Epona Stakes
Horse race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Epona Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race, for fillies and mares aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1900 metres, with set weights and penalties, held annually at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in March.[1]
| Class | Group 3 |
|---|---|
| Location | Rosehill Gardens Racecourse |
| Inaugurated | 1986 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Sponsor | Bisley Workwear (2022-26) |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1,900 metres |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Fillies and mares three years old and older |
| Weight | Set weights with penalties |
| Purse | A$250,000 (2026) |
History
The race has its origins as an undercard race for the Golden Slipper Stakes race meeting at Rosehill in 1998.[2] The name changed to the Epona Mares Quality Plate the following year, named after the Celtic-Roman god for the protector of horses, Epona.[3] By 2001 the race became registered and a black type race as the Epona Stakes. In 2012 the race was upgraded to Group 3.
Name
- 1998 - Mares Plate
- 1999–2000 - Epona Mares Quality Plate
- 2001 - Epona Mares Quality Stakes
- 2002 - The Brookvale Hotel Stakes[4]
- 2003–2004 - Berjani Jewellers Stakes[4]
- 2005–2006 - Epona Stakes
- 2007–2011 - De Bortoli Wines Stakes[4]
- 2012–2013 - Epona Stakes
- 2014 - Percy Sykes Tribute Stakes
- 2015 onwards - Epona Stakes
Venue
- 1998–1999 - Rosehill
- 2000–2002 - Canterbury
- 2003 onwards - Rosehill
Distance
- 1998–1999 – 2000 metres
- 2000 onwards - 1900 metres
Grade
- 1998–2000 - unlisted
- 2001–2011 - Listed race
- 2012 onwards - Group 3
Winners
The following are past winners of the race.[5]
- 2026 - Machine Gun Gracie
- 2025 - Mare Of Mt Butler
- 2024 - Osmose
- 2023 - Gin Martini[6]
- 2022 - Monegal[7]
- 2021 - Polly Grey[8]
- 2020 - Missybeel[9]
- 2019 - Semari[10]
- 2018 - The Pinnacle[11]
- 2017 - Consommateur[12]
- 2016 - Vergara[13]
- 2015 - Scratchy Bottom[14]
- 2014 - Intimate Moment[15]
- 2013 - Aliyana Tilde[16]
- 2012 - Fibrillation[17]
- 2011 - Galizani[18]
- 2010 - Messenger[19]
- 2009 - Divine Rebel[20]
- 2008 - Ready To Lift[21]
- 2007 - Safwa[22]
- 2006 - Kosi Bay[23]
- 2005 - Natural Woman[24]
- 2004 - Great Anna[25]
- 2003 - Airlie Bird[26]
- 2002 - Ilze[27]
- 2001 – Market Price[28]
- 2000 - Our Erin[3]
- 1999 - Zastov[29]
- 1998 - Burning Embers[2]