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| Sumita Pawar |
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The Ebor Handicap at York, the UK's richest flat handicap, has been nominated by the Victoria Racing Club as the seventh and sole international golden ticket race for the A$8m Melbourne Cup.
By partnering with York Racecourse, Royal Ascot winner Vauban, who is currently the Melbourne Cup favourite would secure a guaranteed spot in the race on the first Tuesday in November by achieving an Ebor victory.
Starting in 2023, any horse that finishes in a top position in a golden ticket race or any Group One race covering a distance of 2000m or more will automatically qualify for the Melbourne Cup, the race that captivates the entire nation.
York Racecourse: A Pathway To Melbourne Cup Glory
The Ebor has a track record of producing Melbourne Cup contenders, with the most remarkable being Heartbreak City, the 2016 winner, who finished second to Almandin in that year's Melbourne Cup.
According to Steve Rosich, the CEO of VRC, the partnership with York Racecourse was a logical step forward.
"The Ebor Handicap has been a proven pathway into the Melbourne Cup over the years and it is fantastic to be able to build on the association with Flemington and York Racecourse," Rosich said.
"The introduction of a seventh golden ticket is exciting for both clubs and connections of all potential Ebor runners. It further cements the Lexus Melbourne Cup's international reach and appeal."
York submitted an application to host the Melbourne Cup Tour in anticipation of the golden ticket allocation.
The visit of the Cup will now hold particularly significant meaning, according to William Derby, the chief executive of York Racecourse.
"It is fantastic to officially connect two iconic races in the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap and the Lexus Melbourne Cup with the introduction of a golden ticket for the Ebor winner into the race that stops a nation and indeed much of the world," Derby said.
"With the York winner having finished in the top ten at Flemington in three of the four years preceding the pandemic, this great news will give confidence to winning connections that their start at Flemington is secure, further linking two great races."
The valuable Melbourne Cup trophy, worth $600,000, will be present at York during the Ebor Festival in August.
The Ebor Handicap is one of the win-and-you're-in races, along with The Roy Higgins, The Andrew Ramsden, The Bart Cummings, the Caulfield Cup, the Cox Plate, and the Archer Stakes.