Golden Eagle gets Group 1 nod

The Golden Eagle will be run at Group 1 level in 2026, one of 19 new black type races in Australia in the new racing season, with no races dropped. Of those 19, 16 are in NSW.

(Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

The Golden Eagle will be run at Group 1 level in 2026, one of 19 new black type races in Australia in the new racing season, with no races dropped. Of those 19, 16 are in NSW.

A further 11 races have been upgraded by the Asian Pattern Committee.

More to come

Upgrades

RaceNew Status
Concorde StakesGroup 3 → Group 2
Kingston Town StakesGroup 3 → Group 2
City Tattersall’s Lightning StakesGroup 3 → Group 2
Craven PlateGroup 3 → Group 2
Spring PreviewListed → Group 3
Chautauqua StakesListed → Group 3
Poseidon StakesListed → Group 3
Cap d’Antibes StakesListed → Group 3
Heritage StakesListed → Group 3
Reginald Allen QualityListed → Group 3
Starstruck ClassicListed → Group 3

Considered for Upgrade but Unchanged

RaceStatus
The ShortsGroup 2
Toy Show QualityGroup 3
San Domenico StakesGroup 3
The Gold RushGroup 3
W. H. Wylie HandicapListed
Dulcify StakesListed
Burgess Queen StakesListed
Christmas CupListed
R. S. Crawford StakesListed

New Black Type Additions

RaceNew Status
Golden EagleGroup 1
The InvitationGroup 2
Russell Balding StakesGroup 2
Alan Brown StakesGroup 3
ATC St. Leger StakesGroup 3
The GongGroup 3
Unite Resourcing – Max Simmonds StakesListed
Tapp-Craig StakesListed
Rosehill Gold CupListed
Big DanceListed
Golden GiftListed
The BeaufordListed
The Baker Group 3yo CupListed
The Wharf Mooloolaba Swiss Ace PlateListed
The WarraListed

Granted Black Type at Lower Level Than Requested

RaceNew Status
7 StakesGroup 2
Five DiamondsGroup 3
Silver EagleListed
The HunterListed

Not Granted Black Type

  • Five Diamonds Prelude

Downgrades

RaceNew Status
Stan Fox StakesGroup 2 → Group 3

Considered for Downgrade but Unchanged

RaceStatus
The MetropolitanGroup 1
Railway StakesGroup 1
Victoria DerbyGroup 1
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