Welcome to day two of The Roar‘s racing calendar restructure. Yesterday, Justin Cinque and I kicked things off with a discussion on why we thought the current calendar was compromised by too many Group 1 races.
Today, I’m going to walk through the changes we’re proposing to Group 1 spring racing, focussing on the Melbourne and Sydney carnivals. Particularly how they can link together to provide a better experience and narrative for the sport and its fans.
This project of ours is Group 1 focussed. I’m not sure the internet is big enough to start delving into all of the black type races!
I’m using the upcoming spring of 2016 as my reference point for dates.
Memsie Stakes: Revert back to Group 2
The Memsie Stakes has only been a Group 1 race for three years, and while it has often taken a genuine Group 1 galloper to win it, this race is more of a kick-off point than a target. It has always been a quality race, and will continue to be as a Group 2.
We want our Group 1 horses peaking later on in the spring, not in August. And if they’re not peaking in August, they shouldn’t be given a Group 1 to win.
Dato Tan Chin Nam (Feehan) Stakes: Keep this day as is
Makybe Diva (Craiglee) Stakes: Revert back to Group 2
Similar to the Memsie, the Makybe Diva has only been a Group 1 for three years, and an upgrade was never required in the first place. There are currently five unrestricted 1600-metre Group 1s in the Melbourne and Sydney spring, which is simply too many. There only needs to be two overall – one in each state, with one as a handicap, one at WFA.
Underwood Stakes: Group 1 WFA
Rupert Clarke Stakes: Group 1 Handicap
Finally, we reach our first Group 1s of the spring carnival.
The Underwood Stakes will continue to serve as a gathering for the elite 1600- to 2000-metre thoroughbreds, with the unusual 1800-metre distance giving both sets of horses a chance.
There are three options for horses coming into it – off a three-week break from the Memsie, a two-week break from the Dato Tan Chin Nam, or backing up from the Makybe Diva. These horses are then going to have the option of two weeks into the Turnbull Stakes (Caulfield Cup horses) or Epsom (milers), or three weeks into the Caulfield Stakes (Cox Plate horses).
The Rupert Clarke will be the first Group 1 handicap of the spring, over the current 1400 metres. It is a second tier Group 1, which we believe there is still a place for.
This is a good race for up-and-coming four-year-olds looking to stake their Group 1 claims, can be targeted second-up from the Memsie for some, dropping back from the Dato for others, or can be seen as a target for early-season sprinters looking to run over a bit further.
George Main Stakes: Revert back to Group 2
As written above for the Makybe Diva, there are too many mile Group 1 races, so this is another that needs to be cut back. These type of races will still attract good fields, for good prize money, but they don’t need to carry elite status.
Moir Stakes: Move from Moonee Valley, change to set-weights penalties, change to 1100m
Golden Rose: Revert back to Group 2, move to two weeks before Caulfield Guineas
Sydney doesn’t currently have a sprinting Group 1 in the spring, and the Moir Stakes would be it, kicking off the first leg of a four-leg Spring Sprint Series – two states, three types of conditions, four different tracks, with bonuses and escalating prize money for those that take part in three or four legs.
The Golden Rose has been a powerful addition to the Sydney spring, but the fact is that it’s a breeders race, and we need to limit the amount of races that cause three-year-olds to retire to stud too early.
Since this race became a Group 1, winners have included Denman (retired at three), Epaulette (retired after two four-year-old runs), Zoustar (retired after one four-year-old run), Hallowed Crown (retired at three), and it’s doubtful Exosphere will race much beyond three, if at all.
For the good of racing, this race needs to be stripped of Group 1 status, but the hype around the race can remain if coupled with bonuses for those competing in both it and the Caulfield or Thousand Guineas and make it a genuine preliminary final.
Saturday, September 24 – Caulfield
Caulfield Guineas and Thousand Guineas Prelude: When the AFL grand final moves back to the last Saturday in September again, this meeting can be run on Sunday.
