Alice Springs Cup Carnival changes confirmed

[Wandering Eyes]

Darwin apprentice Jade Hampson celebrates victory in the 2023 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) at Pioneer Park in April aboard the Dick Leech-trained Write Your Name. Picture: Nikki Westover Photography

It’s official, the 2024 Alice Springs Turf Club’s Cup Carnival has been revamped.

The possibility of rescheduling the Red Centre’s showpiece event was discussed at the Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory board meeting in August during the Darwin Cup Carnival.

Changes have since been endorsed with the Carnival – which will accommodate five meetings at Pioneer Park – starting on Sunday, March 17 and culminating with Alice Springs Cup Day on Sunday, April 7.

Historically, Cup Day was the first Monday in May.

It was following the TRNT board meeting that Andrew Maloney, the ASTC Chairman, wrote to Alice Springs trainers advising them of the proposed remodelling of Cup Carnival.

“The decision made was based upon all the feedback received from trainers, including taking into consideration the previous concerns of Alice Springs trainers about the long break over the December and January period and to enable NT trainers to better target the Alice Springs and Darwin Carnivals,” Maloney said.

Previously, Day 1 of the Carnival never had a feature race, but that’s now changed with the $35,000 St. Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m).

The Day 2 feature on Saturday, March 23 is the $50,000 NT Guineas (1600m), but there’s also the Open Handicap (1900m) and Lightning Handicap (1000m).

Winners of the Guineas and Open Handicap are exempt from the ballot for the $110,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m), while the winner of the Lightning is exempt from the ballot for the $100,000 Pioneer Sprint (1200m).

Day 3 on Easter Saturday – March 30 – will accommodate two weight-for-age events – the $40,000 Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) and a 1200m race for the sprinters – both winners qualifying for the Alice Springs Cup and Pioneer Sprint.

The Pioneer Sprint is on Day 4 – Saturday, April 6, while the Alice Springs Cup and $35,000 Queen of the Desert (1200m) for the fillies and mares takes place the following day on Day 5.

Since 2020, the Cup and Sprint were held on Day 5 on the Sunday.

Up until 2019 and before Covid-19, the Sprint took place on the Saturday – two days before Cup Day.

The Queen of the Desert was part of Cup Day, but in 2022, it became the Day 4 feature on the Friday.

Eight races have been scheduled for Cup Day in 2024, with $325,000 up for grabs.

The other six races will each have a purse of $30,000.

The reaction was mixed when the ASTC changed their Carnival format in 2020, so it will be interesting to see how Sprint Day on Saturday and Cup Day on Sunday is received next year.

Tony McGovern, the interim ASTC general manager, agreed that only time will tell if the new format proves a success adding that there had been a mixed response by bringing the Carnival forward.

“First of all, it gives the three-year-olds that run in the Guineas the chance to have a break and then attack the Darwin Guineas and NT Derby,” he said.

“In the past, those horses have had two or three runs in Alice and if they had a let up it was for a short period of time – it’s been difficult for them to back up.”

The big lead up races in Darwin start in June with Cup Carnival commencing in July.

The Alice Springs Cup now forms part of the “Triple Crown” in the NT with the winner of Central Australia’s biggest race in line to pick up a $100,000 bonus with victory in the Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) and Darwin Cup (2050m) at Fannie Bay.

Before this year, victory in the Darwin Guineas, NT Derby and Darwin Cup formed the “Triple Crown” – only Brinney (1989) and Ventilago (1996) achieved the feat.

Another new concept introduced during the 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival was the “Darwin Double” with a $50,000 bonus on the table with victory in the Guineas and Derby.

That has also attracted the interest of Red Centre trainers, so with adjustments to the Alice Springs Cup Carnival now in place local horses will have additional rest before heading north.

“The pre-Carnival meetings and lead up races have all been moved forward a month,” McGovern added.

“Racing starts early in January and then it’s weekly from February 10.

“Further to the Saturday and Sunday format, it’s now a four-day extravaganza.

“You’ve got the Racing Minister’s Reception and Cocktail Party, as well as the Cup and Sprint draw on Thursday night.

“There’s the Let’s Talk Racing Luncheon, Tried Horse Sale and Calcutta on Friday.

“It leaves Saturday and Sunday free for racing – Ladies Day this year is on Saturday.

“The other aspect in 2024 compared to past years – where at least one event took place at Lasseters Casino – is that every function during Carnival will be held at Pioneer Park.

“We can utilise the facilities where plenty of money has been spent over the years, including the air-conditioned marquees.”

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