Myer Classic

The Myer Classic is the premier mile race for fillies and mares during the spring carnival. As well as its significance to the Melbourne spring, this race is one of the main features on Derby Day, the favourite day of racing purists in Australia. 

Inaugurated in 1988, the Myer Classic has been a Group One race since 2004. In the past decade and a half, the race has boasted a field of some of the best female horses from across the country. This is part of what makes the Myer Classic such a special and unique race.

Appropriately, the Myer Classic is registered as the Empire Rose Stakes. This is after the champion mare Empire Rose who did the Mackinnon Stakes / Melbourne Cup double in 1988, the same year this race was first run.

The mile start at Flemington is one were an inside draw tends to hold an advantage. This is because the barriers open just over a hundred metres before the long sweeping turn into the home straight. As this bend is so long, the horses that have drawn out wide that don't find cover in the run have to spend more petrol early on, and therefore face a significant disadvantage.

However, due to the long Flemington straight, every horse has their opportunity to win if they are good enough. And it has been some good horses that have triumphed in this race of late, with the likes of Appearance, Red Tracer, I Am A Star and Shoals all saluting in the 2010s. 

2017 Myer Classic

Last year's edition of the race witnessed a gripping finish. It was the star filly Shoals who just held on from a fast finishing Eckstein and a flying Dixie Blossoms.

Only having to carry 50kg in the run, it was this light weight that proved the difference in the end.