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Elite horses have won the Missile Stakes run at Rosehill on Saturday.
Pierata began an excellent Spring in this race. Will the 2020 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday provide an Everest runner?
2020 Missile Stakes: Nominations
2020 MISSILE STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Missile Stakes is a Group 2 race run under Weight For Age conditions for open sprinters at Rosehill conducted by the Australian Turf Club.
The Missile Stakes is run over 1200m and is the first group race of the season in Sydney.
It was first run in 1978 and won by Idol.
The Missile Stakes has been run over shorter than 1200m until 2010. It was predominantly at Rosehill (1978-2011) but then at Warwick Farm in 2012 before moving to Randwick. It's back at Rosehill in 2019.
The Missile Stakes was a Group 3 race from 1980 until it became G2 in 2014.
It was always a WFA conditions but became a Set Weights and Penalties race from 2020.
The 1984 Missile Stakes was run with a flag start and was won by Plus Vite at 100-1.
The race was previously run at the end of the season allowing two year olds to run. Commands and Guineas both won as juveniles.
Pompeii and Teasing were the only mares to win since 1994 before Sweet Idea and then Tycoon Tara plus Invincible Gem and Alizee. Ironically Klokka and Joanne won the four runnings from 1991 onwards.
Lonhro ran in consecutive Missile Stakes in 2001 and 2002 but because of the dates, one was as a 2yo and one was as a 4yo.
The 2020 Missile Stakes was run for prizemoney of $200,000.
Notable winners of the Missile Stakes include Alizee (2019), Pierata (2018), Tycoon Tara (2016), Sweet Idea (2014), Rain Affair (2011), Love Conquers All (2010), Dance Hero (2005), Spark Of Life (2004), Lonhro (2002), Commands (1999), Guineas (1997), Klokka (1993/1994), Joanne (1991/1992), Potrero (1990), Campaign King (1987/1988), Row Of Waves (1985) and Razor Sharp (1982).
The 2019 Missile Stakes was won by Alizee from Invincible Gem and Le Romain.