AUSTRALIAN GROUP 1 RACING

A total of 74 Group 1 races will be held throughout Australia in the 2018-19 thoroughbred racing season.

The new season kicks off on August 1 each year, and while the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield has traditionally been the first Group 1 of the season, the elevation of the Winx (formerly Warwick) Stakes (1400m) at Randwick to Group 1 level sees it become the Group 1 opener.

Sydney and Melbourne racing takes centre stage at the beginning of the season with the spring carnivals attracting the best horses in the land as well as many internationals looking to cash in on the rich prizemoney on offer.

The Sydney Spring Carnival runs from August to December with seven Group 1 races taking place at Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens which includes two $1 million events with the Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) and Epsom Handicap (1600m) being the main attractions.

Likewise, the Melbourne Spring Carnival runs from August through to December, but with Sydney’s final Group 1 event being held in early October, Melbourne racing goes up another gear with the Caulfield Cup (2400m), Cox Plate (2040m) and Melbourne Cup (3200m) featuring in October and November.

In all, there are 21 Group 1 races held throughout the Melbourne Spring Carnival with more than $34 million in prizemoney up for grabs.

Melbourne Spring Carnival Group 1 racing finishes up in the second week of November, and from there, feature racing heads to Western Australia where the Railway Stakes (1600m), Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and Kingston Town Classic (1800m) are run at Ascot Racecourse from November to December during the Perth Racing Carnival.

Again, Melbourne and Sydney racing becomes the focus with their autumn carnivals taking place from February to April.

The Melbourne Autumn Carnival builds first with nine Group 1 events being run from February to late March, while the Sydney Autumn Carnival goes into overdrive with 22 Group 1 races showcasing the best of Australian racing.

The Sydney Autumn Carnival includes the world’s richest two-year-old race, the $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), as well as The Championships which sees eight Group 1s held across two consecutive Saturdays.

In early May, feature racing heads to South Australia for the Adelaide Racing Carnival which features four Group 1 events including the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) and Goodwood (1200m) which both offer $1 million in prizemoney.

Coinciding with the Adelaide Racing Carnival and extending through to late June is the Brisbane Winter Carnival which sees a total of eight Group 1 events run and won.

The $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) is the jewel of the carnival, while the Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) holds place as the final Australian Group 1 race for the season.