A week ago, Darren Weir was Australia’s biggest trainer. Now he’s gone, banished from racing.
It’s fair to say it’s been a tough week for the sport.
Nevertheless, all eyes can return to the turf this week for the first Group 1 contest of the calendar year – the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield.
It’s kicks off an enormous autumn carnival. Racing gets so much attention in spring, it’s easy to forget just what a stunningly good period we have at this time of the year.
16 weeks, 38 Group 1 races across four states, plus the inaugural $5 million All-Star Mile at Flemington.
All of those big races are below, along with the current favourites thanks to Ladbrokes, who have futures markets up for them all.
A quick glance down the list shows that over the next few months, all of Australian racing’s biggest names will be on show: Winx, The Autumn Sun, Arcadia Queen, Alizee, Redzel and Nature Strip, just to name a few.
So yes… it’s been a bad week, but what a period we have coming up.
9th February
CF Orr Stakes (1400m, WFA), Caulfield
Prize Money: $500,000
Current Favourite: Kementari – $3.40 with Ladbrokes
16th February
Lightning Stakes (1000m, WFA), Flemington
Prize Money: $750,000
Current Favourite: Sunlight – $3.80 with Ladbrokes
23rd February
Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m, 2YOs, set weights), Caulfield
Prize Money: $1,500,000
Current Favourite: Catch Me – $4.20 with Ladbrokes
Oakleigh Plate (1100m, handicap), Caulfield
Prize Money: $500,000
Current Favourite: Nature Strip – $5.00 with Ladbrokes
Futurity Stakes (1400m, WFA), Caulfield
Prize Money: $500,000
Current Favourite: Alizee – $3.20 with Ladbrokes
2nd March
Australian Guineas (1600m, 3YOs, set weights), Flemington
Prize Money: $1,000,000
Current Favourite: Mystic Journey – $4.20 with Ladbrokes
Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m, 3YOs & up, WFA), Randwick
Prize Money: $600,000
Current Favourite: Winx – $1.10 with Ladbrokes
Surround Stakes (1400m, 3YO fillies, set weights), Randwick
Prize Money: $500,000
Current Favourite: Miss Fabulass – $3.80 with Ladbrokes
9th March
Australian Cup (2000m, WFA), Flemington
Prize Money: $1,500,000
Current Favourite: Avilius – $8.00 with Ladbrokes
Newmarket Handicap (1200m, handicap), Flemington
Prize Money: $1,250,000
Current Favourite: Graff – $7.00 with Ladbrokes
Randwick Guineas (1600m, 3YOs, set weights), Randwick
Prize Money: $1,000,000
Current Favourite: The Autumn Sun – $1.60 with Ladbrokes
Canterbury Stakes (1300m, 3YOs & up, WFA), Randwick
Prize Money: $500,000
Current Favourite: Alizee – $4.60 with Ladbrokes
16th March
All Star Mile (1600m, WFA), Flemington
Prize Money: $5,000,000
Current Favourite: Alizee – $4.40 with Ladbrokes
Coolmore Classic (1500m, 3YOs & up fillies & mares, quality), Rosehill
Prize Money: $600,000
Current Favourite: Alizee – $3.80 with Ladbrokes
22nd March
William Reid Stakes (1200m, WFA), Moonee Valley
Prize Money: $500,000
Current Favourite: Graff – $6.00 with Ladbrokes
23rd March
Golden Slipper (1200m, 2YOs, set weights), Rosehill
Prize Money: $3,500,000
Current Favourite: Tassort – $5.00 with Ladbrokes
George Ryder Stakes (1500m, 3YOs & up, WFA), Rosehill
Prize Money: $1,000,000
Current Favourite: Winx – $1.15 with Ladbrokes
The Galaxy (1100m, handicap), Rosehill
Prize Money: $700,000
Current Favourite: Graff and Redzel – both $8.00 with Ladbrokes
Ranvet Stakes (2000m, 3YOs & up, WFA), Rosehill
Prize Money: $700,000
Current Favourite: Avilius – $4.60 with Ladbrokes
Rosehill Guineas (2000m, 3YOs, set weights), Rosehill
Prize Money: $600,000
Current Favourite: The Autumn Sun – $2.00 with Ladbrokes
30th March
Tancred Stakes (2400m, 3YOs & up, WFA), Rosehill
Prize Money: $1,500,000
Current Favourite: Avilius – $6.00 with Ladbrokes
Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m, 3YO fillies, set weights), Rosehill
Prize Money: $500,000
Current Favourite: Arcadia Queen – $3.70 with Ladbrokes
6th April
Doncaster Handicap (1600m, 3YOs & up, handicap), Randwick
Prize Money: $3,000,000
Current Favourite: The Autumn Sun – $4.50 with Ladbrokes
TJ Smith Stakes (1200m, WFA), Randwick
Prize Money: $2,500,000
Current Favourite: Redzel – $7.00 with Ladbrokes
ATC Australian Derby (2400m, 3YOs, set weights), Randwick
Prize Money: $2,000,000
Current Favourite: The Autumn Sun – $5.00 with Ladbrokes
ATC Sires Produce (1400m, 2YOs, set weights), Randwick
Prize Money: $1,000,000
Current Favourite: Tassort – $5.00 with Ladbrokes
13th April
Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m, 3YOs & up, WFA), Randwick
Prize Money: $4,000,000
Current Favourite: Winx – $1.20 with Ladbrokes
Queen Of The Turf (1600m, 3YOs & up fillies & mares, WFA), Randwick
Prize Money: $1,000,000
Current Favourite: Alizee – $3.60 with Ladbrokes
ATC Oaks (2400m, 3YO fillies, set weights), Randwick
Prize Money: $1,000,000
Current Favourite: Miss Fabulass – $7.00 with Ladbrokes
20th April
All Aged Stakes (1400m, WFA), Randwick
Prize Money: $600,000
Current Favourite: Graff and Pierata – both $9.00 with Ladbrokes
Champagne Stakes (1600m, 2YOs, set weights), Randwick
Prize Money: $500,000
Current Favourite: Tassort – $4.00 with Ladbrokes
4th May
Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m, Fillies & mares, WFA) , Morphettville
Prize Money: $1,000,000
Australasian Oaks (2000m, 3YO fillies, set weights), Morphettville
Prize Money: $500,000
11th May
Doomben 10,000 (1200m, WFA), Doomben
Prize Money: $700,000
SA Derby (2500m, 3YOs, set weights), Morphettville
Prize Money: $600,000
18th May
The Goodwood (1200m, set weights + penalties), Morphettville
Prize Money: $1,000,000
25th May
Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m, quality), Eagle Farm
Prize Money: $700,000
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