New race Inglis Bracelet a major coup for Oaks Day as VRC lifts lid on Melbourne Cup Week changes

Melbourne Cup Week is already guaranteed to look significantly different this year as Melbourne struggles to see off the pandemic, but the VRC has promised a few changes of its own.

Hugh Bowman (black and white checks) surging to victory on Mugatoo. Picture: Getty

The Melbourne Cup Carnival has undergone significant change with the addition of a $250,000 race for fillies and mares and a reshuffle of other lucrative contests during the 2020 spring.

The Victoria Racing Club will unveil the $250,000 Inglis Bracelet (1600m), a race restricted to fillies and mares sold by Inglis as part of the rich Inglis race series, on VRC Oaks Day.

The Bracelet will be the first of three major Inglis races to be held at Flemington, followed by the $500,000 Inglis Dash (1200m) on February 27 and the $1 million Inglis Sprint (1200m), which will move from Randwick to Flemington in 2022.

Oaks Day will also feature the Group 3 Darley Ottawa Stakes (1000m) for two-year-old fillies.

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The Group 3 Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) moves from Oaks Day to Melbourne Cup Day on November 3.

The Cup Day program will also include the Listed TAB Trophy (1800m), which also has been transferred from Oaks Day.

The TAB Trophy has quickly developed a reputation as a Group 1 springboard after Derby winners Russian Camelot and Quick Thinker both contested it last year.

The undercard on Cup Day also features the revamped Grinders Coffee Roasters Trophy (1400m), which is now open age after previously being restricted to four and five-year-olds.

Stakes Day will now feature another Grand Handicap over 2000m with prizemoney of $150,000.

VRC executive general manager Racing Leigh Jordon said the changes would amplify the carnival’s position as “Australia’s pre-eminent racing event”.

The Victoria Racing Club has revamped its famous four-day Melbourne Cup Week.

“As custodians of one of the world’s premier racing events it’s vital we continue to develop the program to ensure we provide more opportunity for owners, trainers and jockeys to experience the thrill of competing at Flemington during Cup Week,” he said.

“The VRC is pleased to strengthen its relationship with Inglis and the Inglis Bracelet is a fantastic addition to Kennedy Oaks Day which is sure to attract a field of high-class fillies and mares from across the country.

“The 1800m handicap for three-year-olds has become one of the highlights of Cup Week outside of the Group 1 races, with last year’s subsequent Lexus Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare on the honour roll.

This year’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington will have 40,000 fewer people in attendance due to new COVID-19 protocols.

“The Melbourne Cup Carnival is tantalisingly close and we look forward to seeing which horses announce themselves as serious contenders for races across the four days.”

The Melbourne Cup Carnival is Australia’s leading racing event with 37 races across four days and more than $24 million in prizemoney on offer.

The 2020 Melbourne Cup Carnival starts with Victoria Derby day on October 31 followed three days later by Melbourne Cup day, VRC Oaks November 5 and Stakes Day on November 7.

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PAIR COP FINES FOR RACE-DAY SCUFFLE

A heated race-day clash between jumps jockey Tony Ihaka and stablehand Peter Cunningham at Pakenham last month has resulted in both men being fined.

Ihaka was hit with a $1000 penalty for making threatening comments, then barging into Cunningham near the scales area on July 10.

Racing Victoria stewards said Ihaka pleaded guilty to directing “threatening comments towards registered stablehand Cunningham after a verbal altercation involving both gentlemen”.

“Thereafter, near the scales area following the running of race two, he made intentional contact with Peter Cunningham and barged into him with his shoulder,” the report said.

“In all the circumstances Mr Ihaka was fined $1000.

“In assessing penalty, stewards took into account his guilty plea, record and
his remorse for his actions, however, noted the serious nature of the incidents.”

Cunningham was fined $300 after pleading guilty to “while present in the saddling area, he entered into a verbal argument whereby he made inappropriate comments towards licensed jumps jockey Tony Ihaka”.

“In all the circumstances Mr Cunningham was fined $300. In assessing penalty, stewards took into account his guilty plea, record and his remorse for his actions.”

Stewards also referred a post-race fall that left Michael Dee with a shoulder injury to RV’s race-day services.

Heroic Fighter suffered a fractured shoulder, bone bruising and ligament damage and will be sidelined for an estimated six months, while Dee was hospitalised.

IRISH WIZARD ‘MAD KEEN’ FOR MAGIC TILT AT CARNIVAL

Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier has signalled master trainer Aidan O’Brien could still entertain sending European racehorses to Melbourne for the Cup without his own entourage.

Victorian racing officials are working closely with state and federal government agencies on suitable travel arrangements for any top-class international stables targeting the Spring Carnival.

In previous years, the international raiders would be accompanied by an arsenal of trusted stable staff, grooms and track riders.

Due to strict travel restrictions and the ongoing COVID-19 situation in Melbourne it is unlikely bulk staff will be able to accompany the horses in 2020.

O’Brien’s travelling foreman TJ Comerford has led previous Melbourne missions. But Magnier said on Tuesday the world’s best and most successful trainer was keeping all options open.

