Tramway Quality Handicap

Winners and Past Results for the Tramway Quality Handicap

Hosted by the Australian Turf Club, the Tramway Quality Handicap is a Group 3 race for horses three years old and over.

Horses travel 1400 metres of the Randwick Racecourse in Sydney for a shot at prize money worth $125,000. The event is held annually in September during the Sydney spring racing carnival. Other major races held on the same day are the Group 2 Furious Stakes and Chelmsford Stakes. For trainers, the Tramway Quality Handicap is an important event since the winner gains automatic entry to the Epsom Handicap. The race is usually taken by horses who are best suited under quality handicap conditions.

While some horses may come in after a spell, the Show County Quality held two weeks earlier over an extended distance of 1600 metres at the same track is usually one of the better form guides. A number of horses have won or placed well in both the events. Sportsman in 2003, Primus in 2006, and Bank Robber in 2008 all won the Show County Quality / Tramway Quality Handicap double. Lotteria won the Show County prior to finishing second in the 2005 Tramway Quality. Thankgodyou'rehere ran fifth in the 2011 Show County Quality prior to stepping up to third place here. Earlier, Neeson finished third in 2010 before winning the Tramway Quality.

Being an early race during the spring carnival, horses may step up in distance to tackle a variety of group races in Sydney and Melbourne. Winner in 2011, Sincero went on to lift the 1500 M Group 1 George Main Stakes at Rosehill Racecourse in his next run while third placed Thankgodyou'rehere upped the tempo to win the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap over the same distance at Rosehill a fortnight later. Rangirangdoo went on to finish second in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap after winning here in 2009 before moving to Melbourne to win the Group 2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley.

The Tramway Quality Handicap has a rich history with the first race held back in 1886 over 7 furlongs. It was a listed race between 1979 and 1983 prior to being elevated to Group 3 in 1984. Notable runners to add the Tramway Quality Handicap to their resume in recent times include Sportsman in 2003 and Shania Dane in 2005 while Bank Robber triumphed in 2008.

2012 Tramway Quality Handicap

Tagus was a $41 outsider in this Group 3 handicap but the gelding confounded the punters with a narrow win. Steps In Time set the pace, getting a jump on the rest of the field to lead by a length with 600 to go. However, Tagus was urged forward by Jimmy Cassidy and he threw down the gauntlet on hitting the front, waiting for challenges to come in the straight. Kontiki Park was the main threat and charged home but the unfancied Tagus was too strong, going to the line to win by a long neck. The favourite, Moment Of Change, ran on well after being caught wide and finished third.

2012 Tramway Quality Handicap result

1. Tagus
2. Kontiki Park
3. Moment Of Change

Then came:

4. Rangirangdoo
5. Darci Be Good
6. Said Com
7. Class Is Class
8. Monton
9. Rolling Pin
10. Steps In Time
11. Quintessential
12. Wild And Proud