Four successive weeks of top-class horse racing comes to Adelaide in April and May with the best in the business competing at Morphettville Racecourse for the 2023 Adelaide Racing Carnival.
Adelaide plays host to four of Australia’s Group 1 races – the most prestigious there is. They all happen during the Racing Carnival, which actually runs from February but kicks into top gear with the running of the Group 1 features.
The Australasian Oaks (April 29), Robert Sangster Stakes (May 6), South Australian Derby (May 13) and Goodwood Handicap (May 20) are Adelaide’s four big races in the calendar year and they make up four exciting Saturdays of horse racing at Morphettville.
The great Black Caviar is among the big-name gallopers to have appeared and won at the Racing Carnival. Who will follow in her hoofprints in 2023? Here’s a guide from NewBettingSites.com.au to the four feature races which are just around the corner.
Australasian Oaks (April 29)
The first of the four Group 1s is the Australasian Oaks, which is also known as the Schweppes Oaks. It now has its own feature race day having previously doubled up with the Robert Sangster Stakes.
This is a race open to three-year-old fillies only, meaning you get to see the best of the classic generation going head-to-head. It is the female equivalent of the SA Derby, which takes place two weeks later.
The Australasian Oaks is a relatively new race having been first run in 1982. It was a good year too as it was won by the eventual Australian Horse of The Year, Rose of Kingston. Other notable names on the honour roll include Zarita, Lights of Heaven and Princess Jenni.
Robert Sangster Stakes (May 6)
Not only is the Robert Sangster Stakes one of South Australia’s premier sprinting races, it’s also one of Australia’s too. That’s because it attracts a stellar field each year.
That very point is underlined by the presence of Black Caviar and Alinghi on the honour roll with the two greats former winners of the race.
It is exclusively limited to three-year-old fillies and mares and attracts some of the up-and-coming sprinters chasing Group 1 glory.
South Australian Derby (May 13)
The South Australian Derby is the premier three-year-old race at Morphettville and pits colts, geldings and fillies together in one mouth-watering race.
Only the most talented stayers prevail in this race, which has a rich history dating back to 1860 when first held at Thebarton Racecourse. It moved to Morphettville in 1876.
Subzero is among the former winners of the SA Derby before landing the Melbourne Cup the following season. The Assyrian (1880) and Gatum Gatum (1961) are two others to win both races in their careers.
The Goodwood (May 20)
The jewel in the Adelaide Racing Carnival crown, The Goodwood is another race limited three-year-old colts, geldings and fillies but this time over the sprint distance of 1200m.
One of the most eagerly anticipated races of the year, The Goodwood was first staged in 1881 when run as a handicap. It is now a set weights and penalties event.
The race is popular with trainers from across Australia and big-name gallopers Takeover Target, Black Caviar, Black Heart Bart, Vega Magic and Santa Ana Lane have headed to Morphettville to raid the prize.
It carries the biggest prize of the entire carnival and has an honour roll that also includes the likes of the only two dual winners Mostyn and Musket Belle, Aurie’s Star and Trekking.
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