Platinum Stakes 2023 Betting Guide and Big Race Preview
Compared to most races we cover here at the LeoVegas blog, this is quite a new one, having been run for the first time in 1997. As opposed to some others that have been run on an annual basis for 100 or 150 years.
It’s run at Cork, it’s a listed flat race and is run over 1609 metres. It’s open to thoroughbreds aged three or older.
It takes place every year during August and in 2023 will be run at 17:20 on August 18.
The prize money in 2023 is as follows:
1st: €25,500.00
2nd: €8,500.00
3rd: €4,250.00
4th: €2,126.00
5th: €1,275.00
6th: €850.00
Winning horses
Here’s a real novelty for a race of considerable importance: it’s never been won more than once by the same horse.
That can sometimes happen with races where the allowed age is very specific. For example, some races are only open to horses who are two or three meaning that for the most part, a particular horse only enters the race once, or maximum, twice.
But that’s not the case here with any horse aged three or older able to be entered.
Admittedly the fact that there have only been 25 editions of the race also contributes to the anomaly of no horse ever being a multiple winner in it.
And not only that but there have also been very few instances of a horse being placed more than once! Or winning and being placed.
But here are a few examples of that which happened since 2010:
Flight Risk- Won in 2019; runner-up in 2016.
Rose de Pierre- Winner in 2016; runner-up in 2017.
Akira- Runner-up in 2013; third place in 2014.
Most successful trainers
Only one place to start and finish when it comes trainers enjoying success in this race: John Oxx.
The now-retired Irish trainer was in charge of the winner in three consecutive years: 2002, 2003 and 2004. He missed out in 2005 but was back training the winner in 2006 and then again in 2011 and 2012 where Akeed Mofeed was the last of his six winners in this race.
Other trainers to have won it more than once are:
- Dermot Weld (4 times).
- David Wachman (3)
- Jessica Harrington (2)
- Jim Bolger (2)
- Aidan O’Brien (2)
- Ger Lyons (2)
Most successful Jockeys
Unlike with the trainers, there’s no jockey out on his own when it comes to the number of wins.
All of Michael Kinane, Niall McCullagh and Pat Smullen have won it on three separate occasions.
The 2023 Platinum Stakes
The 2022 edition was always likely to be a straight showdown between the two favourites: the British-trained Mutasarref and the American-based Cigamia, whose starting prices were 6/5 and 6/4 respectively.
And so, it proved in terms of finishing places with those two finishing first and second.
But in truth, it ended up being considerably easier for the outright favourite Mutasarref than some may have thought.
It led with 1 furlong to go and if anything, increased its lead over the last few yards with no real threat to its victory at all.
Cigamia justified its pre-race status as second favourite, maintaining its pace over the final furlong to beat San Andreas but like we said, never really looked like winning.
Platinum Stakes 2023 List of Runners
Tarawa
Cosmic Vega
Carrytheone
Mauiewowie
Hodds Girl
Bells on her Toes
Clever and Cool
Honey Sweet
Not even Close
2023 Platinum Stakes latest odds
The favourite
Tarawa- Around 1.5
Jockey: Chris Hayes
Trainer: Dermot Weld
As we’ve been saying over the past few weeks in our previews of the biggest Irish races, this has been a year for the favourites with the well-fancied horses justifying their short odds in what hasn’t been a season for many big upsets so far.
Last year the favourite Mutasarref won, and it may take a big effort to stop this year’s odds-on favourite Tarawa from doing the same.
Its only win in six came almost a year ago but it’s been pretty consistent since with three places in its last four outings, including a good third place in a competitive race at Leopardstown 22 days ago, where it showed decent speed down the stretch.
She’s down in grade for this one and may just be a class above the rest. A further positive is that she’s trained by Dermot Weld, who as we’ve seen, has trained the winner on four occasions. It’s a short enough price but that’s for a reason.
Biggest challenger
Mauiewowie- Around 9.0
Trainer: GM Lyons
Jockey: Colin Keane
Mauiewowie is around the 9.0 mark as third favourite and if the outright favourite isn’t for you, this one could be a good alternative.
In six races on the flat it’s won twice and finished as runner-up twice so has certainly impressed with its consistency. It hasn’t been in the best form of late, finishing seventh and fourth respectively which may help explain its big odds. But those were tough races against some better horses that it may be up against here, the favourite aside, so a big run could be on the cards.
It’s worth remembering the Ger Lyons (trainer) and Colin Keane (jockey) were a winning combination when Mutasarref won last year so that could be a further good omen.