ATC Chairman’s Handicap

The ATC Chairman's Handicap is a staying event held during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival at Royal Randwick on Day 1 of 'The Championships - Doncaster Mile Day.

2023 Chairman's Quality Results

  • 1st: #5 Surefire
  • 2nd: #9 Gin Martini
  • 3rd: #6 Nerve Not Verve



The ATC Chairman’s Handicap is a 2600m staying event held at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse on the first Saturday in April* as part of the opening day of ‘The Championships’.

*In 2021 the Chairman’s Handicap ran on the second Saturday of April with all race meetings of the autumn in Sydney from Slipper Day onwards postponed a week due to the weather.

Doncaster Mile Day features four Group 1 status races led by the Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) as well as a number of Group 2 and 3 status races including the Chairman’s Handicap, also known as the Chairman’s Quality.

Worth $300,000 in prize money, the Group 2 quality handicap has a minimum weight of 52kg and a high weight of 61kg. It is a lead-up race to the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) and the winner of the Chairman’s Handicap is exempt from ballot and penalty for the Sydney Cup.

The Sydney Cup is run one week later at the same Royal Randwick track and The Offer (2014) was the latest horse when becoming the eighth to complete the Chairman’s Handicap – Sydney Cup double.

In 2016 the Chairman’s Handicap winner Libran went on to run second next-up in the Sydney Cup, while in 2017 Big Duke won the Chairman’s before a third in the Sydney Cup. More recently, the 2019 Sydney Cup winner Shraaoh improved on a lead-up Chairman’s Quality second before taking out the two mile classic. The following year, the 2020 Chairman’s winner Raheen House backed-up and finished a brave third in the Sydney Cup trifecta.

The 2021 Chairman’s Quality form was franked with the runner-up Rondinella going on to finish second in that year’s Sydney Cup quinella.

In 2022 Knights Order improved on a lead-up second in the Chairman’s Quality to win the Sydney Cup next start for the Waterhouse/Bott stable. He further franked the form that spring returning to run third in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in Melbourne.

The Chairman’s Quality 2023 ran on Saturday April 1, 2023 at Royal Randwick as a last minute Sydney Cup lead-up and was won in an upset by Chris Waller’s gutsy five-year-old Surefire ($17). 

2023 ATC Chairman’s Handicap
Date: Saturday April 1, 2023
Track: Randwick Racecourse, Sydney
Distance: 2600m
Race Type: Quality Handicap
Status: Group 2
Prizemoney: $300,000

2023 ATC Chairman’s Quality Results

  • 1st: #5 Surefire ($17)
  • 2nd: #9 Gin Martini
  • 3rd: #6 Nerve Not Verve

The Chris Waller-trained Surefire ($17) was back in winning form relishing a Heavy (8) track and perfectly-timed ride by the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira to narrowly hold off gutsy mares Gin Martini ($7.50) and last year’s champion Nerve Not Verve ($8) in the Chairman’s Quality 2023 results ahead of a potential seven day back-up into the Group 1 Sydney Cup field.

Click here to read more on the win by Surefire in the Chairman’s Quality 2023 on Doncaster Day.

2023 Chairman’s Quality Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 5 SUREFIRE (GB) Chris Waller Joao Moreira 2 56kg $17
2 9 GIN MARTINI (NZ) John Sargent Damian Lane 0.32L 7 54kg $7.50
3 6 NERVE NOT VERVE (NZ) Michael Moroney Dean Holland 0.46L 13 55.5kg $8
4 3 HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 2.72L 8 56kg $8
5 17 PESTO (GB) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Zac Lloyd (a) 2.77L 3 53kg $41
6 7 BENAUD John O’Shea James McDonald 2.87L 5 55.5kg $7F
7 1 STOCKMAN (NZ) Joseph Pride Sam Clipperton 3.04L 6 59kg $7.50
8 8 SACRAMENTO Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 4.24L 15 55kg $17
9 16 LE BAOL (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ms Louise Day 4.54L 9 53kg $17
10 12 NORMANDY BRIDGE (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Tyler Schiller (a) 4.6L 16 53kg $12
11 2 TORRENS Marc Chevalier Joshua Parr 5.9L 1 56.5kg (cd 57kg) $18
12 13 RAGING BULL David Payne Ms Rachel King 13.56L 11 53kg $17
13 18 ZEGALO (IRE) Mike Cattell Reece Jones (a) 18.1L 10 53kg $101
14 19 TAPPY’S LAD (NZ) Kerry Taplin Ben Thompson 22.98L 12 53kg $81
15 4 ASTERIX (NZ) Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott Michael Dee 24.99L 14 56kg $14
FF 14 ATHABASCAN (FR) John O’Shea Brett Prebble 4 53kg $19
10 TIMOUR (FR) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 0
15 ALMANIA (IRE) Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons (a) 0
11 REBEL RACER Amy & Ash Yargi Craig Newitt 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 ATC Chairman’s Handicap Betting Odds

The season’s latest ATC Chairman’s Handicap 2023 betting odds online provided by Ladbrokes.com.au will be available below for Races.com.au readers complete with market links.

