Victoria Racing Club launches new feature race on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington

Victoria Racing Club has revamped and prizemoney boosted a popular race on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington as the new Australian Heritage Cup.

Jamie Kah guides The Map to a dominant win at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. Picture: Quinn Rooney-Getty Images

Victoria Racing Club has revamped and prizemoney boosted the traditional 2800m race on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington as the new Australian Heritage Cup.

The $250,000 Benchmark 96 Handicap, restricted to Australian and New Zealand-trained stayers, will replace the $150,000 race previously run on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington.

A series of qualifiers will be held in each state in Australia to afford connections an opportunity to have a runner on Melbourne Cup Day.

South Australian mare The Map, a $21 chance for the Melbourne Cup on November 5, won the Benchmark 96 at Flemington last year.

VRC executive general manager racing Leigh Jordon welcomed the new fixture.

“To have a runner on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day is a huge honour and the Australian Heritage Cup will give Australian and New Zealand-based trainers the opportunity to be at Flemington on the biggest day of the year,” Jordon said.

“The race has always been a platform for young, progressive stayers to test their credentials at Flemington with previous winners including The Map and White Marlin and we expect another strong field this year.”

West Australian investment banker Tony Barton, the executive chair of Australian Heritage Group supports the concept.

“Horse racing is a huge part of the Australian psyche and story, and the Australian Heritage Cup is a race designed to celebrate that legacy and support Australian and New Zealand stayers into the future,” Barton said.

The Listed Kalgoorlie Cup in WA on October 5 is the first of six Australian Heritage Cup qualifiers.

Additional state-based golden ticket races will be held at Caulfield (VIC), Warwick Farm (NSW), Launceston (TAS), Eagle Farm (QLD) and Morphettville (SA).

The qualifying races around Australia are:

- Listed Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m), Kalgoorlie, October 5

- Benchmark 84 Handicap (2400m), Caulfield, October 16

- Benchmark 72 Handicap (2400m), Warwick Farm, October 16

- Benchmark 76 Handicap (2400m), Launceston, October 18

- Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m) Eagle Farm, October 19

- Benchmark 78 Handicap (2500m) Morphettville, October 26.

Originally published as Victoria Racing Club launches new feature race on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington