The Showdown a great initiative: Dwyer

The inaugural $1 million stallion-related race for two-year-olds, The Showdown, will be run at Caulfield in 2019.

Named for the former Australian champion Victorian-based sire of the 1970s, the race in April is restricted to juveniles sired by one of the 54 VOBIS nominated stallions while also being Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold nominated.

Trainer Henry Dwyer is one who embraces VOBIS, the Victorian Owners and Breeders Incentive Scheme.

Dwyer has been the beneficiary of targeting restricted races with a number of his horses winning good prize money from small outlays.

“Anything that can increase the return on investment for owners is terrific,” Dwyer said.

“We know it’s an expensive game and Victoria has been left behind by New South Wales.

“With this sort of support from the breeders and the state government I think it all adds up to the breeding industry here kicking on and improving.

“This is the fifth year of going to the sales and buying yearlings and more and more I do target those VOBIS Gold yearlings.

“You can buy a cheapish sort of horse and they can be a multiple hundred thousand dollar stakes winner.”

With the yearling sales about to start, Dwyer will be looking at all sorts of horses that carry VOBIS Gold.

“It’s not just about The Showdown,” he said.

“It’s the fact there’s a race 12 months later for three-year-olds worth $500,000 run over a mile that’s appealing while other initiatives behind it doesn’t mean you’re out of it on that day.

“The VOBIS Gold is tailored to go over the whole season and that’s where the value is.”

The Dwyer-trained If Not Now When has won almost $300,000 prize money with Je Suis Tycoon almost $125,000.

Je Suis Tycoon runs at Pakenham on Saturday having been freshened after running in a stakes race at Caulfield in October.

Dwyer has picked out the $120,000 VOBIS Gold Carat at Moonee Valley on December 23 as a target race for Je Suis Tycoon.

“She’s not a Group class filly but she’ll be running for great prize money,” he said.

Related Posts

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments