Regal Zeus victorious in the first race of the VOBIS Premier Race Series

John McArdle’s Regal Zeus triumphed in the Western General Bodyworks VOBIS Gold Star (1500m), the first race of the 2024-25 VOBIS Premier Race Series, on Friday, 25 October at The Valley.

The VOBIS Gold Star, which was run under set weights and penalties for horses aged three years and older, boasted $175,000 in VOBIS Gold prizemoney plus a VOBIS Silver Bonus of $30,000.

The son of Zoustar led the race the whole way, winning by less than a length.

The four-year-old gelding was purchased at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sales for $150,000 and is raced by Regal Bloodstock.

"The horse has done an enormous job, that's his ninth run this time in, he's only had 20 starts. I've been wondering when he's had enough but maybe there's another one in him, we'll see," McArdle told Racing.com post-race.

The VOBIS Gold Star marked 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 due to reallocations with the VOBIS Gold Comet (1000m) to be run on 1 March and the VOBIS Gold Reef (1600m) and VOBIS Gold Ingot (1400m) scheduled on 29 March. 

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: “The VOBIS Gold Star at Moonee Valley with VOBIS prizemoney and bonuses of $205,000, highlighted 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.”

Don’t miss out on your chance to race for the lucrative benefits VOBIS has on offer. Upgrades to VOBIS Gold and VOBIS Platinum for 2022-born horses close on 30th November 2024.

For more information, including the full list of races in the VOBIS Premier Race Series visit vobisgold.com.au.