Manfred Stakes

The Manfred Stakes is a Group 3 race for three year olds conducted by the Melbourne Racing Club usually at Caulfield.

The Manfred Stakes was first run in 1968 and was won by Anvil. It has been conducted at both the MRC race courses Caulfield and Sandown.

The Manfred Stakes is run over 1200m under Set Weights and Penalties conditions. It was worth $200,000 in 2024.

When group racing came in it was a Group 3 until 1990 then back to Listed up to 2013 before upgrading again to G3 in 2014.

The race has been as short as 1200m and as long as 1600m through its time.

Its original name was the Manfred Stakes but has had many sponsor names since before going back to the Manfred in 2011.

It was named after the grand horse in the 1920s who won Derbies, a Cox Plate and a Caulfield Cup.

Fillies have been able to win the race like in 2017 but not all that many in recent seasons.

In 2020 Super Seth returned off his Guineas win to take it first up on a soft track and the next year Portland Sky would win the Oakleigh Plate after winning this.

Jacquinot made his 2023 return from a huge Spring when winning a Golden Rose and running well in The Everest by taking the Manfred in the last stride and then the G1 CF Orr next outing.

The Manfred Stakes is a lead up to the Australian Guineas but it hasn't been the best guide to the Guineas with Mosheen the only dual winner.

Notable winners of the Manfred Stakes include Gala Supreme (1973), Getting Closer (1982), Noble Peer (1985), Groucho (1987), Beachside (1991), Dark Ksar (1992), Tristalove (1994), Danasinga (1995), Eureka Jewel (1996), Freemason (2000), Don Eduardo (2002), Niconero (2005), Haradasun (2007), Turffontein (2008), Nicconi (2009), Denman (2010), Mosheen (2012), Bull Point (2014), Cliff's Edge (2018), Super Seth (2020), Portland Sky (2021) and Jacquinot (2023).

The 2024 Manfred Stakes was won by Brave Mead from King Colorado and Steparty.