Update to 2016 Melbourne Cup Carnival Group 1s

June 7, 2016

Update to 2016 Melbourne Cup Carnival Group 1s

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has announced some major changes to this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival with the switching of the Mackinnon Stakes and Emirates Stakes.

Turn Me Loose

Turn Me Loose won the final edition of the old Emirates Stakes in 2015. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Previously held on Victoria Derby Day on the Saturday prior to the iconic Melbourne Cup (the first Tuesday of November), the Mackinnon Stakes was a $1 million Group 1 weight-for-age contested over 2000m.

It will now be known as the new Emirates Stakes, closing the Melbourne Cup Carnival on the first Saturday in November and offering an increased $2 million in prize money.

What was the Emirates Stakes, a Group 1 mile handicap at Flemington Racecourse registered as the Cantala Stakes, has been renamed as the Longines Mile.

It comes forward to Victoria Derby Day, which kicks off the four-meeting Flemington Carnival each spring.

The swap was made with the ambition of attracting an even higher level of race horses to this year’s festival and the doubling of the new Emirates Stakes (formerly Mackinnon Stakes) prize money from last season will hopefully draw the world’s best weight-for-age stars.

“To be known as the Emirates Stakes, the race will be more attractive for top tier local and international weight-for-age horses,” VRC chief executive Simon Love said on Monday.

“Now spaced an ideal two weeks apart, the Cox Plate and new Emirates Stakes offer a lucrative combined AUD$5m in prizemoney that will no doubt promote increased overseas participation across the spring.

“We don’t make changes lightly, with the Melbourne Cup Carnival’s traditional four-day format serving it well for over a century, in which time it has established itself as arguably the world’s most successful racing event.

“These changes balance innovation with tradition to improve the Carnival’s already outstanding racing product into the future.

“The VRC proposed these changes following our annual review, and they have now been approved by the Australian and Asian Pattern Committees, and agreed to by our loyal partners in Emirates and Longines for an introduction this spring.

“In making this announcement, we would like to acknowledge Racing Victoria for its support in achieving this outcome.”

The updated program and race amendments will also be used to try and keep graduates of Australasia’s weight-for-age championship, the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in late October, down under targeting the updated Emirates Stakes.

“We are pleased to be able to support the VRC’s ambition to enhance the coveted Melbourne Cup Carnival and deliver what will be a fantastic finale to Australian racing’s biggest week,” Racing Victoria chief executive Bernard Saundry said.

“Packaged with the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, we have a great opportunity to attract more high-quality international weight-for-age horses to compete in Victoria, whilst further encouraging the connections of our home-grown stars to showcase them on multiple occasions throughout our Spring Racing Carnival.”

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for all the latest on the 2016 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and for access to the best futures markets on races like the Cox Plate, visit Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost!

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

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 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off