Locally-bred stayers could soon find it easier to secure a spot in the Melbourne Cup with two new races planned which would see winners guarantee their spot in the $7.3m race.
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Racing Victoria are planning to run a 2800m race at Flemington in May with a $500,000 prize pool up for grabs.
Makybe Diva Stakes day in September could also stage a 2500m race with both races guaranteeing the winners a spot in the Melbourne Cup Field.
Racing Victoria hopes that the two new races would give more opportunities to locally-bred horses after years of internationals claiming the spoils of the Melbourne Cup.
No Australian-bred horse has managed to win the Melbourne Cup since the Mark Kavanagh-trained Shocking back in 2009.
Internationally-trained and bred gallopers will once again make up the majority of the Melbourne Cup 2018 field with the race set to take place on Tuesday, November 6th at Flemington.
