2010 Toorak Handicap

The Toorak Handicap is a 1600 metre race for three-year-olds and upwards run under open handicap conditions. It is held by the Melbourne Racing Club at Caulfield in October on Caulfield Guineas Day.

Race Type: Group 1, 3YO & Up Open Handicap
Distance: 1600m
Track: Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
Date: 9 Oct 2010

Toorak Handicap Racing Odds – Click Here

The Toorak Handicap was first held as a principal race over 8 furlongs (about 1600 metres) in 1881 and was won by Josephine. It has been known by different names over the years. From 1981 to 1984 it was known as The IXL and from 1985 to 1989 it was called The Elders Mile. It became a Group 1 race in 1979.

Lead-up races include the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400 metres and the Gilgai Stakes over 1200 metres. Horses then go onto other middle distance races like the Group 2 Crystal Mile over 1600 metres on Cox Plate Day while fillies and mares may go on to the Group 1 Myer Classic over 1600 metres on Victoria Derby Day.

Only a few horses have managed to win this race in more than one year. They are Umrum (1999 and 2000), Nicopolis (1963 and 1964), Desert Breeze (1952 and 1953) and Saxony (1948 and 1949). Most winners are above average sprinter milers and most are not stayers who can go on to the longer distance Cup races.

Tobin Bronze (1967) was the only Toorak winner to also win a Cox Plate. Several Toorak winners have won the Caulfield Cup but there has been none since Cole Diesel in 1989. Leilani (1974) was the only mare to complete the Toorak Handicap – Caulfield Cup double. Galilee was the only horse to win the Toorak and the Melbourne Cup, in 1966.

Past winners of the Toorak Handicap: