How 'Classic Caulfield' got back on the map

Once threatened to be swamped by the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate, Sebastian Hassett reports that the Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup is now anything but the city’s ‘other’ cup.

Glamour Central: Racegoers Emma Krieger, April Hosking and Jess Slocum revel in party atmosphere at Caulfield. Photo © SportsAustralia.com

AMIDST the colour and life of ‘Classic Caulfield’ on Saturday, it was difficult to fully appreciate the enormity what the day has now become.

The swirl of punters crammed into the stands, marquees and champagne queues was a sight to behold under the most incredibly gorgeous Melbourne skies.

More than 52,000 spectators found their way into the famous racecourse, enjoying the first serious party of Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival in the process.

No doubts about it, like the now-famous Carlton Draught ad that dominated the giant screens around the racecourse, Caulfield was so damn big. So very big.

Let’s face it – the Turnball Stakes, Craiglee Stakes and even the Caulfield and Thousand Guineas are not massive crowd pullers. Yes, they’re all big days in their own right, but Caulfield genuinely comes alive during the final furlong of its signature race.

But it’s not always been like this. Just a few years ago, when the Melbourne Cup and Victoria Derby were still getting the massive turnouts, Caulfield wasn’t. Ten years ago, the Victorian Amateur Turf Club’s big day drew just 35,000.

Now, they’re named the more-streamlined Melbourne Racing Club, and their Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup – all $2.5million of it – is a no longer just a poor cousin to the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. The crowds have responded, too, increasing their patronage by a staggering 50 percent. But why?

Of each of the different major courses, Caulfield is the best for the crowds. It’s not hideously gawking like Flemington, and not a cattle shed like Moonee Valley.

Then have a peak at some of the horses who’ve won the race recently. Doriemus, Might and Power, Sky Heights, Ethereal, Northerly, Mummify and Elvstroem – all winners in the past decade – are absolute champions.

It’s also the best-priced race day for the punters. The Melbourne Racing Club never fell into Moonee Valley’s trap by charging over $50 for entry, as infamously happened in 2003. There’s ten races on the card, with several of them group-level races, too.

Previously, many punters have seen the race as a pre-cursor to the Melbourne Cup, a fantastic guide to the eventual winner of the race that stops a nation.

This is not without reason. The ‘Cups double’ is a feat many horses are set for, and quite a few have achieved it. Not only that, but think of the spectacular runs of Jezabeel in 1998, Rogan Josh in 1999 and Makybe Diva in 2003-4 in the Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup before claiming victory at Flemington over a fortnight later.

In 2005, will it be Railings who does the double or can victory go the premier Caulfield ‘trialist’, Leica Falcon? It’s also the first year that Makybe Diva hasn’t had the 2400m battle prior to her big day – could this count against her?

However, for everyone who went on Saturday, Flemington couldn’t have seemed further away from their minds. And thank goodness for that.

Caulfield has found its niche. Basically, they’ve snatched the right to host the first day of the party: they’ve nailed it, and everyone knows it.

Now our focus heads across the city to Moonee Valley and then to Flemington. While some may say it lagged behind for some time, Caulfield, which has now earned its ‘Classic’ moniker, is streaking ahead.

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