Patinack Farm today announced an exciting new partnership with The Australian Jockey Club, launching a new $1million bonus race series for three-year-old fillies in the Autumn.

This series will culminate in the Patinack Farm AJC Australian Oaks on Emirates Doncaster Day during Sydney’s Autumn Carnival.

This is especially significant in 2011 as we celebrate the 100th running of the AJC Australian Oaks.

AJC Chief Executive Darren Pearce said that under the new arrangement, Patinack Farm would also take up a minimum of 20 training stalls at Royal Randwick.

“The AJC is delighted to have Patinack Farm commit to the future of Royal Randwick and Sydney racing in this way,” Mr Pearce said.

“This is a significant investment in prize money by Patinack Farm and a vote of faith in Royal Randwick’s training facilities.

“This type of bonus series is guaranteed to attract Australia’s best quality fillies to compete during the entire Sydney Autumn Carnival.”

Under the deal announced today, Patinack Farm will sponsor a series of black type races for three year old fillies in the lead up to the Patinack Farm AJC Australian Oaks.

The races are the Patinack Farm Light Fingers Stakes (1200m), the Patinack Farm Surround Stakes (1400m) and the Patinack Farm Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m).

Prize money for each of the races will be increased by $25,000 (Light Fingers Stakes and Surround Stakes to $200,000 and the Adrian Knox Stakes to $150,000).

In addition, a bonus structure will see $1million paid to the owners of any horse who can win three out of the four races.

Peter Beer, Chief Executive Officer of Patinack Farm, said: “We are very excited to be entering into what we hope will be a long relationship with the AJC, through both our sponsoring of the Patinack Farm 3YO Fillies Series and re-location of our training facility to Randwick.

“The Fillies Series is just the type of shot in the arm that Racing in NSW needs and will hopefully result in an owner pulling off the Patinack Farm bonus of $1million”, he added.

Mr Pearce said that the three-year sponsorship deal was a vote of confidence in the future of Royal Randwick.
“Royal Randwick is about to undergo a huge rejuvenation, with $150 milllion to be spent on new racing facilities here under the proposed merger of the AJC with the Sydney Turf Club,” he said.

“In addition, there are plans to build state of the art stabling at Royal Randwick for up to 600 horses.

“This investment by Patinack Farm is a strong declaration, by a leading operator in the Australian thoroughbred racing scene, that Sydney racing is set for an exciting future,” Mr Pearce said.

Contact: Rod Allen 0419 692 856