G1 Older Sprinters- Are Our Sprinters the Best in the World?

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday July 1

The Australian G1 season has concluded and there were 23 Group I races won by older horses at a distance less than 1600m, but one race that fits the category but is yet to be given G1 status is the $10million Golden Eagle (1500m) and form out of it would suggest it was the best of them all.

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The Golden Eagle is left of a centre as a race restricted to four year-olds, which was really thinking outside of the square by Racing NSW, but what a fabulous innovation it has been for unearthing serious potential and attracting international competitors.

Not all horses are ready to go at two or even at three with this race offering a unique and lucrative path forward for the right horse and it’s a race that has been really latched on to by savvy Northern Hemisphere trainers.

Can’t wait to see how the race unfolds this year and if I had to throw up an early tip it would be Lady Shenandoah.

G1 winners Older Horses Less than 1600m 2024/2025

Race Distance Horse Age Sex Sire Dam Sire
Black Caviar Lightning 1000 Skybird  4 M Exosphere  Wanted 
Moir Stakes 1000 Mornington Glory  6 G Shalaa (IRE) Danehill (USA)
 Oakleigh Plate 1100 Jimmysstar (NZ) 5 G Per Incanto (USA) Zed (NZ)
 Manikato Stakes 1200 Southport Tycoon 4 H Written Tycoon More Than Ready (USA)
Newmarket Hcp 1200 Joliestar  4 M Zoustar  Fastnet Rock 
William Reid Stakes 1200 Schwarz  4 H Zoustar  Not A Single Doubt 
T J Smith Stakes 1200 Briasa  4 G Smart Missile  Twining (USA)
 Robert Sangster Stakes 1200 Charm Stone  4 M I Am Invincible  Northern Meteor 
Darley Champions Sprint 1200 Sunshine In Paris  5 M Invader  Zabeel (NZ)
Doomben 10,000  1200 Sunshine In Paris  5 M Invader  Zabeel (NZ)
Winterbottom Stakes 1200 Overpass  6 G Vancouver  Exceed And Excel
The TAB Everest 1200 Bella Nipotina  7 M Pride Of Dubai  Star Witness 
Kingsford Smith Cup 1300 Joliestar  4 M Zoustar  Fastnet Rock 
Canterbury Stakes 1300 Royal Patronage (FR) 6 H Wootton Bassett (GB) Dalakhani (IRE)
 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 1400 Kimochi  4 M Brave Smash (JPN) I Am Invincible 
Stradbroke Hcp 1400 War Machine (NZ) 4 G Harry Angel (IRE) Hussonet (USA)
C.F. Orr Stakes 1400 Another Wil  5 G Street Boss (USA) Bianconi (USA)
All Aged Stakes 1400 Jimmysstar (NZ) 5 G Per Incanto (USA) Zed (NZ)
Tattersall's Tiara 1400 Tashi  5 M Sebring  Street Cry (IRE)
Memsie Stakes 1400 Pinstriped  6 G Street Boss (USA) Snitzel 
Winx Stakes 1400 Via Sistina (IRE) 7 M Fastnet Rock  Galileo (IRE)
Futurity Stakes 1400 Mr Brightside (NZ) 7 G Bullbars  Tavistock (NZ)
George Ryder Stakes 1500 Gringotts (NZ) 5 G Per Incanto (USA) Savabeel 

The 23 G1 races were won by 20 horses with multiple winners in this distance range being Joliestar, Sunshine in Paris and Jimmysstar (NZ), who would all loom as possible Everest contenders in the spring.

Joliestar won the G1 Thousand Guineas at three and two more G1 races as a sprinter this season  - image Grant Courtney

Two four year-old stallions on the list Southport Tycoon and Schwarz have both been retired to stud with the former headed to Widden Victoria at a fee of $38,500 and the latter to Rosemont Stud, also in Victoria at a fee of $38,500.

Seven of the 20 G1 winners (which equates to 35% ) in this distance range for older horses were bred outside of Australia, not a particularly great stat for a country that prides itself on it’s sprinters.

Click here to read about the G1 older milers/middle distance/stayers.

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