Mission accomplished.
The decision to swing more major races on to Victoria Cup night and make it an extravaganza has worked, even three weeks before it plays out.
In many ways, it’s the future of the sport. Focus on mega meetings, rather than spreading major races to try and maintain interest.
And this October 18 timeslot makes that even more important.
Remember, it’s the same day as the Everest and Caulfield Cup. Outside of the Melbourne Cup, it’s the most active and engaged wagering day on the calendar.
And HRV has given itself every chance of maximising the moment, with coverage and the quality of the race meeting.
Providing 7 Horse Racing does its part and promotes the Victoria Cup coverage during the huge afternoon of thoroughbred action, HRV’s switch from Racing.com to Channel Seven looks inspired.
Leap To Fame is the lynchpin. Given the huge following he’s got in the thoroughbred world – Blake Shinn, Craig Newitt, Mick Price, John Hawkes, Tyler Schiller and Ben Thompson are all big fans – he’s the logical cross-code promotional tool.
Hopefully we see someone like Shinn or Hawkes filmed and photographed with Leap To Fame in the build-up.
And that it finds its way onto 7 Horse Racing during the afternoon, with a pointer to when and where to watch Leap To Fame chase his first Victoria Cup win later that night.
Round seven between Leap To Fame and his arch-rival and older sibling, Swayzee, would headline any meeting. Leap To Fame leads 4-2, but Swayzee beat him last time they clashed at Melton in the Hunter Cup on February 1.
But the beauty of this meeting is the depth of quality, five Group 1 races, plus the Ladyship Cup for mares’ and the Shakamaker 2YO Classic.
In recent years, the deeds of the great Just Believe have seen the trotting races rival the pacing features for limelight.
From a contest perspective, it will be similar in the Group 1 Bill Collins Trotters’ Sprint on Victoria Cup night.
Arcee Phoenix, Keayang Zahara, Parisian Artiste, Im Bobby and Jilliby Ballerini are just some of the stars heading towards it.
Still on trotting and the clash of Tracy The Jet and Gatesys Gem in the Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Oaks will be fascinating. Gatesys Gem was top seed earlier this year, but many feel the tide has turned.
We only have to look back to the world’s richest race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka, earlier this month to see what a terrific batch of three-year-olds we will have clashing in the Group 1 Victoria Derby.
Fox Dan, Hesitate and Go Miki ran second, third and fourth respectively in the TAB Eureka and will all head to the Derby.
You can throw in the likes of triple Group 1 winner Fate Awaits, Cigano and the emerging Carousel winner Our Sweet Delight, too.
There’s plenty of depth in this Group 1 Victoria Oaks as well. Mick Stanley’s Queensland Oaks winner Soho Americano will take on an army of Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stars like Let Her Roll, Looks Perfect, Beach Diamond and Iveseenheavenslight.
The open-class mares around will clash in the Ladyship, while some brilliant freshman will prepare for upcoming majors like the Vicbred and Breeders Crown in the Shakamaker Classic.
Harness fans are in for a treat.
And the thoroughbred fans we might win across from the action that afternoon will see our product at its finest.
I can’t wait.
