News

Gold-Plated Weekend For Victoria

16th Apr 2015

The buzz of excitement is building for the inaugural Victorian Owners & Breeders Raceday at Caulfield on Saturday and the Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale starting on Sunday.

This weekend will be a showcase for newcomers to the industry and TBV president James O’Brien believes it has been positioned for maximum effect following the autumn carnivals.

“The VOBIS Gold races at Caulfield are worth a combined $920,000 and have attracted class horses like Trust In A Gust and Fontein Ruby,” O’Brien said.

“The prizemoney and bonuses are a terrific incentive and the Melbourne Racing Club has got right behind promoting the Owners & Breeders Raceday.”

Caulfield will launch its infield super-screen on Saturday and racegoers will experience world-class viewing with a clear vantage from every angle. It’s four times bigger than the existing screen!

Syndication companies will also be Caulfield to promote their yearlings for sale. “It doesn’t have to be expensive,” O’Brien explained.

“You’ve only got to look at horses like The Big Dance and Lucky Liberty to realise it’s affordable.”

The Big Dance (Oamaru Force) cost a mere $750 from the Noor Elaine Farm draft at the 2014 Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale and she won the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush at Bendigo last month.

“It’s amazing to be part of her story,” trainer Danny Curran said.

“It was just luck that we got her so cheaply.”

Lucky Liberty (Statue Of Liberty) is another successful VOBIS Gold Sale graduate. He was a $17,000 buy from Basinghall Farm for trainer Henry Dwyer and has banked nearly $100,000 after completing a hat-trick at Flemington in January. “It was a good opportunity to involve some first time owners and some mates from school,” Dwyer said. “They’re all having a ball.”

There are plenty of opportunities to get into racehorse ownership at this year’s Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale, with 362 lots catalogued on Sunday and Monday at Oaklands Junction.

Local studs have also raised the bar with Group 1 winning stallions Brazen Beau (Darley), Zoustar (Woodside Park) and Toronado & Trust In A Gust (Swettenham) all covering their first mares in Victoria later this year.

Spendthrift Farm has also selected Victoria as its base in Australia. The famed Kentucky farm has purchased Yallambee Stud and will start shuttling its stallions to the Romsey property this year.

“This weekend will continue to grow and everyone in Victoria working in the same direction,” O’Brien declared.

“Why would you want to breed and race anywhere else?”