Gimcrack Stakes

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The Gimcrack Stakes is a Group 2 race for two-year-old colts and geldings at York’s Ebor Festival in August.

The 2023 Gimcrack Stakes takes place over a distance of 6 furlongs on the third day of the 2023 Ebor Festival.

The race has produced Classic winners including Mill Reef (1970), Nebbiolo (1976), Turtle Island (1993) and Rock of Gibraltar (2001). In more recent seasons the trend has been for high-class speed horses including champion sprinters Muhaarar (2014) and Blue Point (2016).

In our Gimcrack Stakes 2023 guide, we provide the latest odds, betting tips and betting offers for the group three horse racing event.

Find out more about the Gimcrack Stakes:

Gimcrack Stakes

Race Overview – The Gimcrack Stakes

The Gimcrack Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race for two-year-old colts and geldings contested in the United Kingdom, every year in August. It is held at York over a distance of 6 furlongs.

Check out our guides to all the other Group 2 horse races.

Gimcrack Stakes Odds 2023

Here are the latest odds for the Gimcrack Stakes in 2023:

These odds have not yet been released.

Gimcrack Stakes Tips

Here are our tips for Gimcrack Stakes in 2023:

  • 2 points to win for TBC
  • 1 point each way for TBC

Some of the horses in the Gimcrack Stakes will run in other events later in the year. Stay updated on the horses and place ante-post bets if you want to wager on them.

Take a look at our guide for horse racing tips at York.

Our special tippers for racing provide outstanding tips for the races at York!

Gimcrack Stakes Previous Winners

Check out the previous winners of this race:

