Racing’s biggest names are set to converge on Geelong this festive season for the inaugural Super Saturday on the Coast race meeting.
Over $1.5 million in prizemoney and bonuses will be on offer when Geelong assumes the racing spotlight on 6 January 2024 for its first Saturday metropolitan meeting.
Super Saturday on the Coast has been introduced to deliver a captivating raceday experience for holidaymakers and locals alike throughout Greater Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast.
To begin the countdown, Racing Victoria (RV) and the Geelong Racing Club (GRC) have today announced the program of races for the historic holiday meeting.
Headlining the race meeting will be the bet365 Coastal Classic, a 1700-metre quality handicap carrying prizemoney of $300,000 – the equivalent of a Group 2 race.
To support its placement within the summer racing calendar, the winners of the following six races will be guaranteed a start in the bet365 Coastal Classic at Geelong:
- Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) – Caulfield, 2 December 2023
- Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) – Caulfield, 2 December 2023
- VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade (1400m) – Sportsbet Ballarat, 9 December 2023
- Werribee Cup (1600m) – TAB Werribee Park, 10 December 2023
- Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) – Caulfield, 26 December 2023
- Woodford Cup (1700m) – Warrnambool, 31 December 2023
The 10-race card will also feature the Listed $200,000 Black Pearl Stakes (1200m) which has been relocated from bet365 Geelong Cup Day giving connections a terrific opportunity to chase lucrative black type for their fillies and mares.
Also set to figure prominently are 1100-metre handicaps for two and three-year-olds with each carrying a minimum of $200,000 in prizemoney and VOBIS bonuses.
The two-year-old race will serve as a stepping stone for young guns headed to the Blue Diamond Stakes, just as an early January Geelong maiden did in 2021 when Artorius finished second to Jigsaw en route to claiming the coveted Group 1 at Caulfield in February.
The announcement of the racing program for the Super Saturday on the Coast meeting comes as the GRC prepares for the 2023 bet365 Geelong Cup this Wednesday, 25 October.
The full program for the Super Saturday on the Coast meeting at Geelong on 6 January 2024 is as follows:
Geelong – Saturday, 6 January 2024
|
|
RACE
|
DISTANCE & CONDITIONS
|
PRIZEMONEY & BONUSES
|
|
bet365 Coastal Classic
|
1700m, 3yo & Up
|
$300,000
|
|
Black Pearl Stakes (Listed)
|
1200m, Fillies & Mares
|
$200,000
|
|
3YO Handicap
|
1100m
|
$175,000 & $30,000 VOBIS Silver Bonus
|
|
2YO Handicap
|
1100m
|
$150,000 & $30,000 VOBIS Silver Bonus & $20,000 VOBIS Gold Bonus
|
|
BM84 Handicap
|
1100m, 3yo & Up
|
$100,000
|
|
BM84 Handicap
|
1400m, 3yo & Up
|
$100,000 & $20,000 VOBIS Gold Bonus
|
|
BM70 Handicap
|
2400m, 3yo & Up
|
$100,000
|
|
Fillies & Mares BM70 Handicap
|
1400m,
|
$100,000
|
|
BM70 Challenger Handicap
|
1400m, 4yo & Up
|
$80,000
|
|
BM64 Handicap
|
1700m, 3yo & Up
|
$80,000 & $20,000 VOBIS Gold bonus
|