Owners competing in Victoria have been the big winners with Racing Victoria (RV) announcing that redemption of VOBIS Platinum vouchers has surged past $1 million.
In a joint initiative with Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria (TBV) and the Victorian State Government through the Victorian Racing Industry Fund, RV is offering $30,000 in VOBIS Platinum vouchers to the winners of 250+ races annually.
All VOBIS Gold-upgraded progeny of stallions entered in the VOBIS Sires program are eligible, with winning owners receiving $30,000 in VOBIS Platinum vouchers in addition to a $20,000 VOBIS Gold cash bonus when successful.
Launched in the 2022-23 racing season, the vouchers can be used to offset the cost of purchasing an eligible weanling, yearling or 2YO Ready to Run at the sales, with an approved syndicator or against the service fee of a VOBIS Sires nominated stallion.
To date, more than $750,000 in vouchers have been used to purchase weanlings, yearlings or two-year-olds at Inglis, Magic Millions or New Zealand Bloodstock sales, or through an RV approved syndicator, while $350,000 in vouchers have been redeemed for service fees to a VOBIS Sires Stallion.
One such example is the ownership group (pictured) of three-year-old Run Harry Run who won two races with VOBIS Platinum vouchers during the spring. They used their $60,000 in vouchers to purchase a Grunt colt (Lot 37) for that amount at the recent Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, in what was effectively a ‘free hit’ for the owners.
RV’s Executive General Manager of Racing, Matt Welsh, said the VOBIS Platinum program has been warmly received by owners and breeders alike.
“It’s a significant milestone to reach $1 million in VOBIS Platinum redemptions. This is money won in Victoria being pumped back into the Victorian racing and breeding industries, so everyone is a winner.
“Pleasingly, owners at all levels are making the most of the vouchers. From inexperienced owners in the early stages of their ownership journey through to sole owners with a significant investment in racing.
“There’s never been a better time to breed, buy, own and race in Victoria with the breadth of rewards available via the VOBIS program and it’s fantastic to see people reinvesting in the purchase or breeding of Victorian stock.”
TVB President, James O’Brien, is equally pleased at the program’s success.
“It’s great to see that VOBIS Platinum voucher redemptions have surpassed the $1 million milestone. We have seen owners redeeming the vouchers at major yearling sales including Magic Millions, Inglis and Karaka, as well as paying for service fees.
“For the owners that have already won vouchers, why not use them to reduce the cost of their valuable purchases? It’s a great way to encourage investment back into the industry in Victoria, and we hope that this will in time lead to better quality breeding and racing in Victoria.”
Rob Norton, Commercial Director of Roll the Dice Syndications, said that the VOBIS Platinum incentive had been welcomed by owners.
“The benefits of the redemption scheme make it a no brainer to be involved and the fact that it benefits the whole industry makes it so well received by everyone.
“We won a $30,000 voucher at Ballarat in May with Peace Treaty and have been biding our time a bit, but we’ve been thrilled to put it towards a Shamus Award offspring and a Blue Point filly and the owners were really rapt this was able to occur.”
This is a sentiment shared by Sam Matthews, General Manager of Swettenham Stud whose stallion Toronado has had significant stud redemptions.
“The vouchers have allowed our clients to breed with additional confidence, breed their mares to better stallions (utilising their vouchers) and have less risk with their breeding operations.
“Whether it’s the thoroughbred industry or any other, investment is the driver behind success. This is the best way to have investment because it stays within the Victorian thoroughbred industry.”
James Price, Inglis’ Victorian Bloodstock Manager encouraged eligible buyers to attend this month’s Sydney and Melbourne yearling sales and make use of their vouchers to secure their next winner.
“The VOBIS Platinum vouchers are a fabulous incentive for owners to effectively receive free money to spend on future yearlings.
“All vouchers are valid for two years but can be used on eligible horses at this weekend’s Sydney Australian Easter Yearling Sale and the Gold Yearling Sale on Sunday, April 21 at Oaklands in Melbourne, as well as the winter weanling sales.
“I strongly urge trainers and owners to take a good look at the catalogue for both upcoming sales and make the most of their vouchers to restock their stables.”