The Caulfield Cup, historically one of Australia's greatest handicap races, could be switched to weight-for-age conditions as early as this year, Melbourne Racing Club officials told the Herald Sun. Prizemoney for the 1 1/2-mile race contested at Caulfield in late October is also likely to be boosted to A$4-million from A$3-million.
Officials said the changes would help attract international runners to the Caulfield Cup. Under weight-for-age conditions horses running in the Caulfield Cup would also not receive a weight penalty for the G1 Melbourne Cup.
“If we are going to increase international competition, we need to evolve,” MRC Chairman Mike Symons told the Herald Sun. “The distance is internationally recognised as the elite distance for good horses, but almost every other jurisdiction conducts those races at weight-for-age.”
Australia has just one race run over 2400 metres at weight-for- age, the G1 The BMW at Rosehill in March.
The Caulfield Cup falls a week before the weight-for-age A$3-million G1 Cox Plate, with the A$6-million G1 Melbourne Cup a further 10 days later.
Trainer Lee Freedman, who has won the Caulfield Cup on four occasions, spoke out against the changes on Friday, telling Racing.com, “I frankly don't agree with it, I think it is a particularly good race as it is, it is the best mile-and-a-half handicap in the world, it has always been the traditional double, the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup. I'm just very worried that by making it a weight-for-age race it will only encourage even better European horses here, that may be very well weighted in a Melbourne Cup and then win a weight-for-age Caulfield Cup and not receive a penalty.”
Trainer David Hayes told Racing.com, “It is always dangerous when tampering with a successful formula, [but] you have got to admire them being bold for the change. My first thought that comes to mind is that the Cox Plate is a [2040m] weight-for-age race and it will then be a week after a mile-and-a-half weight-for-age race, that doesn't really flow that well in to the Melbourne Cup.”
Prominent owner Lloyd Williams, who campaigned 2013 Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner (Aus) (Reset {Aus}), was for the changes, telling the Herald Sun, “It could become an international race of the calibre of the King George [in England]; a serious race.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
