Consolation for Cup discards

The Victoria Racing Club has announced any horse balloted out of the 2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup field will receive a consolation in the shape of a $100,000 bonus if it can win the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m), run on the final day of the carnival.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes has traditionally been the race targeted by horses that miss out on a run in the Cup.

The VRC board also approved a distance change for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes from 2500 metres to 2600 metres in an effort to provide an extra, albeit minimal, staying test for all runners.

It’s an interesting decision by the VRC, as the bonus comes in the wake of concerns by some owners and trainers that this year’s Cup, the 150^th running of the great race, will be loaded with overseas horses – those that come across for the race as well as a host of horses, more than 20, that have been imported by Lloyd Williams, Lee Freedman, David Hayes and Chris Waller – thus making it very difficult for the locals to secure a start in the 24-horse field.

And this year, we might see the return of the Japanese-trained horses following the lifting of equine influenza bans, which have prevented them from running since Delta Blues and Pop Rock fought out the race in 2006.

VRC chief executive Dale Monteith agrees that missing out on a Cup start is one of racing’s disappointments. “It is arguably every owner’s dream to have an Emirates Melbourne Cup runner, and to get as close as having a Cup final acceptor, yet miss out on a place in the field of 24, would be an extremely frustrating and disappointing experience.

“The VRC board has been highly innovative in providing a tangible consolation opportunity to disappointed Cup connections, in the form of a realistically achievable $100,000 race bonus.

“The club’s offer will also act as an incentive for connections to continue to participate in the Melbourne Cup carnival program; on average, about 40 per cent of the horses balloted from the Emirates Melbourne Cup, from year to year, do not race at the carnival in other events. This statistic is likely to improve, with the bonus opportunity now in place,” he said.

Picture: Englishman Luca Cumani eyes the Melbourne Cup.