Christmas Classic Race Information

The Christmas Classic is a 1200 metre quality handicap race run by the Australian Turf Club in late December or early January. It is held at as one of the feature races of the day.

  • Race Type: Listed
  • Distance: 1200 metres
  • Conditions: Quality handicap, 3YO & upwards
  • Track: Canterbury Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales
  • Prizemoney: $160,000
  • Date: Sunday 1 January 2023

Christmas Classic Race History

See the 2023 Canterbury Sprint Preview and results.

See the 2021 Christmas Classic Preview and results.

Run at Randwick in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

In 2021 it was run on Friday 1 January at Canterbury, then on Sunday 26 December 2021 at Randwick.

Useful Facts

Last mare to win: Madam Rouge (2019)

Multiple winners: Fouardee (2001 & 2002);

Fastest time (1200m): Alizee (2018) 1:08:77

Interesting trivia:

Past winners of the Christmas Classic

Winners of past Christmas Classics include horses that go on to win major races.

Year Winner Second Third
2024 Insurrection Recommendation King Of Hastings
2023 I Am Me Spaceboy Dragonstone
2022 Jan Prime Candidate Special Reward Through The Cracks
2021 Jan Eleven Eleven Discharged Inanup
2019 Madam Rouge Glenall Albumin
2018 Alizee Husson Eagle Fell Swoop
2017 Music Magnate Dothraki Isorich
2016 Le Cordon Bleu Wouldn’t It Be Nice Grunderzeit
2015 Cradle Me Dances On Stars I’ve Got The Looks
2014 Barbed Ball Of Muscle Dothraki
2013 Knoydart Howmuchdoyouloveme Tahitian Black
2012 Skytrain Uate Jest C’rewsin
2011 Unanimously Eight Bills Sniper’s Bullet
2010 Pinwheel Whitefriars Winter King
2009 News Alert Pinwheel Kenny’s World
2008 Gold Trail Desuetude Kenny’s World
2007 Keen Commander Posadas Fox Lake
2006 Impaler Media Chaud Roche
2005 Crimson Reign Written Tycoon Flying Pegasus
2004 Damigos Patezza Dance The Waves
2003 Sharp Star Of Florida Britt’s Best
2002 Fouardee Progress Presently
2001 Fouardee Lord Kefalonia Bomber Bill
2000 Strabane Wry Hero Zodiac Star
1999 Catatonic Irish Dapper Life Of Riley