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$30,000 VOBIS vouchers to accompany victory in eligible races from next season
Breeders were not left out of Racing Victoria's industry enhancements that were announced on Tuesday with a new initiative designed to encourage use of Victorian stallions and Victorian progeny to be introduced from August 1.
Next season will see $7.5 million injected into the VOBIS Sires Program with owners of horses who win a race that is part of the VOBIS Gold Series to also receive a $30,000 breeding 'voucher'.
The voucher can be utilised by the winning owners to purchase the progeny of a VOBIS sire at a recognised sale or can be applied to a service fee for a VOBIS sire during the eligible breeding seasons.
The voucher will be paid in addition to the $20,000 VOBIS Gold bonuses paid out in the 250 eligible races.
"Our VOBIS program will now offer over $30 million annually in bonuses, prizemoney and breeding vouchers which is both a great reward and incentive for owners and breeders," RV's executive general manager of racing, Greg Carpenter, said.
"We hope that the introduction of these vouchers will not only encourage owners to reinvest in the Victorian breeding industry, but also increase demand for Victorian-sired progeny in the sales ring and the attractiveness of racing horses in Victoria."
The allocation of the voucher will be based on the percentage owned by the owner and in the event a syndicate is part of the ownership group, the voucher will be allocated to the syndicate.
Owners will have two years to utilise the voucher whether in full or part from the time the horse wins a VOBIS Gold race.
The vouchers will come into effect from the start of the 2022-23 racing season, however, any horse who is the progeny of a VOBIS sire born from 2016 will be eligible to compete for the vouchers.
"Thanks to today's announcement, the progeny of VOBIS Sires will be extra sought after at sales with buyers looking to invest their vouchers into VOBIS Sires horses," Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria president James O'Brien said.
"The 2022 yearling sales are only a few months away and present prospective owners with the perfect opportunity to purchase VOBIS Sired horses to race for bonuses from August 2022 onwards.
"I would like to thank all the stallion farms who have supported the VOBIS Sires program since its inception and the continued commitment they have provided to Victoria.
"I'd like to thank Racing Victoria who have shown a strong commitment to supporting thoroughbreds at the grass roots, and decisions like this demonstrate that they are invested in the Victorian breeding industry."
