It’s not every day I find myself agreeing with Mick Malthouse. While I would not diagnose myself with ‘blockbuster fatigue’, I am dealing with a small dose of ‘black type fatigue’.
After three straight days of quality racing, it seems harsh to focus on a negative.
However, as we approach those delightful Group 1 filled weeks of October and November, I can’t help but feel almost every metropolitan race in Melbourne and Sydney is gaining promotion to Group or Listed status.
In September, the Australian Racing Board (ARB) upgraded 14 races to a higher status, while downgrading none. This came after 41 races were upgraded by the ARB in March 2013, none of which are run over more than 1600m.
I understand the importance of the breeding industry, but these upgrades are diminishing the value of stakes racing.
Programming is also having a major impact on the quality of these races. Last Saturday’s Reginald Allen Quality was well documented as being below-par and this week’s Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington looks like following suit. With a Group 1 the following week, it is clear why these races have and will struggle to attract quality gallopers.
Programming in the lead up to the Epsom has also been strange, with the Theo Marks (1400m), the Cameron (1500m), the George Main (1600m) and the Bill Ritchie (1400m) all held within eight days. When you include the Shannon Stakes from last week, it is no wonder field sizes are struggling.
Recent changes to the Thousand Guineas will affect the Flight Stakes at Randwick. Having two 1600m Group 1s for three-year-old fillies a week apart lacks common sense and will effect the quality of both events.
The Melbourne Racing Club has also stated their desire to build the Caulfield Classic over 2000m for three-year-olds into a Group 1, however this will have clear ramifications for the Spring Champion Stakes.
Additionally, the ARB cleared the Randwick Guineas and Australian Guineas to be conducted on the same day in 2015. Yes, two Group 1s on the same day, held under the same conditions.
The ARB must be firmer and use more common sense in their decision making. Forget about percentages and ratings and look at how each carnival can deliver quality fields with clear and sensible programming.
If it takes some shifting and downgrading, it will benefit racing in the future and ensure the best horses compete against each other.
Sam James
Roar Guru
Agreed Brent. Horses are not machines (apart from Black Caviar) and it is rare for a horse to consistently win at the highest level. The Moir is a strange race and would be better as a 1000m dash. It would tie in better with the Schillaci Stakes and give it a point of difference from the Manikato. It might also entice some 3YOs on a Coolmore Stud Stakes program.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
I love it Sam perfectly summed up and personally I hate it. I was saying something last week on social media it was a joke that one of our Group 1 races had just 5 runners in it?!? I mean honestly that was ridiculous and should be cut out immediately. While I did like the quality or horses that were in the race I don't agree with small fields, as for this weekends racing I don't mind if we have split group 1's as it attracts quality in both Sydney and Melbourne but I don't like the argument being made that we should keep our good horses separate till the big show. It should be a spring where the best horses battle it out in multiple contests, now that's what I want to see!
kv joef
Roar Guru
Just reading the near comments about the Spring fragmentation of 3yr-old racing. Do you think a quite chat might have happened? Deciding that the 3yrold spring targets should be the Cox / Derby / Oaks and the CaulGuineas now playing a support. Maybe they don't want to create a spring champion but keep several questions alive heading into autumn's Au-Guineas / Rosehill G / ATC Derby? Maybe the handshake decides AU has 2 primary carnivals Spring / Autumn and the opposing major state acts as a quality support act. Other state's carnivals would also become a support act, supplying possible new pretenders to the 2 major carnivals? Plenty of G-racing so the top horses don't continually run into each other like Europe. Like U.S. keep them basically apart until the big guns - Cox Plate / VRC Carnival features and then a rematch in the championships next autumn. Probably result in keeping an intense focus on racing twice a year in Au-bettings biggest markets. No, i'm kidding they wouldn't be that smart?
Drew H
Guest
I suggested to ARB to bring on "free spins" each time 3 scatters comes up.
Sam James
Roar Guru
This now makes the Vase on Cox Plate day along with the Listed Geelong Classic in danger of attaining quality and quantity entries. And yes the Spring Champion and Guineas are on the same day, so I doubt many will back up into the Classic.
