Middle Park Stakes

The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 race in the UK for horses aged two. It is run each year in September at Newmarket on the Rowley Mile with a distance of 6 furlongs.

The Middle Park Stakes is on the 3rd day of the Cambridgeshire Meeting and takes place on Saturday 30th September 2023 at 15:00. This 3:00 pm race is part of The 3-Day Cambridgeshire Meeting.

Day 3 includes many other popular races such as The Cambridgeshire Handicap.

Find out more about the Middle Park Stakes:

Middle Park Stakes

The Race – Middle Park Stakes

The Middle Park Stakes is over six furlongs and takes place in September, having recently been moved from Future Champions’ Day two weeks’ later.

This was primarily to avoid a clash with the seven-furlong Dewhurst Stakes.

The race is usually won by more of a sprinting type than a horse guaranteed to stay a mile.

Famous Middle Park Stakes Winners & History

The race was first run as the Middle Park Plate in 1866 with victory going to The Rake.

It was not restricted to colts until 1987, although it had produced a future 2000 Guineas winner as early as 1871 with Prince Charlie.

1875 winner Petrarch won the 2000 Guineas and the St Leger as a three-year-old.

The Classic winners continued to flow with 1883 winning filly Busybody taking the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks, ridden by Fred Archer. The legendary jockey also won the Middle Park in 1884 on Felton, subsequent winner of the Derby and St Leger. Their achievements were surpassed by 1892 winner Isinglass, the sixth horse to complete the English Triple Crown of 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger.

Other famous winners of the Middle Park include Sun Chariot (1941), Dante (1944), Abernant (1948), and Our Babu (1954). This remarkable record continued to 1970 when the great Brigadier Gerard won. He would go on to win 17 of his 18 races over a glittering career, ranging from six furlongs to a mile and a half.

The last horse to win the Middle Park Stakes and the 2000 Guineas was Rodrigo de Triano in 1991-1992. He was owned by Robert Sangster and ridden by Willie Carson in the Middle Park but Lester Piggott took over the reins in the 2000 Guineas.

There has been a clear shift towards sprinting talent in more recent years.

Several winners have returned to Newmarket to win the Group 1 July Cup including Oasis Dream (2002) and Dream Ahead (2010).

Aidan O’Brien attempted the 2000 Guineas route with both U S Navy Flag (2017) and Ten Sovereigns (2018) before successfully reverting to sprinting.

Key Middle Park Stakes Trials

One race stands out as the best trial for the Middle Park and that is the Prix Morny at Deauville. No less than five colts have won that race before following up at Newmarket in the last twelve seasons; Dream Ahead (2010), Restless Abandon (2012), Shalaa (2015), Earthlight (2019) and Perfect Power (2021).

Unfortunately (2017) was the only Prix Morny winner to be defeated in the Middle Park during the 12-year period.

Middle Park Stakes Betting Trends

Six of the last twelve Middle Park favourites have won and four-second favourites. Shalaa (2015) started odds-on at 1-2 and Ten Sovereigns (2018) returned at 8-13.

Other well-backed favourites to oblige were Dream Ahead (2010), Reckless Abandon (2012 Joint-favourite), Earthlight (2019) and Perfect Power (2021).

There have been several shock results in the Middle Park in recent years. Crusade (2011) and The Last Lion (2016) were both 25-1 outsiders while Charming Thought (2014) started at 22-1.

Racing fans of a certain vintage will also recall Steve Cauthen winning on 50-1 outsider Creag-An-Sgor in 1983.

U S Navy Flag (2017) was not the O’Brien stable number one when winning at 10-1 and Astaire (2013) was an 8-1 chance,

Middle Park Stakes Stats

Ten of the last twelve winners had been successful on their previous outing.

All but two of them had raced within the last 7 weeks with at least two previous runs over six furlongs.

All twelve had at least one six-furlong victory to their credit before winning here.

Despite the number of shock results, 10 of the last 12 winners had won at least once at Group 1 to 3 level.

