Victoria’s Big Three get richer

MELBOURNE’S spring carnival strengthened its position as the pinnacle of Australian racing by lifting the prizemoney of its “Big Three” to more than $17 million yesterday.

Racing Victoria’s three cornerstone events – the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup – have been given a 40 per cent boost as part of a $12.4 million prizemoney injection across the state.

RV chief executive Giles Thompson said the increases would ensure Victoria remained a destination for the world’s best horses.

“Arguably we have the best racing carnival on the planet and it’s been a while since the three anchor races have had an increase,” Thompson said yesterday.

The Lexus Melbourne Cup received a $1 million prizemoney boost to $7.3 million, making it the world’s richest 3200m handicap and eighthrichest race in the world.

The Stella Artois Caulfield Cup received an extra $2 million, taking it to $5 million.

It is the world’s richest 2400m handicap.

The Ladbrokes Cox Plate also went from $3 million to $5 million and is now the world’s richest Group 1 weightfor-age race over 2000m with its first increase since 2002.

Champion mare Winx has collected $1.8 million for winning each of the past three Cox Plates.

If she can record a historic fourth win in October, she’ll collect $3 million.

“The Cox Plate honour roll features the greatest horses we have seen race in Australia over the past 97 years,” Moonee Valley Racing Club chairman Don Casboult said.

“As we move towards the 100th running of the Cox Plate in 2020, the club has been committed to securing this uplift to prizemoney to ensure we continue to attract the best horses from Australia and overseas.”