The Advisory Group is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the Australian Listings meet the specifications of the International Cataloguing Standards Committee and provide the Australian Racing Board with quality recommendations based on objective and consistent criteria. All decisions from the Advisory Group are presented to the Australian Racing Board.

The Meeting, which lasts for two days, reviewed ninety (90) races in the following categories:-

1. Applications for races to be upgraded or included in the Listings for 2001/2002 Season - 37 races. 2. Races for possible downgrading which have been on the Caution List for at least two years - 20 races. 3. Races identified in monthly Reviews by Advisory Group members for possible placement on the Caution List - 33 races.

(Caution List comprises races identified by the Advisory Group as not currently meeting the standard of their classification).

Recommendations from the Advisory Group will be tabled at the next Meeting of the Australian Racing Board to be held in August 2001.

A summary of the Advisory Group's decision are as follows:-

1. General Policy:-

The Advisory Group re-confirmed its policy of grading Black Type races by using the pyramid system, which is used by most major racing countries. The policy of holding the number of Black Type races to 3.8% to 4% of all TAB races will be continued with approximately 48% of all Black Type races being granted Group status.

2. Races to be upgraded or included in the Listings for 2001/2002 Season:-

Group 3 * Group 2 AJC T.J. Smith Stakes AJC Chairmans Handicap

Listed * Group 3 VATC Guineas Prelude STC Research Stakes VRC Matriarch Stakes BTC Summer Stakes AJC Sapphire Stakes

Unlisted * Listed VATC Kevin Heffernan Plate QTC Golden Garter Quality VATC Victoria Gold Cup

1. Races to be downgraded in the Listings for 2001/2002 Season:-

Group 2 * Group 3 NJC Newcastle Cup

Group 3 * Listed SAJC St. Leger Stakes

Listed * Unlisted VATC Rancher Stakes STC Christmas Stakes QTC Exhibition Handicap

1. Races to be placed on the 2-Year Caution List, with their status to be reviewed at the mid-year Meeting in 2003 (except the VRC St. Leger and the QTC Easter Cup, which will be reviewed at the 2002 mid-year Meeting):-

Group 2 AJC Emancipation Stakes VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Group 3 WATC W.A. Champion Fillies Stakes WATC Easter Stakes SAJC Penang Turf Club Cup VRC VRC St. Leger (2nd Year)

Listed WATC Dayana Stakes VRC Matron Stakes TTC Toowoomba Cup QTC Easter Cup (2nd Year) QTC Queensland Cup

AJC Warwick Farm Spring Cup (Listed) Status to be decided at the 2002 mid-year Meeting. QTC T.J. Smith Stakes (G1) A decision has been deferred to the 2001 December Meeting, when the Group will be reviewing all 2YO races.

At the commencement of the Meeting, there were 551 Group & Listed races conducted in the 2000/2001 racing season. In the 2001/2002 racing season, there again will be 551 Group & Listed races conducted, which consist of 64 - Group 1; 88 - Group 2; 113 - Group 3 and 286 Listed races.

Racing Victoria Media Release