Prinz Hlodowig and San Remo take to Moonee Valley this evening in heat one of The Valley Summer Series beginning on Australia Stakes night.
A fantastic new incentive from the Moonee Valley Racing Club includes a total prize money pool of over $700,000 spread throughout the several Friday night summer meetings.
The Valley Summer Sprint Series and The Valley Summer Stayers Series will comprise of a total of eleven heats across the January and February night racing program, with each series bringing together horses that will compete for a $100,000 Final on Friday March 2.
Horses who compete in these heats, which range from Benchmark 64 to Benchmark 78 races, will gain points to earn their place in the final, with heat winners ballot exempt.
“We are proud to build on the popular Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge series across our night racing program and we’re sure this series will prove a winner with punters as well as trainers and owners,” says Moonee Valley Racing Club CEO Michael Browell.
“Friday night racing at The Valley has been a platform for many progressive horses, as most recently seen with Nature Strip, and we believe a lucrative series will encourage owners to race their promising horses at The Valley on a Friday night,” Browell explained.
The Valley Summer Sprint Series will conduct six heats over distances of 1000 metres and 1200 metres, while The Valley Summer Stayers Series will see five heats over the W.S. Cox Plate distance of 2040 metres and 2500 metres.
“The two new race series will build on the excitement the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge has brought to night racing at The Valley. It’s fantastic we are launching both series on the 20th anniversary of night racing since its inception at The Valley in 1998,” said Greg Carpenter, Racing Victoria’s Executive General Manager – Racing.
“Both the Summer Sprint Series and the Summer Stayers Series will provide a showcase for exciting and emerging talent from both Victorian and Interstate stables. I’m really looking forward to the heats commencing this Friday and following the action through to the finals to be held on Friday, March 2,” said Carpenter.
Prinz Hlodowig comes into the race in fine form having won his last start over 2400m and San Remo heads into the race off a win and a second place from his previous two starts. We look forward to seeing them battle it out in what looks to be an exciting race series for stayers.
Best of luck to their connections and happy racing!