VRC and France Galop announce new Lexus Melbourne Cup golden ticket race

The road to the Lexus Melbourne Cup will officially begin this weekend with the running of the $300,000 Listed Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m), the first Golden Ticket on TAB Australian Cup Day.

The Sumbe Prix Kergorlay joins the Belmont Gold Cup in the United States and the Ebor Handicap in the United Kingdom as international races to carry ballot exemption into the Lexus Melbourne Cup, solidifying the race’s status as a true global race.

A race steeped in history and prestige, the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay is contested each August during the height of the Deauville Summer Meeting, attracting the best horses from across Europe and beyond.

The race has long been a key form reference for the Lexus Melbourne Cup, producing several Cup champions. In 2010, Americain delivered France its first Lexus Melbourne Cup after winning the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay earlier that year with French jockey Gérald Mossé aboard.

The following year, Dunaden continued that success, having run in the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay before securing back-to-back Melbourne Cup victories for France. The form line continued to be successful when Protectionist completed the double in 2014.

VRC Chief Executive Kylie Rogers said the partnership was a celebration between two of the world’s great racing nations.

“France has a storied history and connection with the Lexus Melbourne Cup, and we are delighted to formalise our partnership with France Galop by introducing the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay as a Golden Ticket race.”

“The Lexus Melbourne Cup attracts the best stayers from across the world, and this new partnership both incentivises and ensures that the strongest international contenders are competing on the first Tuesday in November.”

“We look forward to building on this partnership and the long-shared bond between our two racing nations."

Deputy Chief Executive Officer Henri Pouret said the partnership marks an exciting chapter for both clubs.

“France Galop is delighted to deepen its partnership with the Victoria Racing Club, which now includes the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay as part of the route to the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Run over 3,000 metres at the height of the Deauville Barrière Meeting in August, the Group 2 becomes the first race in continental Europe and the first European Group race to offer a Golden Ticket entry to one of the most iconic races in the world.

This confirms the unique status of the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay, which has a long-standing historical connection with the Melbourne Cup, built over many years by horses that have gone on to compete in the prestigious Flemington event, including Americain, winner of the Kergorlay and the first French-trained horse to win the Melbourne Cup, as well as Dunaden and other champion European stayers such as Protectionist and Red Cadeaux.

It is also a fantastic opportunity to promote the Melbourne Cup to French and European racing professionals, who each season demonstrate their ambition to tackle the sport’s biggest international challenges.”

The Sumbe Prix Kergorlay joins the Ebor Handicap and the Belmont Gold as international ballot exempt races for the Lexus Melbourne Cup and eight Australian golden ticket races, the Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m), the Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m), the Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m), the Caulfield Cup (2400m), the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, the Geelong Cup, the Cox Plate (2040m) and the Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m).

@FlemingtonVRC @FranceGalop

Visit Lexus Melbourne Cup Golden Ticket races for more information.