Place Your Bets: Kiwi Horses, Fashion And FUN   27 Oct 2015

27 OCTOBER 2015

Place Your Bets: Kiwi Horses, Fashion And FUN

The countdown is on as the finest horses, glamour and fashion descend on the Southern Hemisphere for the most prestigious event on the sporting calendar.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival is one of the most renowned horseracing events in the world, and this year more than 325,000 racegoers will flock to Flemington from 31 October until 7 November.

Now in its 155th year, the Carnival is set to be one of New Zealand’s biggest yet, with around 100,000 New Zealanders crossing the Tasman for the signature race, Emirates Melbourne Cup on Tuesday the 3rd of November. They will join a strong Kiwi contingent of horse trainers, jockeys and thoroughbred horses for the race that stops a nation.
All eyes will fix on Flemington Racecourse just before 5pm (NZT) on the 3rd of November when favourite for the win Mongolian Khan, trained byNew Zealander Murray Baker and raced by Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson, will compete at the annual equine event, fresh from their Caulfield Cup win.

Also lined up to race are at least five other Kiwi-bred horses, with two trained by New Zealanders Chris Waller and John Sargent. Commentators have also predicted Kiwi jockeys James McDonald, Jim Cassidy and Michael Walker will ride in the 3,200m race, in their attempt to take one of the greatest crowns in international racing.

At stake is the distinctive, handmade, gold three-handled Cup, valued at $187,000 and $6.6m in prize money.

Joanna Garrie, Tourism Victoria Regional Manager New Zealand, says, “This Melbourne Cup is set to be a major one for New Zealanders and could be their most celebrated yet, with much riding on Kiwi horses for a win.

“While Melburnians enjoy a public holiday to mark the occasion, Kiwis celebrate in their own way at local racecourses, restaurants and bars, workplaces and living rooms.”

Over one million bets are expected to be placed by Kiwis at the TAB, which will go into overdrive during the Carnival.

New Zealand Racing Board CEO John Allen says the Emirates Melbourne Cup day is the single biggest racing day for the Board, who operate the TAB. “In 2014, TAB turnover on the Emirates Melbourne Cup race alone was $10.3m,” says Allen.

ENDS

Add a comment