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The form out of last year’s Percy Sykes Stakes run at Randwick on Saturday was very strong.
There was plenty of G1 form emanating from it. Could the 2020 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday do the same?
2020 Percy Sykes Stakes: Nominations
2020 PERCY SYKES STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Percy Sykes Stakes is a Group 2 race for two-year-old fillies conducted by the Australian Turf Club at Royal Randwick as part of The Championships.
The Percy Sykes Stakes was first run as the Keith Mackay Handicap in 1960 when it was named in honour of former Australian Jockey Club chairman Keith Mackay.
The race was run as the Royal Randwick Stakes in 2014 and became the Percy Sykes Stakes in 2015 when it was renamed to honour the late veterinarian Percy Sykes, a leading Sydney racing industry figure who was renowned for his veterinary skills working with leading trainers such as Tommy Smith, Bart Cummings, Gai Waterhouse and Jack Denham.
The Keith Mackay/Percy Sykes Stakes is run under set weights and penalty conditions after originally being a quality handicap.
It became a Listed Race in 1979 and was promoted to Group 3 status in 2014. The Percy Sykes Stakes will be run as a Group 2 race for the first time in 2017.
The Keith Mackay Handicap was first run over six furlongs from 1960-1969 and then seven furlongs in 1970 and 1971. It reverted to 1200m from 1972 to 1983 and was increased again to 1400m in 1984 and 1985. It has been run over 1200m since 1986.
The 2020 Percy Sykes Stakes was run over 1200m at Royal Randwick for prizemoney of $500,000 having to be reduced due to the effects of COVID-19.
It is the richest one gender juvenile race in Australia.
Notable fillies to win the Keith Mackay/Percy Sykes Stakes include Constant Image, Candy Floss, Tumberlua, Kiss Me Cait, Favoured, Fleet Princess, Impede, Charity, I Like Diamonds, Lady Eclipse, Magic Flute, Flitter, Before Too Long, Streama, Eloping, Ottoman and Shoals.
The 2019 Percy Sykes Stakes was won by Anaheed from Flit and Villami.
