Champion jockey Glen Boss lashes glut of Australian Group 1s declaring they are taking away from the sanctity

The legendary jockey won 96 races at the top level, but says it has gone too far in Australia with the amount of races elevated to Group 1 status.

Too many ‘lead-up runs’ are being granted Group 1 status, former leading jockey Glen Boss believes. Picture: File

Legendary jockey Glen Boss has lashed the glut of Group 1 races in Australia, saying they are diluting the top level of racing.

Boss, who won 96 Group 1s in a glittering career in the saddle, said too many “lead-up races” are given Group 1 status, taking away from the sanctity of them.

A total of 74 Group 1 events are scheduled in Australia for this season, not including the likes of the mega rich The Everest and Golden Eagle.

Two decades on from the beginning of his Melbourne Cup three-peat aboard Makybe Diva, Boss said at least 10 races could be stripped of Group 1 status.

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“I don’t know why lead-up races to a major race are Group 1s, and I have won a lot of them, don’t get me wrong,” Boss said.

“The Toorak Handicap isn’t a Group 1 and there are a lot of others that shouldn’t be. I could rattle off at least 10 that shouldn’t be.

“I have said that a lot, you’re going to a grand final, that should be the Group 1, not all the races along the way.”

Of the 74 Group 1 races in Australia, Victoria plays host to 30 of them while New South Wales has 29.

Glen Boss is calling for the number of Group 1 races in Australia to be slashed. Picture: Adam Head

Queensland is next closest with eight, while South Australia has just four and Western Australia only three.

Races such as the Group 1 Winx Stakes in Sydney and Memsie Stakes in Melbourne have attracted criticism recently, as they are early in the season with the majority of horses resuming in their campaigns.

There has long been a push for The Everest to be elevated to Group 1 status, however changes to the pattern need agreeance from both Victoria and New South Wales.

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Boss said it was time for racing powerbrokers to get in a room together to sort it out.

“Racing is just racing, it should just be Australia wide,” he said.

“I don‘t know why they can’t get their heads together. I’m sure Peter V’landys is open to any suggestion but they are grabbing each other’s heads at the moment.”

Originally published as Champion jockey Glen Boss lashes glut of Australian Group 1s declaring they are taking away from the sanctity