Toorak Handicap

The Group 1 Toorak Handicap is held every October at Caulfield and is worth $400,000. The 1600m handicap is regarded as one of the best mile races in Australia and if punters are looking for value this race is for them.

Unlike many other Melbourne spring carnival races the Toorak suits horses paying a good price. This pleases punters, especially those wanting to make some money before the Melbourne Cup a few weeks later.

More Joyous has been the most impressive winner of the Toorak Handicap when it won carrying 58kg in 2010. That was one occasion where punters found a favourite ($2.20), but there has generally been good value on offer with the bookmakers.

2018 Toorak Handicap result

2018 Toorak Handicap betting odds

Darren Weir-trained Land Of Plenty is the early $5 favourite to win the 2018 Toorak Handicap after a powerful run in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Godolphin import Jungle Cat, who took out the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, is on the next line of betting at the $7 quote at Ladbrokes.

Stablemate to the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner Osborne Bulls ($9) is the only other runner in single figures.

Best Toorak Handicap bookmakers

The Toorak Handicap isn’t a race that’s on the tip of every punters’ tongue, but the bookies offer great value which has been snapped up over the last few years.

Markets will open 1-2 months in advance of the race with most bookmakers waiting for final nominations to come in. Some of the top bookmakers will open up all-in markets which don’t provide insurance if your selected runner doesn’t start in the race, but the odds are more appealing.

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Toorak Handicap betting guide

In the last 10 years, only four favourites have won which includes More Joyous, Trust In A Gust, Solzhenitsyn and Red Dazzler, but the race is set for a good-value runner.

Because the race is early October, many of the spring carnival fancies are just starting to warm up and this is where punters can strike. There have been 11 winners at double-figure odds in the last 33 years and the average price is an incredible $24.82.

The value is also with the New Zealand and former New Zealand runners. There has been three individual winners come out of New Zealand with four wins among them – Solzhenitsyn winning back-to-back in 2012/2013. Alamosa won in 2008 paying $9 and the Stephen McKee-trained King Mufhasa won in 2011 paying the same price.

Allez Wonder caused one of the biggest upsets in recent history, winning at odds of $40 in 2009. It defeated a field that included Raheeb, Black Piranha, All American and King Mufhasa.

Victorian form is the way to go when betting the Toorak Handicap. Only three winners had their most recent run in Sydney, so stick with the runners which have had plenty of experience at the difficult Caulfield track.

The best jockey to back is Glen Boss who has ridden three winners from 13 starts. Only Jimmy Cassidy has better stats, but with his retirement comes the end of a good punting opportunity.

Darren Weir is a trainer to follow, especially given his form over the last few years. Weir has had four runners for two wins and one placing, winning with Trust In A Gust and Lucky Hussler in consecutive years.

Toorak Handicap – Recent runnings

• 2018: Plenty to smile about for team Weir
  Land Of Plenty was one of the favoured runners coming into the 2018 Toorak Handicap and backers were not let down. Settling towards the back of the field after a hot tempo up front, Land Of Plenty was able to snag three-wide cover heading into the second half of the race which proved decisive. The Weir runner ambled up alongside the front runners and shot straight past them at the 200m, with Humidor staying on well to finish in second.
• 2017: Japanese import delivers win for Weir
  Tosen Stardom paid a great price for punters in 2017, winning at odds of $10.50. The Darren Weir-trained import was coming off a frustrating autumn campaign, but it had the class edge over a field which lacked strong group one winning form. Outsiders finished in the placings which further added to the depth worries about the race, but the result landed a massive $344,422 first four result with Mark Of Time running fourth. Read race report.
• 2016: Rokki rides the form wave
  He’s Our Rokki made it five consecutive wins in Melbourne when winning the Toorak Handicap. Favourite punters scored another big win on the day and it continued the roll of trainers David Hayes and Tom Dabernig who trained four winners on the big day.
• 2015: No luck needed for Weir's Hussler
  Lucky Hussler gave trainer Darren Weir his second consecutive win in 2015. The then six-year-old was well liked in the market after a string of consistent performances and it established its class over the final 100m. The beaten brigade haven’t gone on to become major winners of note, but Disposition, Stratum Star and Strawberry Boy were all worthy rivals. The win also gave Glen Boss his third win in the race.
• 2014: In Weir we trust
  The son of Keep The Faith Trust In A Gust battled well in the straight to hold off the fast-finished Speediness. The win was Darren Weir’s first Toorak Handicap winner and one of his career highlights at the time. The 2014 field has subsequently been one of the weakest in history. Many of the beaten runners have performed well since, but only at handicap level. Solicit is the exception with numerous black type victories – it finished well down the track in eighth, but was found to be lame.

Toorak Handicap past winners list