December 10, 2020

The Villiers Stakes has been part of the racing programme since 1892, won at this first outing by the aptly named Two Up.

Over the famous Randwick mile, a win in the Villiers earns the winner immediate entry into the Doncaster Handicap in autumn, though few have completed the double.

Wedding Day in 1916/1917 was the last to manage it. Soho Square managed the two in the same year (1992). Happy Clapper had won the 2015 Villiers but didn’t win the Doncaster until 2018.

Apprentices have had their share of wins in the Villiers. Peter Cook won on Sir To Me in 1969, following in his father’s footsteps who had won in 1953 on Raconteur. Cook also won in 1980 as a full jockey.

J. Duggan had two wins as an apprentice, 1970 on Silver Points (NZ) and 1972 on Tumberlua, though he didn’t win one as a full jockey. More recently Brenton Avdulla succeeded on Dances On Waves in 2010 as an apprentice and then once he reached senior jockey status, won on Happy Clapper in 2015.

Find out more about the history and heritage of the Australian Turf Club

Image: Wedding Day winning at Randwick, 1919, unknown photographer