The Sun Chariot Stakes is the feature race of Sun Chariot day at Newmarket Racecourse each October.
A race that always attracts a strong field despite often clashing with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting in France. Open exclusively to fillies and mares aged three years or older, horses from across the United Kingdom, Ireland and France regularly make the trip to Newmarket for the big race.
2023 Sun Chariot Stakes Odds
No odds are currently available for the 2021 Sun Chariot Stakes.
2023 Sun Chariot Stakes Tips
Once the final field is confirmed, we'll have our 2021 Sun Chariot Stakes tips live on the website.
2022 Sun Chariot Stakes Result
Position
Name
SP
1st
Fonteyn
16/1
2nd
Laurel
9/1
3rd
Grand Dame
14/1
Sun Chariot Stakes History
Named after Sun Chariot, the winner of the fillies’ Triple Crown back in 1942, the Sun Chariot Stakes is a race that has been drenched in racing history over the last 50 years and more.
Established in 1966, it was a race that was originally contested by three-year-old fillies and run over the extended trip of one mile and two furlongs.
Under those conditions it was enhanced to Group Two status in 1971 and was then opened to older horses in 1974. Fast forward a few years and at the turn of the Millennium, the Sun Chariot Stakes was cut back to be a one mile event and four years later was promoted to Group One level.
The first older horse to win the Sun Chariot Stakes was Free Guest, who successfully retained the title she'd won as a three-year-old in 1984.
Sahpresa followed in Free Guest's footsteps by retaining her crown in 2010. The following year, Rod Collet's French raider became the first and only three-time winner of the Sun Chariot Stakes.
Many famous fillies have won the Sun Chariot during it's illustrious history. Time Charter won this Group One in 1982, before going on to score in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
Attraction ended her Classic-winning campaign in 2004 by winning the Sun Chariot Stakes. Sky Lantern also won this race in the same season as her victory in the 2013 1000 Guineas.
Aidan O'Brien trained back-to-back winners of this race in 2016 and '17, with Alice Springs and Roly Poly coming out on top.
2018 saw fan's favourite Laurens win the Sun Chariot Stakes. In 2019, Richard Hannon was celebrating, as his former Guineas winner Billesdon Brook scored a surprise win.
Nazeef came out on top in the 2020 Sun Chariot Stakes, defeating French raider Half Light in impressive fashion.
Sun Chariot Stakes Form Guide
Eight of the last twelve winners of the Sun Chariot Stakes were from the top three in the betting and three of the last four winners were the starting price market leader.
That makes this a race for the favourite backers and punters can be rewarded by sticking with the top end of the market.
Laurens was a well backed winner at 11/4 in 2018 and the same goes for Alice Springs at 13/8 back in 2016.
In fact, there hasn’t been a winner of this race at odds bigger than 4/1 since Siyouma clinched success for France in 2012 at 12/1.
However, for those that like to do more than just follow the betting market, course form at Newmarket is a big plus for runners in the Sun Chariot.
Ten of the last twelve winners have had a least one run at Newmarket, and eight of those have had a winning appearance at HQ.
The Matron Stakes at Leopardstown can often be a decent guide to the winner of this race without being brilliant.
Four of the last twelve winners had also won the Matron Stakes before landing the Sun Chariot, so that is worth baring in mind if you’re doing your homework.
