Victorian-based vendors and their staff, buyers, bloodstock agents and vets will be unable to attend the Inglis July Series auctions as a result of advice from the New South Wales State Government and Racing New South Wales due to the COVID-19 spike in Victoria.
The Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Round 2, on Sunday, July 5 at Riverside and the Scone Yearling Sale will proceed and Victorian-based parties can register for online bidding with both auctions to be streamed live on inglis.com.au.
Inglis bloodstock staff will be available for telephone bidding. Inspections for both these sales begin at Riverside on Wednesday.
The Australian Weanling Sale on Wednesday, July 8 will also proceed as scheduled and Victorians can again register for online bidding, as the auction will be streamed live onto inglis.com.au.
The Inglis Great Southern Sale on Thursday, July 9 has been transferred from Riverside to Oaklands Junction on Sunday, August 9. The sale schedule will be confirmed subject to finalisation of supplementary entries.
Should restrictions at the time not allow for the Great Southern Sale to proceed as a live auction, it will revert to an Inglis Digital Online auction.
The Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale on Thursday, July 16 will proceed as scheduled at Oaklands, with the auction reverting to an online sale if necessary. As part of the COVID-19 Safe Plan, all participants of the upcoming sales at Riverside are required to register to be on the precinct at all times.
On-course hopes
Moonee Valley Racing Club Chief Executive Michael Browell remains hopeful of a crowd of sorts for the 100th running of the G1 Cox Plate.
"There are four clear options we are working through," Browell told RSN927. "The two that we are focused heavily on are the current restrictions of one person per four square metres.
This year will be the 100th running of the G1 Cox Plate
"Moonee Valley with its configuration, we wouldn't be able to get anywhere near the 10,000 that was first proposed by the Prime Minister a couple of weeks ago.
"It's more in our favour if it drops back to one person per two square metres and at this point in time you would think that is best case scenario. "
An announcement on spring prizemoney levels is expected later this week and Browell has made a submission to the Racing Victoria board to hold the Cox Plate purse at $5 million.
Minimum stakes return, features unchanged
Racing Victoria (RV) has announced that minimum prizemoney will be returned to pre-COVID levels from the start of the new racing season and purses for the flagship events in the spring will remain unchanged.
Prizemoney was cut in April by 20 per cent for metropolitan races and 10 per cent for country races, with temporary reductions made to Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold bonuses also.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact across the Victorian racing industry even though we have been able to safely continue racing thanks to the incredible work of so many,” RC Chief Executive Giles Thompson said.
“Everyone has made sacrifices and everyone has played their role to keep the industry viable in the short term through prizemoney reductions, significant staff stand-downs, stretching resources and making cost savings.
“It is this prudent approach in such uncertain times, together with better than expected returns from wagering, that means we will be in a position to restore minimum prizemoney levels from August 1, 2020. "
Marquee events unchanged
Thompson confirmed current prizemoney levels will remain unchanged for the major spring features, most notably the G1 Melbourne Cup will carry an $8 million purse, the G1 Caulfield Cup at $5 million and the G1 Cox Plate at $5 million.
“In terms of the spring racing carnival, we have reviewed our prizemoney contributions and the historical top-ups from clubs on their feature races to determine what is appropriate in an environment where such great uncertainty remains here in Victoria,” Thompson said.
Vow And Declare and Craig Williams
“The restrictions on social gatherings have had a significant impact on each club’s race day operations and their associated businesses, which has affected their bottom line. The uncertainty around crowds means there are no guarantees at present for clubs around their spring revenues.
“The decision has been made to retain current prizemoney for more than 100 Group and Listed races programmed throughout the 2020 carnival, including our marquee races in the Lexus Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
“Investment in the carnival and its flagship races ensures that the quality of our premier racing event is maintained to maximise engagement by fans and punters." - Giles Thompson
“Investment in the carnival and its flagship races ensures that the quality of our premier racing event is maintained to maximise engagement by fans and punters, whilst rewarding those owners and trainers who campaign their horses in Victoria.
“The restrictions on social gatherings has had a significant impact on each club’s race day operations and their associated businesses which has affected their bottom line. The uncertainty around crowds means there are no guarantees at present for clubs around their spring revenues.”
