MELBOURNE is to get Australia's only qualifying race for a division of the 2009 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita on November 7, but to compete in North America's thoroughbred world championships, connections have to gamble more than $250,000.
The Moonee Valley Racing Club will move the Group I Manikato Stakes (1200m) to the opening meeting of the 2009-10 night racing season on September 25, the eve of the AFL grand final, and bolster stakemoney from $350,000 to $500,000.
Now one of 12 races conducted outside the US and Canada to be part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge, under the "win and you're in" criteria, the Manikato Stakes winner automatically qualifies for the $1.252million BC Turf Sprint (1300m), one of 14 races on the $32m, two-day blockbuster race meeting.
Winning the Manikato guarantees a start at Santa Anita, but it will still cost the owners $250,500 to pay a 15 per cent supplement to nominate the sire of the horse and make its progeny eligible. A further payment of $75,000 in entry fees is also required.
In an amazing twist, the $250,500 payment is due before the Manikato Stakes is run. The winner of the Manikato Stakes will be eligible for a $50,000 bonus if it takes its place in the BC Turf Sprint.
Joe Janiak has expressed an interest in taking Takeover Target to the US for the race and there was also a suggestion that Duporth might be aimed at the race after his triumph in last month's Doomben 10,000.
Neither horse's sire has been nominated to the common fund of the Breeders' Cup for the current Australian season, making both liable to the significant six-figure outlay.
When asked last night about the alliance, Michael Browell, chief executive of the MVRC, said the arrangement was struck with the help of Racing Victoria and he hoped the concept might be made more appealing in future years.
He was honoured the club was the first asked to link its brand with the Breeders' Cup meeting, which has developed into a season-ending championship over the past 26 years.
A formal announcement relating to the Australian connection with the Breeders' Cup is due this week.
The MVRC is attempting to lure Singapore's champion sprinter Rocket Man to run in the Manikato Stakes. The club is also in negotiations with the Hong Kong Jockey Club to bring four leading riders to Melbourne to ride in a challenge series against the best locals on the September 25 card.
Meanwhile, the Moonee Valley Racing Club and Harness Racing Victoria, yesterday announced that harness racing will cease at Moonee Valley from February 27 next year.
Harness racing will be held at the newly constructed venue in Melton from July 5.
