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Letter of the Week

Wrong day

I see that the Thousand Guineas is again to be run on Caulfield Guineas day this year, that is one week after the Flight Stakes and Edward Manifold Stakes.
To me this is shocking programming. Apparently the authorities do not want the top Sydney fillies to come. Perhaps the Sydney second-graders, who are not good enough to run in the Flight (remember Amicus two years ago?), will come instead.
Surely the Thousand Guineas should be run on Caulfield Cup day, two weeks after the Flight and Manifold. It is just so obvious.
The prizemoney for the Thousand Guineas is also poor — $500,000 is near rock-bottom Group 1 prizemoney.
I believe the prizemoney for both the Melbourne Racing Club’s Guineas races should be doubled. (The Caulfield Guineas is worth $1 million.)
The club does not seem to appreciate the prestige of these races, which are genuine Group 1s — although I admit the Thousand Guineas is suffering because of poor programming.

Hugh Fraser
Frankston South (Vic)
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