2010 Myer Classic

The Myer Classic is a 1600 metre weight-for-age race for fillies and mares three-year-old and upwards run by the Victoria Racing Club. It is held at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day in late October or early November three days before the Melbourne Cup.

Race Type: Group 1, 3YO & Up Fillies and Mares WFA
Distance: 1600m
Track: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
Date: 30 Oct 2010

Myer Classic Racing Odds – Click Here

The Myer Classic was first held as a listed race called The Honda Legend in 1988 over 1600 metres when it was won by the tough mare Concordance under set weights and penalties for mares. It has had several name changes and has increased in status over the years. It has been known as the Hong Kong Bank Stakes, Hardy Brothers Classic, Nestle Peters Classic and became the Myer Classic in 2005.

In 2003 the conditions were amended from set weights and penalties to weight-for-age and three-year-old fillies were allowed to run. The following year, 2004, it was granted Group 1 status and it is the only Group 1 race of the Melbourne Spring Carnival for fillies and mares. It is also gave Derby Day its fourth Group 1 race making it one of the best racing programs in the world.

Lead-up races are the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes over 1400 metres, the Group 2 Waterford Crystal Mile over 1600 metres and the Group 1 Toorak Handicap over 1600 metres. Since the race gained Group 1 status the Group1 Cox Plate has also been the lead-up race for several runners. Some horses will continue on from the Myer Classic by running in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes over 1600 metres the following week.

The Myer Classic attracts top quality fillies and mares, and a win in this prestigious race will vastly increase their value as a broodmare. In the few years since it has been a Group 1 race it has been won by horses form Victoria, New South Wales and New Zealand. A three-year-old is yet to win although Alinghi was narrowly beaten by New Zealaand trained Miss Potential in the 2004 photo finish. Forensics (2008) was the first Golden Slipper winner to win the Myer Classic.

Past winners of the Myer Classic: