Lexus Stakes


The Hotham Handicap, raced as the Lexus Archer Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, held under quality handicap conditions, over a distance of 2500 metres, held annually at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Makybe Diva Stakes Day. Total prize money for the race is A$300,000.

History

Historically the race has been a traditional lead-up for the Melbourne Cup three days later, with the winner gaining exemption from any ballot for entry to the Cup.
As a "Quality Race", the weights are assigned as in a handicap, but with a maximum weight of 60 kg and a minimum weight of 52 kg.
The race is also famous due to a triple dead-heat in 1956 involving Fighting Force, Ark Royal and Pandie Sun.
From 2024, the VRC moved the race from Victoria Derby day to Makybe Diva Stakes day in September.

Name

  • 1869-1978 - Hotham Handicap
  • 1979-1993 - The Dalgety
  • 1994-1995 - Crown Quality
  • 1996 - Ten News Stakes
  • 1997 - Lean Cuisine Quality
  • 1998-2008 - Saab Quality
  • 2009-2018 - Lexus Stakes
  • 2019-2021 - Lexus Hotham Stakes
  • 2022-present - Lexus Archer Stakes

    Distance

  • 1869-1971 - 1 miles
  • 1972 onwards - 2500 metres

    Grade

  • 1869-1978 - Principal Race
  • 1979-1980 - Group 3
  • 1981-2003 - Group 2
  • 2004 onwards - Group 3

    Doubles wins

The following thoroughbreds have won the Hotham Handicap - Melbourne Cup in the same year.
Shocking, Brew, Think Big, Baystone, Foxzami, Sirius, Dark Felt, White Nose, King Ingoda and Nimblefoot.

1953 and 1954 racebooks

Winners

  • 2024 - Point King
  • 2023 - Kalapour
  • 2022 - Surefire
  • 2021 - Great House
  • 2020 - Ashrun
  • 2019 - Downdraft
  • 2018 - Prince Of Arran
  • 2017 - Cismontane
  • 2016 - Oceanographer
  • 2015 - Excess Knowledge
  • 2014 - Signoff
  • 2013 - Ruscello
  • 2012 - Kelinni
  • 2011 - Niwot
  • 2010 - Maluckyday
  • 2009 - Shocking
  • 2008 - Moatize
  • 2007 - Sculptor
  • 2006 - Maybe Better
  • 2005 - Strasbourg
  • 2004 - Don Raphael
  • 2003 - Big Pat
  • 2002 - Requiem
  • 2001 - Maythehorsebewithu
  • 2000 - Brew
  • 1999 - The Warrior
  • 1998 - Star Binder
  • 1997 - Backslapper
  • 1996 - Few Are Chosen
  • 1995 - Coachwood
  • 1994 - Pindi
  • 1993 - Tennessee Jack
  • 1992 - Big Barron
  • 1991 - Rasheek
  • 1990 - Mount Olympus
  • 1989 - Coshking
  • 1988 - Copatonic
  • 1987 - Scarvila
  • 1986 - Sea Legend
  • 1985 - Silver Award
  • 1984 - Chagemar
  • 1983 - Chagemar
  • 1982 - Allez Bijou
  • 1981 - Mr. Cromwell
  • 1980 - Bohemian Grove
  • 1979 - Karu
  • 1978 - Jury
  • 1977 - Major Till
  • 1976 - Reckless
  • 1975 - Suleiman
  • 1974 - Think Big
  • 1973 - Daneson
  • 1972 - Scotch And Dry
  • 1971 - Not Again
  • 1970 - Sudani
  • 1969 - Tails
  • 1968 - Raad
  • 1967 - Midlander
  • 1966 - Aveniam
  • 1965 - Sail Away
  • 1964 - Celero
  • 1963 - River Seine
  • 1962 - Le Storm
  • 1961 - Oreka
  • 1960 - Nilarco
  • 1959 - Grand Garry
  • 1958 - Baystone
  • 1957 - Baron Boissier
  • 1956 - † Fighting Force / Ark Royal / Pandie Sun
  • 1955 - Better Boy
  • 1954 - Plato
  • 1953 - My Hero
  • 1952 - Morse Code
  • 1951 - Glenvue
  • 1950 - Thracian Lad
  • 1949 - Foxzami
  • 1948 - Howe
  • 1947 - Dark Marne
  • 1946 - Chaytor
  • 1945 - Arduli
  • 1944 - Sirius
  • 1943 - Dark Felt
  • 1942 - Dark Felt
  • 1941 - Son Of Aurous
  • 1940 - Dashing Cavalier
  • 1939 - Catalogue
  • 1938 - Spear Chief
  • 1937 - Frill Prince
  • 1936 - Balkan Prince
  • 1935 - Sarcherie
  • 1934 - Panto
  • 1933 - Pretzel
  • 1932 - Roc
  • 1931 - White Nose
  • 1930 - Cimbrian
  • 1929 - Shadow King
  • 1928 - Epilogue
  • 1927 - † Eridanus / Bicolor
  • 1926 - Beedos
  • 1925 - King Of Mirth
  • 1924 - Lilypond
  • 1923 - Englefield
  • 1922 - King Ingoda
  • 1921 - Wirriway
  • 1920 - Luteplayer
  • 1919 - Sea Bound
  • 1918 - Court Jester
  • 1917 - Lingle
  • 1916 - Dame Quickly
  • 1915 - Hush Money
  • 1914 - Uncle Matt
  • 1913 - Gladwyn
  • 1912 - Lord Alwyne
  • 1911 - Prizefighter
  • 1910 - Flavian
  • 1909 - Footpad
  • 1908 - Moani
  • 1907 - Tulkeroo
  • 1906 - Invergordon
  • 1905 - Demas
  • 1904 - Elvo
  • 1903 - Martyr
  • 1902 - Sojourner
  • 1901 - Ohio
  • 1900 - War God
  • 1899 - Miss Carbine
  • 1898 - Plutus
  • 1897 - Metford
  • 1896 - Mischief
  • 1895 - The Trier
  • 1894 - Foxtail
  • 1893 - Straightfire
  • 1892 - Hopetoun
  • 1891 - Pigeontoe
  • 1890 - Grey Gown
  • 1889 - Meteor
  • 1888 - Mara
  • 1887 - The Levite
  • 1886 - Claptrap
  • 1885 - Lesbia
  • 1884 - Favo
  • 1883 - Wallangra
  • 1882 - Odd Trick
  • 1881 - Saunterer
  • 1880 - Wellington
  • 1879 - Trump Yoss
  • 1878 - Levant
  • 1877 - The Vagabond
  • 1876 - Troy
  • 1875 - Kinchrachrie
  • 1874 - Newbold
  • 1873 - Imperial
  • 1872 - Early Morn
  • 1871 - Saladin
  • 1870 - Nimblefoot
  • 1869 - Aurora
† Dead heat