The 2022/23 racing season saw the introduction of VOBIS Platinum vouchers offered across all 250+ VOBIS Gold races.
A successful start to the scheme saw over $1.5 million in vouchers won across the season, while VOBIS Sires such as Toronado, Brazen Beau, Written Tycoon, Cable Bay and Frosted had their names in the spotlight with their progeny earning the riches for their connections.
The progeny of Swettenham Stud’s Toronado claimed nine vouchers across the season, triple that of any other stallions in Victoria. This run started in October, where the Archie Alexander-trained Corner Off scored a deserved maiden win at Pakenham.
Stakes-winning filly Papillon Club claimed $30,000 in VOBIS Platinum Vouchers at Flemington on the New Year’s Raceday, while $1 million VOBIS Sires Showdown winner Shesallshenanigans claimed her maiden victory at Bendigo in February, rewarding her owners an extra $30,000 in vouchers to their prosperous campaign.
Swettenham Stud’s Marcus Heritage said that he is proud to see the results Toronado has produced for the season and believes that the best is still to come.
“Toronado has been the flag bearer for the VOBIS scheme. He’s the first sire to win the $1m Showdown twice and he collected 3 times more VOBIS vouchers than any other sire,” Heritage said.
“Pretty amazing considering everything he has achieved to date has been from a $25k or less service fee.”
Brazen Beau, Written Tycoon, Cable Bay and Frosted all finished with three voucher wins each.
Brazen Beau’s all-female-owned Croatian Belle won a whopping $60,000 in vouchers for her connections, winning two metro Saturday races at The Valley, while Victoria’s champion two-year-old Exploring was his third winner as she claimed the New Year Sprint at Flemington.
Ex-Woodside Park Stud shuttler Cable Bay sired two two-year-old VOBIS Platinum Voucher winners as well as four-year-old Tuscan Sun, who is out of star sprinting-mare Tuscan Sling.
Ex-Darley Shuttler Frosted struck Platinum Vouchers with two three-year-old winners and a Cranbourne victory from speedster Riverina Cyclone.
It was a fitting start to the scheme for Victoria’s champion sire Written Tycoon inaugural VOBIS Platinum Voucher winner Elegant Diva on August 12 at Geelong.
Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria President James O’Brien said that it was a phenomenal start to the $7.5 million scheme and this racing season is set to see even more success.
‘It’s exciting to see $1.5m in vouchers won just in the first year since the introduction of VOBIS Sires and I can’t wait to see the program to grow in the upcoming seasons,” O’Brien said.
“It’s a great incentive to encourage people to re-invest into the Victorian industry. With the prize-money of the progeny of four Victorian stallions reaching $10 million in the preceding year, the quality of the horses bred in Victoria is world class.”