Horse Racing Abroad - Tours - Australia

We are pleased to offer an itinerary to the AAMI Victoria Derby & Emirates Melbourne Cup to include three days in Sydney incorporating a visit to Coolmore’s Australian Stud. You will also have the opportunity to stopover in Hong Kong on your return to the UK and enjoy an afternoon’s racing at Sha Tin.

The popularity of Australia’s premier race is now internationally accepted with British and Irish entries commonplace and, as introduced a few years ago, winners of the Doncaster Cup and Irish St. Leger will be guaranteed a run in the Emirates Melbourne Cup. You will enjoy the finest facilities and reserved seats at Flemington racecourse, home of the Victoria Racing Club, for the race that brings Australia to a standstill on the first Tuesday of every November. To say nothing of another enthralling day of high quality racing on the preceding Saturday for the running of the Victoria Derby.

As a result of our many years’ association with the Victoria Racing Club we are proud to be the only tour operator who is allocated seats in the Members Grandstand. You will enjoy the finest reserved seating in the Members Grandstand, which opened for the first time in 2000. Overlooking the finishing straight and the winning post, this multi-storied stand contains bars, eating establishments, countless Tote windows, video screens and Bookmaking boards, all of which are situated behind the vast reserved seating areas which command unrivalled views of the Flemington Racecourse!

Victoria Derby Day: known as one of the world’s great race-days with highclass fashion and fabulous horseracing. The Victoria Derby is the preeminent day on the Australian racing calendar as all nine events are Group Races, to include five Group 1! The feature race itself – the AAMI Victoria Derby – has long been acknowledged as the premier race for three-year olds; most of which have never raced over the distance of 2,500 metres, with prize money of $1,500,000. In 2007 Kibbutz gave jockey Craig Williams his first Victoria Derby win. The New Zealand bred colt was too strong for the second placed Littorio, with Marching finishing in third.

The Race ‘That Stops the Nation’ - The Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington Park creates a party atmosphere unparalleled by any other sporting event. The Emirates Melbourne Cup is much more than a gruelling 3,200m (2 miles) handicap race, it is a celebration of the Sport of Kings. In 2007 Purple Moon trained by Luca Cumani sought to be the first British horse to win the Melbourne Cup. Having lead into the final furlong, he looked to be the winner, but lost the race to Efficient in the final strides. The Australian trained winner, was the first horse since Phar Lap to win the Victoria Derby and to follow up a year later with a victory in the Melbourne Cup.

Australia’s oldest city is without doubt the place to be! Sydney offers an endless array of sightseeing opportunities including the world famous Opera House and Harbour Bridge together with fantastic beaches, galleries, boutiques and outdoor cafés. While we are in Sydney we are proud to be able to offer you a private visit to Coolmore’s Stud Farm in the Hunter Valley, where they have the following stallions on their roster: Antonius Pius, Aussie Rules, Choisir, Dehere, Encosta de Lago, Rock of Gibraltar, Royal Academy, Fastnet Rock, Fusaichi Pegasus, Oratorio, Spinning World, Stravinsky and Holy Roman Emperor. Optional excursions in Sydney will include a Harbour cruise, an evening at the Opera, or an opportunity to venture inland to vast reaches of the stunning Blue Mountains and the wineries of the world renowned Hunter Valley.

MELBOURNE

Melbourne is a stylish city that has, over the years, become a true melting pot of different cultures. Well known for the good things in life, it has a cosmopolitan feel offering chic designer shops, stately architecture, bustling markets and quaint rattling trams. You will certainly be spoilt for choice when planning your days in Melbourne, as there is no shortage of exciting activities and breathtaking views!

• Return scheduled flights with Cathay Pacific, Boeing 747 or Airbus 330/340 • Qantas flights between Sydney & Melbourne • 4 nights at the Shangri-La Sydney Hotel in superb Deluxe Harbour View rooms on room only basis. • 5 nights at the Hotel Sofitel Melbourne on room only basis. • 4 nights at the Peninsula Hotel on room only basis*. • Reserved seating in the Members Grandstand at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, on both Victoria Derby Day and Melbourne Cup Day. • Entrance to Sha Tin racecourse, Hong Kong* • Assistance of our Representative throughout. • Transfers by air-conditioned coaches throughout. • All Airport Passenger Duty & Taxes. • Baggage handling throughout.

* Applies to those spending 4 nights in Hong Kong.