Pago Pago Stakes

Pago Pago Stakes

The Pago Pago Stakes is raced over 1,200 metres by a field of two-year-old colts and geldings at set weights. As one of the most sought after titles for horses this age it attracts a fine field of competitors. It is a terrific opportunity for young horses to get a Group 2 race under their belt and really begin to build up their reputation in the Australian racing industry. As the Pago Pago Stakes is held midway through the autumn carnival, there are a number of great lead-up races for punters to consider before making their selections. Earlier events contested by the season’s leading two-year-olds that are a good indication for the Pago Pago Stakes include the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m), the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m), and the Group 3 Skyline Stakes (1200m) raced under the exact race conditions as the Pago Pago Stakes. Look out for the dominant horses in these exciting races, as the field of entries for each two-year-old race at the carnival are relatively similar.

The 2011 Pago Pago Stakes will be run on Saturday March 26 at Rosehill.

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Prize money is set at $150,000, and although not one of the most lucrative races in the autumn, it is an excellent start for the two-year-old contenders who may be making their racing debut. Because many of the young runners may be competitively racing for the first time, it is important when betting on the Pago Pago Stakes to take into consideration aspects such as the trainer and jockey career statistics and how these affect the horses’ chance of success, especially if you have no previous starts by which to judge the form of the entries. This makes for enthralling and unique betting opportunities that can pay big bucks to the skilful punters!

The stakes are also a lot more than just the prize money on offer; the winner of the Pago Pago Stakes is exempt from ballot for the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) held later in the carnival. The Golden Slipper Stakes is the richest and most prestigious race for two-year-olds in the world, and the winners and placegetters in the Pago Pago Stakes usually are a good pick for the coveted $3.5 million Golden Slipper held the following week. The Pago Pago Stakes is the runners’ last chance to qualify for the Slipper; this combined with the quality and ferocity of the entries along with the fast pace of the race makes the Pago Pago Stakes one of the most entertaining and thrilling races of the carnival to bet on!

The last horse to win the Pago Pago Stakes and the Golden Slipper in the same season was Stratum in 2005. This betting double is one of the most popular wagers with punters, and if you can select the two-year-old to take home the gold in both races you too will be seeing plenty of riches!

All of the leading trainers, jockeys and horses together with the racing enthusiasts and punters gather in Sydney from early February until the end of April for the most anticipated event on the New South Wales racing calendar, the Autumn Racing Carnival. This carnival is made up of a number of truly elite race days, one of which is the Rosehill Guineas Day. The Rosehill Guineas Day is conducted at the esteemed Rosehill Gardens racecourse, and consists of a number of top quality group racing events sure to entertain the crowds!

Bookmakers have their full range of betting odds and options open on the Pago Pago Stakes, and it is one of the best two-year-old races of the season to place a wager on; you might just be betting on Australian racing’s next turf champion!

Pago Pago Stakes Race Information

• When: Late March
• Where: Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney
• Race Distance: 1200m
• Race Status: Group 2
• Race Type: 2YO Colts & Geldings at Set Weights
• Weight: 55.5kg
• Prize Money: $140 000
• First Run: 1978