Caulfield Autumn Classic

Winners and Past Results for the Caulfield Autumn Classic.

The Caulfield Autumn Classic hosted by the Melbourne Racing Club is a Group 2 open race for three year old horses. It is run under set weight conditions at the Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne during the autumn racing carnival at the end of February or early March.

Horses compete over a distance of 1800 meters for prize money worth $200,000.

The race card for the day includes the Group 1 Futurity Stakes, Blue Diamond Stakes and the Oakleigh Plate.

Set weight conditions favour stronger gallopers who can stretch well past the mile. Some of the classier three year olds make their way to the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse in March or the Group 1 Australian Cup and Group 3 Easter Cup run over a distance of 2000 meters over the season.

Over the years many quality gallopers have won the Autumn Cup, which includes Gurner's Lane in 1982, Triscay in 1991, Laranto in 1992, Hurricane Sky in 1995, Dignity Dancer in 1999, Elvstroem in 2004, Ambitious General in 2007, and Stokehouse in 2009.

Lord Gavin went down in history as the first winner of the Autumn Classic. The race remained a principal race until 1979. It was elevated to Group 3 in 1989 and was a Group 2 race since 1991. In 2011, the race was known as the Yalumba Autumn Classic 162. Earlier, it was also held as the VATC Stanley Plate.

Horses that win the Autumn Classic are likely to boost their stud value. Later in the season, handy horses also look to compete in the Auries Star Handicap at Flemington Racecourse and Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Hillside.

Lee and Shannon Hope trained Folding Gear, the 2011 Autumn Classic champion, broke his maiden status after winning the $30,000 Luxury Life Travel 0-72 Handicap over a distance of 1800 meters at Sandown Hillside on his way to Caulfield. He ran third in Alistair Clarke Stakes. Extra Zero, winner in 2010, ran third in the CS Hayes Stakes and fifth in the Alistair Clarke Stakes before being steered to victory by Glen Boss in the Autumn Classic, making it his third win from 27 starts.

Elvstroem, the 2004 title holder is among the most outstanding horses with a fine fleet of foot who went on to blaze the tracks on the international racing circuit as well.