The most illustrious thoroughbred racing events held in Australia take place as part of the Melbourne and Sydney racing carnivals. South Australia, however, is also home to an exciting and elite range of group races that are held as part of the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival.
The esteemed Morphettville racecourse, approximately five kilometres out of the Adelaide CBD, is the premier South Australian track and the location of the Adelaide Racing Carnival. Conducted by the South Australian Jockey Club (SAJC) the major period of racing at Morphettville runs through March until May annually.
Just prior to the major Adelaide Racing Carnival, two Group 3 races are held in late February. The Group 3 $125 000 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) run at set weights plus penalties and the Group 3 $100 000 SA Breeders Stakes (1200m) kick off the season.
The March racing carnival sees the esteemed Group 2 Adelaide Cup run on the Monday Labour Day public holiday followed by two fantastic Group 1 features less than a fortnight later, the Robert Sangster Stakes and the Australasian Oaks.
Towards the end august, Morphettville hosts two more highly anticipated Group 1 events, The Goodwood and the South Australian Derby.
Adelaide Racing Carnival ? Race Days:
There are six elite racedays held at Morphettville during the annual Adelaide Racing Carnival.
Adelaide Cup Day
Robert Sangster Stakes Day
SA Oaks Day
Queen Of The South Stakes Day
Goodwood Day
Spring Stakes Day
Adelaide Cup Day
This is the first official race meeting of the carnival and takes place on the Monday of the Labour Day long weekend. The highlight race of the day is the Group 2 $400 000 Adelaide Cup (3200m), which is an open handicap and the most prestigious distance race of the carnival.
The Group 2 Yallambee Stud Classic is also held at this meeting, which is a 1200m sprint for three-year-olds at set weights worth $200 000. It is a fairly easy black type race that attracts the handiest local sprinters as well as some talented interstate gallopers.
The final on Adelaide Cup Day is the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes. This 1100m event is worth $100 000 and is the first weight-for-age event at group level held during autumn in South Australia.
Robert Sangster Stakes Day
The second major meeting at Morphettville in autumn, this day is held on a Saturday in mid-March. The feature race is the Group 1 $300 000 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m), which is a weight-for-age event for fillies and mares. The Robert Sangster is the first Group 1 race held in South Australia each season and is also the premier females? race of the Adelaide carnival.
Another esteemed Group 1 race is also held at this meeting, the Australasian Oaks, which is a 2000m race for three-year-old fillies at set weights worth $300 000, and suits quality staying females.
The Group 3 The Jansz National Stakes is the last race on the cards for the day. It is a 1200m sprint event for two-year-olds at set weights plus penalties worth $100 000 and is the first event for two-year-olds at the carnival. The Jansz National Stakes is an excellent follow up race for youngsters that previously contested the Group 3 SA Breeders Stakes.
SA Oaks Day
Taking place on a Saturday in early April, this is the third exciting race day of the Adelaide racing carnival. The premier event of the meeting is the Group 3 SA Oaks. Run over 2400m it is a quality staying event for three-year-old fillies at set weights worth $100 000. It is the longest distanced race for fillies at the carnival with many entries continuing on to perform in the SA Derby held a month later.
The Group 3 Sires Produce Stakes is the second race of the day and is a 1400m middle distance event for two-year-olds at set weights worth $100 000. It is the first group level race for two-year-olds held over a distance greater than 1200m.
Queen Of The South Stakes Day
Held the Saturday after the SA Oaks Day in April, the highlight event of this meeting is the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes. It is a 1600m middle distance race for fillies and mares with set weights plus penalties and is worth $150 000.
The following race is the Group 3 DC Mckay Stakes, which is a quality handicap run over 1100m offering a prize purse of $100 000. Runners may progress on to the Group 1 Goodwood a fortnight later.
Goodwood Day
Conducted on the first Saturday in May, this race meeting is home to two premier Group 1 races. The feature event is the Group 1 $300 000 Goodwood (1200m) run under set weights plus penalties over 1200m. It is the most important and anticipated sprint race at the Adelaide carnival and always attracts a strong field of entries.
The other Group 1 event on the day is the $300 000 SA Derby for three-year-olds under set weight conditions. Run over 2500m, it is the longest distanced race at the carnival and suits the strongest stayers.
Two Group 3 races finish off the day, the $200 000 RA Lee Stakes (1600m) run under set weights plus penalties and the $100 000 Auraria Stakes (1800m) for three-year-old fillies at set weights plus penalties.
Spring Stakes Day
Although not part of the Adelaide Autumn Carnival, this is still an important race day for Morphettville. Held on a Saturday in early August, the Group 3 $100 000 Spring Stakes (1200m WFA) is conducted at this meeting and is the last major black type race held in Adelaide for the season.
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