News

New Look Melbourne Festival of Racing Launched

7th Feb 2011

Racing Victoria - Monday, 7 February 2011

The new look 2011 Melbourne Festival of Racing was officially launched today by Minister for Racing Denis Napthine and Racing Victoria Chief Executive Rob Hines before lunchtime crowds at Melbourne’s City Square.

Victoria’s late summer and early autumn showpiece boasts a revamped racing program which will deliver more highlights and more entertaining race meetings for families to enjoy.

The Festival runs from this Saturday, 12 February at Caulfield until Friday night, 25 March at Moonee Valley and showcases 45 Group and Listed races worth $12 million alone.

Some of the exciting enhancements for the 2011 Melbourne Festival of Racing include;

• A significantly enhanced Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes Day program at Caulfield on 26 February which now includes three Group 1 races, including the $500,000 Rokk Ebony Futurity Stakes which has reverted from 1600 to 1400 metres;

• Greater profile for the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) which now headlines a meeting billed as ‘A classic day for kids’ at Flemington on 5 March;

• A new timeslot for the Group 1 Pulse Pharmacy William Reid Stakes providing a dynamic end to the Festival of Racing and Moonee Valley night racing season;

• An enhanced night racing offering with five Friday night meetings at Moonee Valley, delivering more prize money, better quality racing and exceptional entertainment;

• Feature race prize money increases for the Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (up $250,000 to $750,000), the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (up $100,000 to $500,000) and Listed IASbet.com Mornington Cup (up $100,000 to $300,000);

• Significant strengthening of the IASbet.com Mornington Cup Day program on 16 February with entry into the 2011 BMW Caulfield Cup for the Cup winner;

• The return of the Listed Werribee Mazda Werribee Cup (2600m) on 18 March as part of a terrific collection of outer suburban and country cups.

“The Melbourne Festival of Racing offers a spectacular mix of world-class racing, family fun, food, wine and fashion and sits alongside the Spring Racing Carnival as a major event that Victorians can be proud of,” Mr Hines said.

“We are excited about its new structure which will see Group 1 racing conducted on five consecutive Saturdays from this weekend and its culmination for the first time under lights at Moonee Valley with the running of the Group 1 Pulse Pharmacy William Reid Stakes.

“The changes to the racing program provide an improved structure for horses progressing to their targets throughout the Melbourne Festival of Racing, whilst providing better synergies with interstate carnivals to ensure we attract and showcase the best available racing talent.

“Some of the ingredients that have made the Festival an event of international importance remain and we are excited about that too. The Festival again plays host to the opening legs of the Global Sprint Challenge and Asian Mile Challenge, whilst buyers from across the globe will converge on Melbourne for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from 27 February.

“Feature racedays will offer something for everyone with fun-filled family activities, Fashions on the Field competitions, live entertainment and fantastic dining options, all in a relaxed atmosphere. The new look Melbourne Festival of Racing promises to be a winner.”

The racing during the Festival will be world class with the fastest horse on the planet, Victoria’s own World Champion Sprinter Black Caviar, set to take centre stage. She spearheads a cavalcade of stars including Typhoon Tracy, Zipping, Whobegotyou, Shocking, Hay List, Star Witness and Anacheeva that will compete during the Festival.

Unbeaten sprint sensation Black Caviar resumes in the Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) – the opening leg of Global Sprint Challenge – at Flemington on 19 February and will make up to three appearances culminating with the Festival finale, the Group 1 $500,000 Pulse Pharmacy William Reid Stakes (1200m), at Moonee Valley on 25 March.

Reigning Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy defends her Group 1 titles at Caulfield in the $400,000 Sportingbet Orr Stakes (1400m) this Saturday and the $500,000 Rokk Ebony Futurity Stakes, a race which doubles as the opening leg of the Asian Mile Challenge.

The Festival not only boasts Victoria’s richest two-year-old race, the Group 1 $1 million Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), but lucrative options for the sport’s established stars.

The Group 1 $1 million Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Super Saturday, 12 March is Australia’s richest open sprint, whilst the Group 1 $1 million Dubai Australian Cup (2000m) on the same program is a weight-for-age classic steeped in tradition.

Another chapter may be written this year when evergreen warrior Zipping returns in search of back-to-back Dubai Australian Cups at the tender age of nine.

While the stars of today compete, the Festival heroes of tomorrow will up for grabs when over 700 yearlings are sold at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from 27 February to 3 March. The world’s top three sprinters, Black Caviar, Sacred Kingdom and Starspangledbanner, are all graduates of the Melbourne sale which has only enhanced its worldwide appeal and will attract buyers from across the globe.