Following a meeting of the Australian Pattern Committee (APC) in Sydney, the Chairman of the APC, Alan Brown, recommended changes to the Australian Racing Board.
Mr Brown said:
“The Committee agreed to a proposal from Racing and Wagering Western Australia that the WA Derby, which had struggled to maintain its Group 1 status, be relegated to Group 2, and the Winterbottom be upgraded to Group 1. This reflects the reality that many distance races are under pressure to retain competitive fields, unlike good quality sprints. The Committee also agreed there was a good case for increasing the number of Group 3 races and accordingly five were recommended for upgrade from Listed status.”
Mr Brown noted, “Distance races remain of concern and apart from those recommended for downgrade today, a number of races are on the caution list and are being carefully monitored.”
Changes to be recommended to the ARB are as follows:
Winterbottom Stakes (G2), 1200m, Ascot, WA
Upgraded to G1
Bow Mistress (L), 1200m, Hobart, TAS
Upgraded to G3
BJ McLachlan Plate (L) 1200m, Doomben, QLD
Upgraded to G3
Epona Stakes (L), 1900m, Rosehill, NSW
Upgraded to G3
Maybe Mahal Stakes (L), 1400m, Flemington, VIC
Upgraded to G3
Neville Sellwood Stakes (L), 2000m, Rosehill, NSW
Upgraded to G3
WATC Derby (G1), 2400m, Ascot, WA
Downgraded to G2
Randwick City Stakes (G3), 2000m, Randwick, NSW
Downgraded to Listed
Tasmanian Derby (G3), 2200m, Hobart, TAS
Downgraded to Listed
Toowoomba Cup (L), 2100m, Toowoomba, QLD
Downgraded to Unlisted
