The Australian Racing Board has ratified the recommendation of the Australian Pattern Committee to upgrade 22 races effective January 1.

The Australian Pattern Committee ensured the upgrades met the approval of the Asian Pattern Committee.  A further 9 races were not approved.  A recent meeting of the Asian Pattern Committee endorsed the recommended upgrades.

The Committee was especially pleased that there were 6 races of 1600+ included in the upgrades, which highlights the concerted efforts being put into staying events.

The upgraded races and their new rankings are;

G2  Missile Stakes (1000m) Randwick
G2  Tramway Handicap (G3), 1400m, Randwick
G2  The Roses (G3), 2000m, Doomben,

G3  Widden Stakes (1100m) Rosehill
G3  Hawkesbury Crown (1300m)  Hawkesbury
G3  Red Roses (1400m)  Flemington
G3  N E Manion Cup (2400m)  Rosehill
G3  Hall Mark Stakes (1200m)  Randwick
G3  Vamos Stakes (1400m) (LR)  Launceston
G3  Sky High Stakes (1900m) (LR)  Rosehill
G3  Bart Cummings Stakes (2500m) Flemington
G3  Maurice McCarten Stakes  (1100m) Rosehill
G3  Japan Racing Association Plate  (2000m)  Randwick
G3  Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m)  Sunshine Coast
G3  Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m)  Hawkesbury
G3  Ken Russell Memorial (1200m)  Gold Coast
G3  Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) Flemington

LR  Bendigo Guineas
LR  Bendigo Golden Mile
LR  Sale Cup
LR  Black Pearl  Geelong
LR  AHA Cup  Bunbury