Australia's G1 Blue Diamond S. in February will be part of the Hong Kong Jockey Club's World Pool for the first time in 2024, the HKJC announced on Wednesday.
Held at Caulfield, the Blue Diamond on Feb. 24 will become the sixth World Pool event in Australia, after the Turnbull S. Day, The Everest Day, Caulfield Cup Day, Cox Plate Day and Victoria Derby Day. A trio of Australian races filled out the top five World Pool turnover races of 2023, with the HK$60 million (approx. £6 million) staked on October's Cox Plate meaning it was the second highest turnover of any race last year, and the fifth highest World Pool turnover race ever run.
The first World Pool event of 2024 will be held at Kenilworth Racecourse–the Cape Town Met Day on Jan. 27. Next on the calendar will be the Blue Diamond S., which is run on the same day as the Saudi Cup meeting at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. All three World Pool fixtures will be for selected races at the meetings.
Michael Fitzsimons, executive director, Wagering Products of the HKJC, said, “The introduction of World Pool in Australia in 2023 was a major success story with six new race days being opened up to global punters and exceptional turnover being generated.
“We're hoping to build on that momentum in 2024 and are thrilled that World Pool will be operational on Blue Diamond S. Day for the first time. We are excited to be covering such an important 2-year-old contest, as well as returning to Kenilworth for Cape Town Met Day and King Abdulaziz for Saudi Cup Day.”
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