Epsom Handicap: Group 1
Metropolitan Handicap: Revert back to Group 2, but make the quinella ballot-free and penalty-free into the Caulfield Cup
Flight Stakes: Revert back to Group 2
Some controversial calls here, but let’s get rid of the simple one first. We don’t need two 1600-metre Group 1s for the fillies in the spring, let alone back-to-back, so the Flight Stakes has to go.
The Metropolitan is usually only Group 2 quality anyway, so there shouldn’t be any problems with downgrading its status, but it will get a bump in importance due to the first two home becoming exempt into the Caulfield Cup. This adds another layer of Sydney and Victorian racing working together for the greater good.
The Epsom would be structured with bonuses for horses coming into this from the Rupert Clarke or Underwood Stakes, enhancing the dual state narrative of what would be Sydney’s biggest spring race.
Turnbull Stakes: Revert back to Group 2, but make the winner ballot-free into the Cox Plate, and the quinella penalty-free into the Caulfield Cup
The Turnbull Stakes is the classic fork-in-the-road race, but has only been a Group 1 race for six years. The quality of the fields remain the same as it always was, so there was no need for the upgrade. Just in the 2000s, horses like Sunline, Northerly, Elvstroem, Makybe Diva and Efficient won this race as a Group 2. If it was good enough for them, it can still be good enough today.
Similar to the Metrop, making the first two home Caulfield Cup exempt will ensure strength in the Turnbull and the strongest possible field in the richest 2400-metre handicap in the world.
Caulfield Guineas: Group 1
Thousand Guineas: Group 1
Caulfield Stakes: Group 1 WFA
Oakleigh Plate: Group 1 Handicap, move from the autumn to spring, second leg of the Spring Sprint Series (note, the Schillaci Stakes usually run on this day will move to the autumn)
Toorak Handicap: Drop back to a Group 2
What a race day this would become. From this point on, each and every Group 1 is either a preliminary final or a grand final, the best of the best racing against each other, all of the spring narratives combining for an explosive six-week period.
The two Guineas maintain their place, as does the Caulfield Stakes as the main lead-up for the Cox Plate for horses that want it.
The Toorak Handicap has a rich Group 1 history and is always won by a smart horse, but how many genuine champions have won the race in the last 30 years? Restructuring involves some painful cuts, and this is one. As explained previously, we don’t need so many Group 1 1600-metre races.
Moving the Oakleigh Plate is part of the overhaul of the sprint program, and Justin will delve more into what’s happening in the autumn tomorrow. In the spring, we’ll have four Group 1 sprints, with two weeks between each, so the best in the land can meet each other under a range of conditions, distances and tracks.
Caulfield Cup: Group 1 Handicap, make the first three home ballot-free into the Melbourne Cup
Spring Champion: Group 1, move down from Sydney and replace the current Caulfield Classic (which was the Norman Robinson)
The Caulfield Cup maintains its place as one of the big four of Australian racing. Making the placegetters exempt into the Melbourne Cup along with the winner will add a bit more spice to the race, attract more internationals, and ensure the Melbourne Cup is full of horses in prime form.
The Spring Champion has always been a bit of a lost race up in Sydney, and now we have a situation where it’s being run on the same day as the Guineas, and also conflicting with another high profile 2000-metre race for three-year-olds, in the revamped Caulfield Classic.
Currently a week apart, no horse has run in both the Spring Champion and Caulfield Classic in the last two years. We want these horses racing each other in a strong race, not staying in their own state against weaker fields.
Cox Plate: Group 1
Manikato Stakes: Group 1
The Cox Plate continues to be a marquee race. The Manikato Stakes is the third leg of the Spring Sprint Series, and the first time the elite sprinters meet at Group 1 WFA in what is their preliminary final.
