A new track and an overdue renovation at another have seen Racing Victoria swing some changes to the dates and venues of races during the Spring Racing Carnival.
With Moonee Valley off-line as it is rebuilt, a number of their feature have been transferred with the Melbourne Racing accommodating most the meetings although this year’s Cox Plate is heading to Flemington.
With Caulfield to undergo a renovation following the Caulfield Cup, the Zipping Classic (2400m) has been transferred back to its original date, and home of Sandown, a week after the conclusion of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
This has freed up the Sandown Cup (3200m), run and won in May, moving to the date held by the Zipping Classic in recent years, November 28 this year.
Other changes include the Blue Sapphire Stakes moving from November 28 back to Caulfield Cup Day (October 17) to create a 10 race all ‘Black Type’ card including the Thousand Guineas, the Moir Stakes meeting to Sandown on September 5 with the Manikato Stakes meeting, including the repositioned JRA Cup, heading to Caulfield on Sunday September 27 to form an eight-race card, six from the host Moonee Valley and two from the MRC – all at Black Type.
Moving the Zipping Classic back to its original timeslot will help enhance the meeting which will also see the C F Orr Stakes (1400m) being run.
MRC chief executive Tanya Fullarton said with the Club celebrating its 150th year, it was fitting that Group 1 racing return to Sandown with the running of the C F Orr Stakes, which was previously run at Sandown in autumn and was a return race for spring combatants.
Paul Bloodworth, RV’s Head of Racing, said the changes followed consultation with stakeholders who each presented their views on the optimum pattern of races and prizemoney.
“This is a unique year with The Valley offline throughout and Caulfield undergoing a major renovation following their Cup and that’s been a catalyst for a raft of changes this spring,” Bloodworth said.
“The race programs assembled for Cox Plate Day at Flemington and Manikato Stakes Day at Caulfield are exceptional and they are rightly going to command plenty of interest.
“The 150th Caulfield Cup will fittingly headline an all ‘Black Type’ program and with its increase to a record $6 million in prizemoney we expect the race to attract strong local and international interest.
“The move of the Zipping Classic back to Sandown on November 14 allows trainers more time to spell and prepare their horses for autumn features, whilst reigniting its connection to the Melbourne Cup.”
