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“If it isn’t broke don’t fix it“: Why leading trainer firmly believes Champions Day should mark the end of spring
Hugh Fitzpatrick • November 19th, 2024 1:06 pm
Leading trainer Wayne Hawkes believes the Thousand Guineas and the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes should move back to their original slot.
Both Group 1 races were moved from their original position last year as part of Racing Victoria and Melbourne Racing Club’s bid to lengthen the spring carnival into November.
Last Saturday saw 7,000 racegoers attend Caulfield’s meeting which is well down on previous meetings in which Group 1 races have been run.
Hawkes attributes those low numbers to carnival fatigue and believes it’s in the best interest of both the MRC and VRC to move the Thousand Guineas back to the Wednesday during the Caulfield Carnival and the Rupert Clarke back to the September slot.
Given the raging success of Champions Day at the end of the Flemington Carnival, Hawkes says that meeting is the perfect time to draw the curtain on Melbourne’s spring carnival.
“I was tired on Saturday, there’s no doubt about that, Sydney was running at Newcastle and I’m not a big wrap on those bush races,” Hawkes told *SENTrack*.
“I would rather it finish on Champions Day and it be done and finished. I say from a trainer's point of view as the horses that are going to be running in Melbourne and let’s call it the summer-autumn are having about three days off.
“If you’re running Cup week, arguably you might be running first-up in Melbourne and in all fairness, you’re going to be running in Sydney as that’s what you’re going to be doing and the minus about Sydney is that if you don’t like wet tracks you’re always going to be copping a wet track in Sydney.
“Gerard Whateley was the first one to be pushing for November to be a hot month and push all these race meetings back, but what are we hearing about the Thousand Guineas?
“I just reckon the spring should end at the end of Champions Day and go back to normal off-season schedule.
“These are the things we need to do, put the 1000 Guineas back to where it needs to be and if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”
New MRC chairman John Kanga has made his intentions clear to return both races back to its original slot following advice from leading owners and breeders.
[](https://www.sen.com.au/tips)
_________________________________________________________________________________
*__What's gambling really costing you? Set a deposit limit.__ For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit [gamblinghelponline.org.au](https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/)*
Both Group 1 races were moved from their original position last year as part of Racing Victoria and Melbourne Racing Club’s bid to lengthen the spring carnival into November.
Last Saturday saw 7,000 racegoers attend Caulfield’s meeting which is well down on previous meetings in which Group 1 races have been run.
Hawkes attributes those low numbers to carnival fatigue and believes it’s in the best interest of both the MRC and VRC to move the Thousand Guineas back to the Wednesday during the Caulfield Carnival and the Rupert Clarke back to the September slot.
Given the raging success of Champions Day at the end of the Flemington Carnival, Hawkes says that meeting is the perfect time to draw the curtain on Melbourne’s spring carnival.
“I was tired on Saturday, there’s no doubt about that, Sydney was running at Newcastle and I’m not a big wrap on those bush races,” Hawkes told *SENTrack*.
“I would rather it finish on Champions Day and it be done and finished. I say from a trainer's point of view as the horses that are going to be running in Melbourne and let’s call it the summer-autumn are having about three days off.
“If you’re running Cup week, arguably you might be running first-up in Melbourne and in all fairness, you’re going to be running in Sydney as that’s what you’re going to be doing and the minus about Sydney is that if you don’t like wet tracks you’re always going to be copping a wet track in Sydney.
“Gerard Whateley was the first one to be pushing for November to be a hot month and push all these race meetings back, but what are we hearing about the Thousand Guineas?
“I just reckon the spring should end at the end of Champions Day and go back to normal off-season schedule.
“These are the things we need to do, put the 1000 Guineas back to where it needs to be and if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”
New MRC chairman John Kanga has made his intentions clear to return both races back to its original slot following advice from leading owners and breeders.
[](https://www.sen.com.au/tips)
_________________________________________________________________________________
*__What's gambling really costing you? Set a deposit limit.__ For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit [gamblinghelponline.org.au](https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/)*
