By Garry Howe
The Cranbourne Cup has taken one of the most significant turns in its long history.
The region’s premier sporting and social event will be thrust into the thick of Spring Racing Carnival as a stand-alone Saturday meeting on 13 November.
This prime date is the first Saturday after the famous four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival, with the nation focused on racing.
As part of the change, the cup distance moves to 1600 metres and prizemoney increases significantly to $500,000 and $1.5 million for the entire card.
Chief executive Neil Bainbridge said it was an exciting development for the club.
He said it would showcase the Cranbourne racing product nationally, with the meeting broadcast live and free to air as part of Channel 7’s Spring Carnival coverage.
“The club is absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity,” Mr Bainbridge said.
“The weather is better and racing is at the top of mind.
“This will further entrench Cranbourne as a premier venue for racing in Australia. We are flying our flag to the highest point.”
Mr Bainbridge explained that the change from 2050 metres to the 1600 metre journey was made by the club in consultation with Racing Victoria to ensure a better flow of races at the top level, not only for Cranbourne but the industry as a whole.
The Cranbourne Cup will come 14 days after the time honoured Kennedy Cantala Stakes (formerly Emirites Stakes) on Derby Day and give the highest caliber of horses another bite at the Spring Racing Carnival cherry.
The club was also mindful that the Ballarat Cup is run over the 2000 metre journey the following week.
Mr Bainbridge said the increase to $500,000 prizemoney would make it the richest Cranbourne Cup in history.
He said the Cup would be the main race meeting in Australia that day, ensuring keen interest both locally and throughout Australia.
Attendance may be capped to 7500 due to Covid restrictions, so the first set of hospitality packages have been released to members only at this stage.
Mr Bainbridge said it would pay to get in early, because he anticipates the packages will be snapped up quickly.
In another boost to the club, several leading Caulfield stables are expected to relocate to Cranbourne by the end of September.
The likes of Ciaron Maher and David Eustance, Mick Price and Michael Kent jnr, John Moloney, Clinton McDonald and Graeme Begg are set to call Cranbourne home, providing a massive boost to the quality and numbers of horses trained out of the centre.
Mr Bainbridge said the relocation of Caulfield trainers would mean an extra 230 horses a day working at the training complex.
