The Ajax Stakes is a Group 2 race run over 1500m at Rosehill Gardens on Coolmore Classic Day as a lead-up to the Doncaster Mile.
2025 Ajax Stakes Results
- 1st: #2 Iowna Merc
- 2nd: #9 Willaidow
- 3rd: #14 West Of Africa
Ajax Stakes News
The Ajax Stakes is a 1500m quality handicap clash run during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. The minimum weight is 52kg, while some horses may have to carry up to 61kg. Held at Sydney’s Rosehill Racecourse in March on Coolmore Classic Day the Ajax Stakes offers $300,000 in prize money.
2025 Ajax Stakes Results
- 1st: #2 Iowna Merc ($11)
- 2nd: #9 Willaidow
- 3rd: #14 West Of Africa
Bjorn Baker‘s last start Group 3 Liverpool City Cup winning five-year-old Iowna Merc ($11) dug deep late to come off an on-speed run with Josh Parr getting every inch out of the in-for gelding to run down and narrowly deny Willaidow victory in an exciting 2025 Ajax Stakes result.
Ajax Stakes 2025 Odds & Results
Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stakes (G2)
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
2. Iowna Merc (2) J: Josh Parr 57.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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2nd
9. Willaidow (10) J: Zac Lloyd 54kg
T: Marc Conners |
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3rd
14. West Of Africa (9) J: Tyler Schiller 53kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
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|
4th
1. Pericles (8) J: James McDonald 59kg
T: James Cummings |
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|
5th
11. Ducasse (1) J: Tim Clark 53kg
T: Michael Freedman |
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|
6th
8. New Endeavour (5) J: Rachel King 54.5kg
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
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|
7th
7. Hezashocka (4) J: Chad Schofield 54.5kg
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
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|
8th
4. Freedom Rally (12) J: Tommy Berry 56.5kg
T: Tony Gollan |
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|
9th
3. Just Fine (3) J: Regan Bayliss 57kg
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
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10th
6. Rediener (6) J: Jason Collett 56kg
T: Chris Waller |
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|
11th
10. Von Hauke (7) J: Bailey Wheeler 54kg
T: Cliff Brown |
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|
12th
5. New Energy (11) J: Kerrin McEvoy 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
Data retrieved: 16/05/2025 06:55:38 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
The Group 2 Ajax Stakes is considered a lead-up event to the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) held on the first Saturday in April on Day 1 of Royal Randwick’s ‘The Championships’. The last horse to win the Ajax Stakes – Doncaster Mile double was It’s Somewhat (2017).
Horses may come into the Ajax Stakes field via a number of different lead-up runs including the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) in late February or the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (Chipping Norton Stakes) (1600m) at the same meeting.
As well as the Doncaster Mile another Group 1 autumn target for horses out of the Ajax Stakes is the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) held a week earlier.
The form of the 2021 Ajax Stakes was franked with the runner-up Think It Over winning the George Ryder Stakes next-up before a fourth in that autumn’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes results and outstanding spring campaign in Sydney.
The 2022 Ajax Stakes form held when the runner-up Ellsberg went on to run third in that autumn’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes results before a spring return where he won the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) as well as the Five Diamond Prelude – Five Diamonds double.
In 2023 the Ajax Stakes winner Cepheus franked the form in the spring winning the Group 2 Shannon Stakes and $1.5 million Alan Brown before a second in the Big Dance race on Melbourne Cup Day in Sydney.
The Ajax Stakes 2025 ran on Saturday March 15, 2025 at Rosehill Gardens as a Doncaster Mile lead-up and was won in a narrow but convincing performance by the Bjorn Baker trained Winning Rupert five-year-old Iowna Merc ($11).
