The fourth running of The Showdown (1200m) will headline a huge day of racing at Caulfield as part of the upcoming Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday (VOBRD) on Saturday, 23 April.
Over $2.8 million in prizemoney and $190,000 in bonuses will be on offer across the nine race program which includes seven races from the VOBIS Gold Premier Race Series.
The $1 million feature, which is named in honour of Victoria’s champion Australian stallion of the 1970s, is only open to two-year-olds nominated for Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold who are the progeny of VOBIS Sires Stallions.
Other highlights of the Caulfield card include the $500,000 VOBIS Sires Guineas (1600m) for three-year-olds, the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m) and the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Heath (2000m).
In its short three-year history, The Showdown has already produced an impressive roll call of champions with Finance Tycoon (2021) Khoekhoe (2020) and Prince of Sussex (2019) the previous winners.
Last year’s champion Finance Tycoon, progeny of prolific sire Written Tycoon, went on to win the Group 3 Zedative Stakes on Blue Diamond Day earlier this year and has now amassed over $950,000 in prizemoney over his 10 starts.
2020 winner Khoekhoe has now earnt over $750,000 in prizemoney thanks to victories in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington and multiple placings at Group 2 level - an outstanding return on the $50,000 Matt Cumani paid for him at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Inaugural champion Prince of Sussex was sold for a hefty fee of $1.75 million in 2019 with the Toronado gelding now racing as Lucky Express in Hong Kong.
All Victorian Owner Gold Card (VOGC) holders are encouraged to get trackside for VOBRD for what promises to be a superb showcase of the best Victorian-bred horses.
All VOGC holders will receive free entry to the racecourse, and access to Melbourne Racing Club’s Members’ Reserve.
Nominations for the meeting close at 12pm AEST on Monday, 18 April with weights declared by 4pm on the same day. Acceptances must be declared by 9:30am on Wednesday, 20 April.