Australia’s Group 1 dilemma: Do we have too many?

COMMENT: Handing The Everest and All-Star Mile the status as Group 1 races is a logical and unmistakably positive step. But when are we going to start talking about the Group 1s that DON’T deserve that status?

Handing The Everest and All-Star Mile the status as Group 1 races is a logical and unmistakably positive step.

It gives the iconic events more bang for their buck and should be widely embraced.

Racing officials should rightly walk about with the chests puffed out and it also speaks to a fabulous new era in which the Victoria-New South Wales cold war has come to an end.

But racing authorities must also seize the moment to review the legitimacy of other Australian Group 1 races.

Think About It wins the #TABEverest! @[e-mail]/zqcmxmkFRj

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 14, 2023

• The Everest, All-Star Mile set to be elevated to Group 1 status

There is no cap on the number of Group 1 races allowed in Australia, so it doesn’t automatically follow that the elevation of The Everest and All-Star Mile means other Group 1s should fall on their swords and be demoted.

But Group 1s are meant to be the best of the best – the creme de la creme.

Quite frankly, there are some that are not.

Racing must be careful it doesn’t over cook the omelette as having too many Group 1s – especially ones that don’t deserve it – has the potential to dilute the top-tier product.

There are plenty of proper Group 1s Down Under, but there are too many fillies and mares-restricted Group 1s such as the Tatt’s Tiara, Coolmore Classic, Queen Of The Turf and the like.

Some of them are basically just fill-ups for wealthy breeders.

THEY CAN'T CATCH HER!

Pride Of Jenni runs them into the ground & wins the All-Star Mile for @cmaherracing & @decbates ⭐ pic.twitter.com/5MdE5gaxfB

— Racing.com (@Racing) March 16, 2024

• The Origin invite that ended racing’s cold war

There are other races at the start of the spring carnival that often have entire fields of resuming horses and are simply a kick-off point or a stepping stone to other Group 1 races.

They sure as hell aren’t grand final races or even semi final races.

There are Oaks and Derbies all over the place – for instance do we really need an Oaks in South Australia and then another one six weeks later in Queensland?

I gather that Racing Australia and other bodies have at the moment have purely looked at elevating the Everest and All-Star Mile to Group 1 status, rather than considering downgrading other Group 1 races.

But after the spring carnival there is likely to be some significant new momentum to pen the pen through some existing Group 1s.

It’s not before time.

It may sound silly but there are some sales-restricted races that currently deliver more excitement, interest and kudos than some established Group 1s.

Originally published as Australia’s Group 1 dilemma: Do we have too many?