Victoria launches $100m carnival response

By Bren O'Brien

Victorian racing has launched an emphatic response to the prizemoney challenge thrown out by Racing NSW, by confirming a $13m boost to the 2019 Spring Carnival and the formation of a series of bonuses and incentives targeting the best horses and jockeys.

In response to Racing NSW announcement last month that it would supercharge the new Everest carnival with a host of new races which will be staged in the same timeframe as the Melbourne spring, Racing Victoria has confirmed the Victorian Spring Carnival will be worth $100m in prizemoney.

“Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival is an internationally renowned racing event and we are committed to again showcasing the best horses, jockeys and trainers from Australia and abroad across the Carnival’s most prestigious and coveted races," Racing Victoria CEO Giles Thompson said.

“These enhancements to the 2019 Spring Racing Carnival come following the conclusion of our annual planning and budgeting process and continue the on-going investment in the carnival by Racing Victoria, the metropolitan Clubs, Country Racing Victoria and the Victorian Government.

“With more than $100 million in prizemoney and bonuses on offer across metropolitan and country Victoria, this year’s Spring Racing Carnival offers a great opportunity for a broad range of owners, trainers and jockeys to share in the spoils."

VRC tips in for Carnival splurge

The VRC, which has been vocal in its opposition to Racing NSW's plan to stage the $7.5m Golden Eagle on the same date as its iconic VRC Derby Day, has confirmed a series of prizemoney boosts on that day.

“The Victoria Racing Club is proud to make a significant direct investment of $3.2 million in prizemoney, in addition to the contributions from Racing Victoria and the Victorian Government, for the world-renowned 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival, enhancing its position as Australia’s greatest racing event," VRC CEO Neil Wilson said.

The $2 million Derby will be joined by the $2 million G1 Kennedy Cantala S, which has had its prizemoney doubled, the $1.5 million G1 Coolmore Stud S., which has had $500,000 added along with the $1 million G1 Empire Rose S.

The G3 Carbine Club S. has been boosted to $500,000 from $200,000, with a further $500,000 bonus in play for any horse which can win that race after contesting a serious of lead-up races in Melbourne.

The prizemoney for the week's feature sprint, the G1 VRC Sprint Classic, has been doubled to $2 million.

“The VRC leads the way in the development of prizemoney initiatives, bonuses and innovative offers to participants, with the Club’s annual prizemoney and bonuses direct contribution now standing at over $10.5 million in addition to industry allocations," Wilson said.

Thousand Guineas, Blue Sapphire boosted

For the Caulfield Cup carnival, the G1 Thousand Guineas has had its prizemoney doubled to $1 million, while the G3 Thousand Guineas Prelude and the G3 Guineas Prelude have had their prizemoney lifted to $250,000 and the G3 Blue Sapphire S has been increased to $500,000. The G3 Coongy Cup has also been boosted with that race now ballot free entry into the G1 Caulfield Cup.

"We welcome the continued investment from the Victorian Government in the Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Carnival and wider spring program, allowing us to continue to attract the very best talent to our tracks year on year," Melbourne Racing Club Chief Executive Officer, Josh Blanksby said.

“The support for our key prelude races and the doubling of prizemoney for the Schweppes Thousand Guineas will further bolster Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Day, one of the finest race days on the Australian racing calendar."

$1 million Moir plus Cox Plate bonuses

In terms of Moonee Valley, the G1 Moir S. joins the G1 Manikato S. as $1 million sprints, while the G1 Cox Plate winner is now eligible for a $1 million bonus should they win any of 13 local lead-up races.

That includes the All-Star Mile and the G1 Australian Guineas, meaning current Cox Plate favourite star filly Mystic Journey (Needs Further), is already in the running for the bonus, which is also extended to 3-year-olds who contest either of the Guineas or the Preludes.

“The MVRC aims to have the best horses, trainers and jockeys, both locally and internationally, participating in the 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Carnival and today’s announcement ensures we are well placed to attract the best of the best," Moonee Valley Racing Club Chief Executive Officer, Michael Browell said,

“The Moir Stakes prizemoney uplift also announced today ensures the MVRC now has the two richest Group 1 races under lights in Australia, joining the Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes in offering $1 million in prizemoney. This strengthens our Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights product and showcases a strong commitment by the industry to night racing at The Valley.”

There are also bonuses attached to Coolmore Stud S. winners who had previously contest the G3 Blue Sapphire S. and horses who contest either the Toorak Hcp or Crystal Mile and then wins the Kennedy Cantala S.

All stakes races lifted

Over $8 million is being spent across 63 stakes races across the carnival, installing minimum prizemoney of $300,000 for Group 2s, $200,000 for Group 3s and $175,000 for Listed races.

Victoria has also boosted its version of the Country and Provincial Championships, with the heats of the Country Carnival series, restricted to country trainers, boosted to a minimum $100,000, with a final worth $500,000 to be held on the Thursday of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Ballarat Cup day has also received a substantial boost, with the Listed Ballarat Cup, to be now held over 2000m, to be worth $500,000, while the Magic Millions Clockwise Classic ($250,000) and Magic Millions 3&4YO Classic ($150,000) have also been bolstered.

The Cranbourne, Geelong and Bendigo Cups have had their prizemoney lifted to $400,000 each.

Jockeys lured by Star bonus

With Sydney to stage a series of rich meetings across the same period as the Melbourne Spring Carnival, the competition for jockeys is strong and Racing Victoria has introduced a 'Star of The Saddle' series.

A prize of $50,000 on Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Guineas Day and $100,000 on Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Derby Day, will be awarded to the leading jockey on each day.

The points system for determining the winner will be decided at a later date.

State Government support

The series of initiatives has been implemented with the full support of the Victorian State Government.

“The government is proud to join with Racing Victoria to ensure that this will be the best Spring Racing Carnival yet," Racing Minister Martin Pakula said.

“Racing across the board will benefit – from Group 1s at Flemington, Caulfield and Moonee Valley to cup-day cards at Cranbourne and Bendigo – and that’s great news for carnival-goers and the many thousands of people who work in the industry."

“We’ve delivered our support through the Victorian Budget 2019/20 with an additional contribution from the Victorian Racing Industry Fund, and we look forward to Victoria continuing to set the benchmark for Australian racing.”