Racing Victoria (RV) is giving owners, breeders, and trainers even more opportunities to reinvest in Victoria’s vibrant breeding industry with a AU$330,000 VOBIS Platinum Bonanza scheduled in the lead-up to the 2024 yearling sales.
Now in its second year, a grand total of AU$2.37 million in VOBIS Platinum vouchers have been awarded so far and, with 11 VOBIS Gold races programmed in Victoria during the first week of January, a new year windfall will be up for grabs.
In the week leading up to the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, every TAB meeting held in Victoria will feature at least one VOBIS Gold race, giving the connections of eligible winners the chance to collect a AU$20,000 VOBIS Gold bonus and an additional AU$30,000 in VOBIS Platinum vouchers.
Those vouchers can be redeemed the following week on an eligible yearling going through the ring on the Gold Coast, giving prospective buyers an increased incentive to make an extra bid on the progeny of a VOBIS Sires stallion.
The bonanza begins Jan. 1, when the first VOBIS Platinum vouchers of 2024 are on offer at the meetings at Flemington and Mornington.
There are no fewer than four VOBIS Gold races scheduled for the inaugural Super Saturday on the Coast race day at Geelong Jan. 6, including the Rex Gorell Geelong Diamond for 2-year-old sprinters, which serves as a stepping stone to the 1,200-meter Blue Diamond Stakes (G1).
With VOBIS Gold races also set at the country fixtures at Wangaratta, Seymour, Yarra Valley, and Stawell, as well as the night meeting at Cranbourne on Jan. 5, opportunities abound for owners and trainers to head to Queensland armed with AU$30,000 in VOBIS Platinum vouchers to spend at the world-famous sale.
“The first VOBIS Platinum bonanza of 2024 will give owners and trainers the chance to get a leg up ahead of the sales season,” said Matt Welsh, RV’s executive general manager for racing.
“We encourage trainers to target the VOBIS Gold races across Victoria in the first week of January, so that they and their owners can head to the Gold Coast with valuable VOBIS Platinum vouchers in their luggage.
“Victoria’s breeding industry has arguably never been stronger, so redeeming these vouchers to offset the cost of purchasing a VOBIS Sires yearling at the Magic Millions or future sales is too good an opportunity to pass up.”
Those comments were echoed by James O’Brien, president of Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria (TBV).
“With more trainers and owners targeting VOBIS Gold races and with the two VOBIS Platinum Bonanzas programmed during January and February, it is very easy to see the $2.37 million of vouchers already issued growing further ahead of the sales season,” he said.
“VOBIS Platinum rewards anyone who supports the Victorian thoroughbred breeding, so if you plan to race a horse in Victoria, make sure you don’t miss out on the $30 million in prize money, bonuses, and vouchers on offer each season. If you buy a yearling with the VOBIS Sires logo at the sales, it makes perfect sense to upgrade it to VOBIS Platinum.”
Since it was launched at the start of the 2022-23 racing season, VOBIS Platinum vouchers have been awarded to the eligible winners of the 250 VOBIS Gold races run in Victoria each season, with $650,000 in VOBIS Platinum vouchers redeemed to date.
The second VOBIS Platinum Bonanza of 2024 commences Feb. 21 ahead of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands Junction from March 3-5.
