3 minute read

The Slipper hasn’t been a big guide out of the Skyline Stakes run at Randwick on Saturday.

Dance Hero was the last way back in 2004. Could it happen again starting with the 2021 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday?

2021 Skyline Stakes: Nominations

2021 SKYLINE STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Skyline Stakes is a Group 2 race for two-year-old colts and geldings and has been an important qualifying race for the Golden Slipper Stakes since its inception by the Sydney Turf Club in 1979.

The Skyline Stakes is run over 1200m under set weight conditions and is named after Skyline, the winner of the 1958 Golden Slipper Stakes and 1958 AJC Derby.

The winner of the Skyline Stakes receives ballot exemption for the Golden Slipper Stakes.

The Skyline Stakes became a Listed Race in 1980. It was run as a Group 3 event from 1987 until 2012 when it was promoted to Group 2 status.

The Skyline Stakes was first run at Canterbury from 1979 until 1996. In 1979 and 1980 it was run under handicap conditions but became a set weights race in 1981.

From 1997 to 1999 the Skyline Stakes was run at Rosehill but returned to Canterbury from 2000 until 2005. Since 2006 the Skyline Stakes has alternated between Randwick (2006-2010; 2012; 2014; 2016; 2017) and Warwick Farm (2011; 2013; 2015).

The 2021 Skyline Stakes was worth $200,000.

There have been five two-year-olds complete the Skyline Stakes/Golden Slipper Stakes double - Sir Dapper (1983), Star Watch (1988), Guineas (1997), Prowl (1998) and Dance Hero (2004).

So It's been 17 years since the Slipper winner also won the Skyline.

Other notable winners of the Skyline Stakes include Show County, Strategic, Shogun Lodge, Viscount, Choisir, Snitzel, Casino Prince, All American, Manhattan Rain, Hinchinbrook, Exosphere and Microphone.

The 2020 Skyline Stakes was won by Mamaragan from Osamu and Aim.