The Autumn Racing Carnival is here! We’re in for a bumper few months of racing with all of the superstars of the Australian turf.
Each of the Champion Bets racing analysts will of course be heavily engaged over the Autumn Racing Carnival. Trevor Lawson, Cameron O’Brien, The Professor and Gareth Phillips cover all the big meetings between them, and they’re raring to go for the big races of the Autumn Racing Carnival. Here are five we’re particularly pumped for… and a look at some legendary editions of the past.
1. Black Caviar Lightning
Flemington, Sat 19th Feb. Group 1 WFA, 1000m. $1 million.
It’s technically not even autumn yet but it’s hard to not be excited about this race. The race is named after the legendary unbeaten sprinter and in 2022, the field assembled does justice to that honour. The majority of the country’s top sprinters will take part including Nature Strip, Eduardo, Profiteer, Home Affairs, Gytrash and more.
History highlight Pretty hard to go past the legend herself. She won this three straight times but her first win in 2011 was the standout when she made very good sprinters look like picnic horses.
BLACK CAVIAR owned the Lightning Stakes from 2011-2013. ⚡⚡⚡
In 2013, she lit up the @flemingtonvrc straight, producing a track-record time that had stood for 25 years. pic.twitter.com/jqnHLPz47P
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 16, 2018
2. All-Star Mile
Flemington, Sat 19th March. WFA, 1600m. $5 million.
It’s only in its fourth year and there were doubters in the early days, but Racing Victoria’s new marquee race seems to have gained a solid footing. The quality of the race is of course up to the punters who vote for it, but prior to the close of voting the top of the leaderboard includes names like Verry Elleegant, Zaaki, I’m Thunderstruck, Espiona, Probabeel and Behemoth… so there’s certainly scope for a cracking field.
History highlight The first All-Star Mile produced the best story so far. Three-year-old filly Mystic Journey, purchased by her trainer for just $11,000, managed to top her prior Australian Guineas win with a stunning All-Star Mile victory.
She only cost $AUD 11K. She’s earned $AUD 3,262,600. ❤️
Mystic Journey and her strapper went viral after their All-Star Mile win was viewed over 25 million times.
📹 @Racing pic.twitter.com/AsOfdtdpkl
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) August 12, 2019
3. Golden Slipper
Rosehill, Sat 19th March. Group 1, set weights, two-year-olds, 1200m. $5 million.
The two-year-old classic is always a must-watch. It’s the richest race in the world for two-year-olds and with another boost in 2022 to $5 million, it’s going to stay that way!
History highlight Manikato slaughtered them in the 1978 Golden Slipper, which was just the start of an incredible career.
Look at Manikato let rip in the 1978 Golden Slipper!
🤩 Some CV:
Blue Diamond Stakes
Golden Slipper Stakes
George Ryder Stakes
Futurity Stakes x 4
C.F. Orr Stakes x 3
William Reid Stakes x 5
Doomben 10,000
Queen Elizabeth Cup pic.twitter.com/9AxSuCKfFS— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 25, 2021
4. TJ Smith Stakes
Randwick, Sat 2nd April. Group 1 WFA, 1200m. $2.5 million.
Those star sprinters lining up in the Lightning might take slightly different paths throughout the autumn, but there’s no doubt the best of them will wind up in the TJ. It’s a relatively new race, but the high stakes ($2.5 million prizemoney) that it now commands mean the best sprinters are always there. The Everest might be worth $15 million, but the field for this race is usually just as good.
History highlight You could go a number of ways here with so many great horses having this race (including Black Caviar, no less), but Santa Ana Lane’s 2019 demolition job is still a fantastic watch.
With the news today that champion sprinter Santa Ana Lane has been retired we look back on his 2019 TJ Smith Stakes win at @royalrandwick which was his fifth Group One victory!
Happy retirement champ @FreedmanRacing pic.twitter.com/pRBJLQd2sc
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2020
5. Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Randwick, Sat 9th April. Group 1 WFA, 2000m. $4 million.
When The Championships started in 2014 they needed a marquee race, and they landed on the Queen Elizabeth. The resultant $4 million purse attracts the best, with the great Winx making the race her own in recent years. But the history of the race traces all the way back to 1851, and the honour roll of winners is as good as any: Archer, Tim Whiffler, The Barb, Carbine, Wakeful, Phar Lap, Tulloch, Might and Power, More Joyous and Winx.
