The Asian Racing Federation (ARF) has announced several Australian black-type upgrades for 2026-27 and also cautioned three Group 1 races are on notice to retain their current status.
In December 2025, the Asian Pattern Committee (APC) took over making decisions for all black-type races in Australia after stripping Racing Australia of its power to upgrade or downgrade Group and Listed races after a near-decade-long impasse over national pattern governance.
The result of the APC’s latest review resulted in 11 upgrades, 15 new Australian black-type races and just one downgrade.
Perth races to be upgraded include the $100,000 Max Simmons Stakes (1000m) at Ascot that has rightly been added to the Listed calendar.
Recent winners include proven black-type winners Talkanco (I’m All The Talk), West Star (Playing God) and Almighty Class (Playing God) who was last seen winning the LR Cyril Flower Stakes at Ascot.
And the $125,000 Starstruck Classic has been upgraded from Listed to Group 3. Its last three winners Storyville (Overshare), Bonjoy (Maschino) and Rusty Dreams (Universal Ruler) would not be out of place competing at that higher level.
Talkanco’s owners were a happy crew after the 2025 Max Simmons Stakes at Ascot even without the residual bonus of black-type Photo: Western Racepix
On a more sombre note, the G1 Railway Stakes (1600m) was considered for downgrade as was the G1 Metropoltan (2400m) at Randwick but they will remain at the current status for 2026-27.
The third Group 1 named would have astonished the racing and breeding industries when the ARF added the VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) to those on notice. The time-honoured classic is the marquee event on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington which is generally accepted by purists and punters alike as the ultimate day’s racing on the Australia calendar.
