The first running of the VOBIS Sires Guineas (1600m), the new $500,000 race open exclusively to the three-year-old progeny of Victorian stallions, will prove a significant addition to Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday at Caulfield on Saturday, 18 April 2020.
Run alongside the second running of The Showdown (1200m), the $1 million race for two-year-olds won in spectacular fashion by Prince Of Sussex earlier this year, the inaugural edition of the VOBIS Sires Guineas will enhance one of Victorian racing’s premier off-season racedays.
Whilst Prince Of Sussex will not be lining up in the VOBIS Sires Guineas, having been sold to Hong Kong interests off the back of his victory in The Showdown, the likes of Ken Keys’ All-Star Mile nominee Soul Patch could target the newest addition to Victoria’s race program.
Both The Showdown and the VOBIS Sires Guineas form part of the VOBIS Gold Premier Race Series, an 18-race series open exclusively to VOBIS Gold-nominated horses which offers a total of $4.68 million in prizemoney and bonuses.
Seven races on Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday feature in the Premier Race Series, with those seven alone offering more than $2.7 million in prizemoney and bonuses, rewarding owners and breeders who invest in Victorian thoroughbred racing.
“We were delighted with the field assembled for the inaugural running of The Showdown, and I am certain that the VOBIS Sires Guineas is firmly on the radar of any trainers with a talented VOBIS Sires-nominated miler in their stable,” said Greg Carpenter, RV’s Executive General Manager – Racing.
“Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and the addition of the VOBIS Sires Guineas will ensure that positive trend continues.
“No doubt buyers at the upcoming sales will be keeping a keen eye on any VOBIS yearlings going through the ring, given the lucrative prizemoney and bonuses on offer through the program and the Premier Race Series.”
Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria’s President, James O’Brien, said: “The $500,000 VOBIS Sires Guineas is another valuable addition to the Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday and, in conjunction with the $1 million Showdown, is a tremendous enhancement to the VOBIS Sires program.
“The VOBIS Gold Premier Race Series provides extraordinary rewards for owners, trainers and syndicators who support Victorian-bred horses.
“Any owner who intends to purchase a yearling at the upcoming sales should ensure that their purchase carries the VOBIS logo. It’s pretty simple – if you want to race in Victoria, then insist on your horse being Super VOBIS nominated.
“It will be exciting to watch the inaugural $500,000 VOBIS Sires Guineas on Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday this April, and I look forward to future enhancements to the VOBIS Sires program.”