Desert Gold Stakes

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Desert Gold Stakes is a New Zealand horse race for three-year-old fillies, run over 1600 metres at Trentham Racecourse in Wellington. It is staged by the Wellington Racing Club and named after the famous filly Desert Gold.

The race began in 1947, with two Desert Gold Stakes that year—January’s winner was Indian Dawn and October’s winner was Regal Gem. Over the years the date and distance have changed. It was held in March from 2003 to 2005 and in late October up to 2001, but it is now run in January during the Wellington Cup carnival. The distance was 1500 metres from 2000 to 2005, and the 1998 race was 1600 metres at Hastings.

Today the Desert Gold Stakes is a Group 3 race; it was Group 2 in the 1980s. Notable winners include La Crique, La Mer and Princess Coup. Horses that placed well include Bonneval, Katie Lee and Tycoon Lil. The sire Savabeel produced four winners between 2016 and 2023, and champion jockey Grenville Hughes rode four winners between 1953 and 1975.

A list of the winners and placings since 1947 is kept for the Desert Gold Stakes.