The Australian racing calendar for the 2026-27 season will now boast 77 Group 1 races, with The Golden Eagle officially elevated to the elite level. This decision was made concurrently with the confirmation that the Metropolitan, Victoria Derby, and Railway Stakes would retain their Group 1 classifications, despite earlier considerations for downgrades.
The Australian Racing Federation (ARF) has reported that 30 races have either been upgraded or have newly acquired stakes status. New South Wales is a major beneficiary, with 22 races experiencing enhancements. These include the Concorde Stakes, Kingston Town Stakes, Craven Plate, and City Tatts Lightning Stakes, all progressing from Group 3 to Group 2. Additionally, the Heritage Stakes has been promoted from Listed to Group 3.
Several NSW races are being introduced to stakes status for the first time. The Invitation, Russell Balding Stakes, and 7 Stakes are now classified as Group 2 races. The Five Diamonds and The Gong have been upgraded to Group 3, while The Silver Eagle, Golden Gift, Big Dance, The Warra, The Hunter, and The Beauford have been confirmed as Listed races.
In Victoria, the Poseidon Stakes, Cap D’Antibes Stakes, Spring Preview, and Chautauqua Stakes have all been upgraded from Listed to Group 3 status.
A few races considered for elevation have maintained their current standing. The Shorts will continue as a Group 2 race, with the San Domenico Stakes and Toy Show Quality remaining at Group 3 level.
The ARF had placed the Metropolitan, Victoria Derby, and Railway Stakes under review for potential downgrades. However, following deliberation, these significant races have retained their Group 1 status.
The Golden Eagle, a race specifically for four-year-olds, was inaugurated in 2019 and has rapidly established itself as one of the season’s top-rated contests, making its Group 1 elevation a logical progression.
Last year, the mare Autumn Glow elevated the race’s growing prestige with her victory over Sepals and Evaporate. International raiders Obamburumai (2023) and Lake Forest (2024) were the winners in the preceding years.
The esteemed list of Golden Eagle winners also includes Kolding (2019), Colette (2020), I’m Thunderstruck (2021), and I Wish I Win (2022).
These classifications for black-type races follow the Asian Pattern Committee’s assumption of control over the Australian Pattern system from Racing Australia late last year.
The APC convened last week to finalise the status of Australian black-type races for the start of the new racing season on August 1.
“A key purpose of this special meeting was to enable the ARF to assist the Australian industry to be fully informed of any changes ahead of the next running of these races, while other races in Racing Australia’s application are to be further considered by the APC at its next meeting in September,” the ARF statement read.
“The ARF has been clear on the requirement that Racing Australia establish a functioning system operating in accordance with the APC Ground Rules, and will provide a further update when it is considered appropriate for the above arrangements to end (or any other necessary actions to be taken by the ARF if such a system is not established).”
Racing Australia was informed of and agreed to the Pattern changes last week.
The ARF intervened to manage the black-type races after the Australian Pattern Committee had become ineffective for several years due to disagreements between state racing bodies.
A seven-member Black Type Advisory Group, consisting of industry figures like Sebastian Hutch (Inglis), Barry Bowditch (Magic Millions), Antony Thompson (Widden Stud), Andy Makiv (Godolphin Australia), Jon Freyer (Arrowfield Stud), Duncan Grimley, and Adrian Hancock, subsequently made recommendations to the APC for a comprehensive review of the nation’s black-type races.
“(The handicappers) held a special conference to determine the end-of-season 2025/26 ratings for horses rated above 112 in the ARF jurisdictions (including Australia), as well as the ratings for the first four placed horses in all Group 1 races run in the ARF Pattern,” the APC statement said.
“These ratings were considered by the APC in the relevant decision-making process.”
As The Golden Eagle cements its place as a Group 1 race, consider placing your bets with leading online bookmakers.