Tobaysure after winning the Western General Bodyworks VOBIS Gold Star at Moonee Valley Racecourse on October 27, 2023.
The 2024-25 VOBIS Premier Race Series kicks off tonight (Friday, 25 October) at The Valley with the Western General Bodyworks VOBIS Gold Star (1500m) set to feature under lights on Ladbrokes Cox Plate eve.
The VOBIS Gold Star, which is run under set weights and penalties for horses aged three years and older, boasts $175,000 in prizemoney plus a VOBIS Silver Bonus of $30,000.
A field of nine horses will face the starter at 8.45pm with the Ciaron Maher-trained mare Running By the current market leader with John Allen aboard.
Run Harry Run (Michael Moroney and Glen Thompson) and Regal Zeus (John McArdle) will be among her key rivals, while last year’s Victoria Derby runner-up Apulia (Ben, Will and JD Hayes) creates interest upon his resumption from a lengthy break.
Tonight marks the first of 19 races in the VOBIS Premier Race Series, which collectively offers more than $5 million in prizemoney and bonuses.
The 2024-25 series includes 17 VOBIS Gold races open to VOBIS Platinum and Gold nominated horses, along with two exclusive VOBIS Platinum races – the VOBIS Showdown (1200m) and VOBIS Platinum Guineas (1600m).
Those two feature races, which offer a combined $1.6 million in prizemoney and bonuses, will take place on a revamped Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday (VOBRD) at Caulfield on the new date of Saturday, 15 March 2025.
Flemington will also host four races as part of the series thanks to reallocations with the VOBIS Gold Comet (1000m) to be run on 1 March 2025 and the VOBIS Gold Reef (1600m) and VOBIS Gold Ingot (1400m) scheduled on 29 March 2025.
The VOBIS Gold Mile (1600m), which was traditionally run as part of VOBRD, has moved to winter and will be run at Flemington on Saturday, 7 June 2025.
There will be three more features in the VOBIS Premier Race Series held this calendar year. They are:
- the VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade (1200m) on Sportsbet Ballarat Cup Day (Saturday, 7 December);
- the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) on Sportsbet Pakenham Cup Day (Saturday, 21 December); and
- the VOBIS Gold Carat (1200m) at The Valley (Saturday, 28 December).
RV Head of Racing, Paul Bloodworth said, “The VOBIS Premier Race series rewards those who choose to breed, own and race their horses in Victoria. The terrific prizemoney and bonuses on offer throughout the series provides significant returns for owners, whilst also serving to promote Victorias’ thriving breeding industry.”
Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria (TBV) Chairman, Peter Murray, said: “Tonight’s VOBIS Gold Star at Moonee Valley with VOBIS prizemoney and bonuses of $205,000, highlights the financial windfall of upgrading your horses to VOBIS Gold. VOBIS Gold gives owners and breeders extended access to the benefits the VOBIS program provides to Victorian bred horses.”
To view the full list of races in the VOBIS Premier Race Series, see below or click here.
To learn more about VOBIS, click here.
