The A J Moir Stakes is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1000 metres, held at Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in late September.
History
The A J Moir Stakes was named after former Chairman of the Moonee Valley Racing Club (1960–75), long standing committeeman and prominent Melbourne solicitor Alan John Moir KCMG (1903–81) of the Melbourne establishment firm Gillott, Moir and Winneke - now MinterEllison. As a prominent lawyer and company Director he held various other positions including; President of the Victorian Law Institute (1939–40), Director and Chairman of GTV 9 and Director of David Syme and Co Limited (the Age) where he played an important role in the formation of Syme as a public company in 1948. He received a CMG (Companion title Order of Saint Michael and Saint George) title in 1971 for his services to the racing industry.
Alan John Moir was also a great-grandson of former Victorian Premier, Sir Graham Berry and relative to Henry Albert Underwood, of the Underwood racing family.
The AJ Moir Stakes was first run in 1976 and won by Scamanda.
Elevated to Group 2 status in 1979, it has been won by many star sprinters, including: Apache Cat, the Australian Champion Sprinter in 2008 Black Caviar, the Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year in 2011, 2012 and 2013 Buffering, a three time winner of this race Imperatriz, the Australian Champion Sprinter in 2024 Manikato, the Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year in 1979, who became the second horse to pass $1 million in earnings when he won in 1982 The Judge (1978–79) and his sister Victoria Peak (1980) Miss Andretti, the Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year in 2007 Nature Strip, the Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year in 2020 and 2022 Placid Ark, the Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year in 1987 Schillaci, the eight-time Group One winner.
For the 2013 running of the event the race was upgraded to Group 1 status and moved from the traditional Cox Plate Day card to be run under lights on Friday night before the AFL Grand Final.
Distance 1976–2006 – 1000 metres 2007–2014 – 1200 metres 2015 onwards - 1000 metres
Grade 1976–1978 - Principal race 1979–2012 - Group 2 2013 onwards - Group 1
Name 1976–1995 - A.J. Moir Stakes 1996–2002 - Schweppes Stakes 2003–2006 - Schweppervescence Stakes 2006–2011 - Schweppes Stakes 2012 onwards - A.J. Moir Stakes
Records
Most successful horse (3 wins): Buffering (2012, 2014, 2015)
Leading jockey (4 wins): Damien Oliver – Schillaci (1992), Magic Music (1999), Falvelon (2000), Apache Cat (2009)
Leading trainer (4 wins): Angus Armanasco – Tetranate (1977), The Judge (1978, 1979), Victoria Peak (1980) Bruce McLachlan – With Me (1990, 1991), Al Mansour (1997), Virage De Fortune (2005)
Winners
The following are past winners of this race.
2026 - My Gladiola 2025 - Baraqiel 2024 - Mornington Glory 2023 - Imperatriz 2022 - Coolangatta 2021 - Wild Ruler 2020 - Pippie 2019 - Nature Strip 2018 - Viddora 2017 - She Will Reign 2016 - Extreme Choice 2015 - Buffering 2014 - Buffering 2013 - Samaready 2012 - Buffering 2011 - Black Caviar 2010 - Black Caviar 2009 - Apache Cat 2008 - Lucky Secret 2007 - Miss Andretti 2006 - California Dane 2005 - Virage De Fortune 2004 - Bomber Bill 2003 - Our Egyptian Raine 2002 - Spinning Hill 2001 - Mistegic 2000 - Falvelon 1999 - Magic Music 1998 - Show No Emotion 1997 - Al Mansour 1996 - Spartacus 1995 - Quality Gold 1994 - Sequalo 1993 - Sports Works 1992 - Schillaci 1991 - With Me 1990 - With Me 1989 - †Good Old Ted / Clay Hero 1988 - Scarlet Bisque 1987 - Placid Ark 1986 - Special 1985 - Aquilone 1984 - Foystaan 1983 - Bold Jet 1982 - Manikato 1981 - Bold Prospect 1980 - Victoria Peak 1979 - †The Judge / Grey Sapphire 1978 - The Judge 1977 - Tetranate 1976 - Scamanda † Dead heat
See also Chautauqua Stakes List of Australian Group races Group races
References