For what has been a highly successful spring carnival racing goes to Sandown on Saturday, to wind up proceedings of the 2017 Spring Carnival.

Sandown is among the best race tracks in Australia, a big spacious course it affords every horse a chance with its long run in, it is no place for squibs.

Among the feature races for the juveniles is the Merson Cooper Stakes, formerly run at Caulfield, among the leading two year old races in Victoria at one stage, until 1970 when the brilliant filly, Dual Choice, proved a popular winner.

Once the Blue Diamond Stakes appeared on the scene the Merson Cooper was scraped, it was not included in the programming for three years, from 1971 until 1974.  

The racing bible, (Millers Guide), records the first running of the Merson Cooper Stakes in 1946, won by Chaperone.