Melbourne Autumn Carnival

The 2010 Melbourne autumn racing carnival kicks off with the Lightning Stakes at Flemington late January and climaxes with a mouth watering Super Saturday of Racing at Flemington racecourse in early March, with two $1,000,000 races, the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and Group 1 Australian Cup.

Sports and Racing.com.au has a detailed guide to each weekend’s major races leading up to Super Saturday of Racing and you can find feature race dates for the autumn carnival at our 2010 Melbourne autumn carnival racing page.

If you want to learn more about a particular race then click the race name to be taken to Australia’s best racing site, Horse Racing Info, where you can find feature race previews and information for that particular race, courtesy of Horse Racing Info.

January Group races in Melbourne

Standish Handicap Day (New Years Day) Flemington racecourse
The $200,000 Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) kicks off New Year’ Day racing at Flemington when open sprinting types tackle the 1200 metre straight course in the first group race of the new year in Melbourne.

Australia Stakes night, Moonee Valley racecourse
Later in the month the $200,000 Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) takes place on a Friday night at Moonee Valley under weight for age conditions.

Lightning Stakes Day, Flemington racecourse
The next major meeting in Melbourne is Lightning Stakes Day at Flemington, at the end of January, where the highly anticipated $500,000 Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) for sprinters will be run down the straight course.

Also on the program are two set weight & penalty races for three-years-old, the $150,000 Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes for colts & geldings and The Vanity for fillies, both run down the 1200 metre straight course.

February Group races in Melbourne

February sees many good quality race meetings with 5 Group One races on the menu.

CF Orr Stakes Day, Caulfield racecourse
Caulfield hosts CF Orr Stakes Day in early February with five group races on the card and the highlight being the $400,000 Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at weight for age.

Other races on the day include the $125,000 Group 3 Rubiton Stakes (1100m SW+P) for sprinters and the Group 3 Fillies & Mares (SW+P) event, the Geoffrey Belmaine Stakes (1200m).

Two $125,000 Group 3 races for two-years-old over 1100 metres are held on the same day, the Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts & Geldings) and Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) which provide lead up races to the highly sought after Blue Diamond Stakes in a fortnight.

William Reid Stakes Day, Moonee Valley racecourse
Racing then turns to Moonee Valley for William Reid Stakes Day where the major event is the $500,000 Group 1 race for our best sprinters, the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at weight for age.

Two more good quality races are on the program, the $200,000 Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (1600m SW+P) for 3yo colts & geldings and the $200,000 Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) for mares over a mile at weight for age

Blue Diamond Stakes Day, Caulfield racecourse
The major race day of the Caulfield autumn racing carnival is Blue Diamond Stakes Day which takes place the next week with the running of the $1,000,000 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) for 2yo gallopers.

Always a great race for young horses, the Blue Diamond Stakes is ably supported by the $350,000 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) that gathers our best sprinters together for one of the top sprint races of the autumn.

There are 5 other group races on Blue Diamond Stakes Day including the $200,000 Group 2 St George Stakes (1800m) at weight for age and the $175,000 Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m SW) for 3yo fillies.

The other three group races are the $125,000 Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m SW+P) for three-years-old, the $125,000 Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1400m SW+P) for open horses and the $125,000 Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m SW+P) for mares, in one of the biggest days of racing in the autumn.

Moonee Valley Fillies Classic night, Moonee Valley racecourse
The next Friday night sees the $200,000 Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m) for 3yo fillies at Set Weights which will give young females heading to the Adelaide carnival a handy lead up race.

Futurity Stakes day, Caulfield racecourse
On the following day, one of the classic autumn races will be held at Caulfield racecourse, the $500,000 Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1600m) at weight for age which always attracts our best gallopers.

The $175,000 Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m SW) for three-years-old is on the same card.

March Group Races in Melbourne

Super Saturday of Racing, Flemington racecourse
The highlight of autumn racing in Melbourne is Super Saturday of Racing at Flemington racecourse in March, home of the Melbourne Cup, Super Saturday of Racing features 7 group races on the program, with three quality Group One events on offer.

The $1,000,000 Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) has stood the test of time as one of the best sprint races in the country and generally a capacity field is entered to make it a most exciting dash up the straight.

The $1,000,000 Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at weight for age brings together our finest middle distance horses and is one of the major events of the autumn.

Three-years-old galloper will target the $750,000 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) to add to their resume and it is fast becoming one of the most distinguished races for 3yo gallopers on the racing calendar each year.

Other races on Super Saturday of Racing include, the $400,000 Group 2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m SW) for two-years-old, the $400,000 Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1600m SW) for three-years-old fillies, the $150,000 Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m SW) for 2yo fillies, and the $150,000 Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m SW+P) for mares.

Blamey Stakes Day, Flemington racecourse
The week following Super Saturday of Racing sees the $300,000 Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m SW+P) held at Flemington racecourse for open horses, along with the $150,000 Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m SW+P) for mares.

Easter Cup Day, Caulfield racecourse
Easter weekend ends group racing in Melbourne for the autumn with the running of the $125,000 Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield racecourse for open horses, along with the $125,000 Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) for open sprinters to end proceedings.

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