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First full Australian meeting to close out World Pool for 2023

World Pool

03/11/2023

Victoria Derby Day offers nine stakes races from Flemington for global bettors

  • The Penfolds Victoria Derby, which dates back to 1855, headlines the final World Pool meeting for 2023.
    The Penfolds Victoria Derby, which dates back to 1855, headlines the final World Pool meeting for 2023.

Friday 3 November, 2023 – World Pool, the largest globally commingled horse racing pools created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, will host its final meeting for 2023 tomorrow when punters from all over the globe can bet on Victoria Derby Day from Flemington.

It will be the first time that a full meeting will be offered from Australia, with an all-stakes card coming up from one of the most famous racetracks on the planet on what is the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Among them is the G1 Penfolds Victoria Derby (2500m) for three-year-olds, which was first run in 1855 – six years before the inaugural Melbourne Cup. With an honour roll that includes legends like Phar Lap and Tulloch, it has a storied history and the race shapes as a competitive World Pool event in 2023.

Also among the Group 1 races on offer is the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) for the sprinting three-year-olds, a race that could produce a World Pool star for 2024. This stallion-making contest has featured winners like Home Affairs, Merchant Navy, Brazen Beau and Star Witness, all who travelled to Royal Ascot later in the southern hemisphere season.

Another familiar face is Sussex Stakes and July Cup winner Alcohol Free, looking to add to her top-flight tally against the mares in the G1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).

The support includes the Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m), which offers a final Golden Ticket into next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup, as well as the Group 2 The Damien Oliver (1400m) in honour of the legendary jockey, who retires next month.

Australian World Pool races have been a late season success story, with three of the top five World Pool races of 2023 having been staged Down Under in recent weeks: the G1 Cox Plate (AUD$11.89 million), the G1 Caulfield Cup (AUD$10.98 million) and The Everest (AUD$10.43 million).

There will be five bet types available – Win, Place, Quinella, Quinella Place (Duet) and Tierce (Trifecta) – offering World Pool punters unrivalled choice and value.

One World Pool Moment of the Day winner will be chosen from across the nine races at Flemington this Saturday, with AUD$8,000 on offer for the winning groom. They will also gain entry into the World Pool Moment of the Year competition for the chance to win a trip to Hong Kong next year.

Turnover has averaged more than AUD$6 million so far on each Australian race offered for betting into World Pool.

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products of the HKJC, said: “The addition of the Australian spring to our World Pool coverage has been a success by every measure. While there is no Romantic Warrior at Flemington this weekend, there is still a great card on offer right across the board. I am certain that bettors from around the world will take advantage of their enhanced exposure to Australian racing in recent weeks to try and capitalise at Flemington tomorrow. We are excited for World Pool to grow even further in 2024 and look forward to announcing our first fixtures for the year in the coming weeks.”