MAJOR CHANGES TO AUSTRALIAN GROUP & LISTED RACES

In 2003, the Australian Pattern Committee commenced the first major review of the Australian Black Type Listings since the Committee was established by the Australian Conference of Principal Clubs over 20 years ago. The review was considered necessary because of the changed nature of metropolitan racing and breeding in Australia and the fact that the Listings did not reflect these changes.

For example, over the past decade there has been a significant reduction in the number of metropolitan two year old races and open age races over longer distances programmed in Australia but a large increase in the number of fillies and mares races. The same percentages of races are programmed for the three year olds but there is more emphasis on races over shorter distances. The most obvious anomalies in the Listings are the shortage of Group 1 races for fillies and mares, the lack of a Group 1 sprint for three year olds and a lack of a Group 1 race for two year old fillies.

The Pattern Committee had been aware for some years that the mix of Black Type races needed to be changed but elected to wait until the Australian Handicapping Group had compiled Race Ratings for at least three seasons so that their own independent analysis through computer generated form could be augmented by the Race Ratings.

Apart from the need to alter the structure of the Black Type listings to reflect current programming there was a need to consider a large raft of new races with significant increases in prizemoney and quality of fields. These occurred mainly in Queensland and the Committee received 26 applications from that State for inclusion into the listings.

A further consideration was the fact that within the next year or so International Ratings of the Worlds best horses will be published at regular intervals and it was necessary to make alterations to the mix of Black Type at Group level to enable Australian horses to be more readily compared to those from the other racing countries.

The Committee has made the following key points in its review:

• Each of the four Grades (G1, G2, G3, and Listed) will have minimum levels of standard designated by benchmarks and these benchmarks will be determined by using Race Ratings provided by the Australian Handicapping Group.

• Each of the four Age/Sex categories (2YO’s, 3YO’s, Fillies & Mares and Open Age/Sex) will contain races that are approximately the same ratio as the Australian metropolitan racing pattern.

• Overall the Committee has recommended 127 changes be made to the current Black Type Listings. These changes range from upgrading and downgrading current Black Type races at all levels within the Listings to the inclusion of new races and delisting of others.

There are 9 changes at Group 1 level with the number of Group 1 races being maintained, under International principles, at a maximum of 12 % of total Black Type races which is 65 in Australia. Two Group 1 races for two year olds (VRC Sires Produce Stakes and the QTC Sires Produce Stakes) were downgraded. These had previously been placed on the caution list by the Pattern Committee. The SAJC South Australian Oaks has been below the required Group 1 standard for some years and similarly the AJC Metropolitan Handicap. Both races seemingly suffering from the scarcity of quality staying horses and having been previously identified by the Pattern Committee for possible downgrade.

The two categories that were under represented at Group1 level were the Fillies and Mares and the Open Age sprint categories and the Pattern Group elevated three Group 2 races for the distaff sex and the two Group 2 Open sprints, all of which meet the criteria for Group 1 status. It should be noted that the Pattern Committee while prepared to retain existing Group 1 handicap races at that level will now only elevate WFA or Set Weight races to Group 1 level.

• The total number of races has been held at around the 540-550 level with the International Pyramid System maintained. Australia still has a ratio of Black Type races to TAB races that is lower than the ratio of Black Type races to total races in most other major racing countries. The Pattern Committee has decided to maintain the number of Group races (as opposed to Group and Listed races) at the current level for the foreseeable future.

• Targets have been established for each of the four categories and in each of the four Grades. In some instances, races of suitable standard are not available at present to meet the target number of races in a particular category or Grade. Vacancies therefore exist within these categories for races to be promoted/upgraded once they achieve the required standard. These races will replace races within categories where there is an oversupply in accordance with the pyramid.

• Some races have had their status altered to make them more logically fit a chronological pattern.

• The Criteria and Guidelines (which have not been republished since 1999) have been amended to reflect current practices and some recommendations in the report prepared in June 2004 for the Australian Racing Board by Simon Cooper. These changes mainly relate to the working guidelines and criteria that are published at regular intervals by the ARB in the Green Book of Black Type races.

• The only significant departure from the Criteria and Guidelines was to acknowledge the changed distribution of prizemoney in Queensland by Listing some of their races that have had only one running conditional upon the next running maintaining the existing standard. The redistribution of prizemoney has led to a significant number of open class races of a minimum of $100,000 being programmed some of which have already led to an increased standard.

• For ease of recognition the Australian Group & Listed Races Advisory Group proposed that it should be known from this point forward as the Australian Pattern Committee.

• All changes to the Listings will come into effect from the start of the 2005/2006 season except those at Group 1 level. At Group 1 level, Victoria may apply to have the VRC Sires Produce and the VRC Empire Rose Stakes change their Group status immediately, South Australia can apply to have the SAJC South Australian Oaks and the SAJC Swettenham Stud Stakes change Group status, Queensland can apply to have the QTC Sires Produce and the BTC Sprint change their Group status (providing both clubs are in agreement) and NSW can apply to have the AJC T J Smith and the STC Queen of the Turf elevated in the current season with the AJC Metropolitan retaining Group1 status for the 2004 running.

Copies of the Australian Group & Listed Races Review Report are available from the Australian Racing Board website (www.australian-racing.net.au) or hard copies can be requested from the Australian Pattern Committee Secretary, James Ross (jross@australian-racing.net.au). A full list of the alterations to Australian Group & Listed Races can also be downloaded from the website.