Victoria seeks to protect program with $1 million bonus incentives

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Racing Victoria has offered up to $5 million in bonuses for its feature races in a bid to lure high-profile horses to its spring carnival, amid the prize-money increases and new races in New South Wales. 

The bonuses are applied in a series of $1 million offerings attached to five races, with the incentives paid out to connections should a horse win one of the five designated major races during the spring carnival, as well as a nominated key lead-up race. 

A $1 million bonus will be eligible to the winners of the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m), Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m), Empire Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m), Champions Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m) and Champions Mile (Gr 1, 1600m). 

The announcement follows a shake-up of the spring carnival, with a newly formed ‘Champions Day’ devised in May, among a series of prize-money increases in Victoria, while the $1 million bonus was already in place, and paid out, for the Empire Rose Stakes last year when Colette (Hallowed Crown) won the Group 1 feature and the Tristarc Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m).

Authorities have notably moved to secure the future of the Manikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Moonee Valley. 

The Manikato Stakes has seen a depletion of quality to its field since the creation of The Everest (1200m) in 2017, but in May’s announcement it was revealed that prize-money on offer for the race this year had been doubled to $2 million and the race will be at the forefront of the eligibility for the $1 million bonus handed to the winner of the Champions Sprint. 

The $1 million bonus will be paid out to the winner of the Champions Sprint if they have either won the Manikato Stakes or participated in the Manikato Stakes and won an earlier designated sprint contest. 

“We’re excited to unveil $5 million in bonuses for the 2022 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival, on top of the previously announced prize-money increases to both country minimums and feature races across the state,” said RV’s general manager of racing, Greg Carpenter.

“These bonuses further reward those owners and trainers who support the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival and in turn provide great enjoyment to fans and punters.

“We want to continue to compile the best fields possible for our racing showpiece and to deliver storylines throughout the carnival that excite and captivate.”

 

COX PLATE

Winner of Cox Plate and one of the following races in 2022;

•             Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) – The Valley, 3 September
•             Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) – Flemington, 10 September
•             Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) – Ladbrokes Park, 25 September
•             Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) – Flemington, 1 October
•             Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (3YO 1600m) – Caulfield, 8 October
•             Group 1 Might and Power (2000m) – Caulfield, 8 October

 

VICTORIA DERBY

Winner of the Victoria Derby and winner of one of the following races in 2022;

•             Group 3 Classic (2000m) – Caulfield, 15 October
•             Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) – Geelong, 19 October
•             Group 2 Vase (2040m) – The Valley, 22 October

 

EMPIRE ROSE

Winner of the Empire Rose Stakes and winner of one of the following races for fillies and mares in 2022;

•             Group 1 Queen of the Turf (1600m) – Randwick, 9 April – won by Nimalee
•             Group 1 NZ Breeders Stakes (1600m) – Te Rapa, 16 April – won by Imperatriz
•             Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) – Eagle Farm, 25 June – won by Startantes
•             Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) – Flemington, 10 September
•             Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) – The Valley, 23 September
•             Group 2 Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m) – Flemington, 1 October
•             Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (3YO 1600m) – Flemington, 1 October
•             Group 1 Thousand Guineas (3YO 1600m) – Caulfield, 12 October
•             Group 3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) – Caulfield, 12 October
•             Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) – Caulfield, 15 October
•             Group 2 Fillies Classic (3YO 1600m) – The Valley, 22 October
•             Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m) – The Valley, 22 October

 

DARLEY CHAMPIONS SPRINT

Winner of the Darley Champions Sprint will be eligible if;

 

•             Won the $2 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m, WFA) at The Valley on 21 October 2022;

OR

•             Competed in the $2 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m, WFA) at The Valley on 21 October 2022 having previously won any of the following races in 2022:

o             Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) – The Valley, 3 September

o             Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) – The Valley, 23 September

o             Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) – Flemington, 1 October

o             Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) – Caulfield, 8 October

 

CHAMPIONS MILE

Winner of the Champions Mile and winner of one of the following races in 2022:

•             Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) – Caulfield, 17 September
•             Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) – Caulfield, 8 October
•             Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) – The Valley, 22 October