Spring Racing Carnival programs released including redeployment of black type races

Racing Victoria (RV) has today released the feature race programs for the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival (SRC) which includes the redeployment of several black type races.

The SRC, which runs from 29 August to 29 November, is set to feature 22 Group 1 races headlined by the $10.2 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday, 3 November.

Flemington will also be home for this spring to the $6.09 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) on Saturday, 24 October with regular host The Valley offline as it undergoes redevelopment.

The Sportsbet Caulfield Cup (2400m) remains the headline race at Caulfield with prizehalf yoursmoney and trophies increased to a record $6.55 million for its historic 150th edition on Saturday, 17 October.

Following the Cup, the Caulfield track will undergo its planned full resurfacing with feature meetings on Saturdays, 14 and 28 November moved to Sportsbet Sandown while the works are completed.

Following are notable amendments to the SRC feature race programs owing to the availability of tracks and a shared desire from industry stakeholders to optimise the pattern of races:

• The $750,000 Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) will be brought forward from 28 November to 14 November, a position it occupied prior to 2021, and feature alongside the $1 million Group 1 Sportsbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Sportsbet Sandown; 

• The $175,000 Listed Sportsbet Sandown Cup (3200m) moves from June to assume the place of the Zipping Classic on 28 November. It will be run for a second time in the 2026 calendar year, but once only in the 2026-27 season;

• The $250,000 Group 3 Catanach’s Jewellers Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) moves from 28 November to the 150th Caulfield Cup Day to create an outstanding all black type 10 race card that again features the $1.5 million Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m); 

• The $750,000 Group 1 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) moves temporarily from The Valley to Sportsbet Sandown where it will be showcased on Saturday, 5 September;

• The $2 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) relocates to Caulfield on Sunday, 27 September – the day after the AFL Grand Final – and headlines an elite program with six black type races from hosts the Moonee Valley Racing Club and two from the Melbourne Racing Club;

• The number of Lexus Melbourne Cup golden ticket races at Flemington during the SRC increases to three for this year with the $750,000 Group 2 Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) to feature on a nine-race Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day program;

• The $200,000 Group 3 JRA Cup (2000m) returns to September on Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes Day as part of changes to the Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day program with its transfer to Flemington; 

• The $300,000 Group 2 Fillies Classic also moves from Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day and reverts from 1600m to its inaugural distance of 2000m. It will now feature in autumn at The Valley’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) meeting on Saturday, 20 March 2027 at Caulfield; and

• The $200,000 Listed Kilmore Cup on Sunday, 22 November rises from 1600m to 2000m to provide a point of difference from the $500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) a day prior.

Click here to view the 2026 SRC feature race programs.

Quotes attributable to RV Head of Racing, Paul Bloodworth

“The Spring Racing Carnival programs are the culmination of extensive consultation with stakeholders who each presented their views on the optimum pattern of races and prizemoney.

“This is a unique year with The Valley offline throughout and Caulfield undergoing a major renovation following their Cup. That’s been a catalyst for a raft of changes this spring.

“The race programs assembled for Cox Plate Day at Flemington and Manikato Stakes Day at Caulfield are exceptional. They are rightly going to command plenty of interest.

“The 150th Caulfield Cup will fittingly headline an all black type program and with its increase to a record $6 million in prizemoney we expect the race to attract strong local and international interest.

“The move of the Zipping Classic back to Sandown on 14 November allows trainers more time to spell and prepare their horses for our autumn features, whilst reigniting its connection to the Melbourne Cup.”