The Melbourne Racing Club has announced the introduction from 2012 of a lucrative new feature race for three-year-olds on Caulfield Guineas day.
The Blue Sapphire, a race previously run for two-year-olds, has had a major makeover with a significant prize money injection and a change of dates and conditions.
Previously held in May, the Blue Sapphire moves to the second Saturday in October – day one of the Caulfield Cup Carnival – when it will now be conducted for three-year-olds with prize money of $250,000.
“We believe the race will grow in stature over time and the Club is confident it will receive black-type status over the course of the next few years,” MRC chief executive Alasdair Robertson said.
“It also serves as another lead-in race to some of the feature three-year-old sprint races later in the Spring Racing Carnival.”
Nominations for the 2012 Blue Diamond Stakes will gain an automatic nomination into the 2012 the Blue Sapphire.
Entries for the Blue Diamond Series and the Blue Sapphire close on July 5.
Patinack Farm will for the second year offer a $1 million bonus for any two-year-old who wins all three legs of the 2012 Blue Diamond Series, provided there is a minimum of 10 starters in each leg.
The Peter Snowden-trained Sepoy joined Rancher, Midnight Fever and Bel Esprit as the only horses in the 41-year history of the Blue Diamond to complete the treble when unbeaten in this year’s series.
However the $1 million bonus was not paid out as there were only nine runners in the first leg, the Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) for colts and geldings.
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