The Melbourne Cup is not the only Flemington staying feature owners can target on the first Tuesday in November with the Australian Heritage Cup to be added to this year’s Melbourne Cup program.

The 2800-metre event is restricted to Australian and New Zealand-trained gallopers and will be the culmination of a series that will see qualifying races held from Kalgoorlie to Queensland.

The Australian Heritage Cup replaces the benchmark 96 race that was held on the same day and will carry $250,000 in prizemoney, $100,000 more than the previous event.

The BM96 had been strategically used in recent years, with winners including Grand Marshal, Shraaoh, Shared Ambition, White Marlin and The Map and Victoria Racing Club executive general manager racing Leigh Jordon expects it to become an even more sought-after race.

“To have a runner on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day is a huge honour and the Australian Heritage Cup will give Australian and New Zealand-based trainers the opportunity to be at Flemington on the biggest day of the year,” Jordon said.

“The race has always been a platform for young, progressive stayers to test their credentials at Flemington with previous winners including The Map and White Marlin and we expect another strong field this year.”

The Listed Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m), which will be run on October 5, is the first qualifying race.

Subsequent qualifiers will be held at Caulfield and Warwick Farm on October 16, Launceston on October 18, Eagle Farm the following day and Morphettville on October 26.