| 2025 Ajax Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday March 15, 2025 |
| Track: | Rosehill Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1500m |
| Race Type: | Quality Handicap (Low: 52kg – High: 61kg) |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prize Money: | $300,000 |
2025 Ajax Stakes Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | IOWNA MERC | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 2 | 57.5kg | $11 | |||
| 2 | 9 | WILLAIDOW | Marc Conners | Zac Lloyd | 0.05L | 10 | 54kg | $7.50 | ||
| 3 | 14 | WEST OF AFRICA | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Tyler Schiller | 1.98L | 9 | 53kg | $11 | ||
| 4 | 1 | PERICLES | James Cummings | James McDonald | 2.47L | 8 | 59kg | $3.90 | ||
| 5 | 11 | DUCASSE | Michael Freedman | Tim Clark | 2.64L | 1 | 53kg | $3.20F | ||
| 6 | 8 | NEW ENDEAVOUR (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Ms Rachel King | 2.66L | 5 | 54.5kg | $21 | ||
| 7 | 7 | HEZASHOCKA (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Chad Schofield | 4.34L | 4 | 54.5kg (cd 55kg) | $101 | ||
| 8 | 4 | FREEDOM RALLY | Tony Gollan | Tommy Berry | 4.36L | 12 | 56.5kg | $12 | ||
| 9 | 3 | JUST FINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Regan Bayliss | 4.4L | 3 | 57kg | $61 | ||
| 10 | 6 | REDIENER | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 5.55L | 6 | 56kg | $17 | ||
| 11 | 10 | VON HAUKE (NZ) | Cliff Brown | Bailey Wheeler (a) | 5.56L | 7 | 54kg | $61 | ||
| 12 | 5 | NEW ENERGY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Kerrin McEvoy | 5.61L | 11 | 56.5kg | $18 | ||
| 16 | GLINT OF SILVER | David Pfieffer | Jay Ford | 0 | ||||||
| 15 | SIBAAQ (GB) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Ashley Morgan | 0 | ||||||
| 12 | WILLIAMSBURG | Brett Cavanough | Braith Nock (a) | 0 | ||||||
| 13 | WITH YOUR BLESSING (NZ) | John Thompson | Ms Alysha Collett | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Ajax Stakes Betting
The latest Ajax Stakes 2025 odds and betting market links to Ladbrokes.com.au on the Group 2 will be available here at Races.com.au the week of the race.
There was a notable upset in 2023 with Cepheus winning at Ajax Stakes of $15, while Iowna Merc also saluted at double figures when taking out the 2025 event at $11.
2025 Ajax Stakes Form
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 AJAX STAKES FORM GUIDE
2025 Ajax Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Ajax Stakes 2025 Tips on the Group 2 in Sydney this autumn.
- To Win: #11 Ducasse ($4.80 at time of publish) – BET NOW
An open Ajax field but happy to stick with the current favourite with Ducasse still attractive around the five-ish mark in betting. This progressive Trapeze Artist four-year-old was strong fresh winning narrowly over 1400m at Randwick and despite being without a top three finish in four previous second-up runs to date looks like breaking that hoodoo on Saturday. He’s proven up to a mile and comes back in weight from 56kg to 53kg which will help in this notable class rise. Timmy Clark is riding well and stays on from a favourable barrier one draw. Always competitive, looks up to this now.
2025 Ajax Stakes Field
Each autumn the Ajax Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of middle-distance gallopers eyeing a Group 1 run later in the autumn and is released by Racing NSW on the Wednesday before Coolmore Classic Day.