A rating of 105 or higher is usually required to win the Middle Park Stakes. Shalaa (120) was the highest-rated colt going into the race in recent seasons.

Middle Park Stakes Odds 2023

The odds for the Middle Park Stakes have not yet been released, come back closer to the time to find odds.

Middle Park Stakes Tips 2023

Below are the tips for the Middle Park Stakes 2023:

  • 2 points to win for TBC at odds of TBC
  • 1 point each way for TBC at odds of TBC

Middle Park Stakes Previous Winners

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time
1866The RakeJ LoatesJoseph DawsonF Pryor
1867Green SleeveSamuel KenyonJohn PorterSir J Hawley
1868Pero GomezJimmy AdamsJohn PorterSir J Hawley
1869Frivolity‡Tom ChalonerJoseph DawsonW A Lyndon
1870Albert VictorJohn MorrisTom OlliverW S Cartwight
1871Prince CharlieWilliam HuntJoseph DawsonJoseph Dawson
1872SurinamJohn OsborneCharles PeckSir R W Bulkeley
1873NewryFred WebbF Fisher
1874PlebeianSam MordanR Christophers
1875PetrarchJem GoaterJohn DawsonMr. Spencer
1876ChamantJem GoaterThomas JenningsFrederic de Lagrange
1877BeauclercJames SnowdenWilliam I'AnsonC Perkins
1878PeterCharles WoodJoseph DawsonJ Peel
1879BeaudesertGeorge FordhamJohn Day3rd Marquess of Anglesey
1880St LouisGeorge FordhamAlec Taylor Sr.W S Crawfurd
1881Kermesse‡Tom Cannon Sr.Joseph Cannon5th Earl of Rosebery
1882MacheathCharles WoodR SherrardW S Crawfurd
1883Busybody‡Fred ArcherMathew Dawson6th Viscount Falmouth
1884MeltonFred ArcherMathew Dawson20th Baron Hastings
1885MintingFred ArcherMathew DawsonRobert Charles de Grey Vyner
1886FlorentineJohn WattsJames Jewitt5th Baron Calthorpe
1887Friar's BalsamGeorge BarrettJohn PorterFrederick Johnstone
1888DonovanFred BarrettGeorge Dawson6th Duke of Portland
1889Signorina‡George BarrettOdorado GinistrelliOdorado Ginistrelli
1890GouverneurJames WoodburnTom Jennings JrEdmond Blanc
1891OrmeGeorge BarrettJohn Porter1st Duke of Westminster
1892IsinglassGeorge ChalonerJames JewittHarry McCalmont
1893LadasAlfred WhiteMathew Dawson5th Earl of Rosebery
1894SpeedwellFred PrattJ RyanAlfred W Cox
1895St. FrusquinFred PrattAlfred HayhoeLeopold de Rothschild
1896Galtee MoreMornington CannonSam DarlingJohn Gubbins
1897DieudonneOtto MaddenRichard Marsh8th Duke of Devonshire
1898CaimanTod SloanJ HugginsLord William Beresford
1899DemocratTod SloanJ HugginsLord William Beresford
1900FloriformMornington CannonTom Cannon Jr.T S Jay
1901MinsteadDanny MaherGeorge Chaloner5th Earl of Harewood
1902FlotsamDanny MaherGeorge BlackwellSir Daniel Cooper
1903Pretty PollyWilliam LanePeter GilpinEustace Loder
1904JardyGeorges SternRobert DenmanEdmond Blanc
1905Flair‡William HiggsPeter GilpinSir Daniel Cooper
1906GalvaniBernard DillonPeter GilpinEustace Loder
1907Lesbia‡Danny MaherGeorge BlackwellSir Daniel Cooper
1908BayardoDanny MaherAlec Taylor Jr.Alfred W Cox
1909LembergDanny MaherAlec Taylor Jr.Alfred W Cox
1910BorrowSkeets MartinA J JoynerHarry Payne Whitney
1911AbsurdSkeets MartinCharles MortonJack Barnato Joel
1912CraganourWilliam SaxbyJack RobinsonCharles Bower Ismay
1913CorcyraDanny MaherR H Dewhurst6th Marquess of Londonderry
1914Friar MarcusHerbert JonesRichard MarshKing George V
