The Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic is a Group 3 event for three-year-old staying types run at Caulfield Racecourse in mid-late October on the same day as the first leg of the Spring Cups double – Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Run over a testing 2000m, the Caulfield Classic is one of four staying events on the program, making this a great day for staying events. The Caulfield Classic field is comprised strictly of three year olds who compete under set weight conditions. For this reason, high quality horses generally rise to the top of the results. With $350,000 in prize money on offer, the Caulfield Classic is easily one of the most lucrative Group 3 races during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and draws three-year-olds that could continue onto the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Polanski (2013) was the last horse to complete the Caulfield Classic – Victoria Derby double.
Three-year-olds in the Caulfield Classic field may be backing-up on the quick turnaround after contesting the Group 1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) the Saturday prior. There is a $500,000 bonus on offer to any three-year-old that wins either the Caulfield Guineas or Thousand Guineas as well as the Caulfield Classic, formerly known as the Norman Robinson Stakes.
The 2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic ran on Saturday October 21, 2017 at Caulfield Racecourse.
| Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday October 21, 2017 |
| Track: | Caulfield Racecourse |
| Distance: | 2000m |
| Race Type: | 3YOs Set Weights |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $350,000 |
2017 Ladbrokes Classic Results
- 1st: #2 Cliff’s Edge
- 2nd: #1 Tangled
- 3rd: #4 Main Stage
See below for the official Ladbrokes Classic 2017 Results & Finishing Order, following the link to read more about the powerhouse win by the Darren Weir-trained Cliff’s Edge who lead all-the-way before bolting home to defeat Tangled by nearly three lengths on way to the VRC Derby during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | CLIFF’S EDGE | Darren Weir | John Allen | – | 8 | 57kg | $3.80F |
| 2 | 1 | TANGLED | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 2.75L | 5 | 57kg | $5 |
| 3 | 4 | MAIN STAGE (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Mark Zahra | 5L | 1 | 57kg | $4 |
| 4 | 6 | ABERRO | Matt Laurie | Ben Melham | 5.1L | 2 | 57kg | $31 |
| 5 | 3 | ESHTIRAAK | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Kerrin McEvoy | 5.2L | 6 | 57kg | $12 |
| 6 | 7 | TAVISTOCK ABBEY (NZ) | Anthony Freedman | Luke Currie | 8.45L | 4 | 57kg | $6.50 |
| 7 | 8 | SWEET MISCHIEF | Tony McEvoy | Joao Moreira | 9.95L | 3 | 55kg | $31 |
| 8 | 5 | ATARAXIA | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 10.35L | 7 | 57kg | $9 |
2017 Ladbrokes Classic Tips
- 1st: #4 Main Stage
- 2nd: #7 Tavistock Abbey
- 3rd; #2 Cliff’s Edge
It’s a wide open field with five of the eight under double figures and four battling for top spot. Have to lean towards MAIN STAGE ($4) with the rails run. Yet to finish out of the money and top two in his past four starts. Latest win was from out wide (13 of 14) at Flemington in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m). Fancy that form in this to stack-up getting up to 2000m. He ran down the flying frontrunner (Cliff’s Edge) there and was improving. TAVISTOCK ABBEY ($5) is the market mover chasing a third win on the trot. Beat Main Stage narrowly over Flemington 1800m on September 27. Missed the UCI Stakes, but has trialled in the interim and gets the chance to show-up again in his first black-type run. CLIFF’S EDGE set a frantic pace in the UCI Stakes but was run down by Main Stage. The Darren Weir-trained colt is a definite top three chance again with previous winning form at Caulfield in a small field this weekend.
Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic Betting
The Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic odds will be detailed below complete with links to the race sponsor’s markets so you can back your Ladbrokes Classic Tips in at the best prices this season through Ladbrokes.com.au.
2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic Field
The 2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic field and barrier draw is set for release on the Wednesday leading up to Caulfield Cup Day and will be detailed in full below once announced by Racing Victoria.
The official Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic Final Field announcement follows early nominations taken at the start of August that are then followed by First Caulfield Classic Acceptances (in late September) and Second Caulfield Classic Acceptances (in early October).
The official Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic 2017 Field attracted just the eight hopefuls including the Chris Waller-trained Tangled coming off a lead-up second in Sydney’s Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m). Main Stage came up trumps with barrier one looking for successive wins after success at Flemington in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m).
