The Autumn Classic is a Group 2 race for three-year-olds that takes place late February at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne during the Melbourne autumn racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 1800 metres and has prizemoney of $175,000. The 2011 Autumn Classic was won by Folding Gear from Elusive King with Almindoro third.
Taking place on the Melbourne Racing Club's major race day of the autumn, Blue Diamond Stakes day, the Autumn Stakes is held alongside the Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes, Gr1 Futurity Stakes and Gr1 Oakleigh Plate.
The Autumn Classic is a handy race for three-year-olds that tends to attract above average types and gives them the chance to race over further than a mile in the autumn. The race will usually attract competitors that may head on to a race like the Gr2 Alistair Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley in March.
The better 3yo gallopers might head north to the Sydney autumn racing carnival and the big prizemoney on offer against their own age, or they may consider tackling stronger class open races over 2000m like the Gr1 Australian Cup in March or the Gr3 Easter Cup in April.
Over the years some quality types have won this race, including Elvstroem (2004), Dignity Dancer (1999), Triscay (1991) and Stylish Century (1990). In recent times the Autumn Classic has been taken out by more than handy types rather than the elite and typically the winner will just be an above average three-year-old.
Folding Gear (2011) won a 3yo event at Sandown over 1800m prior to winning this race and recent Autumn Classic winners have been Extra Zero (2010) and Stokehouse (2009).
2011 Autumn Classic result
1. $12.00 Folding Gear 55.5 B Melham
2. $6.50 Elusive King 55.5 L Nolen
3. $3.10 Almindoro 55.5 S R King
then followed
4. $11.00 Domesky 55.5 C Williams
5. $10.00 Meaisin 55.5 G Boss
6. $4.00 Kim Divine 55.5 C Brown
7. $26.00 Second Draw 53.5 J Winks
8. $101.00 Eureka Jack 55.5 D Dunn
9. $20.00 Clemente 55.5 D Oliver
10. $17.00 Muirfield 55.5 M Rodd
11. $26.00 I Think I Do 55.5 S Arnold
