News

Members wishing to receive a hard copy of the Annual Report, please contact us at membership@mrc.net.au or 1300 GO RACE (46 7223) with your name and membership number.

View the 2018 Annual Report here

The MRC Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Davidson to the club Committee, assuming the position vacated by former Chairman, Mike Symons.

A member of the Club for five years, Scott is the majority owner and Chairman of QMC Logistics, one of Australia’s leading refrigerated supply chain providers, and is a Director of the National Road Transport Association, the largest member organisation representing the trucking and logistics industry.

Scott is also a successful racehorse owner and breeder, and has raced horses at Ascot, Meydan, Arlington and Tokyo. His horses include internationally bred Group One winners Jakkalberry and Crackerjack King, dual Group winner La Passe as well as Stakes winners Firehouse Rock and Rockolicious.  Scott currently has an exciting band of home bred 2 and 3 year olds emerging as well as the recent listed winner and progressive stayer Yogi on a Melbourne Cup path.

“As an avid racing enthusiast, to be involved with this preeminent Club is a real honour,” Davidson said of the appointment.

“It’s a changing time for the Club, and we are seeing a much broader diversity in age, gender and background represented on the Committee. I welcome the opportunity to provide a new perspective, and will be paying particular focus to how the Club can cater for the wants and needs of the average member.”

“Looking towards spring I am excited at the prospect of seeing some Japanese imports at Caulfield in October. With the increased prizemoney, it’s sure to be an outstanding field and it’s therefore a really thrilling time to be joining the Committee under our new Chairman, Peter Le Grand.”

The Committee, executive and staff of the club warmly welcome Scott to the Committee and look forward to working with him across the busy coming months and beyond.

The Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at Caulfield Racecourse. Further details to follow.

MRC Members and their guests* are invited to join us this June at Living Legends, which is home to some of Australia’s finest retired champion racehorses, including legendary Caulfield Cup winners and Racing Hall of Fame horses.

Where: Living Legends – Oaklands Road, Greenvale
When: Sunday 17 June, 2018
Time: 12.00pm – 4.00pm

BBQ lunch, Devonshire Tea and Champagne will be provided.

Limited complimentary bus transport (departing from Caulfield Racecourse and return) is also available. Please ensure you select this option at the time of your booking.
Alternatively, parking is available at Living Legends.

Cost: $50.00

Click here to RSVP

Scratching your head over who to back this Saturday at Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes Day? Well, this is your lucky day.

Not only do I guarantee winners* this Saturday, I promise that after reading my snapshot of what is undoubtedly a stupendous the nine-race card at Caulfield, you will automatically become 17% more attractive to the opposite sex.**

What more do you want punters? Enjoy one of the great Caulfield race days this Saturday!

R1: Ladbrokes Mornington Cup Prelude 2000m

If there is strong market support for either Almandin or Homesman then I suggest you follow it – if there’s not then get on board with #4 GALLIC CHIEFTAIN which had no hope in a stop-start race fresh here first-up. Loved his last 600m, he can win this.

BET: #4 Gallic Chieftain to win

R2: G2 Heritage Finance Autumn Classic 1800m

Favourites have won the last three editions of this race so happy days if you like a shorty. I’m a huge fan of #3 MR SO AND SO and he was unlucky not to win the G2 Autumn Stakes last start when held up rounding the home turn. 1800m looks within his reach. #9 ARMED AND READY is a bit like a young M. Sharkie; a bit goofy but there’s an engine there.

BET: #3 Mr So And So to win, something smaller #9 Armed And Ready

R3: G3 Ladbrokes Zeditave Stakes 1200m

Tricky race…might be time for a dip in the Bondi Sands pool (did anyone actually swim in it the other day?). If the leaders fry each other up front, #5 ALBUMIN will come home at a cracking pace, no yolking. Punters are waiting for the always well-backed #6 I DID IT AGAIN to do it again and maybe this is his chance after a good first-up run behind Cliff’s Edge – same race #1 OVERSHARE comes through.

BET: That I’ve run out of egg puns. Each-way #5 Albumin

R4: G2 Ladbrokes Angus Armanasco Stakes 1400m

I reckon there’s some value in this race and I’m liking the odds for #7 EARTH ANGEL, a daughter of one of my all-time favourites Miss Finland. The other two fillies I think will run much better than the market suggests are #1 COUNTERPLAY and #11 MISS OKLAHOMA.

