Racing Victoria (RV) through its Off The Track (OTT) program, is proud to partner with Equestrian Victoria to sponsor the prestigious Melbourne International 3 Day Event (MI3DE) taking place at Werribee Park across the King’s Birthday Weekend, 7 – 10 June 2024.
The event, which was first held in 1957, has developed into the ultimate annual proving ground for some of Australia’s best equestrian riders and horses.
This year, the MI3DE boasts 162 entries across all competitions, including 63 Off The Track horses and is the most prestigious horse trials event on the eastern seaboard.
This year’s competition will provide greater opportunity for novice level competitors, with the introduction of the inaugural OTT CCN1*L class, open to the best 1* OTT thoroughbreds in the country.
The 26 competitors in the OTT CCN1*L class will complete trot-ups on the Thursday, prior to the dressage competition in the main arena on the Friday and Saturday.
Competitors will then take to the cross country course on Sunday and showjumping will conclude the inaugural competition on the Monday.
Among the Off The Track horses participating in the 1* is Innaminny, who will be ridden by highly experienced rider and coach, Wil Enzinger.
Enzinger, a passionate eventing competitor is also the High-Performance Director at Equestrian Australia, and will play a key role to support Australia’s team heading to Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
No More Biscuits, who had five racing starts across Victoria, will also feature in the 1* event. The eight-year-old gelding is co-owned by well-known Wangaratta thoroughbred trainer Ben Brisbourne and partner Heather McGee and will be ridden by Phoebe Wilhelm across the weekend.
Fresh off finishing second in the Ballarat International Horse Trials, Fanatical will also take her place in the MI3DE’s newest competition. Formerly trained by Matt Laurie, the seven-year-old filly, will be aiming to continue her recent form with Lucy Kolomanski taking the reins.
Making it a truly national event, Sir Romeo, who raced under the name Tango Gee Gee, will make the trip to the mainland from Tasmania with rider Brodie Nicolson at the helm. The pair have performed to a high standard over the past year recently winning three from three 1* events they entered in Tasmania.
Away from the competition ring, Olympic eventer Amanda Ross will be attending on Sunday to give a guided cross country course walk. The tour, exclusively for Off The Track Community members, will provide valuable insight into this phase of the event, through Amanda’s extensive experience with retired thoroughbreds.
On Monday, visitors to the Off The Track marquee will have the opportunity to have their photo taken with the iconic Lexus Melbourne Cup from 9am.
Off The Track is the naming rights sponsor of the CCN1* class as well as the CCI2* class, and will provide prizemoney and an award for the best performed OTT horse in all height classes.