Latest news with #LeighJordon
News.com.au
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Melbourne Cup prizemoney to be paid from first to 24th after $10m race confirmed
Racing Victoria has confirmed prizemoney increases for Australia's most famous and best races. Melbourne Cup prizemoney has officially increased to $10m with all starters to share in the bounty. The Cox Plate has also been boosted to $6m – up from $5m – to mark the historic last weight-for-age championship on the traditional Moonee Valley Racecourse before a major redevelopment. Racing Victoria is set to confirm prizemoney schedule for the 2025-25 season on Thursday. This masthead on Monday revealed the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate prizemoney decisions. VRC chief executive Kylie Rogers has welcomed the Melbourne Cup prizemoney increase. 'We are thrilled to finally be able to allocate the prizemoney the Lexus Melbourne Cup deserves,' Rogers said. 'It's the 'People's Cup' and frankly $10m allocated across all participants from one to 24 keeps the dream alive for all local, domestic and international participants.' Prizemoney historically for the Cup has been paid down to 12th place from $4.4m to $160,000. While the status quo remains for the top half of the Cup field, from the first Tuesday in November this year 13th to 24th will each receive $100,000. Last year the Melbourne Cup carried $8m prizemoney and a $750,000 18-carat gold three-handled trophy. Rogers praised VRC chief racing officer Leigh Jordon for the new payment structure. 'It takes a lot to get to the Cup,' Jordon said. 'Spreading it right down to the bottom gives everyone a chance in the race domestically and I think internationally it will help a little bit too … it takes a bit to fly out here and participate in the Cup. 'It's good for our grassroots participants here in Australia and New Zealand … it's the People's Cup and we want everyone to be able to run in it.' The VRC has also officially recognised the Geelong Cup and Moonee Valley Gold Cup as 'win and you're in' Melbourne Cup qualifiers. 'Geelong Cup and Moonee Valley Gold Cup have historically delivered, naturally, Melbourne Cup starters and so we thought we would richly reward them and formalise them as part of our golden ticket program,' Rogers said. 'Now we have a $10m Melbourne Cup with 10 golden tickets leading in.' An industry-wide collaborated and approved 'strategic reallocation' has allowed RV to maintain the overall prizemoney pool while also being able to boost select races from grassroots to elite level. A reduction in All-Star Mile and Australian Cup prizemoney – now $2m from $2.5m last year – has boosted the Newmarket Handicap ($1.5m to $2m) and Melbourne Cup.
News.com.au
28-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Japanese stars on Melbourne Spring Carnival hit list
Leading Victorian racing officials spearhead a 'united' Melbourne spring carnival recruitment drive to Japan. Paul Bloodworth (Racing Victoria), Leigh Jordon (Victoria Racing Club) and Charlotte Mills (Moonee Valley Racing Club) will meet with major Japanese owners, trainers, breeders and officials during the week-long trip in a bid to secure greater spring carnival participation. The success of Japanese runners last year, Prognosis and Warp Speed placed second respectively in the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, has emboldened the touring party. 'It's good we're all going together,' Jordon said. 'A united front is much better than everyone going separate ways.' • The Valley has conducted its own recruitment missions past with strong success, but Mills welcomed the new approach. 'You're selling Victorian racing, as a trio that's got to be better,' Mills said. 'There's far more synergy now in terms of the program connection … you see horses go Cox Plate into Champions Stakes or the Champions Mile.' The Valley has invited connections of multiple Group 1-placed Prognosis back for a second attempt at the Cox Plate. 'He's still racing well and still racing lightly, just cannot crack that elusive Group 1 and I know Shadai would definitely like to see that horse get a Group 1 win,' Mills said. 'He's already experienced quarantine at Werribee and raced so well here, second in a track-record breaking run to Via Sistina, we'd love him to come back and go one better.' Potential Cups targets include the top five in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m) last month at Kyoto. Warp Speed, who placed fifth in the Tenno Sho last year, contested the Caulfield Cup (unplaced) and missed by the barest margin in a pulsating Melbourne Cup finish. 'Usually the winner (Redentor this year) goes to the Arc over the years,' Jordon said. 'Second (Byzantine Dream), third (Shonan La Punta), fourth (Sunrise Earth) and fifth (Meiner Emperor) are definitely on the list … we'll see them all, get feedback and answer any questions.' Jordon would also love to attract an emerging star out of the Japanese Derby this Sunday in Tokyo.