BET: Each-way #7 Earth Angel, boxed exacta 1, 7, 11

R5: G3 Premier Signs Mannerism Stakes 1400m

What the heck happened to #1 SILENT SEDITION last start? One minute she’s going to bolt in, next minute she’s in reverse. I’m not backing her at short odds on that! This is not a race I’m super hungry to have a go at but #7 SAMOVARE might be worth a shout to cause an upset fresh. Has been jumping out well at Flemington.

BET: #7 Samovare at odds

R6: G1 italktravel Futurity Stakes 1400m

I know it’s a G1 feature, but I really don’t like this race! I’m not completely trusting the Orr Stakes form so I’m looking left field. Surely #11 SHOWTIME and #5 SOVEREIGN NATION are better than $12 and $26 chances on their best form? They’ll do me.

BET: A (hesitant) tenner on #11 Showtime & #5 Sovereign Nation

R7: G1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes 1200m

Oh good – a 16-horse 2yo raffle with no stand out. Don’t be put off by wide gates, horses can win this race drawn wide especially if they have a turn of foot which is exactly what #11 KINKY BOOM has. She lived up to the hype of her trial win with a very good debut victory and current odds are generous. #15 QAFILA is very talented and she could become the first horse to win the Diamond first-up. Huge odds on offer compared to her ability.

BET: Each-way #11 Kinky Boom, boxed trifecta 2, 4, 11, 13, 15, 16

R8: G1 Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate 1100m

I may love the Oakleigh Plate more than I love pies in the Medallion Bar. I really love pies in the Medallion Bar. I feel really dirty for abandoning one of my equine girlfriends #17 CATCHY, but I’m going to have a lash here at #11 BONS AWAY. I’ve been seduced by his recent jump outs in which he has accelerated like Usain Bolt; let’s find out if he’s up to this level. Be brave.

BET: Each-way #11 Bon’s Away

R9: G2 Carlton Draught Peter Young Stakes 1800m

It’s been six years since my mate Lucas Cranach won this race and I haven’t backed a winner of it since so mathematics say I’m due. I knocked the Orr Stakes form in the Futurity but half contradicting myself by landing on #10 ABBEY MARIE – enormous run, very unlucky, she pushed Bonneval second-up last preparation.

BET: #10 Abbey Marie each-way

*By “guarantee” I mean if you’re lucky.

**Yes, my tips are that good. Feel the love Caulfield.

BMW Caulfield Cup Day marks one of the great days on my social and sporting calendar.

It marks “The Annual”, a get together of a group of like-minded individuals that I grew up with in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. We spent our formative years knocking around local cricket and footy clubs, now we indulge in the Three P’s (pies, pots, and the punt) in the Medallion Bar at Caulfield on Cup.

There’s got to be something to that – growing up in sports clubs very much entrenched in suburban community culture, then ending up years later feeling as comfortable as a foot in a worn in footy boot at another club far removed from the mud and liniment of our youth.

The day the MRC introduces pre-race rub downs for members will be the day that these two unlikely worlds truly collide.

But the culture is right and that’s what brings this particular group of blokes back to the track year after year.

Released from the responsibilities of fatherhood for the day by our much better halves, you can have your last $20 on this multi; someone will peak far too early, someone will be on the snip by race three, someone will dodge a shout (probably me), and someone will get out of trouble on the last at Belmont.

God bless BMW Caulfield Cup day.

And God bless (please) my mare OCEAN EMBERS in Race 7, the G2 Caulfield Sprint. The poor thing had a sniffle last week and missed a run in the Northwood Plume Stakes but is fighting fit for a return this week. She loves Caulfield as much as The Annual crew do, and if she happens to win on Saturday, I know a corner of the Medallion Bar will go absolutely off its head.

I’ve been tossing and turning about the likely Cup result and have arrived at the following conclusion – HARLEM is the forgotten horse in the race. His two Caulfield runs have been excellent, he carries a feather weight from the inside gate and gets blinkers for the first time; he’s worth an each-way bet.

Of the rest, SAMOVARE will get some of mine in Race 5 and if she’s beaten then the shout-dodge could be on early.