VRC Derby: Group 1
Myer Classic: Group 1
Coolmore Stud Stakes: Group 1
Mackinnon Stakes: Drop back to a Group 2
The Mackinnon Stakes is very much a second tier Group 1, usually reserved for those that finished mid-field or worse in the Cox Plate, or the old school Melbourne Cup runners having a pipe-cleaner three days before the big race. It was only two years ago that the Cranbourne Cup winner started favourite in it. This one’s a no-brainer.
The three-year-old stayers and sprinters are the feature of the day, and the breeders still get thrown a bone by the Coolmore Stud keeping its status. The mares get their only specific Group 1 of the carnival.
Melbourne Cup: Group 1
VRC Oaks: Group 1
Emirates Stakes: Keep as a Group 1, convert to weight-for-age
VRC Classic: Keep as a Group 1
Currently, the spring has five open 1600-metre Group 1s, with the three highest profile being handicaps, and the two weight-for-age races being early in the spring. It’s the wrong way around. The Emirates should be a weight-for-age race, a true grand final for the milers, and more attractive to Cox Plate horses.
The hardier milers can have a five, six or even seven-start campaign spaced out evenly across the calendar, culminating in the big one. Alternately, they can hit this race fresher at start three or four if they wish, and then perhaps head to Perth.
The VRC Classic is the fourth leg of our Spring Sprint Series, the grand final, a day for the best of the best to meet in the truest sprint test – down the Flemington straight six.
So, there you have what a restructured Group 1 spring racing calendar could look like, if politics and partisan interests could be put aside and the two states worked together for the good of the sport, and the industry didn’t bow down to the breeders. Twenty-eight Group 1 races cut back to 19.
Let us know in the comments what you think, but before you start bagging me out for being a parochial Victorian slashing the status of Sydney races, remember this was a collaboration between myself and Justin, a proud New South Welshman!
Don’t forget to come back tomorrow, to see what Justin has in store for Sydney and Melbourne in autumn. I can promise you plenty of changes and an excellent program.
Mark Haywood
Roar Pro
I wouldn’t go the whole hog like Jason but I’d really like to see the Melbourne Cup card improve, it’s very weak imo. Not often you get a public holiday to punt (well us Mexicans do) and it’d be nice to have some real quality! Happy for the Cup to be the sole G1 but would like to see a good support card of Group races, the day deserves it. Ultimately I think that carnival is too long over 4 days… that’ll never change due to the revenue it brings in but in a purely racing sense to pull the weakest 8 – 10 races out of the Flemington Carnival and have it over three days would be great. Move Oaks Day to the second Saturday, hold the Mackinnon that day too, and shift the Stakes back to Derby Day. Sat – Tues – Sat works well I think, bit of fatigue about it the last few years somehow (I’m probably just getting old).
Wal G
Guest
Melbourne Cup is rightly placed as a stand alone G1 on its own day. The support card has plenty of meat for both regular and once a year punters. The rest of the country works that day and you'd be taking the gloss off some good G1s with that program
peeeko
Guest
i defintely like the idea of beefing up the caulfield stakes at the expense of the turnbull. would be a great Cox plate previews
Cameron Rose
Expert
Funny you mention that Nathan. Make sure you read tomorrow.
Jason Cave
Guest
If I was in charge of the race program on Emirates Melbourne Cup Day, this is what the program would look like: RACE 1: Channel 7 News Hcp RACE 2: Myer Classic RACE 3: Makybe Diva Stakes RACE 4: Rupert Clarke Stakes RACE 5: Manikato Stakes RACE 6: The Lexus Long Black RACE 7: Mackinnon Stakes (Melb Cup consolation race) RACE 8: Emirates Melbourne Cup RACE 9: VRC Classic RACE 10: Home and Away Hcp
no one in particular
Roar Guru
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/horseracing/mackinnon-stakes-and-emirates-stakes-to-switch-in-melbourne-cup-carnival-change-20160301-gn72e1.html
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
Or make the MacKinnon a handicap, after all we don't have a Group 1 handicap over 2000m.
Wal G
Guest
Can't really have a harness racing style series for thoroughbreds - the trotters/pacers never stop going around yet thoroughbreds are here today, gone tomorrow.
