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The Albury Gold Cup, fast becoming one of the premier races in country Australia, has been elevated to Listed Race status by the Australian Racing Board.

The Albury Cup is among a group of metropolitan and country races promoted to black type status by Australian Pattern Committee.

The promotion follows the rise of the Albury Cup in prestige and prizemoney with the race this year worth $170,000.

The 2011 Albury Gold Cup was won by the Robert Smerdon trained Paddy O'Reilly defeating a field that included several G1 and G2 winners.

Other recent winners of the Albury Cup have included subsequent Group One winner Above Deck, noted Cups winners Hofmeister and the David Hayes-trained Group winner Growl.

Alan Brown, the chairman of the APC, announced that the ARB had approved a number of additional races being included within the listings.

“The Committee acknowledged that there was room within the Australian pattern to expand the number of Listed races.

“Accordingly, 14 races will immediately become Listed races after receiving approval from the ARB,” Brown said.

“While the ARB have approved these additional races being included within the pattern at Listed level, the previous recommendations announced on the 22nd July will be considered by the ARB at its meeting on August 18.

The Scone Quality, the feature 1100m sprint at the Scone Cup carnival in May, has also been promoted to a Listed Race.

The races elevated into the listings are:

ARC Albury Cup (2000m) Upgraded to Listed

ATC Lord Mayors Cup (1900m) Upgraded to Listed

ATC Winter Championship Final (1500m) Upgraded to Listed

BRC Keith Noud Handicap (1200m) Upgraded to Listed

BRC Mick Dittman Plate (1000m) 3YO SW Upgraded to Listed

MRC R.M Ansett Classic (2000m) Upgraded to Listed

MVRC Future Stars Sprint (1000m) 3YO SWP Upgraded to Listed

MVRC Moonee Valley Quality (1200m) Upgraded to Listed

MVRC Moonee Valley Night Cup (2500m) Upgraded to Listed

NRC Northam Sprint (1100m) Upgraded to Listed

SRC Scone Quality (1100m) Upgraded to Listed

VRC Cup Day Sprint (1200m) Upgraded to Listed

VRC Spring Fillies Handicap (1100m) 3YOF Upgraded to Listed

VRC Sprinters Final (1200m) Upgraded to Listed