So the VRC reckons Flemington will be the world’s premier racecourse once its all bells and whistles new Members Stand officially opens for business on Derby Day.
It’s an ambitious target, especially given the fact that Paris Longchamp (as its now known) has just opened its own new facility and will this year host its first running of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the venue since its refurbishment.
And Royal Ascot has some sumptuous (and relatively new) surroundings thanks to a major new grandstand opened at the Berkshire course a few years ago.
But one can’t fault the VRC’s chutzpah and its desire to put itself at the top of the tree: you might as well aim for the moon, and if you come up short, well, you will still get a long way!
The new grandstand will get a trial run on Saturday on Makybe Diva Stakes day when Members will be able to decide what they think of the new $130 million structure, which in many ways resembles a luxury cruise liner.
The aesthetic is first class lounge, and partnerships with high class brand names will ensure that passengers (sorry, racegoers) will certainly feel the luxury.
Chairman Amanda Elliot wants the new grandstand to be the launching point for Flemington to lead the industry in a push for new racegoers: it’s no secret that the younger generation, aside from Cup week, no longer have racing at the forefront of their sporting interest and if the sport is to continue on any kind of a growth trajectory it needs to get them interested, and sooner rather than later.
Night racing is one way. The Valley has been doing it for decades now with relative success, and at least it offers some of the best races on the calendar (three Group Ones) amongst its nocturnal mix.
Elliot floated a time in the not too distant future – will, if the VRC can persuade its current group of trainers to relocate – when Flemington might have lights and stage 40 meetings a year. Then, she reasons, the new stand would come into its own, offering luxury, prestige, food and drink in a high quality ambience.
Good on them for thinking outside the square, but getting racing back top of mind for a new generation will be a long drawn out campaign rather than a quick fix.
What really matters is what is happening on track, and Saturday’s Flemington card, with the Makybe Diva Stakes as its centrepiece, should provide plenty more clues along the way.
Darren Weir’s Humidor took the Group One last year and is strongly fancied to repeat, but he will have to confirm his superiority over Godolphin’s Kementari, who was unlucky to go down by a narrow margin to Weir’s galloper at Caulfield in the $1 million Memsie Stakes.
All eyes will be on Kings Will Dream, Humidor’s stablemate, who showed he was up to this class with a slashing third in the Memsie.
Some fascinating three year olds will also be on display in the 1400m Antler Luggage Plate with current Caulfield Guineas favourite Brutal heading the market. He will need to win this well to maintain his current short price and convince connections to continue on the Guineas route rather than drop him back in distance for a tilt at the Coolmore.