Racing New South Wales announces new A$8 million mile race

Racing in Sydney is set for a lucrative boost with Racing New South Wales expected to announce a new A$8 million (£4.6m/€5.2m) race to be staged on either Cox Plate or Victoria Derby day next year.

Both of Sydney's major media outlets, the Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Telegraph, released details of the proposed race, with strong suggestions that it will be held over a mile.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said Sydney racing needs to do more with the opportunities for increased media exposure in the month of October as it follows the finish of the major football codes and comes before the cricket season begins in earnest.

The announcement comes soon after Racing Victoria publicised a new initiative to turn the autumn's Blamey Stakes into the $5m All-Star Mile, using a public vote to dictate the make-up of the field.

V’landys was quoted as saying Sydney would be playing to its strengths with the development of the new race and, given Randwick’s association with great mile races, it is likely to be a mile event.

He indicated the race would not be over a staying distance such as the three majors that make up the spine of the Melbourne spring carnival.

To maximise the potential of the new race and the A$13m The Everest, it is expected that Racing NSW would create a two-week gap between the two, meaning the new race could well fall on Victoria Derby day.

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