History highlight Again, there are plenty of options for great wins here (though some of them came in the years before film!). Winx won this race three times but for a single dominant performance, you can’t go past Might And Power’s jaw-dropping win in 1998.
RIP Might & Power 😢@johntappracing recalls the 98 Queen Elizabeth https://t.co/CqALuvDlEj
🏇 🏇 pic.twitter.com/HwTbhEAixT
— ChampionBets.com.au (@ChampionBetsAU) April 12, 2020
Autumn Racing Carnival 2022: G1 and $1m races
| Date | Track | Race | Distance | Prizemoney | Conditions |
| Sat 12 Feb | Caul | CF Orr Stakes (G1) | 1400 | $750k | WFA |
| Sat 19 Feb | Flem | Black Caviar Lightning (G1) | 1000 | $1m | WFA |
| Sat 26 Feb | Caul | Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) | 1200 | $1.5m | 2YO, SW |
| Sat 26 Feb | Caul | Oakleigh Plate (G1) | 1100 | $750k | Handicap |
| Sat 26 Feb | Caul | Futurity Stakes (G1) | 1400 | $750k | WFA |
| Sat 26 Feb | Rand | Chipping Norton Stakes (G1) | 1600 | $600k | 3YO+, WFA |
| Sat 26 Feb | Rand | Surround Stakes (G1) | 1400 | $500k | 3YO fillies, SW |
| Sat 5 Mar | Flem | Australian Guineas (G1) | 1600 | $1m | 3YO, SW |
| Sat 5 Mar | Rand | Randwick Guineas (G1) | 1600 | $1m | 3YO, SW |
| Sat 5 Mar | Rand | Canterbury Stakes (G1) | 1300 | $500k | 3YO+, WFA |
| Sat 12 Mar | Flem | Newmarket Handicap (G1) | 1200 | $1.5m | Handicap |
| Sat 12 Mar | Flem | Australian Cup (G1) | 2000 | $1.5m | WFA |
| Sat 12 Mar | Rose | Coolmore Classic (G1) | 1500 | $600k | 3YO+ fillies & mares, quality |
| Sat 19 Mar | Flem | All-Star Mile | 1600 | $5m | WFA |
| Sat 19 Mar | Rose | Golden Slipper Stakes (G1) | 1200 | $5m | 2YO, SW |
| Sat 19 Mar | Rose | George Ryder Stakes (G1) | 1500 | $1m | 3YO+, WFA |
| Sat 19 Mar | Rose | The Galaxy (G1) | 1100 | $700k | 3YO+, handicap |
| Sat 19 Mar | Rose | Ranvet Stakes (G1) | 2000 | $700k | 3YO+, WFA |
| Sat 19 Mar | Rose | Rosehill Guineas (G1) | 2000 | $600k | 3YO, SW |
| Fri 25 Mar | MV | William Reid Stakes (G1) | 1200 | $1m | WFA |
| Sat 26 Mar | Rose | HE Tancred Stakes (G1) | 2400 | $1.5m | 3YO+, WFA |
| Sat 26 Mar | Rose | Vinery Stud Stakes (G1) | 2000 | $500k | 3YO fillies, SW |
| Sat 2 Apr | Rand | Doncaster Handicap (G1) | 1600 | $3m | 3YO+, handicap |
| Sat 2 Apr | Rand | TJ Smith Stakes (G1) | 1200 | $2.5m | WFA |
| Sat 2 Apr | Rand | Australian Derby (G1) | 2400 | $2m | 3YO, SW |
| Sat 2 Apr | Rand | ATC Sires Produce Stakes (G1) | 1400 | $1m | 2YO, SW |
| Sat 9 Apr | Rand | Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) | 2000 | $4m | 3YO+, WFA |
| Sat 9 Apr | Rand | Sydney Cup (G1) | 3200 | $2m | 3YO+, handicap |
| Sat 9 Apr | Rand | ATC Oaks (G1) | 2400 | $1m | 3YO fillies, SW |
| Sat 9 Apr | Rand | Queen Of The Turf Stakes (G1) | 1600 | $1m | 3YO+ fillies & mares, WFA |
| Sat 9 Apr | Rand | Percy Sykes Stakes (G2) | 1200 | $1m | 2YO fillies, SWP |
| Sat 9 Apr | Rand | Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (G2) | 1200 | $1m | 3YO, SW |
| Sat 16 Apr | Rand | All Aged Stakes (G1) | 1400 | $600k | WFA |
| Sat 16 Apr | Rand | Champagne Stakes (G1) | 1600 | $500k | 2YO, SW |
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