‘There’s more incentive to race in our home state’

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Racing participants in SA express delight following announcement Group 1 prize-money is set to double 

South Australian breeders and trainers have effusively welcomed news of a seven-year sponsorship deal bringing an immediate doubling in prize–money for the state’s four Group 1s, saying it will bring many benefits, including improvements to the state’s broodmare band.

Racing SA and the South Australian Jockey Club announced on Friday a partnership with Sportsbet that will initially boost prize–money to $1 million for the Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) and Robert Sangster Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) on April 27, the  SA Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) on May 4, and The Goodwood (Gr 1, 1200m) on May 11.

The agreement, following a 15 per cent hike for all other races across SA from last July, comes as a significant fillip for the industry in South Australia – so long seen as the poor cousin of major racing states – with its $500,000 Group 1 purses last year the lowest among top-tier races in Australia.

SA Thoroughbred Breeders president Ralph Satchell said the news would have substantial flow-on effects for breeders in the state.

“It’s great. The industry here in South Australia – you just get the feel it’s on the up,” Willow Grove Stud’s Satchell told ANZ Bloodstock News.

“Race fields are bigger, we’ve got a lot of young trainers coming on in the state, and this prize–money boost is going to increase investment in yearlings, and obviously that flows through to the breeders.

“A lot of the breeders in South Australia participate as owners, race their own products or staying in partnerships. Now, there’s more incentive to race in our home state, and breed horses to race here. It’s all positive.

“And knowing this is a seven-year deal is a great thing. That adds a bit of longevity to it, and our whole industry is about longevity. It’s a long-term job, breeding. This will help breeders plan for the future, invest more and improve their stock.

“It has to lead to an increase and an improvement in the broodmare band in South Australia. People will be reinvesting in mares and improving the stock, knowing there’s a bigger carrot in our own backyard.”

The Sportsbet deal also follows this season’s 22 per cent increase, to a cap of $2.8 million, in the state’s Racing Rewards breeders’ bonus scheme, which is free to enter for progeny of SA-based mares and stallions. That cap will rise again to nearly $3.1 million in 2024-25, Racing SA announced last week.

Scope remains for Morphettville’s four Group 1s to become more lucrative, with Friday’s announcement detailing the deal ensures they will be worth “a minimum” of $1 million each during the seven-year partnership with Sportsbet.

Adelaide’s premier trainer Richard Jolly, a vice-president and the state’s senior representative on the Australian Trainers’ Association, said the initiative would boost SA’s standing on the national landscape.

“For sure. This puts us back on a map a bit,” Jolly, who trains in tandem with daughter Chantelle, told ANZ Bloodstock News.

“Our Group 1s haven’t been able to be looked after as well as they should compared to the other states, so this is good. It’ll attract better fields and more competition.

“And the fact it’s a seven-year deal is very good news for our industry. More money has also gone into the breeders’ bonus scheme, and prize-money has gone up. The past 12 months have been very good to us.”

Racing SA chief executive Vaughn Lynch told ANZ Bloodstock News the new deal was “fantastic for our industry”.

“It’s a great collaboration between Sportsbet, Racing SA and the SAJC, and we look forward to delivering a great Adelaide racing carnival,” Lynch said.

“We’re committed to ensuring the long-term prosperity of the South Australian industry. It’s good that Sportsbet have acknowledged the work we’ve been doing and they want to be part of it, so we’re happy to partner with them.”

Lynch said the rises in prize-money – enabled by last year’s doubling to 20 per cent of SA racing’s return from the point of consumption tax – and increases to Racing Rewards, reflected Racing SA’s holistic approach to the industry, from farm to track.

“Racing’s an ecosystem, and we’re determined to keep the demand for participation high in South Australian racing, and we understand that will flow onto the breeders,” he said. “We work closely with South Australian breeders, and we make sure our decisions are complementary to their business as well.

“We’d like to think racing is on the upswing in South Australia. We were able to work with the state government to have an increase in the point of consumption tax passed through, and we’ve put that to the rest of the racing program through last year’s 15 percent prize-money increase.

“That didn’t include the Group 1s, so now to be able to top that up with the Group 1s gives us coverage from our top races right through the entire program. It’s something we’re very proud of, and we want to keep progressing, and keep making the industry more prosperous.”

Sportsbet CEO Barni Evans said Friday’s announcement was part of an exciting time for racing in South Australia.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Racing SA and the SAJC in this way and the big prize-money will really put South Australian racing back on the map,” he said in a statement released by Racing SA.

“It’s another demonstration of Sportsbet’s unwavering and ongoing commitment to the racing industry and we’re confident this will grow engagement in South Australian racing and more importantly bring more and more people through the gates to the amazing racecourses across the state.”

Rob Rorrison, Racing SA’s chair, said the partnership will ensure the body could deliver on its recently released strategic plan.

“Racing SA is delighted with today’s announcement which enhances our premium races,” he said. “Stakeholder feedback during the consultation phase of the recently released Strategic Plan was consistent in highlighting the need to address the prize-money levels of the four Group 1 races conducted in South Australia.

“The increase to the Group 1 prize-money comes off the back of a 15 per cent increase to prize-money across the remainder of the racing program which commenced in July 2023, and two increases announced with Racing Rewards.

“We look forward to working closely with Sportsbet and the SAJC to deliver fantastic racing over the Adelaide Racing Carnival which will continue to raise the profile of the South Australian racing industry.”

SAJC chair, Judith Jones said the club was delighted to see such an early benefit from racing’s new relationship with Sportsbet, adding her body was looking forward to “revealing more exciting news in the near future”.

“This is a fantastic announcement for racing in South Australia and for Morphettville as the proud home of Group 1 racing in this state,” she said.

“Our commitment towards creating these million-dollar races represents the single biggest prize-money investment in more than a decade by the SAJC and demonstrates not only our belief in the future direction being set by Racing SA but also the renewed financial strength of our club.”

While SA’s various funding injections are expected to impact on the state’s broodmare band, Satchell believes it’s too late to expect an upturn in its sire stocks.

SA’s stallion ranks are as low as they have ever been, with 13 listed on the Australian Stud Book – the lowest of any state, with Tasmania having 16.

South Australia’s stocks would be shown as 14, but ironically its list does not include its only headline-making sire – Bullbars (Elusive Quality) – who can probably boast that his sole Group 1 winner is the best horse in the country at present in Mr Brightside.

Bullbars stands at Orange Court stud, at the state’s highest service fee of $9,900, but the Stud Book reports his stallion returns for 2023 have not yet been received.

“I don’t think these increases will boost our stallion stocks,” Satchell said. “I think we’ve gone past a critical point in that regard where, in the short to medium term at least, we’re nearly resigned to using mostly interstate stallions.

“We’ve gone past the point of being able to compete against the big eastern states farms. But, just because we’re using interstate stallions, doesn’t mean we’re not breeding top quality horses in South Australia.”