Victoria is to have a new $1m race for two-year-olds.
The 1200m contest will be known as 'The Showdown' in honour of the champion sire who stood at stud in Victoria and will be run for the first time at Caulfield in April 2019.
The race will be restricted to the offspring of VOBIS nominated stallions and all horses must be nominated for the Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold schemes.
Racing Victoria executive general manager - racing Greg Carpenter said in a release The Showdown will become a permanent part of the racing calendar.
"Making this announcement today helps to reinforce the message of the VOBIS Sires program, and will aid in educating owners and trainers about the benefit of buying VOBIS Sires progeny now, so that they are eligible to compete in the first ever $1 million Showdown in 2019," Carpenter said.
"The Showdown is the next exciting step in our VOBIS program and a wonderful opportunity for Racing Victoria and Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria to reward owners and support the breeders who have invested their resources, time and energy into Victorian racing.
"The name itself also has significant historical links to Victorian breeding, with Showdown being a champion Australian stallion who stood at Stockwell Stud and who produced very classy two-year-old progeny."
There were 54 VOBIS Sires-nominated stallions during 2015 to make their 2016 foaled offspring eligible for The Showdown with those yearlings selling in 2018.
