2018 Capricorn Yearling Sale set to break records

This year’s catalogue of 112 yearlings from leading studs throughout Queensland is well up on the 2017 CYS draft of 93 yearlings.

The CYS webpage reports that sale convenor Jeff Leaver is pleased that about 100 entries are eligible for rich QTIS bonuses – making it a record for the CYS as far as eligibility for rich bonuses was concerned.

“We (Central Queensland Thoroughbred Breeders Association) are delighted with not only the increase in catalogue numbers but also the quality of the draft. We have attracted yearlings by some outstanding first season sire prospects as well as progeny from the current high achieving young stallions. The fact that the vast majority of yearlings are paid-up for QTIS is another huge lure for buyers. The QTIS bonus prize money is really the icing on the cake.

“This year’s sale has it all – from ‘top of the range’ sires to the ‘bread and butter’ producing stallions that keep providing winners for the folk who buy the yearlings at our sale. Once again you can rest assured it will be value for money,” Leaver said.

The total domination of last month’s March yearling sale at the Gold Coast by freshman sire sensation Spirit Of Boom should make his only yearling at the sale – a filly from Molly’s Fault – the centrepiece of attention. Six Spirit Of Boom fillies sold for $300,000 or more on day two of the March sale, resulting in prices never seen at the March sale before and an unprecedented average of $167,500 for 37 Spirit of Boom yearlings.

Among the listings of the stock of first season sires at the 2018 sale are drafts by Better Than Ready and Whittington. Both stallions are highly credentialed and their stock sold well at the recent Magic Millions March Sale. Prominent southern studs represented include Lyndhurst, Raheen, Oaklands and Grandview while Central Queensland breeders are also well represented led by the bigger vendors in Laurel Glen, Riverside and Stewart Park.

CYS also announced that courtesy of Racing Queensland “double QTIS bonus prize money” had been added to the two feature races that are aligned to the CYS – the $100,000 2YO Classic and $50,000 3YO Classic.

“We are very appreciative of Racing Queensland adding double QTIS bonuses to both versions of these races run at Callaghan Park on April 7. This means that for fillies they will race for $25,500 extra prize money and colts and geldings $17,000. That makes those two races exceptional attractions and a huge incentive for yearling buyers to buy locally in Rockhampton,” Leaver said.

SIX northern racing centres are among the 16 selected across Queensland to participate in the Battle of the Bush series that begins later this month at Cunnamulla on Anzac Day, April 25.

Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe announced the new Battle of the Bush series at Thangool Races in Central Queensland on January 27.

“The Battle of the Bush series will give country participants the chance to share in the excitement of a Group 1 race day. It will bring 16 qualifiers from eight country regions to Doomben for a rich $100,000 final on Tattersall’s Tiara Day on June 23 – the climax of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

Country participants have the chance to share in $260,000 in prize money across the series with 16 qualifiers worth $10,000 each scheduled across the eight Queensland country racing regions, plus the $100,000 final. The qualifiers begin at Cunnamulla on Anzac Day, April 25 and wrap up in Barcaldine on June 9.

The northern centres and dates are:

To be eligible to compete in a qualifier, a horse must have started in a minimum of five non-TAB races in Queensland in the 12 months immediately preceding the acceptance date for that qualifier specifically.

“FAST Fella what more can we say... you gave us one the best rides a racehorse could. From coming to us as a class 1 horse to winning the Birdsville Cup last year you only missed prize money once in your 11 starts with us – four of those were winners.

“Freddy – as he was known around the stable who was much loved by all of us with his quirky character and antics and was only two weeks off coming back to work after a long rehabilitation program – has sadly passed away over-night. We are truly gutted at losing you Freddy but may you rest in peace and fly high.”

That was the moving Facebook tribute to 5YO gelding Fast Fella posted by Roma trainer Craig Smith on Sunday March 25.

By Fastnet Rock from the Magic Albert mare Fabella, Fast Fella was sold at the 2014 Magic Millions yearling sale for $200,000 to Melbourne-based Danny O’Brien Racing. After four unplaced starts in country Victoria, he was on-sold to Queensland where he won first-up at Ipswich – his only win from eight starts for Brisbane trainer Kelso Wood.

However, a further change of stables to Roma-based Craig Smith paid dividends as he had a further four wins and five placings from 11 starts – his biggest payday coming in the iconic Birdsville Cup in September last year when he took home $22,400.

THOROUGHBRED Breeders Queensland Association president Basil Nolan has praised both Magic Millions staff and vendors of the Gold Coast Yearling Sale held on March 19 and 20.

Mr Nolan said it was a tremendous sale with the results exceeding all expectations.

The two days grossed more than $13.7 million on 301 lots – up 61 per cent on last year’s record sale gross of $8,587,000 – the average price was up 59pc from $28,815 to $45,795 and the clearance rate rose from 81pc to 84pc.

“There is no doubt that Eureka Stud’s freshman sire Spirit of Boom has created virtual hysteria in the Queensland Breeding industry – everyone wants a piece of him. He is the best thing that has happened to this state in decades, and it’s thrilling to see that his brilliant results are being enjoyed right across the board – from the large commercial studs right down to the small boutique breeders,” Mr Nolan said

Mr Nolan thanked Magic Millions for their hard work in promoting the sale, attracting buyers from around Australia and internationally. “We had the likes of Peter Moody, Gai Waterhouse, James Harron, John Singleton and Jamie Walter, all the big name Queensland trainers and plenty of enthusiasm from the Asian market. I hope this sensation that is Spirit of Boom continues well into the future and we are all able to reap the rewards,” he said.