The Caulfield Classic, raced as the Neds Classic due to sponsorship and registered as the Norman Robinson Stakes, is a

Melbourne Racing Club The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) is one of three metropolitan horse racing clubs in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. It began life as the Victoria Amateur Turf Club in 1875, with E. C. Moore as the club's first Secretary. The ...

Group 3 Group 3 may refer to: * Group 3 element, chemical element classification * Group 3 (motorsport), FIA classification of cars used in auto racing and rallying * Group 3, the third tier of races in worldwide Thoroughbred horse racing * Group 3 image ...

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

held under set weights conditions, for horses three years old, run over a distance of 2000 metres. It is held at

Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, It is home to the Melbourne Racing Club. Horse-racing started there in 1859 on a bush track where the Melbo ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

, Australia on

Caulfield Cup The Caulfield Cup is a Melbourne Racing Club Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under Handicap (horse racing), handicap conditions. This is for all horses aged three years old and older. It takes place over a distance of 2400 met ...

day in October. Prizemoney is A$200,000.

History

The race was run as a handicap until 1990, now run under set weight conditions. Originally the race was scheduled on the second day of the

VATC Vietnamese-American Vocational Training College or "VATC", now known as American Polytechnic College is a private vocational college in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and licensed and regulated by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affai ...

Spring carnival. The registered name of the race is named after the former VATC Chairman Norman Robinson who was elected to that position in 1942. The MRC increased the prizemoney in 2014 to A$750,000 with a $250,000 bonus to the winner of the

Caulfield Guineas The Caulfield Guineas is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held over 1600 metres (1 mile) at set weights for three-year-old horses at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia. Total prize money is A$3 million. The race ...

or Thousand Guineas if they are able to win both events. In 2015, the prizemoney was reduced to $500,000. The event is considered a strong preparatory race for the

Victoria Derby The Victoria Derby, also known as the Penfolds Victoria Derby, is a Victoria Racing Club Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse ...

Grade

*1978 - Listed race *1978 - Special race * 1980–1997 - Listed Race * 1998–1999 - Group 3 * 2000–2004 - Group 2 * 2005 onwards - Group 3

Name

* 1971–1978 - Wallace Stakes * 1979–1988 - Norman Robinson Stakes * 1989 - Steeves Lumley Stakes * 1990–2013 - Norman Robinson Stakes * 2014–2015 - Caulfield Classic * 2016 onwards - Ladbrokes Classic

Distance

The race has been run over 2000 metres with exceptions of: * 1971 - 1 miles (~2000 metres) * 1979 – 1984 metres * 2003 – 2020 metres

Double winners

Thoroughbreds that have won the Norman Robinson Stakes –

double: * Nothin’ Leica Dane (1995), Blackfriars (1999), Amalfi (2001), Polanski (2013)

Winners

* 2023 - Sunsets * 2022 - Mr Maestro * 2021 - Gunstock * 2020 - Albarado * 2019 - Thought Of That * 2018 - Thinkin’ Big * 2017 - Cliff's Edge * 2016 - Good Standing * 2015 - Sacred Eye * 2014 - Fontein Ruby * 2013 - Polanski * 2012 - Hvasstan * 2011 - Sabrage * 2010 - Retrieve * 2009 - Shamoline Warrior * 2008 - Pre Eminence * 2007 - Pillar Of Hercules * 2006 - Get Square * 2005 - Pendragon * 2004 - Cedar Manor * 2003 - Casual Pass * 2002 - Platinum Scissors * 2001 - Amalfi * 2000 - Royale Exit * 1999 - Blackfriars * 1998 - Lawyer * 1997 - Brave Prince * 1996 - Mustang Ranch * 1995 -

Nothin’ Leica Dane Nothin' Leica Dane was a notable Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1995 Victoria Derby and three days later finished second in the Melbourne Cup as a three-year-old. He also sired the winners of over $16 million in prizemoney w ...

* 1994 - Punctual * 1993 - Battle Hawk * 1992 - River Hero * 1991 - Lady Purpose * 1990 - Big Dermott * 1989 - Counterfeit * 1988 - Panneria * 1987 - Omnicorp * 1986 - Dundas Lane * 1985 - Born To Be Queen * 1984 - Gold Deck * 1983 - King Delamere * 1982 - Brightman * 1981 - Lordship * 1980 - Bright Halo * 1979 - Attack * 1978 - Society Beau

References

Horse races in Australia Flat horse races for three-year-olds Caulfield Racecourse 1971 establishments in Australia Recurring sporting events established in 1971 {{horseracing-race-stub