Country Mile Race Series heat switched to Sandown

Racing Victoria (RV) wishes to advise that the fifth leg of the $700,000 Country Mile Race Series, which was due to be held at yesterday’s abandoned Sportsbet-Wangaratta meeting, will be run at Ladbrokes Park (Sandown) this Wednesday (9 March).

With heavy rainfall forcing the cancellation of the Wangaratta Cup Day meeting, the $75,000 Benchmark 70 Handicap (1600m) – which is the final regular qualifying heat for the 2022 Country Mile Race Series – has now been added to Wednesday’s nine-race program.

The final field at acceptance time will line up, with scratchings reinstated and original barriers remaining. Given the race is being run at Sandown’s midweek metropolitan meeting, metropolitan apprentice claims will apply.

The first three horses home will automatically qualify for the $250,000 Country Mile Series Final (1600m), which will be held on Seppelt Wines All-Star Mile Raceday at Flemington on Saturday, 19 March.

With 16 places on offer in the finale, a $75,000 wildcard race will be run for the first time at Bendigo on Friday, 11 March 2022, with the winner gaining the final spot in the field.

Trainers with other horses engaged to run at Wangaratta yesterday can now nominate for other races at the Ladbrokes Park meeting before extended nominations close at 4pm (AEDT) today (Sunday, 6 March).

RV continues to liaise with Country Racing Victoria and Wangaratta Turf Club officials to find a suitable date to host the $100,000 Winsec Savings & Loans Wangaratta Cup (2000m).