Racing Victoria (RV) and Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria (TBV) are pleased to announce a $7.5 million boost to the VOBIS Sires program.
The $7.5 million will be offered in the form of $30,000 in vouchers on top the $20,000 VOBIS Gold bonus, exclusively to the winning owners of VOBIS Sires horses across the 250 VOBIS Gold bonus races run throughout Victoria.
The vouchers may be utilised by the winning owners to purchase the progeny of a VOBIS Sire at a recognised sale, with an authorised syndicator or can be applied to a service fee for a VOBIS Sire during the eligible breeding seasons.
Allocation of the voucher will be based on the percentage owned by the owner and in the event a syndicate is part of the ownership group, the voucher will be allocated to the syndicate (not to the individual members). Owners will have two years to utilise the voucher whether in full or part from the time the horse wins a VOBIS Gold race.
The vouchers will come into effect from the start of the 2022-23 racing season, however, any horse who is the progeny of a VOBIS Sire born from 2016 will be eligible to compete for the vouchers.
The VOBIS Sires program is highlighted by the VOBIS Sires Showdown, a $1 million race for 2YOs and the VOBIS Sires Guineas, a $500,000 race for 3YOs, both of which feature on Victorian Owners & Breeders Raceday each April.
RV Executive General Manager Racing, Greg Carpenter, said: “Thanks to today’s announcement regarding the boost to the VOBIS Sires program, our VOBIS program will now offer over $30 million annually in bonuses, prizemoney and breeding vouchers which is both a great reward and incentive for owners and breeders.
“We hope that the introduction of these vouchers will not only encourage owners to reinvest in the Victorian breeding industry, but also increase demand for Victorian-sired progeny in the sales ring and the attractiveness of racing horses in Victoria.
“I would like to thank TBV for their advocacy and support on this new initiative and we hope to see great uptake of the vouchers throughout future breeding seasons and yearling sales.”
TBV President, James O’Brien, said: “I am delighted with the announcement of the $7.5 million enhancement to VOBIS Sires which is an emerging feature of the successful VOBIS program.
“This season’s breeding season has just commenced and any broodmare owner who is still deciding on which stallion to best suit their mare should strongly consider a VOBIS Sires stallion.
“The stallion roster in Victoria headlined by Australia’s current champion sire, Written Tycoon, continues to go from strength to strength, with Victorian-sired progeny having won 16 Group 1’s across Australia last season.
“Thanks to today’s announcement, the progeny of VOBIS Sires will be extra sought after at sales with buyers looking to invest their vouchers into VOBIS Sires horses.
“The 2022 yearling sales are only a few months away and present prospective owners with the perfect opportunity to purchase VOBIS Sired horses to race for bonuses from August 2022 onwards.
“I would like to thank all the stallion farms who have supported the VOBIS Sires program since its inception and the continued commitment they have provided to Victoria.
“I’d like to thank Racing Victoria who have shown a strong commitment to supporting thoroughbreds at the grass roots, and decisions like this demonstrate that they are invested in the Victorian breeding industry.”
To view the full list of VOBIS Sires, click here.