The Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) has expanded its exempt race policy by earmarking 10 international Group One events in which the winner will be exempt from the 2010 Cox Plate ballot and guaranteed a start.Saturday's Dubai World Cup meeting will host the first eligible race, the Group One Dubai Duty Free (1800m), that will exempt the winner in the Cox Plate."This is a rare opportunity to create history and become the first international runner (excluding New Zealand) to win the prestigious C

The Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) has expanded its exempt race policy by earmarking 10 international Group One events in which the winner will be exempt from the 2010 Cox Plate ballot and guaranteed a start.

Saturday's Dubai World Cup meeting will host the first eligible race, the Group One Dubai Duty Free (1800m), that will exempt the winner in the Cox Plate.

"This is a rare opportunity to create history and become the first international runner (excluding New Zealand) to win the prestigious Cox Plate," MVRC chairman Bob Scarborough said.

"Any colt owner that harbours ambitions to shuttle in future years, the Cox Plate is the race to have at the top of any stallion's resume."

The prizemoney for the Cox Plate, regarded as the premium weight-for-age race in the southern hemisphere, will be retained at $3 million with runners placed down to eighth receiving $100,000.

The MVRC will maintain its 'International Promotion Fund' which aims to attract quality international runners to compete against Australasia's leading weight-for-age horses.

Through the International Promotion Fund, overseas runners will be eligible to receive a $100,000 payment if they do not finish in the first eight placings.

Scarborough believes that this bonus will allow truly international horses that race at the great carnivals around the world to compete in the Cox Plate.

"With the Tatts Cox Plate positioned around the same time as the Breeders' Cup meeting in America, the club believes that the guarantee of $100,000 will greatly assist in attracting some of the best middle distance gallopers in the world to compete at Moonee Valley," he said.

"Other jurisdictions around the world offer financial inducements, incentives, and assistance to racehorse owners that can offset the expenses incurred in transporting horses to participate in these international races.

"For Moonee Valley to attract these star gallopers we believe that the International Promotion Fund is a great initiative to grow the international audience for the Cox Plate."

The only condition that will be placed on the 'International Promotion Fund' will be that international horses will need to be trained by international trainers with training bases outside of Australia and New Zealand.

Connections of all horses competing in the Cox Plate will need to pay the nomination and acceptance fee.

Cox Plate exempt qualifying international Group One races:

* Dubai - Dubai Duty Free (1800m) March 27

* Hong Kong - Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) April 25

* France - Prix de Garnay (2000m) April 25

* Singapore - International Cup (2000m) May 16

* Ireland - Gold Cup (2100m) May 23

* England - Prince of Wales's Stakes (2000m) June 16

* Japan - Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) June 27

* England - Eclipse Stakes (2000m) July 3

* Germany - Grosser Preis Dallmayr (2000m) July 25

* USA - Arlington Millions (2000m) August 7