Former stars of the track set to light up Melbourne International 3 Day Event

Former All-Star Mile winner Zaaki will bid to enhance his future Olympic credentials at this year’s Melbourne International 3 Day Event (MI3DE), where 110 Off The Track (OTT) thoroughbreds are set to compete across the King's Birthday long weekend.

Racing Victoria's (RV) Off The Track program returns as an official Event Partner of the state’s premier eventing competition, with major classes getting underway tomorrow (Friday, 5 June) and running through to Monday, 8 June at the picturesque Werribee Park precinct.

Retired racehorses will account for 44 per cent of the equine competitors over the long weekend, further highlighting the growing influence of thoroughbreds across a range of equestrian disciplines and reinforcing their suitability for successful careers beyond racing.

Having been crowned the winner of the Yulong Rising Stars Challenge at last year's MI3DE, Zaaki returns to the scene of his greatest post-racing triumph to contest the CCN1*L class – an RV Off The Track-sponsored class exclusively for thoroughbreds – which has attracted an exciting 41 entries this year.

The multiple Group 1 winner, whose connections have stated their long-term ambition of representing Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, was ridden by his former trainer Annabel Archibald 12 months ago but will have a new partner this time around in the shape of Australian Olympian Shenae Lowings.

Bidding to emulate Zaaki in winning this year’s Yulong Rising Stars competition will be RV Acknowledged Retrainer Sophie Fox, whose horse High Torque raced as recently as this week at Kilmore. The Rising Stars class is open exclusively to thoroughbreds who last raced (or competed in an official trial) within two years of the event and is returning for its third year of inclusion at MI3DE.

Other notable names competing across the weekend include Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams, who has already experienced the pressure of equestrian competition having taken part in the Celebrity Show Jumping Challenge during last year’s inaugural Off The Track Carnival at Boneo Park. Williams will compete in the Rising Stars class aboard his former racehorse Stardom Awaayts, whom he trained to finish fifth in last year’s Terang Cup prior to his retirement from the racetrack.

Jericho Cup and Grand National Hurdle winner Wil John also features among the entries for the Rising Stars class, while Zachary Thorne’s Wu Gok – an 11-time winner on the track who has gone on to record 17 FEI eventing starts since his retirement five years ago – will take his place in the headline CCI4*L class.

The MI3DE will once again feature a range of initiatives designed to celebrate the versatility, athleticism and adaptability of the thoroughbred, while providing competitors and spectators with opportunities to learn more about the many options available to retired racehorses in their life beyond the track.

A key highlight of the weekend will be Saturday evening’s Off The Track Masterclass, proudly sponsored by RV, which will provide the audience with valuable insights on how to transition the thoroughbred into its performance career. The session, which invites the top three placegetters from the Rising Stars class to participate, will be MC’d by Equestrian Australia High-Performance Director Will Enzinger and will also feature commentary and analysis from Zaaki’s former trainer Annabel Archibald and Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne, who recently joined RV’s OTT Program as an Acknowledged Rehomer.

The following day, former Olympian and OTT Ambassador Amanda Ross will host a special guided tour of the cross-country course, which winds its way past the Mansion Hotel and Spa, through the State Rose Garden and across the Melbourne Polo Fields.

RV will also maintain a strong presence throughout the event with its popular Off The Track marquee, where visitors can connect with the OTT team, learn more about transitioning thoroughbreds into second careers and explore a range of merchandise, with all proceeds supporting RV's vulnerable horse programs.

The theme for this year’s marquee will be the 5-year anniversary of the Off The Track Community (OTTC) platform, and to celebrate the milestone the OTT team have partnered with Cavalor to give away 10 $500 vouchers. Further details on the competition can be found here.

With over 12,000 members and 7,600 claimed thoroughbreds, the OTTC continues to set the benchmark for improving traceability and welfare outcomes for retired racehorses.