Frank Packer Plate

Winners and Past Results for the Frank Packer Plate.

An important race in the big list of events hosted by the Australian Turf Club is the Frank Packer Plate held annually in April.

It is a Group 3 race held under set weight conditions. 3 year old horses take part in Frank Packer Plate open to both fillies and mares.

The race is held over a distance of 2000 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales. The Frank Packer Plate is organised on the same day as the Group 1 All Aged Stakes and Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes. For this reason, Randwick Racecourse is packed to capacity with race goers wishing to spread their wager over the long race card.

The race attracts prize money worth $150,000.

In comparison with other Group races, the Frank Packer Plate is new to the Australian racing calendar. It was inaugurated in 1980 as a Group 2 event and held over a distance of 2000 metres under set weight conditions. The winner of that event was Lauriat. From 1980 to 1990 it remained a Group 2 event but in 1991 it was downgraded to its present Group 3 status.

Those 3 year old gallopers who were not able to participate in the AJC Australian Derby or in the AJC Australian Oaks held over a distance of 2400 metres often take part in this middle distance event.

Prior to participating in the Frank Packer Plate many horses test their mettle in other popular 2000 metre events such as the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes held at Rosehill Racecourse or the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes, which is held for fillies at Randwick. Many of the winners of the Frank Packer Plate, after developing their galloping skills gradually become top line middle distance gallopers, milers, or stayers.

Shadows In The Sun, winner in 2011, finished sixth in the Frank Packer Plate before winning the South Australian Derby. Might and Power, for example, won the Frank Packer Plate in 1997 and later become the Melbourne Cup Champion.

Recent star winners of the Frank Packer Plate are Shootoff in 2011, Dariana in 2010 and Yallingup in 2009. Earlier, Freemason, Clangalang, and Dream Machine were among the star gallopers to win the title. Several horses that perform well move up north for the Brisbane winter carnival.