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The VRC Sprint Classic, currently called the Darley Sprint Classic and formerly the Patinack Farm Classic due to sponsorship, is a 1200m sprint race run down the famous Flemington straight during the spring.

Held on the first Saturday of November on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the VRC Sprint Classic is the premier sprint race of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and is currently worth $2,000,000 in prize money as of 2021.

The race, held on Mackinnon Stakes Day, is now the perfect target race for horses out of the world’s richest turf race – the $15 million The Everest (1200m) in Sydney the month before.

Redzel (2017) completed The Everest – Darley Classic double when the former took place for the first time. Santa Ana Lane (6th in 2018), Nature Strip (4th in 2019) and Bivouac (2nd in 2020) all also won the VRC Classic off a lead-up in The Everest race.

The 2021 VRC Sprint Classic runs on Saturday November 6, 2021. 

VRC Sprint Classic
Date:	Saturday November 6, 2021
Track:	Flemington Racecourse
Distance:	1200m
Race Type:	Weight-For-Age
Status:	Group 1
Prize Money:	$2,000,000

2021 VRC Classic Results

• 1st: TBD
• 2nd: TBD
• 3rd: TBD

2021 VRC Sprint Classic Betting Odds

The latest VRC Sprint Classic 2021 betting odds will be listed below following the release of the final field for the Flemington sprint classic along with links to the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au for you to back your best VRC Sprint Classic tips.

Bivouac ($3.20 in 2020) was the last VRC Sprint Classic favourite to win.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST ALL-IN 2021 VRC SPRINT CLASSIC ODDS (Pre-Nominations)

2021 VRC Sprint Classic Field & Barriers

The 2021 VRC Sprint Classic field will be released by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday of Melbourne Cup week 2021 and will be published below along with the official VRC Sprint Classic Barrier Draw as soon as announced.

Horses may come into the VRC Sprint Classic field via a number of different early Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival sprint races, but the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) has proven the key lead-up race with Buffering (2013) the last horse to complete the double.

The richest turf race in the world – the $15 million The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick the month before, also now serves as a possible VRC Sprint Classic lead-up with Santa Ana Lane running sixth in the Sydney feature before his 2018 win at Flemington. In 2017 Redzel took out The Everest – Darley Classic double, while Nature Strip (2019) improved on a fourth in The Everest to again frank the form with a big Darley Classic win at Flemington and Bivouac (2020) also won the Darley Classic off a second in The Everest.

2021 VRC Sprint Classic Nominations

The VRC Sprint Classic nominations are taken the Monday of race week and feature a star-studded list of spring sprinters, including many that ran well in the previous season’s VRC Sprint Classic results. Races.com.au will publish the official 2021 VRC Sprint Classic Nominations as soon as early entries are announced by Racing Victoria.

VRC Sprint Classic History

The VRC Sprint Classic’s inaugural winner was Gulnare in 1868. The race was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2007. The race distance has changed many times over the years, with the being a 1200m, 1400m and 1600m. The race name has also changed many times, with the race being known as the Flying Stakes, Linlithgow Stakes, Emirates Classic, Lexus Classic, The Age Classic, Patinack Farm Classic before changing to the VRC Sprint Classic in 2013. It has also been run as the Darley Classic in recent years.

Many great horses have won the VRC Sprint Classic including the legendary Phar Lap in 1930. Champion sire Fastnet Rock win the race in 2004.

A number of horses have won the race multiple times including most recently the undefeated mare Black Caviar (2010-11).

VRC Sprint Classic Results & Winners

The VRC Sprint Classic results including the winners and placegetters dating back to 2000 can be found on our Darley Classic Winners & Results page, and used to help you with VRC Sprint Classic betting this spring.