Spring Carnival draft revamp revealed as Group 1 dates are rejigged

A revamped Spring Carnival could have 12 consecutive Saturdays of Group 1 action under a working plan for this year’s Spring Carnival.

One comprehensive draft schedule prepared by Racing Victoria’s Spring Racing Review Committee and seen by Racing.com, recommends significant key changes to the traditional schedule.

The proposal confirms that the Melbourne Racing Club are keen to move their two feature days deep into November and the traditional Sandown Zipping Classic Day would be broken up and run across several Spring meetings to be held at Caulfield.

Sandown could then host the Group 1 Underwood Stakes on September 19.

The revamped carnival would provide 12 consecutive Saturdays of Group 1 racing in Victoria, commencing with the Makybe Diva Stakes on September 12. Under the draft, the carnival would still start on August 29 but without a Group 1 race on the card, as the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes will be run in place of the Group 1 Memsie Stakes.

Horses head out for trackwork at CaulfieldCredit: Vince Caligiuri

The carnival would then conclude at Caulfield with their two Group 1 feature days: Caulfield Guineas and Caulfield Cup Day.

The Group 1 Memsie would find a new home and the back-end of the Carnival on Caulfield Cup day, November 28.

The changes would allow Caulfield to host three consecutive Group 1 meetings from November 14, kicking off with the Toorak Handicap.

Other changes within this model include delaying the Turnbull Stakes by a week and shifting the Feehan, Caulfield and Turnbull Stakes.

Racing.com understands that there are still ongoing discussions surrounding Moonee Valley’s sprint program.

The Committee proposal at one stage shifted the Moir and Feehan Stakes to September 26 and kept the Manikato Stakes on October 23, a Friday night.

Valley CEO Michael Browell said last week the Manikato Stakes could be run on October 24 with the Cox Plate. Both RV and the Valley declined to comment, but it’s understood that the Valley’s program is far from set.

The Cox Plate could be run on the same day as the Manikato StakesCredit: Vince Caligiuri

The Committee developed the new schedule as a result of COVID-19 restrictions and to avoid a clash with the AFL final’s series.

While these proposed changes are not definite, it is just one of a few models being considered and it is still in the feedback stages.

The review committee has asked for feedback from leading racing figures on their proposals.

Work has also been done to explain how the date changes will affect the Spring Carnival pattern and a number of lead-up races to major Group 1 meetings.

Racing.com understands that the three metropolitan clubs and Country Racing Victoria will submit their feedback to Racing Victoria this week.

The RV board will discuss the proposals again on Friday. No date has been set for the release of the revamped carnival.

Some of the proposed changes circulated include:

• Moving the Memsie Stakes to Caulfield Cup day, proposed to be November 28.
• The Feehan and Moir Stakes run at Moonee Valley on the traditional AFL grand final day, September 26.
• The McEwen Stakes would run on September 5, traditionally when the Feehan was held.
• The Turnbull Stakes would be run a week later than usual, on October 10.
• The Toorak Handicap would move to November 14.
• The Underwood Stakes would be scheduled a week earlier than its traditional timeslot, to September 19.
• Blue Sapphire Day at Caulfield would be run on the new Caulfield Guineas Day, November 21.
• The Zipping Classic would be run at Caulfield on the old Caulfield Cup Day, October 17.
• The Thousand Guineas moves to the new Caulfield Cup Day.
• The Schillaci Stakes and Herbert Power would both be run on November 21 – with the Herbert Power remaining a win and you’re in race for the Caulfield Cup.
• The Sandown Cup would be run on November 21 at Caulfield
• The Ballarat Cup moves to December 5 from November 21, replacing the Pakenham Cup which would still be run at some stage.
• The Melbourne Cup Carnival would retain its traditional dates.
• The Geelong Cup retains its current date, October 21.

Moving the Zipping Classic to October 17 at Caulfield could ease concerns about a lack of appropriate lead-up races into the Melbourne Cup if the Caulfield Cup is moved.

Racing.com was told on Sunday that while many of the proposed dates above are likely to go before the RV board on Friday, some further changes are still likely.

The board will then decide whether to back a proposal to revamp the carnival dates or maintain its current schedule.

A number of meetings were held between clubs and the Committee last week in a bid to find middle ground on some date clashes, including October 17, the traditional Caulfield Cup day.

MVRC stated last week they were keen to run a meeting on the day, but MRC have indicated they still want to hold onto that date.

Under the SRC review proposal, the MRC would run the Rupert Clarke at Caulfield on October 17.

Moving the Blue Sapphire from October 14 to November 21, under the proposal seen by Racing.com, might provide Country Racing the opportunity to shift one of its impacted Cups to that day.

Both the MRC and MVRC declined to comment on Sunday.

RV directed Racing.com to its previous statement that "all options are on the table" and that it would not be running an ongoing commentary.

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