Time-honoured Melbourne Cup lead-up banished from Derby day meeting
In a move that turns its back on more than 150 years of a spring racing tradition, the Victoria Racing Club has scrapped the Archer Stakes as a Victoria Derby day support race.
A Group 3 race that provided borderline runners with a last-minute chance to win their way into the Melbourne Cup three days later, the Archer Stakes will be run much earlier during this year’s spring carnival.
It will be programmed as part of the Makybe Diva Stakes meeting at Flemington on September 14.
The VRC says the Archer will remain a ballot-exempt race for the Melbourne Cup despite its repositioning in a switch that it believes will enhance opportunities for horses aimed at Australia’s greatest race.
“It’s been well over a decade since the Lexus Archer Stakes provided the winner of the Lexus Melbourne Cup and we feel it will have more relevance earlier on in the spring program,’ VRC Executive General Manager Racing Leigh Jordon said.
“The move allows connections to plan their journey earlier towards the first Tuesday in November with more certainty.”
Kalapour, ridden by Damien Oliver, won his way into last year’s Melbourne Cup after beating six rivals in the Archer but didn’t fire on the following Tuesday.
Shocking is the last horse to complete the Archer-Melbourne Cup double in 2009.
A year later Maluckyday parlayed his Derby day victory into a Melbourne Cup placing when third to Americain.
English stayer Prince Of Arran claimed the 2018 edition when it was known as the Hotham before figuring in an overseas sweep of the Melbourne Cup placings when third to Cross Counter.
Besides Shocking, Brew (2000), Think Big (1974), Baystone (1958), Foxzami (1949), Sirius (1944), Dark Felt (1943), White Nose (1931), King Ingoda (1922) and Nimblefoot (1870) have completed the Archer-Melbourne Cup double.
Kingston Rule finished second in the Dalgety as it was known before coming out three days later to win the Melbourne Cup in record time for Bart Cummings.
The race was downgraded from a Group 2 event to Group 3 status in 2004.
Racing Victoria says it supports the VRC’s decision to move the Archer, first run in 1869 and famous for providing a triple dead heat when Fighting Force, Ark Royal and Pandie Sun couldn’t be separated in 1956.
“The timing should enhance the depth and quality of the race, providing local owners and trainers a terrific opportunity to secure a coveted Melbourne Cup berth,” RV Executive General Manager Racing Matt Welsh said.
“Additionally, it will strengthen races such as the Geelong, Moonee Valley, and Bendigo Cups, which will become even more important for those looking to boost their credentials for a Melbourne Cup start.
“The resulting changes to the programming of other black type races at Flemington will ensure an appropriate pattern is maintained and the quality of racing enhanced.”
“It will strengthen races such as the Geelong, Moonee Valley, and Bendigo Cups, which will become even more important for those looking to boost their credentials for a Melbourne Cup start.”- Matt Welsh
The Group 3 TAB Vanity (1400m) for three-year-old fillies will replace the Archer on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Derby Day was long renowned as the best day of racing in Australia, but has had its program pared back in recent years. The Mackinnon Stakes, now known as the Champions Stakes, was moved in 2016, and switched it with the Cantala Stakes.
However, that Group 1 1600-metre race was moved back to the final Saturday of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and renamed the Champions Mile in 2022. That left Derby Day with three Group1 s.
Other key programming changes for the 2024 carnival include moving the Listed Desirable (1400m) Stakes to autumn from Melbourne Cup day.
Warwick Barr
The Listed Amanda Elliott (1400m) will move to the Melbourne meeting from Champions Stakes Day, providing a greater lead time to the Group 3 Blue Sapphire on Thousand Guineas day.
As announced earlier this year, the $500,000 Restricted Listed Inglis Banner will be run at Flemington for the first time on Champions Stakes Day, forcing the VRC to move the Group 3 Darley Ottawa Stakes (1000m) to later in the season.
The Listed Chester Manifold will move from New Year’s Day to Oaks Day and increase in distance from 1400m to 1600m.
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