Trainer Murray Baker is likely to target Sydney's $4 million race with superstar It's A Dundeel. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited
SYDNEY racing officials have today unveiled an ambitious new autumn carnival format for next year, which will carry a whopping $18.2 million prizemoney over two Saturdays.
Dubbed The Championships, the action-packed program will be run on April 12 and April 19 at Royal Randwick, and feature eight Group 1s.
The real drawcard will be the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), with prizemoney skyrocketing from $550,000 this year to $4 million next year. The purse makes it the richest 2000m turf race in the world, and the second richest feature in Australia behind the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup. The Doncaster Mile and Australian Derby (2400m) will now be run on the same day, and have had their purses ramped up from $2 million to $3 million and $1.5 million to $2 million respectively.
Officials from the Australian Turf Club and Racing NSW wanted to wait until after the Melbourne Cup carnival to play their trump card. High-level talks have been held for months.
However, it remains to be seen if any internationals will take part in the new-look program next year, with 2015 appearing the much more likely option for foreign raiders.
Other key carnival factors from today's huge announcement include:
#PRIZEMONEY for the Sydney Cup will be raised from $500,000 to $1 million;
#THE Queen Of The Turf is being transferred from the Golden Slipper meeting to be run two weeks later, with the distanced increased by 100m to 1600m;
#THE Australian Oaks will also carry a $1 million purse;
#RANDWICK'S Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), which Black Caviar won in her last-ever race start last April, will receive a bumper rise in prizemoney from $1 million to $2.5 million.
#BIG lead-up races, including the George Ryder Stakes, will be worth $1 million, the Chipping Norton Stakes ($500,000), and the Randwick Guineas $600,000; and
#MINIMUM prizemoney for black-type races in the metropolitan area from February 1 to April 30 will carry a minimum $125,000 prizemoney for Listed races, $150,000 for Group 3 races, and $175,000 for Group 2 features.
The first day of The Championships will be held the week after Sydney's previous richest race, the Group 1 $3.5 million Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens, while the second day falls on Easter Saturday.
NSW racing minister George Souris said the $18.2 million two-weekend spectacular will help inject $41 million into the local economy.
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS RACE PROGRAM
Saturday, April 12, 2014 - BMW Derby Day
Group 1 The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) $3,000,000
Group 1 Darley TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) $2,500,000
Group 1 BMW Australian Derby (2400m) $2,000,000
Group 1 Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) $1,000,000
Group 2 Schweppes Chairman's Quality (2600m) $300,000
Group 3 TAB Adrian Knox Stakes (GR3) $200,000
Group 3 Ticketek Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) $200,000
Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) $200,000
Group 3 Bacardi Together Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) $200,000
Saturday total: $9,600,000
Saturday, April 19, 2014 - Schweppes Sydney Cup Day
Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) $4,000,000
Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) $1,000,000
Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) $1,000,000
Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) $1,000,000
Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) $500,000
Group 3 Princess Stakes (1200m) $500,000
Group 2 Drummond Golf Sapphire Stakes (1200m) $300,000
Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) $150,000
Listed Toga Fernhill Handicap (1600m) $150,000
Saturday total: $8,600,000
TOTAL PRIZEMONEY: $18.2 million
AUSTRALIA'S RICHEST RACES
Group 1 Melbourne Cup $6.2m, Melbourne
Group 1 Queen Elizabeth $4m, Sydney
Group 1 Golden Slipper $3.5m, Sydney
Group 1 W.S Cox Plate $3m, Melbourne
Group 1 The Doncaster $3m, Sydney
Group 1 Caulfield Cup $2.5m, Melbourne
Group 1 T.J Smith $2.5m, Sydney
Group 1 Australian Derby $2m, Sydney
Group 1 Magic Millions 2YO $2m, Gold Coast
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