RACING VICTORIA MAKE A STRATEGIC PLAY IN THE BATTLE OF THE INVITATION V THE EMPIRE ROSE

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Racing Victoria’s counter-punch to Racing NSW’s announcement of The Invitation has been both swift and tactical.

In July Racing NSW announced The Invitation, a new race for Fillies and Mares over 1400m which is worth $2 million in prize-money.

The fact that inaugural running of The Invitation is set down for October 23 sent ripples across Racing Victoria’s bow as it posed an obvious threat to the makeup of the field for Group 1 Empire Rose, a race also restricted to fillies and mares, which takes place a week later on October 30 in Melbourne.

A significant inclusion in Racing Victoria’s newly announced $3 million prize-money boost is a $1 million bonus for any runner who wins both one of twelve pre-designated races AND the Empire Rose.

The temptation for the winners of these races to head towards an attempt at a $1 million bonus will be hard to resist so this is a very clever tactical move on the field of battle between Racing NSW and Racing Victoria … but the $2 million lure of The Invitation means that those connections with suitable fillies and mares in their keeping will literally be spoilt for choice with the abundance of riches on offer.

In fact, some trainer’s heads will be spinning after lining up The Invitation immediately after it was announced only to have to do a quick about turn to reconsider the Empire Rose.

The twelve lead-up races whose winners will be in line for Empire Rose $1 million bonus are: Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) – won by Krone. Group 1 NZ Breeders Stakes (1600m) – won by Avantage. Group 1 Tatts Tiara (1400m) – won by Tofane. Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) – Flemington, 11 September. Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) – The Valley, 24 September. Group 2 Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m) – Flemington, 2 October. Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) – Flemington, 2 October. Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) – Caulfield, 13 October. Group 3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) – Caulfield, 13 October. Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) – Caulfield, 16 October. Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m) – The Valley, 23 October. Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m) – The Valley – 23 October.

“The $1 million bonus attached to the TAB Empire Rose Classic now means the winner could earn as much as $1.6 million in prizemoney and more importantly Group 1 status. We know that’s what breeders and owners aspire to achieve," said Leigh Jordan, Racing Victoria’s Executive general manager (Racing) in a not so thinly veiled swipe at Racing Victoria's counterparts to the north.