Caulfield Classic

The Caulfield Classic - run in 2023 as the Neds Classic is a Group 3 event held at Caulfield Racecourse in late October on Caulfield Cup Day as a lead-up to the VRC Derby.

2023 Neds Classic Results

  • 1st: #5 Sunsets
  • 2nd: #2 Riff Rocket
  • 3rd: #6 Gates



The Caulfield Classic – registered as the Norman Robinson Stakes and currently known as the Neds Classic for sponsorship purposes – 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 $200,000 in prize money on offer, the Caulfield Classic 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.

More recently in 2019 (the 100th edition of the event) the Caulfield Classic runner-up Warning went on to take out the VRC Derby next start, while in 2020 Hit The Shot ran third in the Caulfield Classic before a second in that year’s Victoria Derby results.

Three-year-olds in the Caulfield Classic field may be backing-up on the quick turnaround after contesting the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) the Saturday prior.

The form out of the 2021 Caulfield Classic was franked with the second placed filly El Patroness going on to win the following autumn’s Group 1 Australian Oaks (2000m).

Teewaters meanwhile ran third in both the 2021 Caulfield Classic and Victoria Derby results that spring.

The 2022 Caulfield Classic form was franked with the winner Mr Maestro finishing fourth in that year’s VRC Derby.

The 2023 Caulfield Classic ran on Saturday October 21, 2023 at Caulfield Racecourse as the Neds Classic and was won in a narrow upset by the VRC Derby-bound Sunsets ($16) for Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young.  

Caulfield Classic 2023
Date: Saturday October 21, 2023
Track: Caulfield Racecourse
Distance: 2000m
Race Type: 3YOs Set Weights
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $200,000

2023 Neds Classic Results

  • 1st: #5 Sunsets ($16)
  • 2nd: #2 Riff Rocket
  • 3rd: #6 Gates

The $2 million Victoria Derby on November 4 is calling for the progressive Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Dundeel colt Sunsets ($16) who sustained a long run in front to hold off the odds-on favourite Riff Rocket ($1.28) in a sensational upset to the 2023 Neds Classic results on Caulfield Cup Day.

Click here to read more on the narrow upset by Sunsets in the Neds Classic 2023.

2023 Neds Classic Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 5 SUNSETS Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young John Allen 7 57kg $16
2 2 RIFF ROCKET Chris Waller James McDonald 0.1L 1 57kg $1.28F
3 6 GATES Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Damian Lane 2.6L 5 57kg $26
4 3 APULIA Ben, Will & JD Hayes Michael Dee 2.7L 6 57kg $17
5 8 TOKYO RUN (NZ) Dean Mirfin Opie Bosson 6.45L 4 57kg $71
6 4 GOLD BULLION (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Blake Shinn 6.65L 3 57kg $6
7 7 TO BE FRANK (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 8.9L 2 57kg $21
1 SUNSOURCE Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Ben Melham 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Caulfield Classic Betting

The Caulfield Classic 2023 odds will be detailed below complete with links to the race sponsor’s markets so you can back your Caulfield Classic Tips in at the best prices this season through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Gunstock ($3.80 in 2021) and Mr Maestro ($1.70 in 2022) are the latest favourites in Caulfield Classic betting to win.

There was a notable upset in 2023 with Sunsets ($26) defeating the odds-on favourite Riff Rocket ($1.28) at big Neds Classic odds.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 NEDS CLASSIC ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Caulfield Classic Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 CAULFIELD CLASSIC FORM GUIDE

2023 Caulfield Classic Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Caulfield Classic 2023 Tips this spring.

  • To Win: #2 Riff Rocket ($1.45 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Small but quality field, but the odds-on favourite Riff Rocket is impossible to bet against. He’s zero value now after winning two of his last three starts with the Chris Waller-trained gelding coming off a 5.5 length romp home in Flemington’s Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) on October 7. Up to 2000m now, but the distance looks a non-issue, he’ll eat it up. Same weight, similar rivals, inside alley and James McDonald. Back don’t sack with scope to come still.

2023 Caulfield Classic Field

The 2023 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 Neds Classic 2023 field features just eight final acceptors dominated by Chris Waller’s odds-on favourite Riff Rocket who won the Super Impose (1800m) by 5.5 lengths last start.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 30×4431452 SUNSOURCE Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Ben Melham 7 57kg 73
2 17×121 RIFF ROCKET Chris Waller James McDonald 1 57kg 80
3 242×128 APULIA Ben, Will & JD Hayes Michael Dee 6 57kg 69
4 2311 GOLD BULLION (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Blake Shinn 3 57kg 70
5 4×525124 SUNSETS Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young John Allen 8 57kg 64
6 78×1 GATES Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Luke Nolen 5 57kg 64
7 41 TO BE FRANK (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 2 57kg 63
8 5×3252 TOKYO RUN (NZ) Dean Mirfin Opie Bosson 4 57kg 57

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Caulfield Classic Nominations

Nominations on the Caulfield Classic in 2023 close the Monday of race week and will be published below once announced.

The 2023 Neds Classic nominations are extended until 10:00am (AEDT) on 17/10/2023. 

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 242×128 APULIA C 3 Ben, Will & JD Hayes 69
2 78×1 GATES C 3 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 64
3 2311 GOLD BULLION (NZ) G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 70
4 17×121 RIFF ROCKET G 3 Chris Waller 80
5 7×431 ROGUERY G 3 Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans 62
6 3×421 SACRED EAGLE C 3 Symon Wilde 62
7 642 SEKANI C 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 62
8 4×525124 SUNSETS C 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 64
9 30×4431452 SUNSOURCE C 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 73
10 41 TO BE FRANK (NZ) C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 63
11 5×3252 TOKYO RUN (NZ) G 3 Dean Mirfin 57

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

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 currently down to $250,000 for 2020 due to COVID-19 reductions and further reduced in 2021 to $200,000.

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 lead-up event to the Victoria Derby.

Notable Caulfield Classic winners include Nothin’ Leica Dame (1995), King Delamere (1983), Hvasstan (2012), Polanski (2013), and Cliff’s Edge (2017).

Caulfield Classic results since 2000 are below.

Caulfield Classic Results

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Caulfield Classic
1st Sunsets 2 minutes 05.50 seconds
2nd Riff Rocket
3rd Gates
2022
Caulfield Classic
1st Mr Maestro 2 minutes 6.89 seconds
2nd Muramasa
3rd Distrustful Award
2021
Caulfield Classic
1st Gunstock 2 minutes 05.52 seconds
2nd El Patroness
3rd Teewaters
2020
Caulfield Classic
1st Albarado 2 minutes 7.94 seconds
2nd Let’s Karaka Deel
3rd Hit The Shot
2019
Caulfield Classic
1st Thought Of That 2 minutes 2.88 seconds
2nd Warning
3rd Brilliant Venture
2018
Caulfield Classic
1st Thinkin’ Big 2 minutes 6.79 seconds
2nd Chapada
3rd Sikorsky
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

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