CRANBOURNE Turf Club is offering $1 million to Cox Plate hopefuls who run and win this year’s TAB Cranbourne Cup and the William Hill Cox Plate.
This year’s TAB Cranbourne Cup will be run on Sunday 9 October while the Cox Plate, Australia’s premier weight-for-age championship, is on Saturday 22 October at Moonee Valley.
The club, in partnership with its major sponsor Tabcorp, is offering a bonus of $1 million to the connections of a horse that can win both the Listed $300,000 TAB Cranbourne Cup (2025 metres) and the Group 1, $3 million William Hill Cox Plate (2040 metres).
Winning connections of the Cox Plate will collect $1.8 million in prize money and Cranbourne Cup victors take home $180,000, so this bonus brings the potential earnings close to $3 million including trophies.
Cranbourne Turf Club CEO Neil Bainbridge said the club hoped this bonus would lure a top quality field to Cranbourne this year.
“Cox Plate contenders now have a million more reasons to gallop up the home straight at Cranbourne on their way to the Cox Plate, one of the major races of the Spring Racing Carnival,” Mr Bainbridge said.
“Being two weeks out from the Cox Plate, the Cranbourne Cup lends itself as a possible lead-in race, and the Cranbourne Cup is a Quality Handicap with a maximum top weight of 60kg, making it even more appealing for Australia’s weight for age stars.”
Nominations for this year’s Cox Plate closed in August with 157 entries received, and following 2nd acceptances 53 horses remain in the race, with champion mare Winx the current favourite on TAB fixed odds at $1.80.
“It would be outstanding to have Cox Plate calibre horses competing at Cranbourne and we hope the million-dollar bonus might entice leading trainers and owners to consider the TAB Cranbourne Cup as part of their campaign.”
The TAB Cranbourne Cup delivers top quality racing and great fashion, entertainment and hospitality offerings. To book your tickets or for more information, visit www.cranbourneturfclub.com.au or call 5996 1300.
