By Adam Hamilton
One of Australia’s iconic races has a new timeslot and its stakemoney has been halved.
The Victoria Cup, won by so many of the sport’s greats including Lazarus earlier this year, has been moved from its late January timeslot to October 14.
And the $400,000 purse has been slashed to just $200,000 for this year’s running.
It’s the latest and most dramatic change by HRV’s new CEO David Martin, who justified the stakemoney cut by saying it was necessary to help halt Victorian harness racing’s current “steep decline.”
He added: “We’re making changes so we can maintain or increase the total stakemoney pool.
“Importantly, the Victoria Cup will retain its Grand Circuit status and remain a key feature race on our racing calendar.”
It was obvious after this year’s Summer of Glory Carnival that a review of the Victoria/Hunter Cup scheduling was necessary as the elite pacing talent were split between the two races rather than all clashing in one of them.
The Hunter remains the lynchpin of the Summer of Glory in January/February and will have the Group 1 Dullard Cup alongside side it on the second night.
In place of the Victoria Cup on night one, the Great Southern Star will now the be the headline race along with Victoria Derby final and Ladyship Cup.
The new October 14 date for the Victoria Cup is daring given it is the night two huge galloping races will be held – the inaugural Everest in Sydney and the Caulfield Guineas in Melbourne.
And from a Kiwi perspective, it’s smack bang in peak NZ Cup lead-up time where the best Kiwis will be targeting the Ashburton Flying Stakes.
Trainer David Aiken, who puts the polish on Australia’s two best pacers Lennytheshark and Hectorjayjay, said he was bewildered and disappointed by the Victoria Cup changes,
“I didn’t know it was coming,” he said. “There’s a good chance one or both of my horses might not even run in the Victoria Cup now it’s in the middle of October.
“We’ve already had to adapt to one major changes with the Inter Dominion coming forward to November/December, but I can’t see too many trainers wanting to have their best horses wound right up for a Victoria Cup in the middle of October.
“And, the fact it’s down to $200,000 means it’s not an absolutely priority when you consider the stakemoney available elsewhere for the very best horses.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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