Blue Diamond Stakes to be new World Pool event in 2024

World Pool

03/01/2024

Cape Town Met, Blue Diamond Stakes and Saudi Cup meetings confirmed as first three World Pool fixtures

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  Dark Jet won last year’s G1 WSB Cape Town Met from Kenilworth | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Wednesday 3rd January, 2023 – February’s Blue Diamond Stakes from Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne will be a World Pool event for the first time next year, following the success of Australian World Pool fixtures in 2023.

For a third year, Cape Town Met Day (January 27, 2024) from Kenilworth Racecourse will be the first World Pool event of the year, before the commingled global pools debut on Blue Diamond Stakes Day (February 24, 2024), while on the same day they will also be active for a second year from King Abdulaziz Racecourse for the Saudi Cup meeting.

Last year, after making its Australian debut at Flemington’s Lightning Stakes meeting in February, World Pool debuted at a further five Australian race meetings: Turnbull Stakes Day, The Everest Day, Caulfield Cup Day, Cox Plate Day and Victoria Derby Day.

Three Australian races filled out the top five World Pool turnover races of 2023, with the HK$60 million (approx. £6 million) staked on October’s Cox Plate meaning it was the second highest turnover of any race in 2023, and the fifth highest World Pool turnover race ever run.

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products of the HKJC, said: “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.

“We’re hoping to build on that momentum in 2024 and are thrilled that World Pool will be operational on Blue Diamond Stakes Day for the first time. We are excited to be covering such an important two-year-old contest, as well as returning to Kenilworth for Cape Town Met Day and King Abdulaziz for Saudi Cup Day.”

Upcoming World Pool events to be hosted in coming months include: 

January
Saturday 27: Cape Town Met Day – Kenilworth Racecourse (P)

February
Saturday 24: Blue Diamond Stakes Day – Caulfield Racecourse (P)
Saturday 24: Saudi Cup Race Day – King Abdulaziz Racecourse (P)

   *F: Full meeting - World Pool coverage on all races in the relevant meeting
     P: Part meeting - World Pool coverage only on selected races in the relevant meeting