Vrc Classic

Race Preview

The Patinack Farm Classic (aka VRC Classic) is a Group 1 event held on the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup on the last day of the Flemington Carnival. It is held on Stakes Day, same day as the Emirates Stakes, and it is the premier weight-for-age sprint race of the Flemington carnival. It is held over a distance of 1200 metres and carries prize money of $500,000.

The race has a long prestigious history dating way back to 1868 and some of Australia’s greatest horses have won this race including the great Phar Lap, Ajax and Chatham. More recently, Miss Andretti, Takeover Target and Fastnet Rock have taken the race out. From 2008, The Patinack Farm Classic took over from the Australia Stakes as an Australian leg of the Global Sprint Challenge Series. The race is the seventh leg of the series, preceded by the Sprinters Stakes and followed by the Hong Kong International Sprint.

The Salinger Stakes and Caulfied Sprint are the two best indicators of form heading into the Patinack Stakes Classic, often producing winners of this race. Turffontein ran a place in both these races this campaign, so he will definitely be one to look out for on Saturday.