There was a notable upset in 2022 with Nerve Not Verve winning the event at Chairman’s Quality odds of $26. Nerve Not Verve returned to run a close third in the 2023 Chairman’s Quality results that were led by the Chris Waller-trained outsider Surefire at  $17.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 CHAIRMAN’S QUALITY ODDS (Final Field)

2023 ATC Chairman’s Handicap Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 CHAIRMAN’S QUALITY FORM GUIDE

2023 ATC Chairman’s Handicap Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Chairman’s Quality 2023 Tips on the Randwick staying showdown this April.

  • To Win: #9 Gin Martini ($7.50 at time of publish) 

Open edition of the Chairman’s without a standout favourite to get behind. That also opens up a bit of value and sticking with sticking with John Sargent’s Rip Van Winkle mare Gin Martini. She’s drawn barrier 10 with time to get into position, and she is fit now third-up. Confidence boosting win last time out at Rosehill on March 18 in the Group 3 Epona Stakes over 1800m. She has winning form up to two miles so, even thought Randwick isn’t her preferred track, she’ll eat up the extra distance here with natural improvement on her side. Comes back in weight and Damian Lane aboard in another plus.

2023 ATC Chairman’s Handicap Field

The Chairman’s Handicap field attracts a smart line-up of Sydney Cup-bound stayers and many horses come via an earlier Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival run in a traditional lead-up race like Rosehill’s Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m) held a fortnight before.

The official 2023 Chairman’s Quality Field is set for release on Wednesday March 29, 2023 and will be published in full below.

The Chairman’s Quality 2023 final field features a bumper line-up of Sydney Cup-bound stayers including last start Group 3 Epona Stakes winning mare Gin Martini and the the Kris Lees-trained favourite Almania beaten under a length when fifth in the Group 3 NE Manion Cup last time out.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 44188×0058 STOCKMAN (NZ) Joseph Pride Sam Clipperton 9 59kg 106
2 1x8x601x06 TORRENS Marc Chevalier Joshua Parr 1 56.5kg 101
3 x341613x58 HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 11 56kg 104
4 6811×9104 ASTERIX (NZ) Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott Michael Dee 17 56kg 100
5 155021×889 SUREFIRE (GB) Chris Waller Joao Moreira 2 56kg 100
6 x9248x9722 NERVE NOT VERVE (NZ) Michael Moroney Dean Holland 16 55.5kg 103
7 x64260x994 BENAUD John O’Shea James McDonald 7 55.5kg 99
8 94530×5344 SACRAMENTO Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 18 55kg 98
9 x064314x61 GIN MARTINI (NZ) John Sargent Damian Lane 10 54kg 98
10 4565×70431 TIMOUR (FR) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 5 54kg 96
11 82×6932211 REBEL RACER Amy & Ash Yargi Craig Newitt 6 54kg 96
12 x470x8x808 NORMANDY BRIDGE (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Tyler Schiller (a) 19 53kg 92
13 4x15x76772 RAGING BULL David Payne Ms Rachel King 14 53kg 92
14 62334×8537 ATHABASCAN (FR) John O’Shea Brett Prebble 4 53kg 88
15 4x25x34315 ALMANIA (IRE) Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons (a) 8 53kg 86
16 8x835593x5 LE BAOL (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ms Louise Day 12 53kg 85
17 1234×74790 PESTO (GB) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Zac Lloyd (a) 3 53kg 77
18 0909702342 ZEGALO (IRE) Mike Cattell Reece Jones (a) 13 53kg 64
19 1253045110 TAPPY’S LAD (NZ) Kerry Taplin Ben Thompson 15 53kg 80

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 ATC Chairman’s Handicap Nominations

The ATC Chairman’s Handicap nominations 2023 will be published below as soon as released by Racing NSW on Monday March 27, 2023.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 4087340×04 ALAKAHAN (IRE) G 7 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 88
2 4x25x34315 ALMANIA (IRE) G 7 Kris Lees 86
3 6811×9104 ASTERIX (NZ) G 4 Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott 100
4 62334×8537 ATHABASCAN (FR) H 4 John O’Shea 88
5 x64260x994 BENAUD G 4 John O’Shea 100
6 x064314x61 GIN MARTINI (NZ) M 4 John Sargent 98
7 x341613x58 HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) M 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 104
8 8x835593x5 LE BAOL (FR) G 7 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 85
9 2x318x3x LIONEL (GB) G 4 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 84
10 x9248x9722 NERVE NOT VERVE (NZ) M 7 Michael Moroney 103
11 x470x8x808 NORMANDY BRIDGE (FR) G 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 92
12 1234×74790 PESTO (GB) G 7 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 77
13 4x15x76772 RAGING BULL G 4 David Payne 92
14 82×6932211 REBEL RACER G 6 Amy & Ash Yargi
15 94530×5344 SACRAMENTO G 6 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 98
16 26×2110307 SECRET GLAMOUR M 4 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 78
17 44188×0058 STOCKMAN (NZ) G 6 Joseph Pride
18 155021×889 SUREFIRE (GB) G 5 Chris Waller 100
19 1253045110 TAPPY’S LAD (NZ) G 5 Kerry Taplin 80
20 46x31x47x TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS (IRE) G 4 Joseph O’Brien 74
21 4565×70431 TIMOUR (FR) G 5 Chris Waller 96
22 1x8x601x06 TORRENS H 6 Marc Chevalier 101
23 0909702342 ZEGALO (IRE) G 6 Mike Cattell 64

