Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) was taking a philosophical approach to the news that star filly Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) may head to Sydney for the new G1 King Charles III S. at Randwick on October 14, instead of lining up in the G1 Toorak H. at Caulfield on the same day.
Connections of Amelia’s Jewel had tentatively pencilled in a start in the Toorak for last year’s G1 Northerly S. heroine, but that has since changed, following Sunday’s announcement by Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club (ATC) that the G1 King Charles III S. - named in honour of His Majesty The King - will be worth $5 million and replace the G1 George Main S.
“There are five million reasons why we would have a good look at it (the King Charles III S.),” Miller told Racenet on Wednesday.
“It’s just insane money and it’s an intriguing race now.”
Simon Miller | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
By comparison, the prize purse for the Toorak is $1 million.
Amelia’s Jewel will be one of the major draw cards in the spring, being one of the best horses in Australia. From nine starts, she boasts nine wins and two seconds and earnings of $2.38 million, and her explosive turn of foot has made her incredibly popular.
“Yeah, we were pretty excited when they (the filly’s connections) first announced their calendar and it included the Toorak. We’d already reached out to Simon to make sure she was all good to come here,” MRC CEO Josh Blanksby told TDN AusNZ.
“That’s just the nature of it, when another opportunity rises like this… you can understand $5 million versus $1 million.
“That’s just the nature of it, when another opportunity rises like this… you can understand $5 million versus $1 million.” - Josh Blanksby
“It’s a different target, the Toorak is a handicap race and last year I Wish I Win got balloted out of it.
“It will always be a great race with a full field. It would be nice to have Amelia’s Jewel. If she chooses to come here, great. I think it will come down to the field, if all the really good weight-for-age horses go there does she really want to take them on?
“There’s talk of them going to the Golden Eagle, so the Toorak may be a better run-in, I don’t know.
“There’s plenty of options for owners and trainers.”
Josh Blanksby | Image courtesy of the Melbourne Racing Committee
Blanksby said it is too early to tell what level of impact the change in New South Wales will have on one of the MRC’s flagship race days.
“In terms of fields and stuff, it’s just another pathway for trainers to choose. Some will choose to go up there, but on the flipside, once some of those horses don’t head to our races here, then other trainers might say, ‘We’ll target that’. They’re still $1 million races, so rather than running say sixth or seventh in a $5 million race up there, they may come down here thinking they can finish top-three.
“We’re not as worried about that.
“In terms of the overall impact, we just see it as another race to add to that whole day. We’ve been working with the ATC and Racing NSW ever since they established The Everest, which initially was on Guineas Day and sometimes is on Caulfield Cup Day. I just think it makes it a great raceday; three Group 1s at Caulfield and The Everest and now this new race as well, so it’s quality racing all day.
“I just think it makes it a great raceday; three Group 1s at Caulfield and The Everest and now this new race as well, so it’s quality racing all day.” - Josh Blanksby
“We’re fortunate we have the same broadcaster in Channel 7.”
Blanksby admitted the club wasn’t surprised by the further changes in New South Wales. The October 14 Randwick program will feature prizemoney of nearly $35 million, with $20 million of that allocated to The Everest, while undercard includes the $2 million The Kosciuszko, the $1 million Silver Eagle, the $500,000 St Leger S. and the $250,000 G3 Angst S.
On the same at Caulfield, the MRC will have three Group 1s - the Caulfield Guineas, Toorak H. and Might And Power S.
“We knew it was coming, we had been chatting to Racing New South Wales for a couple of weeks; they gave us the heads-up on it,” Blanksby explained.
An overview of Caulfield Racecourse where the G1 Toorak H. will run on October 14 | Image courtesy of Caulfield Racecourse
“They’ve been pretty consistent with putting big races on at that time of year, so it was no surprise.
“I actually think it’s the Might And Power that it impacts more. Weight for age horses on a pathway for the (G1) Cox Plate (on October 28) may decide to head up Sydney for a crack at $5 million, which is understandable.
“In saying that, the Might And Power is a pretty standard pathway through to the Cox Plate and I think a lot of trainers prefer having a 2000-metre run into the Cox Plate, so I think we’ll still maintain a level of quality.”
In 2023, the October 14 meeting at Randwick will be held the same day the MRC host the Toorak and G1 Caulfield Guineas, but that will change, starting next year.
“This year is an anomaly, the race falls on Caulfield Guineas Day, but next year and going forward it will be Caulfield Cup Day. We’ll see how that plays out,” said Blanksby.
