The Galaxy

Winners and Past Results for The Galaxy.

One of the major black type races during the Sydney autumn racing carnival in April is The Galaxy. The Group 1 event is held at Rosehill Racecourse with sprinters of all ages travelling over 1100 metres under handicap conditions in a bid to take home a purse of $350,000.

The Galaxy is held on one of the biggest days during the carnival alongside other major Group 1 races which include the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes and Group 1 Rosehill Guineas. The open handicap race is hosted by the Australian Turf Club.

The race attracts some of the best sprinters around during autumn that may make their way here after an outing in the  Group 2 Challenge Stakes held earlier.

Some may have also tackled the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup earlier in March. The race usually favours horses that are fast to jump and are drawn close to the barriers as this is a distinct advantage.

Among the accomplished sprinters to win The Galaxy include Bletchingly in 1975, Grey Receiver in 1984-84, Schillaci in 1992, Gold Ace in 1996, Mistegic in 2002, Spark Of Life in 2004, Magnus in 2007 and Nicconi in 2009. The Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes over 1200 metres at Randwick may be next on the cards for top performers in The Galaxy.

The Galaxy was first held in 1972 as a principal race. Hit It Benny is recorded as its first winner as a Group 2 event in 1980 while Mr. Illusion has the distinction of being the first to win after it achieved Group 1 status in 1984. The 2010 edition saw Ortensia being disqualified after failing a drug test, following which runner-up Shellscrape declared the winner after a four-month inquiry. Interestingly, only five fillies or mares have managed to win The Galaxy with La Baraka the last in 1998.