1915ArgosWalter GriggsPeter GilpinLudwig Neumann
1916North StarFrank BullockReg DayJack Barnato Joel
1917Benevente‡Fred RickabyR H Dewhurst6th Marquess of Londonderry
1918Stefan the GreatBrownie CarslakeAtty PersseL Robinson
1919TetratemaBrownie CarslakeAtty PersseDermot McCalmont
1920MonarchFrank BullockWalter GriggsSir H Bird
1921Golden Corn‡Steve DonoghueHugh PowneyMarshall Field
1922DrakeMichael BearyHarry CottrillMrs S Whitburn
1923DiophonGeorge HulmeRichard DawsonAga Khan III
1924PicaroonFrank BullockAlec Taylor Jr.Alexander Robb Cox
1925LexMichael BearyReg DayAbe Bailey
1926Call BoyCharlie ElliottJack WattsFrank Curzon
1927PharamondTommy WestonGeorge Lambton17th Earl of Derby
1928Costaki PashaMichael BearyRichard DawsonAga Khan III
1929Press GangFreddie FoxFred DarlingLord Woolavington
1930PortlawHarry BeasleyAtty PersseAbe Bailey
1931the Golden Hair coltR A JonesJoseph LawsonWashington Singer
1932FelicitationMichael BearyFrank ButtersAga Khan III
1933Medieval KnightGordon RichardsFred DarlingJohn Arthur Dewar
1934BahramFreddie FoxFrank ButtersAga Khan III
1935AbjerCharlie ElliottGeorge LambtonMarcel Boussac
1936Fair CopyDick PerrymanColledge Leader17th Earl of Derby
1937Scottish UnionGordon RichardsNoel CannonJames V. Rank
1938FoxbroughPatrick BeasleyCecil Boyd-RochfortWilliam Woodward Sr.
1939DjebelCharlie ElliottA SwannMarcel Boussac
1940[a]HyacinthusPatrick BeasleyAtty PersseA Bassett
1941Sun Chariot‡Harry WraggFred DarlingKing George VI
1942Ribbon‡Eph SmithJack Jarvis6th Earl of Rosebery
1943OrestesTommy CareyWalter NightingallDorothy Paget
1944DanteBilly NevettMatthew PeacockSir Eric Ohlson
1945KhaledGordon RichardsFrank ButtersAga Khan III
1946SaravanCharlie ElliottFrank ButtersAly Khan
1947The CobblerGordon RichardsFred DarlingGiles Loder
1948AbernantGordon RichardsNoel MurlessReginald Macdonald-Buchanan
1949Masked LightDoug SmithNorman ScobieE Wanless
1950Big DipperHarry CarrCecil Boyd-RochfortMrs J Brice
1951King's BenchCharlie ElliottMatthew FeakesA Thompsett
1952NearulaEdgar BrittCharles ElseyWilliam Humble
1953Royal ChallengerGordon RichardsPatrick BeasleyA Gordon
1954Our BabuDoug SmithGeoffrey BrookeDavid Robinson
1955Buisson ArdentDoug SmithAlec HeadAga Khan III
1956Pipe of PeaceScobie BreasleyGordon RichardsStavros Niarchos
1957Major PortionEph SmithTed LeaderJim Joel
1958MashamDoug SmithGeoffrey BrookeA Ellis
1959VentureGeorge MooreAlec HeadAly Khan
1960SkymasterScobie BreasleyBill Smyth16th Duke of Norfolk
1961GustavJimmy LindleyJeremy TreeJock Whitney
1962CrocketEph SmithGeoffrey BrookeD van Clief
1963ShowdownDoug SmithFred WinterMrs D Prenn
1964Spanish ExpressJoe MercerL HallMrs G Marcow
1965Track SpareJimmy LindleyRonald MasonRonald Mason
1966Bold Lad (IRE)D LakePaddy PrendergastLady Granard
1967PetingoLester PiggottSam ArmstrongMarcos Lemos
1968Right TackGeoff LewisJohn SutcliffeJ R Brown
1969HuntercombeErnie JohnsonArthur BudgettHorace Renshaw
1970Brigadier GerardJoe MercerDick HernJean Hislop
1971Sharpen UpWillie CarsonBernard van CutsemMimi van Cutsem
1972TudenhamJimmy LindleyDenys SmithLionel Brook Holliday
1973HabatPat EdderyPeter WalwynCarlo Vittadini
