Group 1 races Thousand Guineas and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes return to original timeslots, CF Orr Stakes moves from autumn to spring
Two Group 1 races will return to their original spring timeslots as Racing Victoria makes changes to the Caulfield mid-November meeting.
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Racing Victoria has wound back the clock to go forward with a revamped spring Group 1 calendar.
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Thousand Guineas, moved to mid-November in 2023 to bolster the back end of spring, will return to previously held September and October timeslots.
The Asian Pattern Committee has approved the RV change, made in consult with Melbourne Racing Club and industry stakeholders.
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The Group 1 CF Orr Stakes has been moved from February to mid-November to offset the Sir Rupert Clarke and Thousand Guineas change and retain a budding fixture after the Melbourne Cup carnival.
The mid-November card at Caulfield has delivered strong wagering, engagement and attendance.
RV chief executive Aaron Morrison said the changes strengthened the calendar and maintained 12 consecutive weekends of Group 1 racing in Victoria from late August to mid-November.
“RV and stakeholders were all in agreement that Group 1 racing at Caulfield in mid-November works and should continue to be embraced,” Morrison said.
“We maintained that goal whilst strengthening Caulfield Cup day, one of our marquee race days.”
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The Thousand Guineas will now be run two weeks after the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) in Sydney.
The 1600m feature will again act as a launching pad for three-year-old fillies into the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) during the Melbourne Cup carnival.
The Group 1 race shared the Caulfield Cup card until 1988 before a move to the Wednesday before.
It spent a further nine years on the Caulfield Guineas card prior to the mid-November experiment.
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m), back to Group 1 Underwood Stakes day on September 20, will again allow horses to advance to the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) three weeks later.
Meanwhile, the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) will shift from November 29 to February 7 – in place of the CF Orr Stakes – and act as a lead-up to the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m).
Other Caulfield program changes include the Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) – from October 18 back to September 20 – and Sandown Guineas (1600m) – back a fortnight to November 15.
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The Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes will also be held on November 15 and returned to 1200m from 1400m the past two years.
RV has confirmed prizemoney for all races during the 2025 spring racing carnival, along with any other fixtures changes, would be announced in coming months.
MRC chief executive Tom Reilly said the Group 1 changes shaped a racing program at Caulfield, enhanced the Spring Racing Carnival and supported the broader industry and pattern in Victoria.
“We’re creating a more compelling platform to attract quality fillies and maintain the strength of our feature race day,” Reilly said of the Thousand Guineas return to Caulfield Cup day.
“Equally, the enhancements to our September and November race days are about ensuring Caulfield continues to attract high-quality horses, provide greater opportunities for participants and reinforce its role as one of Australia’s premier racing venues throughout the entire spring period.”
Originally published as Group 1 races Thousand Guineas and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes return to original timeslots, CF Orr Stakes moves from autumn to spring
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