Geoffrey Freer Stakes

The Geoffrey Freer Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs and 61 yards (2,671 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.

"Oxfordshire Stakes" redirects here. For the greyhound race, see Oxfordshire Stakes (greyhounds).

Geoffrey Freer Stakes
Group 3 race
LocationNewbury Racecourse
Newbury, England
Inaugurated1949
Race typeFlat
SponsorIrish Thoroughbred Marketing
WebsiteNewbury
Race information
Distance1m 5f 61y (2,671 m)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and up
Weight8 st 10 lb (3yo);
9 st 5 lb (4yo+)
Allowances
3 lb for fillies and mares
Penalties
7 lb for Group 1 winners *
5 lb for Group 2 winners *
3 lb for Group 3 winners *
*after 2017
Purse£60,000 (2018)
1st: £34,026
Geoffrey Freer Stakes
2019
Technician Morando Durston

History

The event was established in 1949, and it was originally called the Oxfordshire Stakes. It was founded by Geoffrey Freer, a Jockey Club handicapper who served as the manager of Newbury Racecourse. The venue had been used as an American military supply depot during World War II, and Freer restored the course in the post-war period. The race was renamed in his honour in 1969, the year after his death.

For a period the Geoffrey Freer Stakes was classed at Group 2 level. It was relegated to its current status, Group 3, in 2006.

The leading three-year-olds from the race sometimes go on to compete in the following month's St. Leger Stakes.

Records

Most successful horse (3 wins):

  • Mubtaker – 2002, 2003, 2004

Leading jockey (4 wins):

  • Lester Piggott – Court Command (1956), Valinsky (1977), Ardross (1981, 1982)
  • Pat Eddery – Realistic (1974), Consol (1975), Moon Madness (1987), Silver Patriarch (1999)
  • Frankie Dettori – Charmer (1990), Drum Taps (1991), Phantom Gold (1996), Kite Wood (2009)

Leading trainer (5 wins):

  • Noel Murless – Ridge Wood (1949), Court Command (1956), Hopeful Venture (1967), Rangong (1969), Attica Meli (1973)

Winners since 1979
Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Time
1979 Niniski 3 Willie Carson Dick Hern 2:53.35
1980 Nicholas Bill 5 Philip Waldron Henry Candy 3:01.60
1981 Ardross 5 Lester Piggott Henry Cecil 3:04.40
1982 Ardross 6 Lester Piggott Henry Cecil 2:54.20
1983 Khairpour 4 John Reid Fulke Johnson Houghton 2:52.60
1984 Baynoun 3 Steve Cauthen Fulke Johnson Houghton 2:55.60
1985 Shernazar 4 Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute
1986 Bakharoff 3 Willie Carson Guy Harwood 2:50.82
1987 Moon Madness 4 Pat Eddery John Dunlop 2:47.16
1988 Top Class 3 Michael Roberts Clive Brittain 2:54.57
1989 Ibn Bey 5 Richard Quinn Paul Cole 2:50.62
1990 Charmer 5 Frankie Dettori Clive Brittain 2:55.24
1991 Drum Taps 5 Frankie Dettori Lord Huntingdon 2:45.16
1992 Shambo 5 Michael Roberts Clive Brittain 3:01.98
1993 Azzilfi 3 Willie Carson John Dunlop 2:56.75
1994 Red Route 3 Willie Ryan Henry Cecil 2:50.38
1995 Presenting 3 John Reid John Gosden 2:47.43
1996 Phantom Gold 4 Frankie Dettori Lord Huntingdon 2:46.18
1997 Dushyantor 4 Kieren Fallon Henry Cecil 2:55.33
1998 Multicoloured 5 Willie Ryan Sir Michael Stoute 2:49.61
1999 Silver Patriarch 5 Pat Eddery John Dunlop 2:50.62
2000 Murghem 5 Darryll Holland Mark Johnston 2:50.24
2001 Mr Combustible 3 Michael Hills Barry Hills 2:46.36
2002 Mubtaker 5 Richard Hills Marcus Tregoning 2:45.46
2003 Mubtaker 6 Richard Hills Marcus Tregoning 2:47.76
2004 Mubtaker 7 Richard Hills Marcus Tregoning 2:50.69
2005 Lochbuie 4 John Egan Geoff Wragg 2:51.97
2006 Admiral's Cruise 4 Ryan Moore Brian Meehan 2:52.42
2007 Papal Bull 4 Ryan Moore Sir Michael Stoute 2:53.89
2008 Sixties Icon 5 Johnny Murtagh Jeremy Noseda 2:51.55
2009 Kite Wood 3 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor 2:48.87
2010 Sans Frontieres 4 Johnny Murtagh Jeremy Noseda 2:52.22
2011 Census 3 Richard Hughes Richard Hannon Sr. 2:48.46
2012 Mount Athos 5 Ryan Moore Luca Cumani 2:49.20
2013 Royal Empire 4 Kieren Fallon Saeed bin Suroor 2:50.43
2014 Seismos 6 Martin Harley Marco Botti 2:54.77
2015 Agent Murphy 4 Jimmy Fortune Brian Meehan 2:54.39
2016 Kings Fete 5 Pat Smullen Sir Michael Stoute 2:52.97
2017 Defoe 3 Andrea Atzeni Roger Varian 2:51.50
2018 Hamada 4 James Doyle Charlie Appleby 2:51.63
2019 Technician 3 Rob Hornby Martyn Meade 2:55.70

Earlier winners
  • 1949: Ridge Wood
  • 1950: Tilloy
  • 1951: Le Sage
  • 1952: Westinform
  • 1953: Harwin
  • 1954: Umberto
  • 1955: True Cavalier
  • 1956: Court Command
  • 1957: Court Harwell
  • 1958: Owen Glendower
  • 1959: Kalydon
  • 1960: High Hat
  • 1961: Sagacity
  • 1962: Sovrango
  • 1963: Sovrango
  • 1964: Sunseeker
  • 1965: Court Gift
  • 1966: Charlottown
  • 1967: Hopeful Venture
  • 1968: Levmoss
  • 1969: Rangong
  • 1970: High Line
  • 1971: High Line
  • 1972: Sol'Argent
  • 1973: Attica Meli
  • 1974: Realistic
  • 1975: Consol
  • 1976: Swell Fellow
  • 1977: Valinsky
  • 1978: Ile de Bourbon

See also

References
  • Racing Post:
  • galopp-sieger.de – Geoffrey Freer Stakes (ex Oxfordshire Stakes).
  • horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2018).
  • pedigreequery.com – Geoffrey Freer Stakes – Newbury.
  • Abelson, Edward; John Tyrrel (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. pp. 147–148. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.
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