The Melbourne Racing Club plans to extend an invitation to the victor of June’s Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm to compete in the prestigious Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
In 2023, Without A Fight emerged triumphant in the $1.2 million Q22, subsequently clinching victory in both Caulfield’s marquee event and the illustrious Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington a few weeks later.
Marking a historic milestone, the Q22 becomes the first interstate race to grant a ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup, joining a distinguished list of races including the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m), Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m), Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m), Listed Mornington Cup (2400m), Group 3 Coongy Handicap (2000m), and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m), alongside various international contests.
Jake Norton, the MRC’s executive director of racing and operations, expressed satisfaction with the decision, noting its gestation since the pre-pandemic era.
“After Without A Fight winning the Q22 last year and going on to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, it was pretty obvious paper to dust off,” Norton told Racing.com.
“If you look at the recent winners, they are all very high quality and on the back of Without A Fight, we’d love to see similar replicated.
“The Q22 is well positioned given the time of year in an otherwise quiet time of year in Victoria. It’s always nice to be able to remind people of the Caulfield Cup.”
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