Racing Victoria (RV) has announced a lucrative suite of bonuses to further incentivise and reward participation in the 2022 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival.
Five A$1 million bonuses will help ensure that Victoria remains a coveted spring destination for Australasia’s best horses and a focal point for racing fans and punters.
The spring bonuses come on top of last month’s announcement of a A$26.2 million increase in prizemoney and VOBIS bonuses on offer for the 2022-23 racing season, which are being spread from country minimums to Group 1 races.
They also build upon the revamped Melbourne Cup Carnival that will now culminate in the A$10 million VRC Champions Stakes Day, in addition to major increases for the Neds Caulfield Guineas (1600m, Caulfield) and Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m, The Valley) to A$3 million and A$2 million respectively.
The bonuses announced today are as follows:
BONUS 1 – LADBROKES COX PLATE BONUS
A A$1 million bonus will be paid to the winner of the A$5 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2000m, WFA) at The Valley on 22 October 2022 if they have won one of the following races in 2022:
Group 2 Clamms Seafood Feehan Stakes (1600m) – The Valley, 3 September
Group 1 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) – Flemington, 10 September
Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) – Ladbrokes Park, 25 September
Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) – Flemington, 1 October
Group 1 Neds Caulfield Guineas (3YO 1600m) – Caulfield, 8 October
Group 1 The Neds Might and Power (2000m) – Caulfield, 8 October
BONUS 2 – PENFOLDS VICTORIA DERBY BONUS
A A$1 million bonus will be paid to the winner of the A$2 million Group 1 Penfolds Victoria Derby (2500m, 3YO) at Flemington on 29 October 2022 if they have won one of the following races in 2022:
Group 3 Neds Classic (2000m) – Caulfield, 15 October
Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers Geelong Classic (2200m) – Geelong, 19 October
Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) – The Valley, 22 October
BONUS 3 – TAB EMPIRE ROSE BONUS
A A$1 million bonus will be paid to the winner of the A$1 million Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes (1600m, WFA Fillies & Mares) at Flemington on 29 October 2022 if they have won 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 Tatts Tiara (1400m) – Eagle Farm, 25 June – won by Startantes
Group 2 Furphy Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) – Flemington, 10 September
Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) – The Valley, 23 September
Group 2 Furphy Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m) – Flemington, 1 October
Group 2 TAB Edward Manifold Stakes (3YO 1600m) – Flemington, 1 October
Group 1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (3YO 1600m) – Caulfield, 12 October
Group 3 Catanach’s Jewellers Ladies Day Vase (1600m) – Caulfield, 12 October
Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) – Caulfield, 15 October
Group 2 3 Point Motors Fillies Classic (3YO 1600m) – The Valley, 22 October
Group 3 Powerflo Solutions Tesio Stakes (1600m) – The Valley, 22 October
BONUS 4 – VRC DARLEY CHAMPIONS SPRINT BONUS
A A$1 million bonus will be paid to the winner of the A$3 million Group 1 VRC Darley Champions Sprint (1200m, WFA) at Flemington on 5 November 2022 if they have:
Won the $2 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m, WFA) at The Valley on 21 October 2022; OR
Competed in the $2 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m, WFA) at The Valley on 21 October 2022 having previously won any of the following races in 2022:
Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) – The Valley, 3 September
Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) – The Valley, 23 September
Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) – Flemington, 1 October
Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) – Caulfield, 8 October
BONUS 5 – VRC KENNEDY CHAMPIONS MILE BONUS
A A$1 million bonus will be paid to the winner of the A$3 million Group 1 VRC Kennedy Champions Mile (1600m WFA) at Flemington on 5 November 2022 if they have won one of the following races in 2022:
Group 1 Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) – Caulfield, 17 September
Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Toorak Handicap (1600m) – Caulfield, 8 October
Group 2 Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600m) – The Valley, 22 October
The Victorian Spring Racing Carnival commences with the $1 million Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, 27 August and continues through to the final weekend in November with the Zipping Classic meeting at Caulfield on Saturday, 26 November and the coveted Jericho Cup at Warrnambool on Sunday, 27 November.
RV Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter made the announcement on Tuesday.
“We’re excited to unveil $5 million in bonuses for the 2022 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival on top of the previously announced prizemoney increases to both country minimums and feature races across the state,” he said.
“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.
“With five A$1 million bonuses up for grabs, there is a great spread of opportunity for both emerging talent and established stars to create their own headlines this spring.
“We’re pleased to welcome back the Empire Rose Bonus which proved an instant hit last year with Godolphin’s classy mare Colette claiming the lucrative prize.
“The Group 1 Empire Rose not only provides coveted black type for future breeding careers, but a winner’s cheque of A$1.6 million for any mare or filly that claims one of 12 designated races on their way to ultimate success at Flemington.
“The Moonee Valley Racing Club is celebrating the centenary of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate this year and the addition of a A$1 million bonus adds further incentive for horses to compete.
“There is a well-established pathway to the Ladbrokes Cox Plate and the bonus will build further momentum through those spring features into the weight-for-age championship of Australasia.
“The VRC Darley Champions Sprint and VRC Kennedy Champions Mile have both received prizemoney increases to A$3 million in 2022 as part of the revamped VRC Champions Stakes Day at Flemington, and they now have added appeal with a A$1 million bonus attached to each.
“If a sprinter wins the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes at The Valley and VRC Darley Champions Stakes at Flemington, its connections will now pocket A$4 million whilst adding two prized Group 1 races to their credentials.
“The Penfolds Victoria Derby is Australia’s most prestigious classic, having been first run in 1855. We want to ensure that it remains the target for staying three-year-olds with a A$1 million bonus now on offer for the winners of its traditional lead-up races.”