3 minute read
Sometimes a really good one arrives from the Autumn Classic run at Caulfield on Saturday.
Elvstroem took it out and we know what he went on to do. Is there another nice stayer in the 2021 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday?
2021 Autumn Classic: Nominations
2021 AUTUMN CLASSIC - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Caulfield Autumn Classic is a Group 2 race for three-year-olds run at Caulfield by the Melbourne Racing Club.
The Autumn Classic is run over 1800m under Set Weight conditions and had its origins as the Stanley Plate in 1957.
The race carried that name until 1987 when it became known as the Autumn Classic.
The Stanley Plate was run over 10 furlongs (2000m) from 1957 until 1986 with the exception of 1971 (nine furlongs/1800m). Since 1987 the distance of the Autumn Classic has been 1800m.
The Autumn Classic was a Listed Race from 1979 until 1988 and Group 3 from 1979 to 1993. The Autumn Classic has been a Group 2 race since 1994.
The Autumn Classic has been run every year at Caulfield with the exception of 1996 when it was transferred to Flemington due to construction work at Caulfield.
The Autumn Classic was worth prizemoney of $200,000 and serves as a key race in the program of three-year-olds set for the G1 Australian Guineas (1600m) and/or G2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley later in the autumn.
The Autumn Classic/Australian Guineas double has been won by four three-year-olds – King's High (1989), Gold Guru (1998), Dignity Dancer (1999) and Pins (2000).
The Autumn Classic/Alister Clark Stakes double has been won five times by Dignity Dancer (1999), Pins (2000), Spinney (2006), Tally (2016) and Global Exchange (2019).
Triscay (1991) is the only filly to win the Autumn Classic.
Other notable winners of the Autumn Classic include Matloch, Pharaon, Voleur, Double Century, Mr Independent, Gurner's Lane, Myocard, Stylish Century, Redding, Hurricane Sky, Iron Horse, Don Eduardo, Elvstroem and Alpine Eagle.
The 2020 Autumn Classic was won by Adelaide Ace from Nonconformist and Legion Of Merit.