“I was talking to Aiden and we’re mad keen to get the horses down here for the spring carnival,” Magnier said. “Hopefully that’s going to happen, we’re taking it day by day.”

2019 Mackinnon Stakes winner Magic Wand is among the top-class gallopers O’Brien has slated for spring campaigns.

Magic Wand is among the horses trainer Aidan O’Brien has earmarked for the Melbourne spring carnival. Picture: AAP

“We’ve never won a Melbourne Cup so we’re very keen to get one of those obviously,” Magnier told RSN. “All being well and if it’s possible, we’d like to bring down a big team this year, (stable jockey) Ryan Moore is obviously very keen as well.

“If we get the green light to go we’ll be big supporters of the spring carnival.”

O’Brien has sent strong teams to Melbourne in the past without success in the Cup. His son Joseph prepared Lloyd Williams-owned Rekindling to win the 2017 Melbourne Cup.

MUGATOO’S BIG SPRING MISSION

Classy import Mugatoo will ultimately dictate what spring path Kris Lees should take towards a possible Cox Plate or Caulfield Cup berth.

Owner Australian Bloodstock was leaning towards the Caulfield Cup but the gelding’s brilliance, as shown by an emphatic return win at Rosehill, could see the Cox Plate become a genuine option.

Mugatoo looks set to spearhead a quintet of Lees/Australian Bloodstock runners bound for Melbourne, including Raheen House, Mustajeer and two internationals.

The rising six-year-old will contest the Group 3 Premier’s Cup next month before the spring path, be it Epsom Handicap into Cox Plate, or The Metropolitan Handicap into a Caulfield Cup, takes shape. Nominations for the Cox Plate close next Tuesday.

Australian Bloodstock director Luke Murrell said options are being kept open for both horses and potential jockeys due to the COVID-19 situation and mandatory quarantines.

“Kris is probably more thinking stick to the 2000m path,” Murrell said.

“I keep looking at him at the weights in a Caulfield Cup and think you‘re never going to get a better opportunity than what that race will be either.

“It’s a good spot to be in, see how we go in the next couple of weeks.”

Mugatoo is the equal $8 favourite with TAB for the Metropolitan alongside Master Of Wine and Verry Elleegant.

Hugh Bowman and Mugatoo storm home to win the Winter Challenge.

The plum rides could be up for grabs with go-to jockeys Hugh Bowman, Kerrin McEvoy and Brenton Avdulla potentially unavailable and champions Craig Williams and Damien Oliver in hot demand.

“There‘s going to be some big decisions for the Sydney jockeys,” Murrell said. “It won’t be a case of I’m going to be riding down in Melbourne for the weekend, do they give up two weeks’ worth of earnings just to go to Melbourne or do they just stay in Sydney?”

The ‘win and you’re in’ Group 2 Feehan Stakes is another option for Mugatoo towards the Cox Plate.

“He’s got a rating that says maybe you don’t blow up the rating in a weight-for-age Cox Plate but at the same time, it’s obviously the right year (fewer internationals) to have a crack,” Murrell said.

Trainer Kris Lees would be pretty happy with where Mugatoo is placed at the moment.

Mugatoo treated his rivals with contempt last Saturday winning the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.

The Canberra Cup winner stretched out to 2400m last preparation, running second to Young Rascal in the Group 3 Manion Cup before a flat performance in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes.

“He’s got a huge set of lungs and travels deep on the bridle, whether it’s at that staying trip and he can do it at home over that 1400m,” Murrell said.

“He’s certainly got that turn of foot that those better horses have and I think that’s why everything is open at this stage.”

Tom Magnier and his new purchase, former star sprinter Sunlight.

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JUSTIFIED: SUNLIGHT SOLD FOR $4.2M

Queen of the Magic Millions sales ring Sunlight set a new Queensland record on Monday going for $4.2 million to Coolmore Australia.

The explosive sprinter, who sold for $300,000 as a Magic Millions yearling, earned more than $6.5 million for her all women’s syndicate of owners, winning 11 of 24 career starts including three Group 1s.

Sunlight was one of three Group 1 winners to go under the hammer on Monday, along with Invincibella, who Coolmore snapped up also for $1.3 million, and Unforgotten ($2.75 million).

Bidding for Sunlight started at $1m and escalated rapidly in $200,000 increments, until Coolmore’s Tom Magnier swooped at the business end of the unreserved auction.

Sunlight will visit Coolmore stallion and 2018 American triple crown winner Justify in 2020.

Formerly trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Sunlight is now the second highest-priced filly or broodmare ever sold in Australia at public auction, behind $5 million purchase Milanova.

Champion three year-old Samantha Miss went for $3.85 million at the 2009 Inglis Broodmare Sale.

Sunlight, who won the 2018 Magic Millions 2YO Classic in a canter, trained on to claim three Group 1s — the VRC Newmarket Handicap, Coolmore Stud Stakes and William Reid Stakes — as a three year-old.

2018 Australian Oaks winner Unforgotten was the second-highest priced broodmare sold at $2.75 million on day one of the Gold Coast sale.