Live: Gout and Kennedy chasing Stawell Gift glory

We’re moments away from the first of six semifinals in the women’s Gift.

Paris Olympian Bree Rizzo is among those to watch in the semis.

We’ll keep you across all the results.

Hudson Downes collects the ‘W’ in the men’s backmarkers’ 400m (handicap).

Downes started off 15m, winning in a time of 45.75.

Ryan Atkins (16m) and Brayden Attwood (20m) filled out the minor placings.

As the bumper crowds in Stawell illustrate, there is massive interest in this year’s event, with much of that focused on Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy.

Both qualified for the men’s semis, with Kennedy contesting the first at 12:43pm (EST).

Gout will be up in the sixth and final semi a little later on.

Favourite Sophie Stokes has taken out the women’s 400m (handicap) in one of the early results from Central Park.

Stokes, running off 38m, claimed the sash in a time of 55.66.

Charlotte McAuliffe (8m) was second in 52.82 and Alesha Bennetts (11m) third via a time of 53.21.

It’s a busy day at Central Park and these are the events we’ll be focusing on over the next few hours (all times EST).

• Women’s Gift semifinals — 12pm
• Men’s Gift semifinals — 12:43pm
• Women’s Gift final —1:45pm
• Men’s Gift final — 2:20pm

G’day and welcome to ABC Sport’s digital coverage of the 2025 Stawell Gift.

It’s an Easter long weekend tradition and there is added excitement this year with rising sprint stars Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy competing in the men’s race.

Both Gout and Kennedy will contest the men’s semifinals, which are scheduled to start in just over an hour’s time.

We will also be across the women’s semis and final, as well as the other events on today’s program.

Hope you can stick with us today as we eagerly await to see who is crowned the men’s and women’s Stawell Gift winner!