York's historic Ebor Handicap will become the seventh win-and-you're-in race for the £4.4 million Melbourne Cup in November.
The Ebor, which will be run on August 28 for total prize-money of £500,000, is the first race outside Australia to provide automatic entry to the prestigious staying contest, which has been won over the years by European trainers Dermot Weld (twice), Alain de Royer-Dupre, Mikel Delzangles, Andreas Wohler, Joseph O'Brien (twice) (Rekindling 2017 and Twilight Payment 2020) and Charlie Appleby.
William Derby, chief executive and clerk of the course at York, said: “It is fantastic to officially connect two iconic races in the Sky Bet Ebor 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.”
In 2017, the Tony Martin-trained Heartbreak City (Fr) went directly from winning the Ebor to finishing second, beaten a head by Almandin (Ger), in the Melbourne Cup.
He added, “With the York winner having finished in the top 10 at Flemington in three of the four years preceding the pandemic, this great news will give confidence to winning connections that that their start at Flemington is secure, further linking two great races.
“We look forward to welcoming the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup on all four days of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival (23-26 August) on its annual tour across the world. This makes us more hopeful that it can return to Britain after the first Tuesday in November.”
Victoria Racing Club chief executive Steve Rosich said, “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 racecourses.
“The introduction of a seventh golden ticket is exciting for both clubs and the connections of all potential Ebor runners. It further cements the Lexus Melbourne Cup's international reach and appeal.”
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