MELBOURNE Racing Club has added a $1 million race to its Caulfield Cup day meeting. The MRC will launch this year the Caulfield Classic, a race over 2000 metres, which carries $750,000 in prizemoney as well as an enticing $250,000 bonus.
The bonus will activate if the Beck Caulfield Guineas winner or Schweppes Thousand Guineas winner can win the Caulfield Classic.
With the introduction of the Caulfield Classic, the MRC has revamped programming for its three day carnival.
The Thousand Guineas moves from its traditional Wednesday time slot to the first day of the MRC carnival.
And, with its switch the MRC will now offer four Group 1s on Caulfield Guineas day. The other Group 1s are the Guineas, the Caulfield Stakes and the Toorak Handicap.
Caulfield Guineas day is now one of just five days in the national calendar that boasts four Group 1 meetings on the program.
The Caulfield Classic, previously known as the Norman Robinson Stakes, will be run set weight conditions.
Previously, the Norman Robinson, which carried $150,000 in prizemoney, was run as a set weights and penalties race.
The Blue Sapphire, a $250,000 race for three-year-olds over 1200 m, will now be the headline event on the Wednesday program – the middle day of the MRC carnival.
Also, the MRC has moved the Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude to its Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes day on Sunday, September 28.
It was previous run on Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes day. (racingnetwork)