Wal G
Guest
I don't understand the rhetoric to bring down the number of G1s particularly downgrading using the criteria that they are either early spring in Vic or spring in sydney and that they are not 'grand finals'. whilst i am comfortable with memsie/makybe diva reverting to G2 (which was the norm anyway) i am not comfortable with races like the flight/george main/metrop that are 'grand finals' in their jurisdiction being downgraded. There seems to be a push from the authors to line us with the UK in terms of total G1s but this too is flawed thinking imo. I am not privy to horse pop'n data but i prefer to think the comparision should be Australia with Europe (not just UK), and to break that down further by jurisdiction illustrates my point (number of G1s in brackets):- UK (35) = Victoria (30) France (26) = NSW (28) Ireland (12) = Qld (8) Germany (7) = WA (4) & Italy (5) = SA (4) then the number of G1s compares neatly. Overall the figures are Europe 85 vs Aust 74 so in my thinking we are not over represented in terms of G1s. As highlighted by Adam @noverreman on Twitter, there are several G1s under the gun before you would touch the suggested NSW G1s. I know you mention that SA/WA will be discussed thursday, so interested to see how you downgrade Flight without doing the same to the Australasian Oaks. From a quality point of view there is probably limited argument to maintaining G1s in SA and WA could maintain 2 at most. There are few things that could do with some tinkering with our carnivals and the flow of G1 races but a discussion that has at its centrepiece an almost halving of G1s in Australia is both flawed and in reality a tad delusional (ie. never gonna happen!) cheers, Wal (VoR)
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
I believe when Choisir won the Linlithgow it was called the Emirates Classic.
sheek
Roar Guru
Yeah, let's return to the Lexus Hotham Hcp & BMW HE Tancred Stakes, for example.
sheek
Roar Guru
Mark/Cam, A national body is the obvious required direction. But not if its controlled by some of the same people running say the VRC & STC. Then you get some of the same crap, but now organised on a national scale!
sheek
Roar Guru
PJ/Cam, I would have to say I prefer keeping the Emirates on the final Saturday. I still think, or hope, the Mackinnon still has a role as a final hitout for Cup hopefuls, whether they've already qualified or not. i also think more qualifying power needs to return to the traditional Saturday leadup races - Mackinnon & Lexus (Hotham). I'm suggesting 1st & 2nd qualify rather than just the winner.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Yeah, okay. What I knew as the Salinger was the 1200m sprint on Derby day, handicap. Used to be a G1, but was downgraded 8-10 years ago or so. That and the 1400m race have both been called Tab.com.au in recent years.
Pepper Jack
Guest
The Darley is the Linlithgow (used to be on the Thursday), the Salinger is still on Derby Day. The former was always the WFA, the latter the handicap. Though, recently, the G1 status was taken off the Salinger and given to the Linlithgow
Cameron Rose
Expert
You're absolutely right Mark, and that's why we're coming at this from a national perspective. Strong national leadership without vested interests, looking out for what is best for the sport. Now that takes many forms, and serious debate is required, but there must be a controlling body.
Cameron Rose
Expert
I also agree on the race names. That Derby Day sprint and 1400m have both been called the Tab.com.au Stakes in recent years! The Linlithgow was the Salinger, and I think something else has been given Salinger at some point or another.
Cameron Rose
Expert
There is definitely a case for dropping the Rupert Clarke. I think the case I made for the Golden Rose being downgraded is obvious enough. The winners don't race on. The Turnbull got those fields when it was a G2 too.
Cameron Rose
Expert
The reported swapping of the Mackinnon and Emirates as soon as this year has merit. I'd like to see it in action. I can't see a Derby horse backing up in the Mackinnon, but you might get more 3yo's running in the Emirates with it a fortnight after the Guineas (more so if it was WFA). And 3yo's from the Vase might opt for the Mackinnon instead of the Derby.
peeeko
Guest
it does but the pomp and ceremony fools a lot of people