Nominations are now open for the Pearl and Diamond Classic Series, providing owners across Australia and New Zealand with the opportunity to compete for $600,000 in feature race prizemoney across their horse's two and three-year-old seasons.
Open to current yearlings (foaled in 2024/25), regardless of breeding origin, the Pearl and Diamond Classic Series is Australasia’s richest two-year-old futurity series and culminates in the running of the $250,000 Group 1 Pearl Classic for colts and geldings and the $250,000 Group 1 Diamond Classic for fillies.
The Pearl and Diamond Classics are also the richest single-sex two-year-old harness races in Australasia, providing owners, breeders and trainers with a unique opportunity to target lucrative juvenile racing at Gloucester Park.
Horses that remain eligible through the series will also compete as three-year-olds for the $50,000 Group 3 Pearl Classic and $50,000 Group 3 Diamond Classic, taking total series prizemoney to $600,000.
The two-year-old Group 1 editions of the Pearl and Diamond Classics are conducted at Gloucester Park in August, while the three-year-old Group 3 editions are conducted at Gloucester Park in May the following season.
The two-year-old Group 1 finals are preceded by heats, with all horses that have paid both the nomination fee and final acceptance fee guaranteed a start in the heats, subject to satisfying normal race nomination and qualification requirements.
Racing WA Head of Harness Racing & Special Projects Cameron Brown said the series continued to provide one of the most attractive racing opportunities available for young standardbreds.
"The Pearl and Diamond Classics have established themselves as premier juvenile races and now offer owners the opportunity to compete in Australia's richest two-year-old futurity series," Brown said.
"The $250,000 Group 1 Pearl Classic and $250,000 Group 1 Diamond Classic are also the richest single-sex two-year-old harness races in Australasia, providing an opportunity unmatched anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere."
"Importantly, the series is open to horses from both Australia and New Zealand, creating an opportunity for owners, breeders and trainers across Australasia to compete for significant prizemoney and target feature racing at Gloucester Park."
The series introduces a streamlined payment structure and a new online nomination process through HarnessWeb.
Managing owners and trainers can now utilise the Futurities section within HarnessWeb to nominate eligible horses, make payments and manage their horse's eligibility throughout the series.
Payment Schedule
Nomination Fee
- Due 31 October 2026
- $330 (incl. GST)
- Late nomination fee of $1,000 applies until 30 November 2026
Final Acceptance Fee
- Due 31 March 2027
- $330 (incl. GST)
- Late acceptance fee of $1,500 applies until 30 April 2027.
Payment of both the nomination fee and final acceptance fee makes a horse eligible for both the two-year-old and three-year-old Pearl and Diamond Classic races.
For further information or to nominate, visit the Futurities section of HarnessWeb, or contact the Racing WA Harness Office by email to harness.information@rwwa.com.au or by phone to (08) 9445 5267.
