Breeders Classic

Winners and Past Results.The Breeders Classic is among the most exciting Group 2 events held annually at the Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in mid February. FREE $250.00 Bet

The race fields some of the finest four year old mares seeking to stamp their authority on the Randwick track over a distance of 1200 meters at the autumn racing carnival.

Hosted by the Australian Turf Club, the Breeders Classic is run under set weight plus penalties with a total of $175,000 at stake for the winners. The race is held on a day packed with Group races such as the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes, and Group 3 Royal Sovereign Stakes and Southern Cross Stakes. Set weight conditions allow solid sprinting mares and classy females returning from a spell to run at their peak and become a favorite with punters.

Mares often make their way to the Breeders Classic from the Villiers Stakes. Top class mares to win the Breeders Classic over the past decade include Staging in 2000, Miss Helterskelter in 2003, Winning Belle in 2005, Gallant Tess in 2008, the talented Hot Danish in 2009, Alverta in 2010, and More Joyous in 2011.

The race usually brings up a field of handy mares to test punters to the limit. Some of the finest mares find their way to the Breeders Classic after a run in the Group 1 WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. More Joyous, the 2011 champion, was unplaced in the Cox Plate before scoring a comfortable victory in the Breeders Classic. Other top quality Australian mares to engrave their names on the trophy include Arletty in 1998 and Gwendolyn in 2002.

The first Breeders Classic was held in 1996, which was won by a New Zealand horse, Destruct.

Private Steer, the 2004 champion holds the record for the fastest time of 1 minute and 8.31 seconds. Several mares to compete in the Breeders Classic may have run in the Expressway Stakes, a 1200 meter race held a week earlier on the Randwick tracks.

Gai Waterhouse trained More Joyous, the 2011 winner, proved a point that set weights favour in form mares, scoring the first win of the season by convincingly beating Graceful Anna by two lengths. She went on to win the 2011 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse and the Canterbury Stakes and Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Rosehill Racecourse in fine fashion, which should serve as a definitive form guide for punters.

2011 Breeders Classic

More Joyous turned in a terrific performance in winning the Breeders Classic, racing near the lead until the front straight where she poured on the pace and left the others standing. More Joyous eventually won by two lengths, well clear of roughies Graceful Anna and No Evidence Needed.

2011 Breeders Classic result

1. More Joyous
2. Graceful Anna
3. No Evidence Needed

Then came:

4. Marquardt
5. Montana Flyer
6. Sacred Choice
7. Strawberry Field
8. Jersey Lily
9. Miss Keepsake