Caulfield Autumn Classic

The Caulfield Autumn Classic is a Group 2 race for 3YOs held on Blue Diamond Day as a potential lead-up to Sydney's ATC Derby.

2023 Caulfield Autumn Classic Results

  • 1st: #2 Pericles
  • 2nd: #1 Mr Maestro
  • 3rd: #8 Ausbred Rising Sun



The Caulfield Autumn Classic, often called simply the Autumn Classic, is a Group 2 race run over 1800m at set weights for horses aged three years old. Held at Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse* during February, the Autumn Classic is worth $300,000 in prize money.

*In 2023 the Autumn Classic and entire Blue Diamond Stakes Day card ran at Ladbrokes Park, Sandown.

The Autumn Classic is held on Blue Diamond Stakes Day which features the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

Many Caulfield Autumn Classic horses may head to The Valley next race for the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) the following month, a double most recently achieved by Global Exchange (2019), while in 2020 the Caulfield Autumn Classic winner Adelaide Ace ran second next-up in the Alister Clark.

Looking further ahead, Sydney’s Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) may be on the cards for three-year-olds out of the Autumn Classic and Don Edurado (2002) was the last to do the double.

The 2022 Caulfield Autumn Classic form was franked with the third placed filly El Patroness going on to win that year’s Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) in Sydney.

The Caulfield Autumn Classic 2023 took place on Saturday February 25, 2023 at Ladbrokes Park at Sandown on the Hillside track and was won in dominant fashion by the James Cummings-trained favourite Pericles ($3.50F).

2023 Caulfield Autumn Classic Info:
Date: Saturday February 25, 2023
Track: Ladbrokes Park (Sandown)
Distance: 1800m
Race Type: 3YO Open Set Weights
Status: Group 2
Prize Money: $300,000

2023 Caulfield Autumn Classic Results

  • 1st: #2 Pericles ($3.50F)
  • 2nd: #1 Mr Maestro
  • 3rd: #8 Ausbred Rising Sun

The James Cummings-trained Pericles ($3.50F) was far too good for his rivals dominating the 2023 Autumn Classic results with a nearly three-length win in an improved effort on his lead-up fourth in the Autumn Stakes.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 2 PERICLES James Cummings Ms Jamie Kah 7 57kg $3.50F
2 1 MR MAESTRO (NZ) Andrew Forsman Blake Shinn 2.75L 3 57kg $5
3 8 AUSBRED RISING SUN Brad Widdup Craig Williams 2.85L 4 57kg $9
4 3 HENNESSY LAD (NZ) Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 3.15L 8 57kg $4.80
5 7 ACOSTA Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Jordan Childs 4.4L 10 57kg $6
6 6 NORTHERN BARRAGE Michael Kent Ethan Brown 4.5L 12 57kg $101
7 4 HIGH APPROACH Archie Alexander Ben Melham 4.7L 13 57kg $15
8 11 YASUKE Chris Waller Jye McNeil 4.9L 6 57kg $21
9 15 PROMISES KEPT Greg Eurell Craig Newitt 5.1L 9 57kg $61
10 5 SUIZURO Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Daniel Moor 5.3L 11 57kg $26
11 13 PATRICK Ben & JD Hayes Michael Dee 10.8L 1 57kg $31
12 14 SIX FEET Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Thomas Stockdale (a) 12.05L 5 57kg $151
13 12 AFFORDABLE David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins John Allen 12.45L 2 57kg $101
9 ARTZINO (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Mark Zahra 0
10 BAVICIA (NZ) Tony & Calvin McEvoy Dean Holland 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Caulfield Autumn Classic Odds

The official Caulfield Autumn Classic 2023 betting odds from Ladbrokes.com.au will be available below the week of the race.

The latest favourites in Caulfield Autumn Classic betting to win were Adelaide Ace ($2.50 in 2020) and Pericles ($3.50 in 2023).

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

2023 Caulfield Autumn Classic Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 AUTUMN CLASSIC FORM GUIDE

2023 Caulfield Autumn Classic Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Caulfield Autumn Classic 2023 Tips this Blue Diamond Day in Melbourne.

