Sun Chariot Stakes betting
The Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes is restricted to fillies and mares aged three years and upwards. It was first run in 1966 and takes place at Newmarket in early October. Horses prominent in the Sun Chariot Stakes betting have dominated in recent years.
It was originally contested over 10 furlongs, but was reduced to a mile in 2000 and was given Group 1 status four years’ later. Sahpresa recorded a record third successive victory in 2011 while other notable winners include Time Charter (1982), Indian Skimmer (1988) and Attraction (2004).
Sun Chariot Stakes betting tips
Most winners had raced within the previous month, although not necessarily winning. A previous victory at Newmarket is a definite plus when assessing your Sun Chariot Stakes tips. Winning form over a mile in the same season is another common feature as is an official rating of 108 or higher.
Almost all previous winners in recent times had Group winning form, often in the highest class. This race comes late in the year so it is quite common for the winner to have raced four times or more during the season.
As well as the three victories of Sahpresa, France also won the Sun Chariot Stakes with Siyouma (2012) and Esoterique (2015). Ryan Moore has enjoyed plenty of success in this race in recent years, winning aboard Integral (2014), Alice Springs (2016) and Roly Poly (2017).
Sun Chariot Stakes betting trends
The first two in the betting have a fine record in this race in recent seasons. Sahpresa (2011), Sky Lantern (2013), Esoterique (2015) and Alice Springs (2016) all featured in plenty of Sun Chariot Stakes bets.
Only Siyouma (2012) prevented a run of nine straight races going to the first or second favourite when winning at 12-1.
Three-year-olds have a good recent record in this race. Alice Springs (2016), Roly Poly (2017) and Laurens (2018) were all regularly involved in the top three-year-old races before winning the Sun Chariot Stakes.
Sahpresa (2009 – 2011) is the only horse to win the Sun Chariot Stakes three times and became the oldest winner at the age of six.
She was trained in France by Rod Collet and defeated 1000 Guineas winner Ghanaati at odds of 16-1 in 2009. Sahpresa was a popular Sun Chariot Stakes tip by the time she completed the hat-trick at 13-8 favourite in 2011.
Sun Chariot Stakes ante-post betting pointers
A useful Sun Chariot Stakes tip is to study the form of the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. Fillies that ran in the fillies’ Classics and Coronation Stakes do well here. Alice Springs was placed in the 1000 Guineas and at Royal Ascot in 2016 and won the Matron Stakes on her previous start.
Roly Poly was runner-up in the Coronation Stakes in 2017 and ran in the Matron Stakes before coming to Newmarket. Laurens followed much the same path in 2018, defeating the Coronation Stakes winner Alpha Centauri in the Matron Stakes.
Sky Lantern won the 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes in 2013. She didn’t stay in the Nassau Stakes next time but beat Integral in the Sun Chariot Stakes.
Attraction (2004) also won the Guineas and Coronation Stakes on her way to winning here. The Prix Rothschild at Deauville is another race likely to have an impact on the Sun Chariot Stakes ante-post betting.
Sun Chariot Stakes winners have tackled a variety of top International races on their next start. Siyouma won the EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine while Sahpresa was placed twice in the Mile Championship at Kyoto.
Others have travelled to the Breeders’ Cup Mile or the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot but with little success. Check William Hill promotions for the latest special offers, price boosts and Sun Chariot Stakes odds.
Sun Chariot Stakes history and memorable winners
The Sun Chariot Stakes is named after the winner of the Fillies’ Triple Crown in 1942. The 1000 Guineas, Oaks and St Leger were all staged at Newmarket that year due to World War II. The inaugural Sun Chariot Stakes was won by Lucaya in 1966.
Time Charter won the Sun Chariot Stakes in 1982 having already won the Oaks. After winning here, she won the Champion Stakes by a record margin of seven lengths. The following season Cormorant Wood completed the same big race double at Newmarket.
Indian Skimmer was a very popular Sun Chariot Stakes bet when winning in 1988, a grey filly trained by Sir Henry Cecil. She went on to win the British Champion Stakes and the Irish Champion Stakes. Cecil had won this race for the first time with Home on the Range in 1981.
The leading trainer in the history of the race is Luca Cumani who was successful six times. The first two of his victories came with Free Guest in consecutive seasons in 1984 and 1985. His other winners were Infamy (1987), Red Slippers (1992), One So Wonderful (1997) and Kissogram (1998).
Sir Michael Stoute won with Triple First (1977), Kartajana (1990), Peeress (2005) and Integral (2014). Lester Piggott is the leading jockey in the history of the race with six winners, including four successive wins between 1978 and 1981.
