Mimi’s Award prevails in the Flemington Cup
Victoria’s leading jockey for the 2022-23 season Daniel Stackhouse said it was a big thrill to win the race named in honour of Deane Lester at Flemington.
Set to be named Victoria’s leading jockey at season’s end, Stackhouse guided the Ben and Jd Hayes-trained to victory in the Deane Lester Flemington Cup (2800m) on Saturday.
Lester, a leading form analyst in Victoria who died earlier in the year, was instrumental in the resurrection of the Flemington Cup back in 2020.
“It’s a big thrill and a big honour to win this race named after Deane,” Stackhouse said.
“He was a big part of racing and I’m just so happy to have won this race.”
Proving the more solid stayer, Mimi’s Award ($4.40) got the better of the $2 favourite Mostly Cloudy to score by a long head with Savvy Valentino ($61) a further four lengths away third.
Stackhouse said the race worked out perfectly as he followed Jye McNeil aboard the favourite.
“She switches off and gets into a beautiful rhythm,” Stackhouse said.
“The tempo was a lot stronger than I thought it might have been and I just stalked Jye the whole way. He gave me a good cart into it, and I knew what I had underneath me.
“She’s such a good little stayer and tries her heart out. She got her head in front and held them off the whole way.”
A five-year-old daughter of Shamus Award, Mimi’s Award has improved with age.
Mimi’s Award has now won three of her past four starts over a staying trip, with those victories all coming at Flemington.
Prior to Saturday’s win, Mimi’s Award had scored in the Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m) on July 1.
Stackhouse said the Lindsay Park-trained mare was capable of winning in a better grade than the company she was opposed to on Saturday.
“The biggest attribute of her is she is a good stayer,” Stackhouse said.
“Unfortunately, in Australia we don’t have a lot of quality stayers, but if they (Lindsay Park) can find the right race for her, she might be competitive in one of those little races.”
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...