YearWinnerJockeyTrainerTime
1910PietriDanny MaherJohn Watson
1911LomondFrank WoottonRichard Wootton
1912FlippantWilliam SaxbyRichard Wootton
1913StornowayFrank WoottonRichard Wootton
1940no race 1914-1918
1919SouthernFreddie FoxReg Day
1920PolemarchFred LaneR H Dewhurst
1921ScampFred LaneFred Templeman
1922Town GuardGeorge ArchibaldPeter Gilpin
1923SansovinoTommy WestonGeorge Lambton
1924Game ShotFrank BullockNorman Scobie
1925LexMichael BearyReg Day
1926Bold ArcherHarry WraggRalph Moreton
1927Black WatchGordon RichardsPeter Gilpin
1928The Black AbbottGordon RichardsFred Darling
1929RoralDick PerrymanAtty Persse
1930Four CourseFreddie FoxFred Darling
1931MiracleHarry WraggJack Jarvis
1932Young LoverDick PerrymanFrank Butters
1933Mrs RustomMichael BearyFrank Butters
1934BahramDick PerrymanFrank Butters
1935Paul BegHerbert GunnW Easterby
1936GoyaCharlie ElliottGeorge Lambton
1937Golden SovereignTommy WestonHarry Cottrill
1938CockpitDick PerrymanColledge Leader
1939Tant MieuxGordon RichardsFred Darling
1940no race 1940-1944
1945Gulf StreamHarry WraggWalter Earl
1946PetitionHarry WraggFrank Butters
1947Black TarquinHarry CarrCecil Boyd-Rochfort
1948Star King[a]Sam WraggJack Waugh
1949PalestineGordon RichardsFrank Butters
1950CortilRae JohnstoneCharles Semblat
1951Windy CityGordon RichardsPaddy Prendergast
1952Bebe GrandWillie SnaithSam Armstrong
1953The Pie KingGordon RichardsPaddy Prendergast
1954PrecastBilly NevettDick Peacock
1955Idle RocksDoug SmithGeoffrey Brooke
1956EudaemonEdgar BrittCharles Elsey
1957PheidippidesDoug SmithCharles Elsey
1958Be CarefulEdward HideCharles Elsey1:14.00
1959Paddy's SisterGeorge MoorePaddy Prendergast
1960Test CaseEddie LarkinJack Jarvis1:15.20
1961Sovereign LordScobie BreasleyGordon Smyth1:15.20
1962CrocketDoug SmithGeoffrey Brooke1:14.40
1963TalahasseLester PiggottT Corbett1:14.00
1964Double JumpJimmy LindleyJeremy Tree1:15.20
1965Young EmperorLester PiggottPaddy Prendergast1:13.60
1966Golden HorusJoe MercerBill O'Gorman1:15.40
1967PetingoLester PiggottSam Armstrong1:15.00
1968Tudor MusicFrankie DurrMichael Jarvis1:13.00
1969Yellow GodFrankie DurrPaul Davey
1970Mill ReefGeoff LewisIan Balding1:11.80
1971Wishing StarFrankie DurrPaul Davey
1972Rapid RiverTommy KelseyArthur Stephenson1:12.50
1973GiacomettiTony MurrayRyan Price1:14.20
1974Steel HeartLester PiggottDermot Weld1:12.75
1975Music BoyJohnny SeagraveSnowy Wainwright
1976NebbioloGabriel CurranKevin Prendergast1:12.50
1977TumbledownwindGeoff LewisBruce Hobbs1:17.40
1978StanfordPat EdderyNeville Callaghan1:13.80
1979Sonnen GoldMark BirchPeter Easterby
1980Bel BolidePat EdderyJeremy Tree1:16.00
1981Full ExtentJohn LoweSteve Norton1:16.70
1982HorageTony MurrayMatt McCormack
1983PrecociousLester PiggottHenry Cecil1:11.90
1984DoulabTony MurrayHarry Thomson Jones1:11.30
1985StalkerJoe MercerPeter Walwyn
1986WiganthorpeWillie CarsonMick Easterby1:11.85
1987ReprimandSteve CauthenHenry Cecil1:15.10
1988Sharp N' EarlyBrian RouseRichard Hannon Sr.1:09.84
1989Rock CityWillie CarsonRichard Hannon Sr.1:10.97
1990MujtahidWillie CarsonRobert Armstrong1:10.55
1991River FallsBruce RaymondRichard Hannon Sr.1:13.72
1992SplendentAlan MunroPaul Cole1:11.42
1993Turtle IslandJohn ReidPeter Chapple-Hyam1:13.49
1994Chilly BillyKieren FallonLynda Ramsden1:12.78
1995Royal ApplauseWalter SwinburnBarry Hills1:11.42
1996Abou ZouzFrankie DettoriDavid Loder1:10.78
1997CarrowkeelPat EdderyBarry Hills1:13.39
1998Josr AlgarhoudKieren FallonMick Channon1:10.28
1999Mull of KintyreMichael KinaneAidan O'Brien1:11.51
2000BannisterJohnny MurtaghRichard Hannon Sr.1:12.50
2001Rock of GibraltarMichael KinaneAidan O'Brien1:11.23
2002Country ReelFrankie DettoriDavid Loder1:12.61
2003BalmontPat EdderyJeremy Noseda1:11.07
2004Tony JamesSeb SandersClive Brittain1:14.30
2005Amadeus WolfNeil CallanKevin Ryan1:09.75
2006ConquestJimmy FortuneWilliam Haggas1:11.81
2007Sir GerryJamie SpencerJames Fanshawe1:14.16
2008Shaweel [b]Greg FairleyMark Johnston1:13.92
2009ShowcasingJimmy FortuneJohn Gosden1:09.28
2010ApproveEddie AhernWilliam Haggas1:11.67
2011Caspar NetscherRobert WinstonAlan McCabe1:12.74
2012BlainePhillip MakinKevin Ryan1:11.53
2013AstaireNeil CallanKevin Ryan1:13.72
2014MuhaararPaul HanaganCharles Hills1:10.52
2015AjayaGraham GibbonsWilliam Haggas1:10.84
2016Blue PointWilliam BuickCharlie Appleby1:09.00
2017Sands of MaliPaul HanaganRichard Fahey1:11.16
2018Emaraaty AnaFrankie DettoriKevin Ryan1:10.79
2019ThreatOisin MurphyRichard Hannon Jr.1:09.62
2020MinzaalJim CrowleyOwen Burrows1:11.21
2021LusailPat DobbsRichard Hannon Jr.1:10.13
2022Noble StyleWilliam BuickCharlie Appleby1:10.51
2023Lake ForestTom MarquandWilliam Haggas1:09.91

Gimcrack Stakes Previous Result

Check out this result from York Racecourse:

Famous Gimcrack Stakes Winners

The Gimcrack Stakes was first run in 1846 and was named after a 27-times winner, although none of them were at York.

It was open to both sexes until being restricted to colts and geldings in 1987.

It is currently held on day 3 of the York Ebor Festival meeting.

Among the earlier winners was Bahram, a Triple Crown winner for His Highness The Aga Khan. Only Nijinsky (1970) has managed to complete the Triple Crown since, although it is no longer a priority with the breeding industry now more focussed on speed than stamina.