  • To Win: #3 Hennessy Lad ($7 at time of publish) 

Looking for a touch of value in the Autumn Classic and think we’ve found it in this Peter Moody-trained improver. The consistent Kiwi-bred son of Belardo has won three from five to date including one at this track and distance when carrying 58kg to victory here on February 4. Drops back to 57kg here with Luke Nolen coming aboard. A notable rise in grade but is working through them well and can surprise a few at a price.

2023 Caulfield Autumn Classic Field

The final Autumn Classic field is traditionally released on the Wednesday prior to the race and features a host of smart three-year-old staying types heading towards a possible back-up run in the Australian Guineas over the Flemington mile the week after or the Australian Cup (2000m) a fortnight later against the older horses.

Super Cool (2013) was the last three-year-old to do the Caulfield Autumn Classic – Australian Cup double.

Many three-year-olds in the Autumn Classic field have had a previous lead-up in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) a fortnight earlier. Adelaide Ace (3rd in 2020) and Pericles (4th in 2023) are the last Caulfield Autumn Classic winners to come off a lead-up run in the Autumn Stakes.

The 2023 Caulfield Autumn Classic Final Field & Barrier Draw will be published below on Wednesday February 22, 2023.

The Autumn Classic 2023 field features a gun line-up of Group 1-bound three-year-olds led in betting by the James Cummings-trained VRC Derby performer Pericles coming off a first-up fourth in the Autumn Stakes.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 x5411149x5 MR MAESTRO (NZ) Andrew Forsman Blake Shinn 3 57kg 90
2 1238×4 PERICLES James Cummings Ms Jamie Kah 8 57kg 77
3 1×1241 HENNESSY LAD (NZ) Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 9 57kg 75
4 59x411x0 HIGH APPROACH Archie Alexander Ben Melham 15 57kg 78
5 54x2x111 SUIZURO Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Daniel Moor 12 57kg 70
6 213 NORTHERN BARRAGE Michael Kent Ethan Brown 14 57kg 63
7 122 ACOSTA Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Jordan Childs 11 57kg 65
8 121 AUSBRED RISING SUN Brad Widdup Craig Williams 5 57kg 67
9 214×7 ARTZINO (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Mark Zahra 4 57kg 65
10 6x7321x8 BAVICIA (NZ) Tony & Calvin McEvoy Dean Holland 13 57kg 62
11 13 YASUKE Chris Waller Jye McNeil 7 57kg 64
12 31x9x5 AFFORDABLE David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins John Allen 2 57kg 64
13 31 PATRICK Ben & JD Hayes Michael Dee 1 57kg 62
14 45×9421 SIX FEET Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Thomas Stockdale (a) 6 57kg 61
15 80×922 PROMISES KEPT Greg Eurell Craig Newitt 10 57kg 60

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Caulfield Autumn Classic Nominations

The 2023 Autumn Classic nominations will be provided below on the Monday leading up to Blue Diamond Stakes Day.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 0x06152 ABRUPT G 3 Leon & Troy Corstens 64
2 122 ACOSTA G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 65
3 31x9x5 AFFORDABLE G 3 David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins 64
4 214×7 ARTZINO (NZ) G 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 65
5 33×115 ATTRITION C 3 Mitchell Freedman 70
6 121 AUSBRED RISING SUN G 3 Brad Widdup 67
7 6x7321x8 BAVICIA (NZ) C 3 Tony & Calvin McEvoy 62
8 1 CEERSEVEN (NZ) G 3 Mitchell Freedman 63
9 1×1241 HENNESSY LAD (NZ) G 3 Peter G Moody 75
10 59x411x0 HIGH APPROACH G 3 Archie Alexander 78
11 1 MADALSA F 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 63
12 54793×2135 MIDNIGHT GLOW G 3 John Salanitri 62
13 2 MR FABULOUS G 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 61
14 x5411149x5 MR MAESTRO (NZ) C 3 Andrew Forsman 90
15 213 NORTHERN BARRAGE G 3 Michael Kent 63
16 31 PATRICK G 3 Ben & JD Hayes 62
17 1238×4 PERICLES G 3 James Cummings 77
18 80×922 PROMISES KEPT G 3 Greg Eurell 60
19 45×9421 SIX FEET G 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 61
20 54x2x111 SUIZURO G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 70
21 91x132x8 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) C 3 Liam Howley 82
22 13 YASUKE C 3 Chris Waller 64

