RACING Queensland has announced a significant prize money increase for the TAB Battle of the Bush series where horses vie for listed level stakes of $125,000 in the final on Group 1 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara Day at Eagle Farm on June 22 2019.
In another exciting addition, should a QTIS-registered horse win this race, a QTIS bonus of $30,000 will be paid to the winning connections in addition to the standard winners’ prize money. This will see QTIS-eligible horse receive the chance to take home $102,500.
The 2019 TAB Battle of the Bush series begins at Gladstone on April 20 and will again feature 16 qualifiers (two per country region), across the state over two months. Qualifiers will then have the chance to compete in a thrilling finale at the home of Queensland racing on Group 1 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara Day, rubbing shoulders with some of Australian racing’s biggest names during the TAB Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.
RQ CEO Brendan Parnell said Racing Queensland was committed to providing more opportunities for country racing participants to experience the thrill of racing for high stakes alongside some of Australian racing’s biggest names.
“The inaugural TAB Battle of the Bush Series was a game-changer – not just for participants and owners – but for racing fans across Queensland who followed their favourite country trainer or horse throughout the series to the final,” Mr Parnell said.
Conditions for the final have been slightly modified – with the support of the Country Racing Advisory Panel – to ensure previous champions have the opportunity to defend their title, on the condition they meet all other eligibility criteria.The series will, however, remain restricted to horses that have not won a metropolitan race (other than the Battle of the Bush Final) in the two years prior to the acceptance date for the 2019 final (13/6/2017 to 12/6/2019). Float subsidies of up to $2000 will again be offered by Racing Queensland for connections that accept to participate in the final. A full copy of the series conditions can be found at the Racing Queensland website www.racingqueensland.com.au.
Series venues are: Gladstone: Open Plate (SW) 1194m, April 20, Cunnamulla: Open Plate (SW) 1200m, April 25, Bundaberg: Open Hcp 1212m, May 4, Gordonvale: Open Plate (SW) 1100m, May 11, Longreach: Open Plate (SW) 1100m, May 11, Mount Isa: Open Hcp 1100m, May 11, Warwick: Open Hcp 1100m, May 11, Home Hill: Open Hcp 1180m, May 18, Charleville: Newmarket Open Hcp 1200m, May 18, Thangool: Open Hcp 1200m, May 25, Nanango: Open Plate (SW) 1200m, May 25, Mareeba: Open Hcp 1210m, June 1, Bowen: Open Plate (SW) 1100m, June 1, Cloncurry: Open Plate (SW) 1000m, June 1, Goondiwindi: Open Plate (SW) 1200m, June 1, Barcaldine: Open Hcp 1200m, June 8, Eagle Farm (Final): Rest 0MWL2Y Quality Hcp 1200m, June 22.
QTIS yearlings ready to deliver on Gold Coast
THE auction giving buyers more incentives than any other – the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale – is now online. The sale source of star sprinters Buffering, Spirit of Boom, I'm a Rippa and Winning Rupert and recent $2 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner Boomsara, this year will see 392 select lots go under the hammer over two days, March 18 and 19.
The sale comes at an exciting time for the Queensland breeding industry with a combined 79 yearlings catalogued by young sire stars Better Than Ready and Spirit Of Boom.
Buyers at the 2019 Gold Coast March Yearling Sale will have the added incentive of a 33 per cent discount on the Magic Millions Race Series nomination fee to make their purchase eligible for the $11million plus suite of graduate races held over six states of Australia.
All lots offered have been subject to the first payment for QTIS and buyers will have the opportunity to scoop $67,200 (colts and geldings) and $79,740 (fillies) every Saturday for a Queensland metropolitan two and three-year-old win for fully paid QTIS youngsters. A record 91 lots are BOBS eligible in a further boost for buyers.
The news is even better for buyers with QTIS Thoroughbreds eligible set to race for $1.6 million on Gold Coast March Sales raceday on March 14, 2020. The races on the card will include the $500,000 The Jewel for 2YOs - won by Boomsara in its inaugural running in 2018.
The online catalogue can be accessed at www.magicmillions.com.au while it can also be downloaded via the Equineline Catalog App for iPad. Two additional lots (Lots 391 and 392) have been added to the original catalogue joining the Raheen Stud draft. Refer to the leaflet distributed with the catalogue for the offering times of the two fillies.
Thoroughbred Explorer Cadetship Program begins
EIGHT young horse-enthusiasts from Queensland are among 30 students who have assembled at the Australian Racing and Equine Academy in Richmond NSW to begin the inaugural Thoroughbred Industry Careers ‘Explorer Cadetship’ Program.
The Explorer Cadetship Program is designed to provide an educational pathway which will prepare young people for the many career options offered by Australian thoroughbred breeding and racing.
The training program is part of a wider push by the not-for-profit organisation Thoroughbred Industry Careers, established in October 2018 to guide and mentor young Australians into careers within the world-leading Australian Thoroughbred industry and introduce new educational opportunities for young people.
The students come from regions spanning Gin Gin and Zilzie in Central Queensland to Northampton in Western Australia. The Queensland students are: Olivia Rauber, North Arm, April Cooper, Bundaberg, Laura Hazeldean, Fig Tree Pocket, Brisbane, Kate Bell, Cleveland, Olivia Beck, Redbank Creek, Samantha Melouney, Little Mountain, Tasma Gane, Gin Gin, Keely Mckitterrick, Zilzie.
The program focuses not only on horsemanship but also life skills, manners, and etiquette with Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse volunteering to conduct these classes herself.
Leading Thoroughbred employers Adrian Bott/Gai Waterhouse Racing, Arrowfield Stud, the Australian Turf Club, Chris Waller Racing, Godolphin Australia, Lindsay Park Racing and McEvoy Mitchell Racing are among those offering knowledge and expertise to TIC while key sponsors include Racing NSW, Inglis, Ranvet and Magic Millions.
Kilcoy Racecourse to receive $900,000 makeover
A JUST reward for promoting country racing – that’s how Kilcoy Race Club president Con Searle has described the announcement Kilcoy Racecourse will soon be expanded and reinvigorated after receiving $369,030 in funding through Round 4 of the Palaszczuk Government’s successful $295 million Building our Regions (BoR) program.
The development project is also being supported with $553,545 from Somerset Regional Council, bringing total funding to $922,575.
Describing the funding as fantastic news, Mr Searle paid highlighted the efforts of committee members Barry Coulter and Ian McCauley in pushing Kilcoy’s case. “A former NT deputy chief minister, treasurer and Racing Minister, Barry received an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the recent Australia Day Honours List for services to government, community and business while Ian has a great knowledge of country racing. Their combined knowledge and administration skills have been invaluable to recent success of the Kilcoy Race Club,’’ Mr Searle said.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the development would help put Kilcoy racing on the map. “Kilcoy is galloping forward after securing funding for a new racecourse grandstand and functions space, and enhanced spectator areas. Council estimates eight jobs will be supported during the construction phase of the project, with potential for new jobs in the long-term off the back of greater attendance numbers.”
“Annual attendance at the racecourse and showgrounds complex has grown four percent over the past two years, so it’s the right time to upgrade the old facilities and increase spectator capacity. The works will breathe new life into Kilcoy’s highest profile recreation facility – improving functionality, appeal, accessibility and flood resistance across the grounds,” he said.
Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Kilcoy Race Club would benefit immensely in terms of better facilities and increased financial sustainability. “Provincial TAB clubs like Kilcoy that can attract more racegoers with new and improved facilities are in a strong position to improve their own financial bottom line. They’re also going to contribute to a more prosperous and resilient racing industry at a state-wide level,” he said.