The Sumbe Prix Kergorlay becomes a Golden Ticket race for the Lexus Melbourne Cup

The Victoria Racing Club and France Galop unveil a new “Golden Ticket” qualifying race for the Lexus Melbourne Cup

France Galop is proud to announce that the Board of the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has selected the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay as one of the races designated as Golden Ticket qualifiers for the prestigious Melbourne Cup (3200 m). The Lexus Melbourne Cup, widely known in Australia as “the race that stops the nation,” is a Group 1 event with prizemoney of $10 million.

As part of the partnership between France Galop and the VRC, the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay (3000 m, Group 2) will now grant its winner automatic entry into the Lexus Melbourne Cup. The winner will also receive a ballot exemption for Australia’s most iconic race.

The Prix Kergorlay hence joins the ranks of the Belmont Gold Cup in the United States and the Ebor Handicap in the United Kingdom as one of the international races offering a ballot exemption into the Lexus Melbourne Cup, further cementing its status as a truly global event.

Every year, the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay (3000 m, Group 2) is one of the highlights of the Deauville Barriere Summer Meeting. Positioned perfectly in the racing calendar, it attracts the best horses from Europe and occasionally from further afield. Last year, its prizemoney was increased to €164,600. The Sumbe stud, owned by businessman Nurlan Bizakov, is a partner in this event, and is located just a few kilometers from Deauville.  

Historically, thanks to its ideal position in the racing calendar (mid to late August) the Prix Kergorlay has proven to be a key trial for the Melbourne Cup.

Henri Pouret, Deputy Managing Director of France Galop, says: “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.”

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 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."

By becoming part of the road to the Lexus Melbourne Cup, the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay joins the Ebor Handicap and the Belmont Gold Cup among the international races offering a ballot exemption for the Lexus Melbourne Cup, alongside eight Australian Golden Ticket races: the Lexus Roy Higgins (2600 m), the Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800 m), the Lexus Bart Cummings (2500 m), the Caulfield Cup (2400 m), the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, the Geelong Cup, le Cox Plate (2040 m) and the Lexus Archer Stakes (2500 m).