Spring racing carnival dates 2016

WHETHER you only have the occasional flutter or just a passing interest in horses, these dates are the most important collection you’ll assemble this spring for your social calendar.

WHETHER you only have the occasional flutter or just a passing interest in horses, these dates are the most important collection you’ll assemble this spring for your social calendar.

We’re in the starting gates for the annual transition from football to horse racing.

A five-week stretch where we charge fearlessly through the turnstiles like the Melbourne Cup field past the finishing post at Flemington on the first occasion.

It’s a long campaign, so select your meetings wisely and remember you don’t have to be Black Caviar here. Instead, the stamina of three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva might be a more suitable attribute. Slow and steady always wins the race.

Hauraki claims the Group 1 Epsom Handicap with a stunning last-to-first performance at Royal Randwick. Picture: AAP

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

MOIR STAKES NIGHT (Moonee Valley)

Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m) EXTREME CHOICE

Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) HEY DOC

Group 2 Stock Stakes (1600m) DON’T DOUBT MAMMA

Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) REAL LOVE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1

EPSOM HANDICAP DAY (Royal Randwick)

Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) HAURAKI

Group 1 The Metropolitan (2600m) SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD

Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) GLOBAL GLAMOUR

Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) TAKEDOWN

Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) IT’S SOMEWHAT

PLUS

GRAND FINAL RACE DAY (Caulfield)

Hartnell charges to victory in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes. Picture: AAP

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

TURNBULL STAKES DAY (Flemington)

Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) HARTNELL

Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) SERENELY DISCREET

Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) THE QUARTERBACK

Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1400m) FRENCH EMOTION

Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) ALMANDIN

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8

CAULFIELD GUINEAS DAY (Caulfield)

Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) DIVINE PROPHET

Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) GLOBAL GLAMOUR

Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) HE’S OUR ROKKII

Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) WINX

Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) ASSIGN

Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1200m) STAR TURN

PLUS

SPRING CHAMPION STAKES DAY (Royal Randwick)

Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) YANKEE ROSE

Group 3 Angst Stakes (1500m) DIXIE BLOSSOMS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12

BLUE SAPPHIRE STAKES DAY (Caulfield)

Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) FLYING ARTIE

Group 3 Lady Vase (1600m) EURO ANGEL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15

CAULFIELD CUP DAY (Caulfield)

Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) JAMEKA

Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) GOOD STANDING

Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) ELEONORA

Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) VOODOO LAD

Group 3 Priceline Cup (Coongy) (2000m) VANBRUGH

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19

GEELONG CUP DAY

Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) QEWY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21

MANIKATO STAKES NIGHT (Moonee Valley)

Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) REBEL DANE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22

COX PLATE DAY (Moonee Valley)

Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) WINX

Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) SACRED ELIXIR

Group 2 Fillies Classic (1600m) NURSE KITCHEN

Group 2 Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600m) THE UNITED STATES

Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) GRAND MARSHAL

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19

GEELONG CUP DAY

Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m)

Fashion and a flutter always take centre stage at Flemington’s famous four-day carnival. Picture: Jason Edwards

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29

DERBY DAY (Flemington)

Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m)

Group 1 Longines Mile (1600m)

Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m)

Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m)

Group 2 Wakeful Classic (2000m)

Group 2 tab.com.au Stakes (1200m)

Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m)

Group 3 G.H Mumm Stakes (1100m)

Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m)

The only place where everybody wants to be on that first Tuesday in November. Picture: Eugene Hyland

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1

MELBOURNE CUP DAY (Flemington)

Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m)

Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m)

Group 3 Emirates Airline Plate (1000m)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3

OAKS DAY (Flemington)

Group 1 VRC Crown Oaks (2500m)

Group 3 Gucci Stakes (1100m)

Group 3 Guvera Stakes (1400m)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5

EMIRATES STAKES DAY (Flemington)

Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m)

Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m)

Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m)

Group 3 Maribynong Plate (1000m)

Group 3 Queen’s Cup (2600m)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12

SANDOWN CLASSIC DAY (Sandown)

Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m)

Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m)

Group 2 Sandown Cup (3200m)

Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

BALLARAT CUP DAY (Ballarat)

Group 3 Ballarat Cup (2400m)

Originally published as Spring racing carnival dates 2016