The brilliant Mill Reef won the Gimcrack in 1970 and later added the Dewhurst Stakes. He was beaten by Brigadier Gerard in one of the finest renewals of the 2000 Guineas ever witnessed. Mill Reef excelled over middle distances, winning the Epsom Derby, the King George and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Nebbiolo (1976) was the next horse to go on from the Gimcrack to lift a Classic, taking the 2000 Guineas. He defeated subsequent Epsom Derby winner The Minstrel.

1993 winner Turtle Island had a marked preference for soft ground and would revel in the testing conditions to win the Irish 2000 Guineas by 15 lengths.

Rock of Gibraltar (2001) won ten of his thirteen career races, winning seven consecutive Group 1 races for Aidan O’Brien. His notable victories included the 2000 Guineas, the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes. He was the most recent Gimcrack winner to win a Classic but the race has produced Champion sprinters Muhaarar (2014) and Blue Point (2016).

Muhaarar had enough class to win the seven-furlong Greenham Stakes first time out as a three-year-old, breaking the course record in the process. Things did not go his way in the French 2000 Guineas but he reverted successfully to sprint distances, his victories including the Commonwealth Cup and the July Cup.

Blue Point won over £2.6 million in prize money for Godolphin. His best season was in 2019 when he won twice at Royal Ascot, taking the King’s Stand Stakes and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. He was named 2019 Cartier Champion Sprinter.

Key Gimcrack Stakes Trials

The most informative trial for the Gimcrack Stakes in recent years has been the Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Three of the last twelve winners ran in that race, all three finishing in the frame at the Sussex track.

Course form is a definite positive with four of the twelve having recorded at least one previous victory at York.

The Gimcrack winner has almost automatically been aimed at the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket next time.

Eight of the last twelve Gimcrack winners ran in that race with Astaire (2013) taking the Group 1 prize.

Caspar Netscher (2011) followed up successfully in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury while Threat (2019) won the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster next time out.

Only three of the last twelve favourites have won the Gimcrack Stakes; Blue Point (2016) at 11-8, Threat (2019) at 11-10 and Minzaal (2020) at 5-2.

There have also been five other winners from the first three in the betting during that period.

Shock results are rare in the Gimcrack with only Sands Of Mali (2017) at 14-1 falling into that category in recent years.

An official rating of 104 or higher is normally required to win this race. Astaire and Muhaarar both won off that rating while the highest rated winner in the last twelve seasons was Threat (111).

All twelve winners had recorded at least one previous victory and all but one had raced more than once.

Gimcrack Stakes – Top Trainers and Jockeys

You have to delve deep into the history books to find the leading trainers and jockeys in the Gimcrack. William l’Anson Jnr trained seven winners between 1881 and 1903 while John Osborne Jnr rode nine winners between 1852 and 1880.

Kevin Ryan has a fine record in the Gimcrack with four winners. He won with Amadeus Wolf (2005), Blaine (2012), Astaire (2013) and Emaraaty Ana (2018).

William Haggas has three winners; Conquest (2006), Approve (2010) and Ajaya (2015) and Richard Hannon Jnr has won it twice in the last three seasons with Threat (2019) and Lusail (2021).

Frankie Dettori won it for the first time with Abou Zouz back in 1996, trained by David Loder. The same combination struck again with Country Reel in 2002 and Dettori won it for the third time aboard Emaraaty Ana in 2018.

Best Gimcrack Stakes Betting Sites

The Gimcrack Stakes has regularly produced top-class winners including numerous Classic winners.

Although the current trend is for top-class sprinters, it remains a very informative race for the top juvenile races in the Autumn.

Shock results have been rare and it usually provides a competitive race with each-way betting opportunities.

Popular Questions

How long is the Gimcrack Stakes?

The Gimcrack Stakes has a total distance of 6 furlongs.

Where is the Gimcrack Stakes held?

The Gimcrack Stakes is held at York.

Summary of Gimcrack Stakes

We hope you have enjoyed our guide to the Gimcrack Stakes.

It is of the best races of the season and at the York Ebor meeting, many top-class performers have won the race and gone on to even greater things.

It’s one of our favourite races of the year.

2023 York Ebor Festival Posts

Here are all the related articles to the York Ebor Festival 2023:

If you do choose to bet, please bet responsibly.

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