It was announced in the Herald Sun that $100 million in prizemoney and bonuses, an $18 million increase, would be up for grabs over a 12-week period, starting with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes meeting at Caulfield on August 31.

Hall Of Fame trainer David Hayes said he was over the moon with the prizemoney increases but queried the introduction of the “Star of the Saddle” series, which will divide $400,000 among the best jockeys at five key meetings. The aim is to keep star hoops in Melbourne when meetings clash with feature race days in Sydney.

“It should be a shared bonus,” Hayes said. “In racing, it’s a team effort from jockeys and trainers and one part of that partnership has been ignored.

“Ninety per cent of the time jockeys go where trainers tell them so it’s not going to make much of a difference as to where the jockeys will go.

“I employ hundreds of people and I have to carry bad debts yet I’m not eligible to get any spring bonus while the jockeys only employ one person.”

Australian Trainers’ Association chief executive Andrew Nicholl was disappointed trainers were not included in the bonuses.

“Given the critical role trainers play in the scheme of things, we urge Racing Victoria to revisit this aspect of the package, and look to address this imbalance,” Nicholl said.

Hayes said, at this stage, a $1 million bonus for horses to run in or win lead-up races and then win the Cox Plate would not change the way he trained his horses.

Hayes has several talented rising four-year-olds, such as Amphitrite, Qafila and Fundamentalist, that could run in Sydney’s new race for that age group, the Golden Eagle.

“I’ll be dictated by how they’re going as to what I do, but if they won a race like the Toorak Handicap and are then eligible to get an extra $1 million bonus for the Cox Plate, then that will be factored in to what we would do,” he said.

Waller’s racing manager, Charlie Duckworth, said the introduction of the $1 million Cox Plate bonus could see them campaign four-year-old mare Verry Eleegant earlier in Melbourne than planned.

“Chris likes to keep his horses in Sydney early in the spring but a horse like Verry Eleegant, who is being set for the Cox Plate, could come down earlier to Melbourne because of the bonus,” Duckworth said.

Nicholl said the ATA welcomed the increases in spring carnival prize money.

“This will provide important financial support for Victorian racing’s showcase product,” he said. “Equally, it is across the board, and pleasingly extends to our feature country racing program throughout this period.”.

Victorian Jockeys’ Association chief Matt Hyland said any increase to prizemoney was a bonus. Leading jockey Ben Melham said while he was pleased with the incentives it wouldn’t be the deciding factor whether he was going to ride in Melbourne or Sydney.

“I follow the horses I ride. I go where they go,” he said.

WHAT THEY SAID …

FLEMINGTON

Victoria Racing Club CEO Neil Wilson

“The sizeable prizemoney increases for the Coolmore Stud Stakes, Empire Rose Stakes, Kennedy Cantala and VRC Sprint Classic in particular will help ensure Cup Week continues to attract the world’s best horses, trainers and jockeys, and ensure our customers can experience the very best in racing and entertainment on and off course.”

CAULFIELD

Melbourne Racing Club CEO Josh Blanksby

“The support for our key prelude races and the doubling of prizemoney for the Schweppes Thousand Guineas will further bolster Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Day, one of the finest race days on the Australian racing calendar. It is also particularly gratifying to see such a comprehensive investment in the Group 2, 3 and Listed races across Spring, which will incentivise great local talent to these races at Caulfield, Mornington and Ladbrokes Park.”

THE VALLEY

Moonee Valley Racing Club CEO Michael Browell

“The MVRC aims to have the best horses, trainers and jockeys, both locally and internationally, participating in the 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Carnival and Thursday’s announcement ensures we are well placed to attract the best of the best. The Moir Stakes prizemoney uplift also announced ensures the MVRC now has the two richest Group 1 races under lights in Australia, joining the Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes in offering $1 million in prizemoney. This strengthens our Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights product and showcases a strong commitment by the industry to night racing at The Valley.”