14th of September, 2021 with the final weights announced in our above The Shorts Field section. 

The Shorts Acceptances 2021

Acceptances must be declared before 9:00 AM on Wednesday, the 15th of September, 2021 and will be published in our above The Shorts Field section. 

The Shorts Jockeys 2021

The final riders announcement is at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, the 15th of September, 2020 with the official The Shorts jockeys to be published in our above The Shorts Field section. 

The Shorts Scratchings 2021

Scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, the 18th of September, 2021. 

2021 The Shorts Scratchings: 

• #6 Wild Ruler (8)

The Shorts Prize Money 2021

The Shorts prize purse is worth $500,000 in total, distributed from places first through tenth.

The Shorts Race Number 2021

The 2021 The Shorts is set to run as Randwick Race 8 at 3:55pm (AEST) on Saturday September 18, 2021. There are ten races in total that day at Randwick Racecourse.

The Shorts Form Guide 2021

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

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2021 THE SHORTS FORM GUIDE

The Shorts Live 2021

You can watch or listen to the 2021 The Shorts live, across the following mediums.

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

Radio: Radio Sport National

The Shorts Winners

Winners of The Shorts going back to 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.