GILGAI STAKES
BY ANDREW LEMON
G ilgai Farm at Nagambie is synonymous with the unbeaten champion Black Caviar and with the man who bred her, Rick Jamieson, founder of the very successful business Harry The Hirer. Black Caviar, foaled in August 2006, was among the first crop from Gilgai Farm to be sold as yearlings, and she famously won all of her 25 starts including the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. She won eight times at famous Flemington including the Lighting Stakes three times (now named for her) and the Newmarket Handicap. After Black Caviar, Gilgai Stud could proudly claim a succession of top thoroughbreds including the champion’s half brother All Too Hard (4 Group 1 wins), Jameka who won the VRC Oaks and Caulfield Cup, and The Quarterback, the 2016 VRC Newmarket winner and recent Group one winner, Ole Kirk, a close relation to both Black Caviar and All Too Hard. This race was first staged on Turnbull Stakes Day in 1984 as the Rupert Steele Stakes over 1200m at weight- for-age, won by Royal Troubador. It honoured the former VRC Chairman 1977-72, who served 27 years on the committee. It became the Gilgai Farm Stakes in 1999, the Gilgai Stakes from 2000, Group 2 since 2007. Among the stars on the winning list are Placid Arc, Bomber Bill, Hay List and Chautauqua (twice).
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