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

ATC Chairman’s Handicap History

The Chairman’s Handicap first recorded win was in 1979 by Lady Dignitas. Since then, No Wine No Song has been the only horse to win the event in two consecutive years in 2007 and 2008. Steel Phoenix has also won the event twice in 1999 and 2001, as did Tremec (2013 & 2015).

The race started in 1979 as a Group 3 race and reached its current Group 2 status for the first time in 2002 when Henderson Bay won. It was run over 2600m from 1979 – 1999, but from 2000 – 2003 ran over a shorter distance of 2400m. It has been back up to 2600m since 2004.

See below for the full list of ATC / AJC Chairman’s Handicap results going back to 2000.

Past Chairman’s Handicap Winners

Year

Place

Horse

Time

2023
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Surefire 2 minutes 52.45 seconds
2nd Gin Martini
3rd Nerve Not Verve
2022
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Nerve Not Verve 2 minutes 51.96 seconds
2nd Knights Order
3rd Luncies
2021
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Quick Thinker 2 minutes 45.45 seconds
2nd Rondinella
3rd Paths Of Glory
2020
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Raheen House 2 minutes 47.85 seconds
2nd Carif
3rd Mirage Dancer
2019
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Gallic Chieftain 2 minutes 47.95 seconds
2nd Shraaoh
3rd Semari
2018
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Sir Charles Road 2 minutes 41.57 seconds
2nd Ventura Storm
3rd Peribsen
2017
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Big Duke 2 minutes 52.49 seconds
2nd Aloft
3rd Rock On
2016
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Libran 2 minutes 48.13 seconds
2nd Alegria
3rd Café Society
2015
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Tremec 2 minutes 49.40 seconds
2nd Sir John Hawkwood
3rd Grand Marshal
2014
Chairman’s Handicap
1st The Offer 2 minutes 51.63 seconds
2nd Tremec
3rd Hippopus
2013
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Tremec 2 minutes 44.4 seconds
2nd Blood Brotha
3rd Aliyana Tilde
2012
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Permit 2 minutes 41.9 seconds
2nd Older Than Time
3rd Nextanix
2011
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Once Were Wild 2 minutes 43.4 seconds
2nd Anudjawun
3rd C’est Le Guerre
2010
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Jessicabeel 2 minutes 44.6 seconds
2nd No Wine No Song
3rd Harris Tweed
2009
Chairman’s Handicap
1st
Divine Rebel
2 minutes 45.91 seconds
2nd Ice Chariot
3rd Common Objective
2008
Chairman’s Handicap
1st No Wine No Song 2 minutes 49.84 seconds
2nd Sky Biscuit
3rd Resolution
2007
Chairman’s Handicap
1st No Wine No Song 2 minutes 48.19 seconds
2nd Prince Arthur
3rd Magic Instinct
2006
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Fooram 2 minutes 45.06 seconds
2nd Three Chimneys
3rd Cross Bar
2005
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Philosophe 2 minutes 51.13 seconds
2nd Padfoot Charlie
3rd County Tyrone
2004
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Mummify 2 minutes 47.77 seconds
2nd County Tyrone
3rd Saturday Fever
2003
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Grey Song 2 minutes 32.44 seconds
2nd Honor Babe
3rd County Tyrone
2002
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Henderson Bay 2 minutes 29.79 seconds
2nd Homewrecker
3rd Asia
2001
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Steel Phoenix 2 minutes 32.06 seconds
2nd Giovana
3rd Wellington
2000
Chairman’s Handicap
1st Pravda 2 minutes 31.25 seconds
2nd Consolidator
3rd Regal Touch

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Z...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pr...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

Pride Of Jenni was enormous running her rivals ragged with a blistering...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results:...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s 2024 Golden Slipper field after a gutsy...

Magic Night Winner Drifting Fi...

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Drifting did plenty right to win the 2024 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results:...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

Celestial Legend put the writing on the wall for a huge year ahead with the...

Race Results

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Zougotcha Dives Late to Salute

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Race Previews

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

Fields & Form

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

2024 Randwick Guineas Field & Odds Update: Militarize Set to Strike Second-Up