The Season Ahead
Looking ahead at the Australian 2022-2023 racing season, which started on August 1st, there are some notable bloodstock and racing changes to make yourself accustomed to. During the latter-end of last season, Melbourne Cup heroine Verry Elleegant, was transferred to French trainer F-H Gaffard ahead of her pursuit to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. One of the mare’s first races in the Northern Hemisphere will be in the Irish champion Stakes, a Group 1 over 2,000m, on Irish Champion’s weekend in early September. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained, Artorius, is another Australian who is due to stay in the Northern hemisphere for the time being. After placing in two British Group 1’s, the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Ascot and the Darley July Cup Stakes at Newmarket, the son of Flying Artie is due to cross the channel to France for the Prix Maurice de Gheest in early August. English Derby runner-up, Hoo Ya Mal, will now continue his career in the Southern hemisphere as he is due to join the Waterhouse/Bott string with his likely target being the Melbourne Cup.
The first Group 1 of the season is the Winx Stakes on August 20th and has a prize fund over A$500,000. The Godolphin-owned, Anamoe, currently lies favourite in the market for the 1,400m contest.
VERRY ELLEEGANT, is heading to Irish Champions Weekend.
Source: Racing Post
Source: SEN
Prizemoney
Victorian Racing prize money, will for the first time, surpass A$300 million for the 2022-2023 season. The season’s total prize money will now be A$314 million, which is a staggering 80% increase from 2015. In addition, A$7 million will be given as extra funding to country races to increase Victorian Tab Standard, night and premium races. This investment is hugely important for small country trainers and will hopefully help bridge the gap in this 2022-2023 trainer’s premiership. Ciaron Maher and David Eustace won the 2021-2022 Victorian Trainer’s Premiership with 102 winners and nearly A$15 million in prize money. This was more than double than Anthony Freedman, who came second with 43 winners. Prize money for Racing NSW will also be lifted by A$25 million for the new season. Two additional races will feature on the Magic Millions 2023 race card, on Saturday January 14th. The world first initiative races include: The Magic Millions Syndicate 3YO race over 1200m, and the Debut race over 900m. As a result, A$1.5 million will be added to the prize fund and there will be just shy of A$12 million up for grabs across the day.
New Godolphin/Coolmore Stallions for 2022
| Stallion | Stud Fee | Top Race Performances |
| Home Affairs (Coolmore) | A$110,000 | – Coolmore Stud Stakes, Group 1 – Black Caviar Lightning, Group 1 – Silver Slipper Stakes, Group 2 |
| St Marks Basillica (Coolmore) | A$44,000 | – Irish Champion Stakes, Group 1 – Coral-Eclipse, Group 1 – Qatar Prix Du Jockey Club, Group 1 – Poule d’Essai des Poulains, Group 1 – Dewhurst Stakes, Group 1 |
| Acrobat (Coolmore) | A$13,750 | – Inglis Nursery, Listed |
| Victor Ludorum (Godolphin) | A$24,750 | – Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, Group 1 – Poule d’Essai des Poulains, Group 1 |
| Palace Pier (Godolphin) | A$55,000 | – St James’s Palace Stakes, Group 1 – Prix du Haras Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois, Group 1 – Lockinge Stakes, Group 1 – Queen Anne Stakes, Group 1 |
| Pinatubo (Godolphin) | A$55,000 | – Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, Group 1 – Dewhurst Stakes, Group 1 – Prix Jean Prat, Group 1 |
