An increase in prize money for the Alister Clark Stakes should see Victoria’s best middle distance three-year-olds in competition at The Valley.
Sydney’s Autumn Carnival is not expected to see Victoria’s best middle distance three-year-old’s until later in the autumn after an announcement of a prize money hike for the Alister Clark Stakes.
The Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at The Valley on March 18 will next year be worth $750,000 following a $450,000 injection by Racing Victoria.
It gives the Group 2 race an extra $150,000 over the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) a day later.
As has been the case in previous years, both the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington and the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) will again clash next year.
Both races carry $1 million in prize money.
Racing Victoria Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter, said the boost in prize money will ensure Victoria had a high quality three-year-old 2000m race in March.
He said it not only provided a springboard to Sydney for the Group 1 Australian Derby, but was also a lead-up to staying three-year-old races in Victoria for the Galilee Series, with the Bendigo St Leger Trial, Galilee Final and VRC St Leger run during April.
Carpenter also pointed out that last year’s second and third-placed runners in the Alister Clark – Young Werther and Explosive Jack – went on to quinella the Australian Derby with Explosive Jack also adding the Group 1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville in May to his record.
“The 2020 Alister Clark Stakes winner Nonconformist also went on to run second in 2021 editions of the Caulfield Cup and The Might and Power,” Carpenter said.
“I look forward to another exciting renewal of the Alister Clark Stakes under lights at The Valley in March which I’m sure will attract many quality three-year-olds chasing the new prize pool and provide an incredible weekend of racing in Melbourne with the race being run on the eve of The All-Star Mile.”
First run in 1939, winners of the Alister Clark Stakes have included some of the greats of the Australian turf including Comic Court, Vo Rogue, Tranquil Star, Surround and Zabeel.