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A top filly came from the Moonee Valley Fillies Classic run at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Mystic Journey would become an All-Star. What has the 2024 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday in store?
2024 MOONEE VALLEY FILLIES CLASSIC - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Moonee Valley Fillies Classic is a Group 2 race run under Set Weights conditions for three year old fillies at Moonee Valley conducted by the Moonee Valley Racing Club.
The Moonee Valley Fillies Classic is run over 1600m. It was first run in 1996 and was won by Just A Runner.
It was run over 2000m to 2004 then 1600m in 2005. Back to 1500m from 2006 to 2009, it has been at the mile since then.
After being Listed to 1999, the Moonee Valley Fillies Classic became a Group 3 in 1999, then was a Group 2 from 2001.
The race was moved from the Autumn to the Spring in 2012. It was originally part of the fillies series under the Moonee Valley Oaks name when won by the elite staying fillies like Sunline.
When run in the Autumn, the standard of winners was much stronger, many of them had either won or went on to win Oaks races.
I Am A Star was beaten in 2016 but won the Empire Rose Stakes the week after.
There was a big result for the race in 2018 as Mystic Journey would take it out and she would go on to win the Australian Guineas and the All-Star Mile in the Autumn.
There was a dead heat in the 2019 Fillies Classic – something this day has a habit of.
The Moonee Valley Fillies Classic was worth $300,000 in 2024.
Notable winners of the Moonee Valley Fillies Classic include Skybird (2023), Mystic Journey (2018), Nurse Kitchen (2016), Lumosty (2014), Lights Of Heaven (2011), Romneya (2009), Absolut Glam (2008), Anamato (2007), Dizelle (2005), Special Harmony (2004), Elegant Fashion (2002), Hill Of Grace (2000), Sunline (1999) and Kensington Palace/Champagne (1998).
The 2023 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic was won by Skybird from Grinzinger Belle and Carina Queen.