The race to be crowned the Best Bets Star of the Saddle continues at Caulfield tomorrow with Australia’s best jockeys facing a new challenge from international stars Jamie Spencer and Pat Cosgrave in the race to secure the $50,000 prize.
The Star of the Saddle seeks to reward those jockeys who support the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival by recognising the best and fairest rider across premier racedays at Flemington, Caulfield and The Valley throughout October and November.
With points allocated on a 3-2-1 basis for the first three placegetters in each race, the inaugural Star of the Saddle went the way of local young gun Jordan Childs at Flemington last Saturday.
Childs collected $50,000 after piloting two winners and two seconds on TAB Turnbull Stakes Day including his victory aboard Surprise Baby in The Bart Cummings (2500m).
With only one ride tomorrow, Childs is unlikely to share in the spoils on Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Day with the leading contenders including visiting Sydney stars Hugh Bowman (5 rides), Kerrin McEvoy (9 rides) and James McDonald (6 rides), along with local riders Damian Lane (7 rides), Damien Oliver (9 rides) and Dwayne Dunn (6 rides).
The highest points scorer at tomorrow’s Caulfield meeting will be crowned the Star of the Saddle and win the cash prize provided that they have not been suspended during the course of the race meeting for breaches of Australian Rules of Racing 131 (Riding Offences) and/or 132 (Whip Use).
If the highest points scorer is suspended for breaching AR 131 and/or 132 during the race meeting then the prize will be awarded to the second highest points scorer and so on until such time as the best and fairest jockey is determined.
In the case of a tie the cash prize will be shared equally by those eligible riders on the highest number of points and a countback will not be conducted.
In the advent of a dead heat, the points will be split as follows:
- Dead heat for first – first 2.5 points each, third 1 point;
- Dead heat for second – first 3 points, second 1.5 points each; and
- Dead heat for third – first 3 points, second 2 points, third 0.5 points each
Following tomorrow’s Caulfield meeting, the Star of the Saddle and its lucrative cash prize will be awarded to the best and fairest jockey at each of the following race meetings:
- $100,000 - Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Day (Caulfield, 19 October)
- $100,000 - Ladbrokes Cox Plate Carnival (The Valley, 25-26 October)
- $100,000 - AAMI Victoria Derby Day (Flemington, 2 November)
The winner of the final Star of the Saddle on AAMI Victoria Derby Day will also secure a set of four race saddles from Peter Horobin Saddlery valued at more than $3,000.
The Ladbrokes Cox Plate Carnival prize will incorporate the Brent Thomson Award and be awarded to the highest eligible points scorer over the 18 races of the Cox Plate Carnival incorporating Manikato Stakes Night (Friday, 25 October) and Cox Plate Day (Saturday, 26 October).