For the first time, Ladbrokes Park (Sandown) will host the Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday, an annual celebration of the state’s racing and breeding industry which now offers more than $3 million in prizemoney and bonuses.
Headlined by The Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria Showdown (1200m) and the Avenel Equine Hospital VOBIS Sires Guineas (1600m), which carry a combined $1.5 million, the raceday will make its debut at Sandown on Saturday, 15 April due to the renovation work being carried out at Caulfield.
With a total of $3,185,750 (including VOBIS bonuses) up for grabs across nine races, the meeting will showcase the best Victorian-bred gallopers and reward the owners and trainers who choose to race their horses here.
In its short history, The Showdown – open exclusively to the two-year-old progeny of VOBIS Sires stallions – has rapidly established itself as a major target race for some of Victoria’s leading stables.
This year’s favourite Shesallshenanigans (Simon Zahra) bolted in the natural lead-up race, the VOBIS Gold Rush, earlier this month and will be looking to add her name to an outstanding list of winners of The Showdown.
While Cranbourne trainer Michael Trotter will launch a two-pronged attack for Saturday’s feature race with Apache Song, who has finished runner-up in both her career outings, and Beaunified who placed third in the VOBIS Gold Rush behind Shesallshenanigans.
Last year’s Showdown winner King’s Consort, trained by Team Freedman, returns to VOBRD but this time to contest the VOBIS Sires Guineas with the gelding aiming to be the first horse to claim both the two-year-old and three-year-old features of the card.
The $500,000 contest headlines the undercard, with the $200,000 Paulele VOBIS Gold Dash (1200m), $200,000 Russian Camelot @ Galilee Series Final (2400m), $250,000 Yulong Stud VOBIS Gold Sprint (1200m), $250,000 IRT VOBIS Gold Mile (1600m), $250,000 Surewise VOBIS Gold Heath (2100m), $200,000 Flying Artie @ Blue Gum VOBIS Gold Distaff (1400m) and the $80,000 ANZ Bloodstock News Handicap (1400m) rounding out the program.
The VOBIS scheme, incorporating Super VOBIS, VOBIS Gold and VOBIS Sires Boost offers more than $30 million in prizemoney, bonuses and VOBIS Sires Boost vouchers across selected races held in metropolitan and regional Victoria each season.
With the day acknowledging the contribution of owners to the sport, Victorian Owner Gold Card holders can obtain complimentary entry to the race meeting by scanning their card at the gate and are entitled to Members’ Reserve access. Owners Guests are required to purchase a ticket for Racecourse access and can collect a Members’ Reserve ticket from the Race Day Office, located to the left of the Members’ Reserve.
Owners with runners on the day are also entitled to a complimentary drink for themselves and a guest with compliments of Racing Victoria Owners and VOBIS with vouchers available for collection at the Owners Ticketing Area (entry via Main Gate).
Quotes attributable to Racing Victoria Executive General Manager – Racing, Matt Welsh
“The Victorian Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme (VOBIS) provides nation-leading bonuses and lucrative incentives that make Victoria the best place to breed, own and race a horse.
“With over $3 million on offer across nine-race card on Saturday, headlined by the $1 million Showdown and the $500,000 VOBIS Sires Guineas, Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday gives owners a chance to race for incredible prizemoney.
“Local stables are to the fore in the feature races, headlined by Simon Zahra’s impressive last-start winner Shesallshenanigans who will look to emulate inaugural Prince of Sussex in winning the Bendigo Gold Rush before claiming The Showdown.
“It’s great to see Cranbourne trainer Michael Trotter have two runners in the $1 million feature, including the well backed Apache Song who will be piloted by in-form hoop Carleen Hefel.
“With Caulfield undergoing renovations, Sandown has continued to provide a fantastic racing surface for participants so owners, trainers and punters should have great confidence in how the track will play this Saturday.”
Quotes attributable to Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria President, James O’Brien
"Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday is one of my personal favourite racing days of the year and has proven across the first eight years of existence that the fields attract high quality horses.
"This year, we see the fifth running of the $1 million Showdown and again, we have attracted an exciting field that showcases the calibre of horses that Victorian stallions produce year in and year out.
"The $500,000 VOBIS Sires Guineas has attracted a stakes-quality field and is a race that continues to grow each year. King's Consort looks to take out the VOBIS Sires double having won The Showdown last year, and it would be a remarkable feat for all involved if he is to do so.
"This raceday and the VOBIS scheme in its entirety shows that when you breed to Victorian stallions and race Victorian-bred horses, you get an incredible opportunity for a return on your investment from when they are a two-year-old until the end of their racing days.
"VOBIS Sires Boost has played a big part in this, offering $30,000 in vouchers to connections of VOBIS sired-horses to reinvest back into the industry and ultimately, give owners more chances to buy and own the next champion.
"I would like to thank all of the sponsors on the raceday and of course all the breeders who continue to support our stallions. Goodluck to all the connections racing on Saturday's program."
Quotes attributable to Melbourne Racing Club Chairman, Matt Cain
“MRC has continued to embrace Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday as a marquee day on our calendar where we shine a light on the important contributions to our industry from breeders and owners within Victoria.
“It’s our ninth year hosting this raceday and with the change in venue, provides an exciting opportunity for the industry to celebrate Victorian racing and participants at Ladbrokes Park, Sandown for the first time.”