The winner from this weekend’s Newmarket Handicap at Melbourne’s Flemington racecourse will be offered an exclusive invitation to compete in the prestigious $1 million AAMI Stradbroke in Queensland.
Race fees and travel expenses for the horse will be covered by the Australasian Challenge, a new invitational scheme designed to attract Australasia’s best racing champions to Brisbane’s winter racing carnival.
The new initiative, which is jointly funded by the Brisbane Racing Club and Events Queensland, aims to create a unique State of Origin style racing showdown to attract visitors to Brisbane throughout the Carnival.
Brisbane Racing Club Chairman Kevin Dixon said, "Our vision is to create the ultimate showdown of Australasia’s racing champions here in Brisbane, setting a new benchmark in Australian racing which champions our local industry."
This year’s Brisbane Racing Carnival will take place at Doomben and Eagle Farm racecourses between May 12 and June 9.
