Racing Victoria (RV) has today announced a lucrative suite of bonuses to further incentivise and reward participation in the 2022 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival.
Five $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 $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 $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 $3 million and $2 million respectively.
The bonuses announced today are as follows:
BONUS 1 – LADBROKES COX PLATE BONUS
A $1 million bonus will be paid to the winner of the $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 $1 million bonus will be paid to the winner of the $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 $1 million bonus will be paid to the winner of the $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 $1 million bonus will be paid to the winner of the $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 $1 million bonus will be paid to the winner of the $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.
Quotes attributable to RV Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter
“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.
“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 $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 $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 $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 $3 million in 2022 as part of the revamped VRC Champions Stakes Day at Flemington, and they now have added appeal with 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 $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 $1 million bonus now on offer for the winners of its traditional lead-up races.”