The 2025 Ajax Stakes field and barriers are due for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The Ajax Stakes 2025 final field features a smart line up of potential Doncaster Mile bound gallopers led in betting by the rails-drawn Ducasse for Michael Freedman.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2x313491x8 | PERICLES | James Cummings | James McDonald | 8 | 59kg | 110 | ||
| 2 | 3×83114221 | IOWNA MERC | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 2 | 57.5kg | 107 | ||
| 3 | 85x050100x | JUST FINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Regan Bayliss | 3 | 57kg | 106 | ||
| 4 | 1x49832x85 | FREEDOM RALLY | Tony Gollan | Tommy Berry | 16 | 56.5kg | 105 | ||
| 5 | 09x658610x | NEW ENERGY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Kerrin McEvoy | 13 | 56.5kg | 105 | ||
| 6 | 110x4070x4 | REDIENER | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 6 | 56kg | 104 | ||
| 7 | 317105x06x | HEZASHOCKA (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Chad Schofield | 4 | 54.5kg | 55kg | 101 | |
| 8 | 622x03790x | NEW ENDEAVOUR (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Ms Rachel King | 5 | 54.5kg | 101 | ||
| 9 | 0x21811x15 | WILLAIDOW | Marc Conners | Zac Lloyd | 12 | 54kg | 100 | ||
| 10 | 15x89489x5 | VON HAUKE (NZ) | Cliff Brown | Bailey Wheeler (a) | 7 | 54kg | 97 | ||
| 11 | 19x09715x1 | DUCASSE | Michael Freedman | Tim Clark | 1 | 53kg | 97 | ||
| 12 | 506223130x | WILLIAMSBURG | Brett Cavanough | Braith Nock (a) | 11 | 53kg | 97 | ||
| 13 | 93989×1412 | WITH YOUR BLESSING (NZ) | John Thompson | Ms Alysha Collett | 15 | 53kg | 97 | ||
| 14 | 019117×316 | WEST OF AFRICA | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Tyler Schiller | 10 | 53kg | 95 | ||
| 15 | 43x24789x3 | SIBAAQ (GB) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Ashley Morgan | 14 | 53kg | 94 | ||
| 16 | 7x634024x2 | GLINT OF SILVER | David Pfieffer | Jay Ford | 9 | 53kg | 86 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Ajax Stakes Nominations
Early nominations for the Ajax Stakes in 2025 close the Monday of race week and will be made available below once confirmed.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | H Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19x09715x1 | DUCASSE | G | 4 | Michael Freedman | 97 |
| 2 | 1x49832x85 | FREEDOM RALLY | G | 5 | Tony Gollan | 105 |
| 3 | 7x634024x2 | GLINT OF SILVER | G | 5 | David Pfieffer | 86 |
| 4 | 317105x06x | HEZASHOCKA (NZ) | G | 7 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 101 |
| 5 | 3×83114221 | IOWNA MERC | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 107 |
| 6 | 85x050100x | JUST FINE (IRE) | G | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 106 |
| 7 | x63121x438 | JUST FOLK | G | 8 | Gavin Bedggood | 107 |
| 8 | 4x3652x2x3 | MATCHA LATTE | G | 5 | Sara Ryan | 95 |
| 9 | 622x03790x | NEW ENDEAVOUR (IRE) | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 101 |
| 10 | 09x658610x | NEW ENERGY (IRE) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 105 |
| 11 | 325342×865 | OUR GOLD HOPE | M | 4 | Robert & Luke Price | 90 |
| 12 | 2x313491x8 | PERICLES | G | 5 | James Cummings | 110 |
| 13 | 110x4070x4 | REDIENER | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 104 |
| 14 | 8234×13221 | SANDPAPER | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 100 |
| 15 | 12110x0x3 | SCARLET OAK | M | 4 | Chris Waller | 92 |
| 16 | 43x24789x3 | SIBAAQ (GB) | G | 7 | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 94 |
| 17 | x5x0x601x6 | SOUNDS OF HEAVEN (GB) | M | 5 | Joseph Pride | 95 |
| 18 | 15x89489x5 | VON HAUKE (NZ) | G | 5 | Cliff Brown | 97 |
| 19 | 019117×316 | WEST OF AFRICA | G | 5 | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 95 |
| 20 | 0x21811x15 | WILLAIDOW | G | 6 | Marc Conners | 100 |
| 21 | 506223130x | WILLIAMSBURG | G | 5 | Brett Cavanough | 97 |
| 22 | 93989×1412 | WITH YOUR BLESSING (NZ) | G | 6 | John Thompson | 97 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Ajax Stakes History
The first recorded running of the Ajax Stakes took place in 1976 and was won by Count Rajan. Since then, there have only been two horses to win the event twice, Confiscate in 1998-99 and Catalan Opening in 1996-97. The fastest recorded winning time since 1990 was 1 minute 27.38 seconds by Soho Square in 1993. The slowest winning time was recorded by Windsor’s Pal in 1990.
The Ajax Stakes is named in honour of the Australian Hall of Fame horse Ajax. Ajax was a champion chestnut colt who won 18 races in succession and had a career of 43 starts for 36 wins, 7 seconds and 2 thirds with total prize money of £40,250. His major wins include the 1938 Cox Plate as well as the All Aged Stakes (1938, 1939, 1940), Memsie Stakes (1938, 1939, 1940), Futurity Stakes (1938, 1939, 1940) and Underwood Stakes (1938, 1939, 1940).