Brad
Guest
Too many G1 races, and they certainly shouldn't be scheduled for the same day! MRC wants the Classic to be G1. The field it will assemble this year will be 3yo G1-worthy, believe me. I should correct an error, though. On consecutive weeks, for 3yo, we have: Caulfield Guineas 1600m Spring Champion 2000m Caulfield Classic 2000m (Cox Plate) 2040m VRC Derby 2500m. I doubt any of the Guineas horses will contest the Derby....even if MERION accepts. Sweynesse will go the SC-CP route, surely: given his stalluon potential. I don't doubt there'll be plenty chasing the cash into The Classic, but how many will seriously stretch out the extra two furlong and remain competitive? It'll still be the domain of the 3yo staying-type, and an excellent lead-up to The Derby a fortnight later...
Sam James
Roar Guru
I think the WFA sprints are going to be great contests. Even the Schillaci Stakes looks like an exciting race with Rubick and Overreach returning and Lankan Rupee jumping back to the 1000m.
Sam James
Roar Guru
All your points are excellent and it's a shame the race clubs aren't working together as we are going to have some very thin 3YO races over the next row weeks. The Caulfield Classic will be interesting because it's only a week after both Guineas and the best 3YOs will surely tackle the Cox Plate. The fillies also have the option to run in the Ethereal Stakes on the same day.
andrew
Guest
the 3yo fillies program is very interesting. the MRC do what is best for them, and shifting the thous guin date is pivotal. the traditional lead ups were the flight and manifold 10 days out, with it being run on a wed. however, shifting it to the sat means, the manifold runners are unlikely to back up. it means the MRC will get more thous guin horses in their prelude, which they concurrently shifted from underwood stks day to last sunday. this makes sense - for them. the flight stks horses are unlikely to run in both. its an ask for a spring 3yo filly to travel and back up. few will do it. this ultimately will dilute the quality of the thous guin, which is a shame, as on the wed, it was always a good clash of the melb v syd form. I can understand why they have done it. the big loser is the VRC and the manifold. the other biggest loser of the MRC re-shuffle is MVRC, with AAMI vase going to really struggle now against the Caul Classic (ie, old NOrman Robison). the Caul Classic is perfectly positioned. 2 weeks before the derby, 2 weeks after the Spring Champ in Syd. and the chance for any 3yo from Guineas to back up, and then go a 2 week break into the derby.
kv joef
Roar Guru
your and others comment about the breeding aspect is really interesting. But back to the point. There has been great discussion on whether LR is foxing or on the slide and that should be settled before LR competes in the Darley. thankfully, slade power arrives in town with a great euro G1 record this season. Those races weren't as strong as any of ours but the intrigue will begin. I know terravista fans won't bail on him until they see him down the straight and hopefully Rebel Dane will be scaring the children by then - but if RB keeps getting beat by LR or the Buffster - won't he just be a passenger?
Sam James
Roar Guru
Could not agree more. It devalues the term Group 1. These days we have our premier Group 1s (Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate, Doncaster, etc.) and then the lesser Group 1's (Memsie, Makybe Diva, etc.)
Sam James
Roar Guru
No of course not but we want the quality teams playing in the finals, just like we want quality horses in our stakes races. Not a third in Melbourne, a third in Sydney and a third having run in a similar race the week before.
Sam James
Roar Guru
Great point about the punters and bookies. What is even crazier is the winner of a regular Saturday race will receive more prizemoney if it qualifies for a BOBS bonus ($68000) compared to a Listed winner ($60000). This must also be rectified.
kv joef
Roar Guru
Sammy, Sammy, Sammy ... the real question is ... does a duck's quack echo? James! you will have to google-it! Do you really want to see Hawthorn and Sydney play each other every week of the season?
Bondy
Guest
If the two states dont work for the same cause this will affect the breeding barn as well ,dilution of quality . If we're going to segregate due to competitive mindsets form Mlb @ Syd they're diluting quality across the board and nobody wins absolutely nobody,such a shame pig headed marketing types control the fate of Australian racing and Breeding nowadays ... If you've kept a close eye on the last three Saturday cards in Sydney generally there hasn't been a third divi race almost until Rc 5 on the card a stupid and scabbing act by programmers. Race programming recently has been designed to cheat punters or rip them off but punters with longevity haven't bought in and surely betting race turnover has been down of late especially early in the day.. I'd love to see recent betting turnover sheets from the major corporates . A timely piece this ...
Tim
Guest
There shouldn't be Group 1's on the same day in two states. It will create more competitive racing, e.g. The underwood and george main one 1600 the other 1800. Drop the lowest rating one to group 2, the same horses will turn up, but the better ones will all go for the group 1's and create stronger races with bigger fields.
Kevin dustby
Guest
Good strory, too many group ones