Racing Victoria has welcomed the news that seven Victorian races are to be upgraded following the Australian Pattern Committee’s annual review.

The black type upgrades, which have been tabled with the Australian Racing Board and will take effect for the 2010-11 racing season, further strengthens the quality of Victorian racing.

The following races have been upgraded from Listed to Group 3 status;

· Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m), Flemington, 7 August 2010

· Tatts JRA Cup (2040m Hcp), Moonee Valley, 24 September 2010

The following races have been elevated to Listed status;

· August Sprint (1200m Hcp) – Caulfield, 14 August 2010

· Perri Cutten Plate (2000m, 3YO Fillies) – Caulfield, 16 October 2010

· Galilee Series Final (2500m, 3YO) – Caulfield, 9 April 2011

· Roy Higgins Quality (2600m Hcp) – Flemington, 5 March 2011

· Fillies Plate (1200m, 3YO Fillies) – Moonee Valley, 25 February 2011

In addition to the Victorian upgrades, the APC recommended three interstate features (two NSW, one SA) be upgraded to Group 3 status and a further five interstate races (two NSW, two WA, one QLD) be granted Listed status.

The Aurie's Star Handicap is a popular starting point for many spring campaigns, whilst the JRA Cup has grown in quality in recent years as a lead-up to the Tatts Cox Plate.

Mic Mac defeated All American and El Segundo in last year's Aurie's Star, the year prior it was Grand Duels defeating Stavka and Valedictum and in 2007 Monet Rules led home Orange County and El Segundo.

In the JRA Cup, Maldivian defeated Pacino and Master O'Reilly in 2007, Cefalu scored an upset victory over a field boasting five Group 1 winners in 2008, whilst Alcopop last year accounted for Field Hunter and Shocking.

Of the newly installed Listed features, the Perri Cutten Plate on BMW Caulfield Cup day has become a crucial lead-up to the Crown Oaks with 2007 Oaks winner Arapaho Miss coming via the race, as too have recent Oaks placegetters Allez Wonder (2008) and Valdemoro (2009).

The APC elected not to downgrade the black type status of any race ahead of the 2010-11 season.