, Toorak Handicap - Caulfield Racecourse - Spring Racing Carnival
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Toorak Handicap

The Toorak Handicap is a Group 1 open handicap race that takes place in October at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. The race is run over a distance of 1600 metres and worth $1,000,000 in prize money. The 2020 Toorak Handicap was won by Mr Quickie from Buffalo River with Superstorm third.

From 1981-84 the race was known as the ‘The IXL’ and then from 1985-89 the ‘The Elders Mile’ and from 1990 onwards it has been the Toorak Handicap.

This race is held during the Melbourne spring racing carnival on Guineas day, which is the first day of the three-day Caulfield racing carnival. Feature races include the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, Group 1 Thousand Guineas and Group 1 Caulfield Stakes.

Day two of the Caulfield carnival, the following Wednesday, is home to the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes for three-year-olds. Three days later on the Saturday, the third and final day hosts the major race of the week, the Group 1 Caulfield Cup for stayers.

Toorak Handicap info

Date: Saturday 9th October 2021
Track: Caulfield racecourse, Melbourne
Distance: 1600 metres
Race Type: Open Handicap
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $1,000,000
2020 Winner: Mr Quickie
spring racing Toorak Handicap odds

The Toorak Handicap is one of the better mile races of the spring carnival and attracts good horses each year, although the race is better suited to seasoned sprinter milers rather than Cup staying types. A capacity field is usually assembled for the Toorak and barrier draws can play an important part, with those drawn out wide at a distinct disadvantage.

The Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield is a handy lead-up race to this event. Smart gallopers Trust In A Gust (2014), Barely A Moment (2005) and Regal Roller (2004) have all taken out the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes & Toorak Handicap double in recent years.

Winners of this race tend to continue performing best in similar type handicap events around the same distance or slightly longer, up to 2000m, rather than the longer distances of the major cups.

Fierce Impact (2019) ran second in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap over 1400m at Randwick before heading to Melbourne to score a stylish victory in this event for the Matthew Smith stable.

Recent Toorak Handicap winners include Tosen Stardom (2017) and He's Our Rokkii (2016).

Spring Carnival Guide

Chief Ironside (unp in 2019) and Cliff's Edge (2018) captured the Gr2 Crystal Mile at Moonee valley on Cox Plate Day after tackling this event, while Shillelagh (2018) took out the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes on Derby Day at Flemington.

Stratum Star (3rd in 2015) returned to Caulfield the following Saturday to win the Gr3 David Jones Cup while Disposition headed to Flemington to win the Gr3 Chatham Stakes on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Solzhenitsyn (2012) ran third in the Crystal Mile, while Poor Judge (3rd in 2011) took out the Chatham Stakes on Derby Day at Flemington after finishing third here.

All American (8th in 2009) scored an easy victory in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington on the final day of the carnival and , Gold Salute (2nd in 2009) ran third the same race.

2019 Toorak Handicap result

1. $18.00 Fierce Impact 54.5 Craig Williams
2. $7.00 Night's Watch 56.0 James McDonald
3. $9.00 Age Of Chivalry 54.5 Kerrin McEvoy

then followed
4. $13.00 Sikandarabad 56.0 Mark Zahra
5. $7.00 Waging War 52.0 Raquel Clark
6. $26.00 Cliff's Edge 57.5 John Allen
7. $16.00 Madison County 58.0 Damian Lane
8. $26.00 Miss Siska 52.0 Dean Yendall
9. $12.00 Widgee Turf 57.5 Billy Egan
10. $15.00 Mahamedeis 54.5 Ben Melham
11. $51.00 Streets Of Avalon 56.0 Zac Spain
12. $7.50 Princess Jenni 54.5 Damien Oliver
13. $26.00 Chief Ironside 52.0 Anthony Darmanin
14. $21.00 So Si Bon 58.0 Luke Nolen
15. $17.00 Amphitrite 55.0 Jamie Kah
16. $101.00 Order Again 54.0 Larry Cassidy
17. $61.00 Wyndspelle 56.0 Michael Dee
18. $31.00 Dyslexic 52.0 Damien Thornton

Margins: 1.75 len, 0.75 len
Time: 1:35.19

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Toorak Handicap winners & placegetters

Year Winner 2nd 3rd Time
2020 Mr Quickie Buffalo River Superstorm 1:35.8
2019 Fierce Impact Night's Watch Age Of Chivalry 1:35.1
2018 Land Of Plenty Hartnell Siege Of Quebec 1:34.5
2017 Tosen Stardom Sovereign Nation Petrology 1:35.2
2016 He's Our Rokkii Great Esteem Tivaci 1:36.1
2015 Lucky Hussler Disposition Stratum Star 1:34.5
2014 Trust In A Gust Speediness Desert Jeuney 1:35.2
2013 Solzhenitsyn Trevieres Blackie 1:36.4
2012 Solzhenitsyn Spirit Song Yosei 1:35.2
2011 King Mufhasa King's Rose Luen Yat Forever 1:36.2
2010 More Joyous We're Gonna Rock Poor Judge 1:36.4
2009 Allez Wonder Gold Salute Rock Kingdom 1:35.0
2008 Alamosa Rockwood Pillar of Hercules 1:36.9
2007 Divine Madonna Niconero Wonderful World 1.37.3
2006 Red Dazzler Rewaaya Niconero 1.37.5
2005 Barely A Moment Super Kid Calveen 1.37.9
2004 Regal Roller Osca Warrior Infinite Grace 1.37.4
2003 Roman Arch Fields Of Omagh Umrum 1.36.0
2002 Shot Of Thunder Umrum Pernod 1.36.1
2001 Show A Heart La Zagaletta Shot Of Thunder 1.35.8
2000 Umrum Go Flash Go Crawl 1.36.4
1999 Umrum Nina Haraka Go Flash Go 1.36.0
1998 Marble Halls Rustic Dream Umrum 1.38.2
1997 Penghulu Catalan Opening Ravarda 1.35.2
1996 Poetic King Scenic Royale Shame 1.35.8
1995 Sober Suit Seascay Danarani 1.35.2
1994 Oppressor Poetic King Spring Theme 1.35.2
1993 Golden Sword Never Undercharge Azzurro 1.35.8
1992 Ready To Explode Excited Angel Prince Salleri 1.43.7
1991 Comrade Livistona Lane Black Sun 1.36.1
1990 Ricochet Rosie Comrade Cool Credit 1:37.2
1989 Cole Diesel Glenview Planet Ruler 1:36.0
1988 Planet Ruler Hazy Pond Our Westminster 1:35.3
1987 Caledonian Boy Vo Rogue Globetrotter 1:35.9
1986 Canny Lass Lockleys Tradition Federalism 1:36.2
1985 King Phoenix Wise Call Shifnal Prince 1:36.8
1984 Mr Ironclad Riverdale King Phoenix 1:36.1
1983 Showmeran Ringtrue French Current 1:36.4
1982 Magari Avatar Oriental Ruler 1:36.7
1981 Penny Edition Silver Bounty My Axeman 1:36.0
1980 Torbek Consenting Watney 1:39.6
1979 Manaroa Marjoleo Grey Sapphire 1:40.5
1978 Salamander Crepellox Hyperno 1:36.5
1977 Nunkalowe Tulla Honey Lady Blintz 1:37.4
1976 Visit My Good Man Military Road 1:42.5