Apollo Stakes lifted to Group 1, while Sydney Cup receives reprieve

The Asian Pattern Committee has promoted the Apollo Stakes to become Australia’s 77th Group 1 race of the 2026/27 season, while sparing the Sydney Cup and Queensland Derby from downgrades and upgrading The Quokka to Group 2 status.

The Asian Racing Federation approved the Asian Pattern Committee’s decisions on 35 races run between January and July 2026, following its earlier move to change the status of a host of races in the first half of the Australian racing season.

In the latest instalment, ten existing black-type races were upgraded, while five were downgraded.

The 1400-metre Apollo Stakes, run at weight-for-age for horses aged three and older and held in mid-February, moves from Group 2 to Group 1. The decision follows the rejection of an earlier Racing NSW application to elevate the long-standing Sydney autumn opener for leading mile and middle-distance horses.

It means Australia now has six Group 1 races over 1400 metres at weight-for-age, three of which are at Randwick.

Western Australia’s slot race The Quokka has received black type for the first time at Group 2 level. The 1200-metre race for two-year-olds and older was one of six races in the announcement’s main list of new black-type additions.

Magic Millions The Buffering was granted Group 3 status, while the Magic Millions Pierata Plate, TAB Magic Millions Sunlight 3YO Plate, Marjorie Charleson Classic and The Joey were approved as Listed races.

Two further races gained black type at a lower level than requested. The Rock Magic Stakes and Magic Millions National Classic were both designated Listed, taking the total number of newly recognised races to eight.

Beyond the Apollo, the Blue Diamond Prelude for colts and geldings and the Fred Best Classic were upgraded to Group 2. The Desirable Stakes, Talindert Stakes, Darby Munro Stakes, Moomba Plate, Fernhill Handicap, Gold Coast Bracelet and Juanmo Stakes rose to Group 3.

Four races were downgraded from Group 2 to Group 3, all for stayers: the Adelaide Cup, ATC Chairman’s Handicap, WATC Derby and Brisbane Cup.

The Launceston Cup was cut from Group 3 to Listed, completing the five downgrades. The changes reduce the standing of two 3200-metre Cups and two other staying races, with the WATC Derby the only three-year-old event among the five.

The Sydney Cup and Queensland Derby were also considered for downgrades but will retain Group 1 status.

Six races assessed for promotion, including the Eskimo Prince Stakes, Sky High Stakes and Lord Mayor’s Cup, will remain at their current levels.

The Coast, the 3YO Plate, Seven Darby McCarthy OAM QTIS 3YO and Schweppes TL Cooney were considered for upgrades but remain without black-type status.

The ARF Executive Council approved the recommendations after Racing Australia accepted all provisional decisions on September 17.

The ARF has reported the decisions to an international racing advisory committee, which will pass on significant decisions to the auction-industry body ahead of publication in the 2027 International Cataloguing Standards Book.

The decisions follow the Golden Eagle’s elevation to Group 1 in July. That earlier round also included the Stan Fox Stakes dropping from Group 2 to Group 3.

The Asian Pattern Committee assumed temporary responsibility for decisions across Australia’s Group and Listed program because the country had lacked an effective process for overseeing black-type races since 2017/18.

Racing Australia subsequently formed a seven-member Black Type Advisory Group in March 2026 to advise on additions, upgrades and downgrades.