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x51100x942 | TANGLED | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 5 | 57kg | 90 |
| 2 | 21×81812 | CLIFF’S EDGE | Darren Weir | John Allen | 8 | 57kg | 77 |
| 3 | 11617×4256 | ESHTIRAAK | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Kerrin McEvoy | 6 | 57kg | 72 |
| 4 | 3×2121 | MAIN STAGE (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Mark Zahra | 1 | 57kg | 75 |
| 5 | 203×161 | ATARAXIA | James Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 7 | 57kg | 72 |
| 6 | 226×1455 | ABERRO | Matt Laurie | Ben Melham | 2 | 57kg | 63 |
| 7 | 2011 | TAVISTOCK ABBEY (NZ) | Anthony Freedman | Luke Currie | 4 | 57kg | 69 |
| 8 | 723 | SWEET MISCHIEF | Tony McEvoy | Joao Moreira | 3 | 55kg | 60 |
2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic Second Acceptances
The Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic 2017 second acceptances featured 34 three-year-olds including Catchy who ran third in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas last Saturday and the upset $101 winner of that mile feature Mighty Boss.
Caulfield Classic History
Early in 2014, the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) announced that they would be replacing the Norman Robinson Stakes with the Caulfield Classic, a new event that would boast a massive $750,000 prize money with an additional $250,000 to first place if they also won either the Thousand Guineas or the Caulfield Guineas. However, the Caulfield Classic will still share the history of the Norman Robinson Stakes.
Caulfield Classic prize money is down to $500,000 for the 2016 edition and the race is sponsored by Ladbrokes.com.au.
When the race was first inaugurated in 1978, it was held over 2000m and ran as a listed race. For 1998 and 1999, the Caulfield Classic ran as a Group 3 event, and then for five years up until the 2005 edition the race held Group 2 status. Since 2005 however, it has remained at Group 3 following a downgrade. It is likely that the new injection of prize money in 2014 will result in the race being upgraded again.
The Caulfield Classic has been known by several other names in the past, including the Norman Robinson Stakes, Wallace Stakes and Steeves Lumley Stakes.
The Caulfield Classic is a good leadup event to the Victoria Derby, although as of 2014 the structure of the field might prevent that.
Notable Caulfield Classic winners include Nothin’ Leica Dame (1995), King Delamere (1983) and Hvasstan (2012).
Caulfield Classic results since 2000 are below.
Caulfield Classic Results
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Caulfield Classic |
1st | TBD | TBD |
| 2nd | TBD | ||
| 3rd | TBD | ||
| 2017 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Cliff’s Edge | 2 minutes 2.48 seconds |
| 2nd | Tangled | ||
| 3rd | Main Stage | ||
| 2016 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Good Standing | 2 minutres 4.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Rocketeer | ||
| 3rd | Inference | ||
| 2015 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Sacred Eye | 2 minutres 3.20 seconds |
| 2nd | Lizard Island | ||
| 3rd | Etymology | ||
| 2014 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Fontein Ruby | 2 minutes 3.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Crafty | ||
| 3rd | Firehouse Rock | ||
| 2013 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Polanski | 2 minutes 02.5 seconds |
| 2nd | San Diego | ||
| 3rd | Epic Saga | ||
| 2012 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Hvasstan | 2 minute 03.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Honorius | ||
| 3rd | Electric Fusion | ||
| 2011 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Sabrage | 2 minutes 03.0 seconds |
| 2nd | Sangster | ||
| 3rd | Niagara | ||
| 2010 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Retrieve | 2 minutes 08.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Almindoro | ||
| 3rd | Digital Fortress | ||
| 2009 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Shamoline Warrior | 2 minutes 03.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Onemorenomore | ||
| 3rd | Gathering | ||
| 2008 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Pre Eminence | 2 minutes 04.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Miss Scarlatti | ||
| 3rd | Paddy O’Reilly | ||
| 2007 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Pillar Of Hercules | 2 minutes 04.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Down Under Boy | ||
| 3rd | Villian | ||
| 2006 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Get Square | 2 minutes 03.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Ulfah | ||
| 3rd | Sir Lago | ||
| 2005 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Pendragon | 2 minutes 03.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Headturner | ||
| 3rd | Replicator | ||
| 2004 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Cedar Manor | 2 minutes 04.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Court Ricardo | ||
| 3rd | King Durham | ||
| 2003 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Casual Pass | 2 minutes 04.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Our Court | ||
| 3rd | Face Value | ||
| 2002 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Platinum Scissors | 2 minutes 02.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Hydrometer | ||
| 3rd | Aint Here | ||
| 2001 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Amalfi | 2 minutes 05.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Grey Song | ||
| 3rd | Tully Zeal | ||
| 2000 Caulfield Classic |
1st | Royale Exit | 2 minutes 01.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Hit The Roof | ||
| 3rd | Adolescence | ||