Victoria Handicap

Winners and Past Results for the Victoria Handicap

The Victoria Handicap is a Group 3 race hosted by Melbourne Racing Club held on Easter Saturday every year.

In the Victoria Handicap horses travel a distance of 1400 metres of the Caulfield track under handicap conditions for a shot at prize money worth $150,000.

The other Group 3 race held on the day is the Easter Cup.

The sprint race often attracts better performing interstate gallopers rather than the classier types who tend to remain in Sydney for the bigger events. Picking a winner can be a daunting task at times since gallopers of varying ability usually make their way to the Victoria Handicap.

The Listed Moonee Valley Quality is one of the likely warm up events before the Victoria Handicap although there are a number of listed handicap events held around this time.

Ungar won the first Victoria Handicap as a principal race in 1949. Schaparo was recorded as the first winner as a Group 3 event in 1980. Debrief won in 2002 and came back strongly again the next year while Jet Fighter scored back to back victories earlier in 1987-88.

The event was elevated from its initial Principal race status to a prestigious Group 3 race in 1980.

2013 Victoria Handicap

Budriguez didn't make the best of starts but jockey Darren Gauci soon got his mount into gear and pushed the gelding into the lead. Budriguez relaxed well in the middle stages and rolled along the rail, with plenty in reserve as he led the field around the turn and into the straight. As they started the run home, Budriguez was shifted off the rail to find better ground and it was a cruise to the post from the point, with the six-year-old looking in control all the way. Budriguez won by more than a length over Sertorius while British General did well to finish third after being caught wide early.

2013 Victoria Handicap result

1. Budriguez
2. Sertorius
3. British General

Then came:

4. Launay
5. Under The Eiffel
6. Precedence
7. Shout Out Loud
8. Parthian
9. Blackie
10. Proliferate
11. Freereturn
12. C'est La Guerre