Victoria Racing Club breaks with 155-year tradition moving Melbourne Cup qualifier Archer Stakes
Victoria Racing Club has brought forward the Group 3 Archer Stakes — the last chance to get into the Melbourne Cup — from its traditional home on Victoria Derby Day.
First run in 1869, the 2500m Flemington feature, run three days before the Cup, has struggled to produce a genuine Melbourne Cup threat in recent years.
Shocking is the last horse to complete the Archer-Melbourne Cup double in 2009, while 2010 winner Maluckyday ran third on the first Tuesday in November.
Prince Of Arran finished third in the 2018 Melbourne Cup after winning the Hotham Handicap, as it was known at the time.
The VRC, in consultation with Racing Victoria, has scheduled the 2024 Archer Stakes on Makybe Diva Stakes Day – September 14 – in a move designed to optimise the program for stayers trying to win a golden ticket into Australia’s most iconic race.
Other changes to the Melbourne Cup Carnival include the Group 3 TAB Vanity (1400m) moved to Victoria Derby Day from Black Caviar Lightning Race Day, to provide a lead into the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
The Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) will move to autumn, while The Listed Amanda Elliott (1400m) will be brought forward to Melbourne Cup Day from Champions Stakes Day as a stepping stone to the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes on Thousand Guineas Day.
VRC executive general manager racing Leigh Jordon said The Archer Stakes would be more relevant earlier in the spring.
“The move allows connections to plan their journey earlier towards the first Tuesday in November with more certainty,” he said.
Kalapour won the Archer last year and finished 20th in the Melbourne Cup.
The Kris Lees-trained stayer made amends in the autumn with victory in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes.
• Group 3 Archer Stakes on Makybe Diva Stakes Day, Saturday 14 September.
• Group 3 TAB Vanity on Victoria Derby Day, Saturday 2 November.
• Listed Amanda Elliott on Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday 5 November.
• Inglis Banner on Champions Stakes Day, Saturday 9 November.
• Listed Chester Manifold on Oaks Day, Thursday 7 November.
• Group 3 Ottawa Stakes, autumn 2025.
• Listed Desirable Stakes, autumn 2025.
2023 - Kalapour (finished 20th in Melbourne Cup)
2022 - Surefire (did not run in MC)
2021 - Great House (finished 13th in MC)
2020 - Ashrun (finished 10th in MC)
2019 - Downdraft (finished 22nd in MC)
2018 - Prince Of Arran (finished 3rd in MC)
2017 - Cismontane (finished 13th in MC)
2016 - Oceanographer (finished 12th in MC)
2015 - Excess Knowledge (finished 7th in MC)
2014 - Signoff (finished 4th in MC)