Australia's racing factions come together with purchase of Everest slot

The Melbourne Racing Club has purchased one of the 12 slots for the lucrative Everest sprint staged at Randwick in October, a move which could potentially be a precursor to a cooling in hostilities between Australian racing's two major jurisdictions.

On Tuesday it was revealed the Melbourne Racing Club had entered a partnership with slot holder the Australian Turf Club.

The two bodies are closely associated with Racing Victoria and Racing New South Wales, who have been engaged in a prize-money turf war of late, taking it in turns to raise levels for the highly lucrative spring carnival programme.

But Tuesday's news demonstrated a collaborative, rather than confrontational approach.

The Melbourne Racing Club announced a three-race qualifying series centred around the slot, with the winner of each race automatically earning a starting spot in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield on October 5. The winner of that race will then be eligible to line up in the Everest a week later.

Melbourne Racing Club chief executive Josh Blanksby welcomed the concept and said: "We believe that forging a partnership of this kind with the Australian Turf Club around the Everest and the Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Carnival will generate significant interest and value for Australian racing as a whole.

Randwick racecourse: stages the lucrative Everest sprint in OctoberCredit: Matt King/ Getty Images

"This concept breaks down barriers by fostering collaboration, embracing two great racing carnivals to benefit the entire industry, our members, participants, fans and punters."

The Everest will be staged on the same day as Caulfield's premier race of the Carnival – the Caulfield Cup – but the MRC, ATC and Racing NSW will work together to provide a race schedule that benefits both meetings and aids TV coverage.

ATC chairman Matt McGrath said: "The Australian Turf Club welcomes the partnership for 2019 with the Melbourne Race Club through their chairman Peter le Grand and chief executive Josh Blanksby.

"Australian racing will benefit greatly with a super race day featuring The Everest at Royal Randwick and the Caulfield Cup at Caulfield Racecourse and we look forward to forging a stronger relationship beyond 2019 with the Melbourne Racing Club."

Godolphin will also have an interest in the race as it was revealed Sheikh Mohammed's operation had purchased a slot. Last year, Osborne Bulls, representing the owner, finished third in the race behind two-time winner Redzel.

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