1974Steel HeartLester PiggottDermot WeldRavi Tikkoo
1975Hittite GloryFrankie DurrScobie BreasleyRavi Tikkoo
1976TachypousGeoff LewisBruce HobbsGeorge Cambanis
1977FormidablePat EdderyPeter WalwynPeter Goulandris1:11.20
1978JuniusLester PiggottVincent O'BrienSimon Fraser1:11.00
1979Known FactWillie CarsonJeremy TreeKhalid Abdullah1:13.30
1980MattaboyLester PiggottRobert ArmstrongRavi Tikkoo1:11.37
1981CajunLester PiggottHenry CecilJames Stone1:16.49
1982DiesisLester PiggottHenry CecilLord Howard de Walden1:13.36
1983Creag-An-SgorSteve CauthenCharlie NelsonMrs W. Tulloch1:13.24
1984BassenthwaitePat EdderyJeremy TreeStavros Niarchos1:13.58
1985StalkerJoe MercerPeter WalwynPaddy Fetherston-Godley1:12.12
1986Mister MajesticRay CochraneRobert WilliamsDavid Johnson1:13.75
1987Gallic LeagueSteve CauthenBarry HillsRobert Sangster1:13.95
1988Mon TresorMichael RobertsRon BossPam Fitsall1:12.27
1989Balla CoveSteve CauthenRon BossHarvey Cohen1:11.04
1990LyciusCash AsmussenAndré FabreSheikh Mohammed1:10.14
1991Rodrigo de TrianoWillie CarsonPeter Chapple-HyamRobert Sangster1:11.11
1992ZietenSteve CauthenAndré FabreSheikh Mohammed1:11.28
1993First TrumpMichael HillsGeoff WraggMollers Racing1:13.74
1994FardWillie CarsonDavid MorleyHamdan Al Maktoum1:11.36
1995Royal ApplauseWalter SwinburnBarry HillsMaktoum Al Maktoum1:11.14
1996Bahamian BountyFrankie DettoriDavid LoderMaktoum Al Maktoum1:11.95
1997HayilRichard HillsDavid MorleyHamdan Al Maktoum1:12.39
1998LujainFrankie DettoriDavid LoderSheikh Mohammed1:14.74
1999[b]Primo ValentinoPat EdderyPeter HarrisPrimo Donnas1:12.83
2000MinardiMichael KinaneAidan O'BrienTabor / Magnier1:12.75
2001JohannesburgMichael KinaneAidan O'BrienTabor / Magnier1:11.73
2002Oasis DreamJimmy FortuneJohn GosdenKhalid Abdullah1:09.61
2003Balmont [c]Pat EdderyJeremy NosedaSanford Robertson1:10.68
2004Ad ValoremJamie SpencerAidan O'BrienSue Magnier1:12.19
2005Amadeus WolfNeil CallanKevin RyanDuddy / McDonald1:12.36
2006Dutch ArtFrankie DettoriPeter Chapple-HyamSusan Roy1:14.07
2007Dark AngelMichael HillsBarry HillsCorbett / Wright1:12.08
2008BushrangerJohnny MurtaghDavid WachmanSmith / Magnier / Tabor1:09.56
2009AwzaanRichard HillsMark JohnstonHamdan Al Maktoum1:10.11
2010Dream AheadWilliam BuickDavid SimcockKhalifa Dasmal1:14.28
2011CrusadeSeamie HeffernanAidan O'BrienTabor / Smith / Magnier1:10.75
2012Reckless AbandonGérald MosséClive CoxDeadman / Barrow1:11.06
2013AstaireNeil CallanKevin RyanAngie Bailey1:12.33
2014Charming ThoughtWilliam BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1:13.01
2015ShalaaFrankie DettoriJohn GosdenAl Shaqab Racing1:11.92
2016The Last LionJoe FanningMark JohnstonJohn Brown & Megan Dennis1:12.13
2017U S Navy FlagSeamie HeffernanAidan O'BrienTabor / Smith / Magnier1:12.44
2018Ten SovereignsDonnacha O'BrienAidan O'BrienSmith / Magnier / Tabor1:10.04
2019EarthlightMickael BarzalonaAndré FabreGodolphin1:09.31
2020SupremacyAdam KirbyClive CoxJason Goddard1:09.73
2021Perfect PowerChristophe SoumillonRichard FaheySheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum1:11.32
2022BlackbeardRyan MooreAidan O'BrienDerrick Smith, Magnier, Tabor & Westerberg1:12.02