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Caulfield Autumn Classic History

First won by Lord Gavin in 1957, the Caulfield Autumn Classic has been an 1800m event since 1987. Starting out as a Principal race until 1978, the event became a Listed race in 1979 until 1989 when it was elevated to Group 3 status. In 1991 the Autumn Classic finally became a Group 2 race.

The race has also had several name changes starting with the Stanley Plate and then becoming the Caulfield Autumn Classic, Tattersalls Classic, AAMI Classic, Shannons Classic, Pol Roger Stakes and The Yalumba 160. However it is generally still referred to as the Autumn Classic.

In 2023 the event ran at Ladbrokes Park (Sandown).

Recent Caulfield Autumn Classic Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Caulfield Autumn Classic
(Held at Ladbrokes Park, Sandown)
1st Pericles 1 minute 49.42 seconds
2nd Mr Maestro
3rd Ausbred Rising Sun
2022
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Castlereagh Kid 1 minute 50.55 seconds
2nd Lucky Decision
3rd El Patroness
2021
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Parure 1 minute 49.42 seconds
2nd Butter Chicken
3rd Khoekhoe
2020
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Adelaide Ace 1 minute 48.96 seconds
2nd Nonconformist
3rd Legion Of Merit
2019
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Global Exchange 1 minute 48.75 seconds
2nd Cossetot
3rd Aramayo
2018
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Valiant Spirit 1 minute 49.43 seconds
2nd Astoria
3rd Mr So And So
2017
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Farson 1 minute 49.49 seconds
2nd Cliff Hanger
3rd Captain Rhett
2016
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Tally 1 minute 49.1 seconds
2nd Flying Light
3rd Top Ravine
2015
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Alpine Eagle 1 minute 48.4 seconds
2nd Minnesinger
3rd Firehouse Rock
2014
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Vilanova 1 minute 51.02 seconds
2nd Countersnip
3rd Alpha Beat
2013
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Super Cool 1 minute 49.8 seconds
2nd Fiveandahalfstar
3rd Subiaso
2012
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Upbeat 1 minute 50.0 seconds
2nd Flashy Fella
3rd Ethiopia
2011
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Folding Gear 1 minute 48.1 seconds
2nd Elusive King
3rd Almindoro
2010
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Extra Zero 1 minute 50.69 seconds
2nd Absolute Faith
3rd Money Rocks
2009
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Stokehouse 1 minute 11.2 seconds
2nd Excelltastic
3rd Zapurple
2008
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Brom Brom 1 minute 51.4 seconds
2nd Allanthus
3rd Buca Di Bacco
2007
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Ambitious General 1 minute 48.9 seconds
2nd Danever
3rd Furio
2006
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Spinney 1 minute 48.1 seconds
2nd Silver Ninja
3rd Cinderella Man
2005
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Renewable 1 minute 50.1 seconds
2nd Stella Grande
3rd Dizelle
2004
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Elvstroem 1 minute 49.1 seconds
2nd Delzao
3rd Strafed
2003
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Natural Blitz 1 minute 49.4 seconds
2nd Glefti
3rd Gallic
2002
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Don Eduardo 1 minute 49.4 seconds
2nd Royal Code
3rd All Courage
2001
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Fubu 1 minute 47.5 seconds
2nd Neptunes Journey
3rd Inspire
2000
Caulfield Autumn Classic
1st Pins 1 minute 50.6 seconds
2nd Oval Office
3rd Crawl

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