Victoria's premier juvenile race is set to gain an even more extensive international presence next month as the Blue Diamond Stakes is included as a World Pool event for the first time.
In 2023, three Australian races, including the Cox Plate in October secured positions in the top five World Pool turnover races.
The Cox Plate, with approximately $A11.4 million staked, claimed the second-highest turnover of any race in 2023 and ranked as the fifth-highest World Pool turnover race ever conducted.
Michael Fitzsimons, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's executive director of wagering products, emphasised the success of introducing World Pool to Australia in 2023.
“The introduction of World Pool in Australia in 2023 was a major success story, with six new race days being opened up to global punters and exceptional turnover being generated,” said Fitzsimons.
Fitzsimons expressed optimism about building on this momentum in 2024 and expressed enthusiasm that World Pool will be operational on Blue Diamond Stakes Day for the first time.
After its Australian debut at Flemington's Lightning Stakes meeting in February of the previous year, World Pool extended its presence to five more Australian race meetings: Turnbull Stakes Day, The Everest Day, Caulfield Cup Day, Cox Plate Day, and Victoria Derby Day.
The $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), scheduled to take place at Caulfield on February 24, will be the second World Pool race for 2024, following the Cape Town Met Day at Kenilworth Racecourse in South Africa on January 27.
Highlighting the global reach of the World Pool, the Saudi Cup Race Day at King Abdulaziz Racecourse is set to be part of the World Pool for the second consecutive year, coinciding with the Blue Diamond Stakes on the same day.