Middle Park Stakes Previous Result

Top Trainers and Jockeys in the Middle Park Stakes

Aidan O’Brien is now the most successful trainer in the history of the race with six winners. He first struck with Minardi (2000) and followed up with Johannesburg (2001) and Ad Valorem (2004). Crusade (2011), U S Navy Flag (2017) and Ten Sovereigns (2018) were his other winners.

The record for leading jockey in the race is currently shared by Danny Maher, Sir Gordon Richards and Lester Piggott who each have six victories.

Frankie Dettori has ridden the winner on four occasions; Bahamian Bounty (1996), Lujain (1998), Dutch Art (2006) and Shalaa (2015).

One surprising stat, given the success of Aidan O’Brien, is that Ryan Moore is yet to win the Middle Park after eleven rides in the race.

Betting on the Middle Park Stakes

The Middle Park Stakes is not a big ante-post betting race and does not really take shape until after the Prix Morny.

Recent trends suggest this is almost an automatic choice for the winner of that race. There have been plenty of upsets so don’t be afraid to go in for an each-way bet at long odds if you fancy an outsider.

U S Navy Flag (2017) went on to win the Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs on his next start and finished second in the Irish 2000 Guineas in 2018.

Ten Sovereigns (2018) went straight to the 2000 Guineas the following season where he finished fifth. The recent trends do not support the Middle Park Stakes as a Classic trial so the form should be treated with caution in that regard.

If you are looking to place read our betting websites reviews.

Popular Questions

How Can I Watch The Middle Park Stakes Race?

The best places to watch the Middle Park Stakes Race are:

If you are abroad and want to watch the race take a look at our guide on what channel to watch the horse racing events.

With ITV Racing featuring the Newmarket races, the Middle Park Stakes Race will be watched by millions live on television.

What Are the Important Facts About The Middle Park Stakes Race?

Here are interesting facts about The Middle Park Stakes Race:

  • The Middle Park Stakes is run at Newmarket Racecourse, England
  • The Middle Park Stakes is for horses aged 2
  • The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 horse race in Great Britain
  • The Middle Park Stakes distance is 6 furlongs
  • The Middle Park Stakes is held on the third day of Newmarket’s three-day Cambridgeshire Meeting
  • The Middle Park Stakes is run on the same day as the Cambrdgeshire Handicap

Summary of the Middle Park Stakes

The Middle Park Stakes sits more happily at the Cambridgeshire meeting after reverting from its brief time as part of Future Champions’ Day.

History shows this race to be much more about Group 1 sprinters than Classic contenders in the modern era and it continues to be won by some classy colts.

It is often a very informative race and is won by a high-class horse.

Resources

2023 Cambridgeshire Meeting Posts

Here are all the related articles to the Newmarket Cambridgeshire Meeting 2023:

If you do choose to bet, please bet responsibly.

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