Moonee Valley Racing Club is set to ignite excitement in the 2024 Spring Racing Carnival with a thrilling revamp, featuring a Group 1 extravaganza on the first Saturday in September and a captivating Friday Night Lights Season Launch on AFL Grand Final Eve.
Kicking off the Friday Night Lights series on September 27, racing enthusiasts can anticipate the electrifying Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) and the prestigious Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m). The rescheduling of the Feehan Stakes to coincide with this event underscores its significance as the ultimate precursor to the illustrious Cox Plate (2040m).
The stakes are high as contenders vie for a coveted Golden Ticket into the Cox Plate, with the Feehan Stakes now positioned four weeks prior to this pinnacle event.
Making a triumphant return to AFL Grand Final Eve for the first time since 2011, the Manikato Stakes promises a thrilling spectacle, following the success of previous night racing seasons which drew over 7000 spectators in 2023. This year's event promises three exhilarating Friday nights, including October 4 and Cox Plate Eve on October 25.
The allure of Friday nights at The Valley continues to soar, with a winning combination of top-tier racing, entertainment, and the intimate ambiance of the track creating an unparalleled atmosphere.
Spring at The Valley will kick off in style with Group 1 action on Saturday, September 7, featuring the prestigious Moir Stakes (1000m).
Bolstered by the triumph of star mare Imperatriz in securing the Group 1 sprint double in 2023, the strategic placement of the Moir Stakes and Manikato Stakes earlier in the spring offers an enhanced Group 1 pathway for Australia's elite sprinters, seamlessly integrating with the national program.
Additional enhancements to the Carnival include the relocation of the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) to Cox Plate Day on Saturday, October 26, and a modification to the Group 2 Stocks Stakes, now contested over 1500m under Set Weights and Penalties on September 27, in contrast to its previous Weight-For-Age format over 1600m.