The Australian G1 season has concluded and there were 26 Group I races won by older horses at a distance of 1600m or more and they were won by 17 different horses with Via Sistina (IRE) and Mr Brightside (NZ) the only horses to win G1 races as sprinters (less than 1600m) and also as mile/middle distance/staying horses.
Of those 17 G1 winners at 1600 or more, 12 were bred overseas, eight in Europe and four from New Zealand, so 70% of these horses were not Australian bred.
This reflects the insatiable appetite for tried European horses by Aussie investors and the respect for the Kiwi product, which continues to deliver in G1 races.
G1 winners Older Horses 1600m plus 2024/2025
| Race | Distance | Horse | Age | Sex | Sire | Dam Sire |
| Toorak Hcp | 1600 | Antino (NZ) | 6 | G | Redwood (GB) | Bahhare (USA) |
| Empire Rose Stakes | 1600 | Atishu (NZ) | 7 | M | Savabeel | No Excuse Needed (GB) |
| Epsom | 1600 | Ceolwulf (NZ) | 4 | G | Tavistock (NZ) | Shamardal (USA) |
| King Charles III Stakes | 1600 | Ceolwulf (NZ) | 4 | G | Tavistock (NZ) | Shamardal (USA) |
| Queen Of The Turf Stakes | 1600 | Fangirl | 6 | M | Sebring | Encosta De Lago |
| Makybe Diva Stakes | 1600 | Mr Brightside (NZ) | 7 | G | Bullbars | Tavistock (NZ) |
| Champions Mile | 1600 | Mr Brightside (NZ) | 7 | G | Bullbars | Tavistock (NZ) |
| Railway Stakes | 1600 | Port Lockroy | 4 | H | Better Than Ready | Freeze |
| Doncaster Mile | 1600 | Stefi Magnetica | 4 | M | All Too Hard | Oamaru Force |
| The All-Star Mile | 1600 | Tom Kitten | 4 | G | Harry Angel (IRE) | Street Cry (IRE) |
| Verry Elleegant Stakes | 1600 | Via Sistina (IRE) | 7 | M | Fastnet Rock | Galileo (IRE) |
| Underwood Stakes | 1800 | Buckaroo (GB) | 6 | G | Fastnet Rock | Galileo (IRE) |
| Northerly Stakes | 1800 | Light Infantry Man (FR) | 6 | G | Fast Company (IRE) | Kyllachy (GB) |
| Doomben Cup | 2000 | Antino (NZ) | 6 | G | Redwood (GB) | Bahhare (USA) |
| Might And Power | 2000 | Deny Knowledge (IRE) | 7 | M | Pride Of Dubai | Manduro (GER) |
| Australian Cup | 2000 | Light Infantry Man (FR) | 6 | G | Fast Company (IRE) | Kyllachy (GB) |
| Turnbull Stakes | 2000 | Via Sistina (IRE) | 7 | M | Fastnet Rock | Galileo (IRE) |
| Champions Stakes | 2000 | Via Sistina (IRE) | 7 | M | Fastnet Rock | Galileo (IRE) |
| Ranvet Stakes | 2000 | Via Sistina (IRE) | 7 | M | Fastnet Rock | Galileo (IRE) |
| Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 2000 | Via Sistina (IRE) | 7 | M | Fastnet Rock | Galileo (IRE) |
| Cox Plate | 2040 | Via Sistina (IRE) | 7 | M | Fastnet Rock | Galileo (IRE) |
| Tancred Stakes | 2400 | Dubai Honour (IRE) | 7 | G | Pride Of Dubai | Montjeu (IRE) |
| Caulfield Cup | 2400 | Duke De Sessa (IRE) | 6 | G | Lope De Vega (IRE) | Cape Cross (IRE) |
| The Metropolitan | 2400 | Land Legend (FR) | 5 | G | Galileo (IRE) | Dansili (GB) |
| Sydney Cup | 3200 | Arapaho (FR) | 8 | G | Lope De Vega (IRE) | Dansili (GB) |
| Melbourne Cup | 3200 | Knight's Choice | 5 | G | Extreme Choice | More Than Ready (USA) |
Race fields for elite races over staying distances would be decimated without the imports as the Australian thoroughbred on the whole is barely fit for purpose in that regard.
That said, the Melbourne Cup was won by an Aussie bred gelding with a speed pedigree in Knight’s Choice, but he was co-trained by Sheila Laxon and I’ll hazard a guess that if any other trainer in the country had that horse in the stable it would never have raced beyond a mile.
But she knows how to win a Melbourne Cup having done it with Ethereal and Sheila decided to train him for it… voila!
I’m not suggesting that trainers go out and buy yearlings with speed pedigrees and train them as stayers, but the reality is really good horses can do amazing things in terms of distance, you just have to think big enough… as they say class will carry you a long way.
Would Via Sistina have won the Melbourne Cup last year, I think the answer to that question is yes and probably by daylight!