Recent Ajax Stakes Results
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Iowna Merc | 1 minute 28.84 seconds |
| 2nd | Willaidow | ||
| 3rd | West Of Africa | ||
| 2024 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Democracy Manifest | 1 minute 28.39 seconds |
| 2nd | Territory Express | ||
| 3rd | Detonator Jack | ||
| 2023 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Cepheus | 1 minute 28.96 seconds |
| 2nd | Waterford | ||
| 3rd | Caesars Palace | ||
| 2022 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Just Folk | 1 minute 31.52 seconds |
| 2nd | Ellsberg | ||
| 3rd | Kiku | ||
| 2021 Ajax Stakes |
1st | I Am Superman | 1 minute 27.91 seconds |
| 2nd | Think It Over | ||
| 3rd | Rock | ||
| 2020 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Imaging | 1 minute 35.60 seconds |
| 2nd | Yulong Prince | ||
| 3rd | Cascadian | ||
| 2019 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Fifty Stars | 1 minute 32.63 seconds |
| 2nd | Mask Of Time | ||
| 3rd | Dyslexic | ||
| 2018 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Comin’ Through | 1 minute 28.52 seconds |
| 2nd | Tom Melbourne | ||
| 3rd | Radipole | ||
| 2017 Ajax Stakes |
1st | It’s Somewhat | 1 minute 31.0 seconds |
| 2nd | New Tipperary | ||
| 3rd | Testashadow | ||
| 2016 Ajax Stakes |
1st | It’s Somewhat | 1 minute 28.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Excess Knowledge | ||
| 3rd | Dances On Stars | ||
| 2015 Ajax Stakes |
1st | First Seal | 1 minute 22.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Supara | ||
| 3rd | Slightly Sweet | ||
| 2014 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Messene | 1 minutes 28.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Weary | ||
| 3rd | Malavio | ||
| 2013 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Havana Rey | 1 minutes 29.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Riva De Lago | ||
| 3rd | Monton | ||
| 2012 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Niagara | 1 minutes 28.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Star of Octagonal | ||
| 3rd | Alma’s Fury | ||
| 2011 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Pureness | 1 minutes 30.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Mentality | ||
| 3rd | Lebrechaun | ||
| 2010 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Brilliant Light | 1 minute 28.53 seconds |
| 2nd | Centennial Park | ||
| 3rd | Mentality | ||
| 2009 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Zavite | 1 minute 28.75 seconds |
| 2nd | Kerdem | ||
| 3rd | Banana Man | ||
| 2008 Ajax Stakes |
1st | All Silent | 1 minute 29.17 seconds |
| 2nd | Friday Creek | ||
| 3rd | Bobadah | ||
| 2007 Ajax Stakes |
1st | High Cee | 1 minute 29.73 seconds |
| 2nd | Danleigh | ||
| 3rd | The Free Stater | ||
| 2006 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Malcolm | 1 minute 28.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Lantwin | ||
| 3rd | Utzon | ||
| 2005 Ajax Stakes |
1st | River To The Sea | 1 minute 27.75 seconds |
| 2nd | Daniel’s The Man | ||
| 3rd | This Manshood | ||
| 2004 Ajax Stakes |
1st | True Glo | 1 minute 28.74 seconds |
| 2nd | Gordo | ||
| 3rd | So Assertive | ||
| 2003 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Grand Armee | 1 minute 28.42 seconds |
| 2nd | Lord Essex | ||
| 3rd | Carael Boy | ||
| 2002 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Mowerman | 1 minute 27.91 seconds |
| 2nd | Make Me A Miracle | ||
| 3rd | Gordo | ||
| 2001 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Galiano | 1 minute 27.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Palladium Star | ||
| 3rd | Emission | ||
| 2000 Ajax Stakes |
1st | Normal Practice | 1 minute 28.43 seconds |
| 2nd | Beauchamp | ||
| 3rd | Old Man | ||
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