In the lead-up to Pakenham’s biggest day of the year, Pakenham Cup Day, Racing Victoria has announced the launch of a series that will be the richest of its kind that will be carried out at the venue.

The Sportsbet Future Stars is a $1.2 million maiden series that will be a feature of Thursday night racing throughout the first quarter of 2023.

There will be a $75,000 heat for maidens each Thursday night from January 12 with a $300,000 final to be run on March 2.

“We are delighted to unveil Sportsbet Future Stars which is a lucrative launchpad for emerging horses and an exciting addition to Victoria’s racing program,” Racing Victoria’s executive general manager – racing Matt Welsh said.

“With a combined $1.2 million in prizemoney, Sportsbet Future Stars will be Australia’s richest maiden series and a great target for the owners and trainers of maiden horses.

“We’re particularly excited to make Sportsbet Future Stars a real focal point of Thursday night racing at Sportsbet-Pakenham with punters able to follow the form lines throughout the series.

“I want to thank Sportsbet and Pakenham Racing Club for sharing our vision and together we look forward to unveiling some future stars on Thursday nights from January.”

The series will be open to three, four and five-year-olds only with heats conducted over 1200m and 1400m with the winner of each heat automatically qualifying for the final.

One heat will be open only to maidens prepared by Victorian trainers who registered fewer than 15 wins Victorian city winners last season, two heats will exclude first-starters and the final heat will be a 1400m repechage event open only to horses who contested earlier heats.

If qualified horses do not accept for the $300,000 final, which will be a 1400m Class 3 set-weights event, vacant spots will be offered to the highest-rated second placegetters from the heats.