News

Jimmy Gets Gold Tick

23rd Jun 2013

Racing Victoria - By James Tzaferis - Sunday, 23 June 2013

Australia’s highest profile yearling is expected to be paid up for Victoria’s lucrative VOBIS Gold breeding and racing scheme when nominations close this week.

BC3 Thoroughbred-owned Redoute’s Choice colt ‘Jimmy’, a half-brother to retired champion Black Caviar and All Too Hard, was the toast of the Victorian breeding industry when he went through the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale ring for an Australasian record $5 million earlier this year.

While he doesn’t figure among the growing nomination list as it currently stands, BC3’s Sales and Industry Liaison Manager Simon Marshall confirmed connections were likely to pay up for the lucrative scheme after meeting in the coming days.

Marshall said the son of Gilgai Farm’s star-producing broodmare Helsinge was enjoying a spell after impressing handlers Team Hawkes in his early education and everyone involved in the blueblood were counting down the days until he returned to the stable.

“It’s (VOBIS Gold) on the cards and I’ll be meeting with the team this week but he’ll be nominated for everything,” Marhsall said.

“He’s good, he’s having a break at the moment and he’s growing out nice.

“He had his full education program competed and we’re looking forward to him resuming again in about eight weeks.”

It comes a year after BC3 nominated another of Helsinge’s prized progeny, Redoute’s Choice filly Belle Couture, for VOBIS Gold and while she is yet to hit the track for Danny O’Brien, there remains great opportunity for her to take advantage of the scheme.

After its successful introduction this season, VOBIS Gold will be expanded in 2013/14 with the Premier Race Series increasing from five to 10 races offering two and three-year-olds $1.8 million in prizemoney.

As well as being eligible to race for millions of dollars in Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold bonuses, Team Hawkes will have the option to target ‘Jimmy’ at the $1.8 million premier race series that includes the races like the $280,000 VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m) at Bendigo, the $210,000 VOBIS Gold Ingot (1200m) at Flemington and Swan Hill’s $160,000 VOBIS Gold Elvstroem Classic (1300m).

Entry into the VOBIS Gold program is via a one-off $1100 (inc GST) fee, in addition to the Super VOBIS entry costs, and is available only for Super VOBIS qualified yearlings.

Owners of eligible 2011-born foals are reminded that VOBIS Gold nominations and Super VOBIS late nominations close on Sunday, 30 June and, unlike last year, there will be no extension for VOBIS Gold late entries.

Click here for more information on VOBIS Gold in 2013/14