Record wagering turnover, the presence of racing\u2019s biggest names and growing field sizes were highlights of an Adelaide Racing Carnival that is ushering South Australian racing back to the national spotlight.<\/p>\n
Four Group 1s, accompanied by 12 stakes races and four finals, were held at Morphettville from April 25 to May 9 across three weeks of elite thoroughbred racing. <\/p>\n
From a monster Oaks-Sangster day that saw SA wagering records tumble to the world\u2019s best jockey, James McDonald, landing his first major win in Adelaide, the 2026 Adelaide Carnival \u201cticked a lot of boxes\u201d for Racing SA chief executive Nick Bawden as the organisation reviews how it can maintain momentum going forward. <\/p>\n
A targeted strategy has ensured Adelaide\u2019s carnival lands between Sydney and Brisbane\u2019s autumn-winter carnivals, allowing the state to get clear air with all eyes on Morphettville, with stars of the turf on show, on and off the track. <\/p>\n
\u2022 Dwyer swings gear changes for Different Gravy ‘hope job’<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWhen you look at the first day of the carnival, having J-Mac and (Chris) Waller here \u2026 having J-Mac win his first Group 1 here and the buzz that was around that was incredible,\u201d Bawden said. <\/p>\n \u201cThe second day, you had the World Pool (betting) in action, and people from around the world betting into your races on those three races \u2013 which is fantastic.<\/p>\n \u201cGoodwood day, when you\u2019ve got Bruce (McAvaney) and Richo (Jason Richardson) hosting the national coverage from Morphettville, it just ticks all of those boxes in terms of relevance and performance of racing in SA on a national stage, and on Derby Day, an international stage.\u201d<\/p>\n The three-day carnival saw wagering up a \u201csmall amount\u201d, but there was a landmark result on Oaks-Sangster day, the biggest day in SA racing, featuring two $1m Group 1s. <\/p>\n Wagering turnover jumped a hefty 15 per cent year-on-year for Oaks-Sangster day, which is \u201cthe biggest day ever done\u201d in SA racing. <\/p>\n \u2022 Marvelous old boy scores win at start 172<\/a><\/p>\n Weather challenges saw a softening on Derby and Goodwood day, and while that is an uncontrollable factor, Bawden and his team are working on how they can propel the Oaks-Sangster momentum on to Derby and Goodwood day. <\/p>\n \u201cThe challenge and opportunity we have is to keep that momentum going. We really started on a high, how we keep the pattern of that going through to the third day,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cAnother headline act or two (for the Goodwood) may have helped us a little bit more, but having Rey Magnerio scratched a couple of days out didn\u2019t necessarily help us \u2013 that\u2019s out of everyone\u2019s control.<\/p>\n There will be no \u201ccopy and paste\u201d approach to next year, with changes to the Derby Day program a possibility to help the carnival maintain momentum. <\/p>\n Alongside two Group 1s, Oaks-Sangster day hosts five Group races, while the Derby Day undercard is smaller, with two Listed contests and three local finals. <\/p>\n Goodwood day features four Group races and one Listed race alongside the Group 1 feature.<\/p>\n \u2022 Port Augusta abandoned after flight chaos<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDerby Day is definitely worth looking at in terms of the racing program, and what support could be added to that day,\u201d Bawden said. <\/p>\n \u201cAt the same time, it\u2019s a strong day for local participation, which is great to showcase those stories and participants to the national stage.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the black-type races, we\u2019ll be running our eye over to make sure it\u2019s the best sequencing.\u201d<\/p>\n Bawden was buoyed by field sizes across the carnival, a marker that Racing SA values significantly, having recorded the nation\u2019s leading field size numbers three years running.<\/p>\n Starter numbers were up six per cent year-on-year across the carnival, with feature race numbers up nine per cent year-on-year.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was basically full fields, in the Derby and Oaks, and large fields in the Goodwood and Sangster,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou had 20 start in the Hawkes, which is just an amazing spectacle in itself.\u201d<\/p>\n Interstate raiders boosted starter numbers across the carnival, and while Bawden acknowledges it presents a challenge for local participants, he was thrilled to see local competitors bounce back throughout the carnival. <\/p>\n \u2022 Eye for Jai: Group 1 mission to benefit Arrow’s MND battle<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cTo see that interstate participation, and international, with New Zealand participation, I think it shows that it\u2019s back on the radar as a target carnival,\u201d he said<\/p>\n \u201cOaks and Sangster day was a tough day locally, but from then on, the (local) riders and trainers were able to absolutely compete with people that were here to chase the prizemoney and did an amazing job.\u201d<\/p>\n Elite broadcast coverage across the three days shone a light on the locals, with Channel 7 hosting its broadcast from Morphettville on Goodwood day, along with overhead drone footage and \u201cjockey cam\u201d on Racing.com throughout the carnival.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ultimate aim for us is to make as many people in South Australia household names,\u201d Bawden said. <\/p>\n \u201cWe know we\u2019ve got good stories, very good trainers and very good riders.<\/p>\n \u201cIt (coverage) all helped elevate it, and put it all on the same standard that you see during the Spring Carnival.<\/p>\n \u201cThe club did a magnificent job with the track. I thought it raced really fair, there were some of the most amazing, close finishes you\u2019ve seen throughout the carnival.<\/p>\n \u201cIt made for a magnificent spectacle.\u201d<\/p>\n