Back, buy and breed Queensland through QTISx

Launched on September 1 to coincide with the start of the new breeding season, QTISx benefits both owners and breeders.

"QTISx is the latest initiative in our highly regarded thoroughbred breeding incentive scheme. We unashamedly want people to back Queensland, buy Queensland and breed Queensland. Importantly, QTISx doesn't just incentivise Queensland owners, it also recognises the invaluable role played by our breeders within the Sunshine State and acknowledges their excellence," RQ CEO Brendan Parnell said.

Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association president Basil Nolan said QTISx was a positive announcement for the industry as a whole. "It's great to see Racing Queensland recognising and rewarding the state's breeders and the essential role they play in underpinning the entire industry. QTIS has been a shining light for Queensland racing and the advent of QTISx is another way for RQ to support the long-term sustainability and viability of the breeding and racing industries," Mr Nolan said.

For the first time, winners of QTISx bonuses will have the option of 'doubling up' their winnings through the redemption of a voucher which can be applied to selected Queensland yearling sales, including the Magic Millions and Capricornia Yearling Sale.

Throughout 2019/20, QTIS registered horses will also be eligible for the following QTISx bonuses. They are:

To recognise - and reward - the Queensland breeding industry, RQ will also provide breeders' bonuses, with $10,000 for Group 1 races and $5000 for the remaining black-type races and features prescribed above. All QTISx bonuses are for winning horses only.

While QTISx has been developed for black-type races, RQ has also announced a number of QTIS enhancements for the new racing season. For the first time, age restrictions on QTIS races for non-TAB meetings will be removed, having previously been restricted to 5YO-and-under. RQ will also program 4YO QTIS bonuses on selected open races in South East Queensland, with standard breeders bonus' applicable.

The first QTISx black-type race will be held at Doomben on Saturday, November 9 with the running of the listed Keith Noud Quality (1200m) at Doomben. RQ will make further announcements into QTIS initiatives in the near future.

RACING Queensland has unveiled an updated Strategic Plan in its bid to become 'the number one sporting industry in the Sunshine State'.

Before RQ's board meeting in Townsville on Wednesday, August 28, RQ published a new-look Strategic Plan - along with an updated Infrastructure Plan - to guide the organisation into a new decade and beyond. This includes its new stated purpose "to champion great racing and events which connect Queensland communities", along with five goals to become the number one sporting industry.

They are:

Boasting more than 40,000 participants, the size and scope of the Queensland racing industry is enormous. The industry contributes more than $1.2 billion in economic contribution to the state's economy each year with over 40 per cent directly benefiting regional economies.

Interviewed on Racing TAB's Pressroom by host David Fowler, on Monday, Mr Parnell said RQ's updated plans were centred on increasing returns to participants and enhancing amenities across the state.

"These are big goals which make for an exciting period for the Queensland racing industry. With the strong support of the Queensland government, RQ delivered record-breaking returns to participants in 2018/19 and we remain committed to growing the industry through tangible goals and objectives. This includes expanding our iconic race events from two to five, while growing our weekly major events which take place across Sunshine State communities," Mr Parnell said.

"Whether it's the Birdsville Cup, Cairns Amateurs, Magic Millions or pacing from the Ekka, racing is all about great events which connect the community. With more than 1000 race meetings per annum, the industry is central to many communities across Queensland and plays a key role in uniting them through their activities on and off the track," he said.

AS part of Racing Queensland's updated Infrastructure Plan, the organisation has outlined a number of key priority projects valued at $2 million or more that are proposed to be funded out of the Racing Infrastructure Fund.

To help advance those projects, RQ has already drawn down on feasibility funding for a new greyhound venue along with the Gold Coast Turf Club Tracks and Lights development, which is central to the night racing strategy.

A replacement synthetic track at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club, a new metropolitan harness facility and lights at Doomben are among the other listed priority projects which will require funding approval.

In recent times, the RIF has been accessed to upgrade the course proper at Eagle Farm, the re-development of the Ipswich Turf Club and to begin the Country and Regional Capital Works Program. RQ has also invested significant infrastructure funds in track rebuilds this decade in Rockhampton, Mackay, Toowoomba and Townsville.

"In order to deliver great racing and events we need great tracks and facilities. These will help future-proof our industry beyond tomorrow. Just as importantly, they align to our new-look strategy and will play a pivotal role in our bid to become the number one sporting industry in the Sunshine State," Mr Parnell said.

MACKAY-based Jade Doolan and her partner John Manzelmann have criss-crossed central and north Queensland many times in recent years in their relentless pursuit of winners.

Most times John has been listed as the winning trainer and Jade as strapper. Having also gained her trainer's licence, Jade recorded her first win with Rocket Of Gold at last year's Springsure Cup meeting, her first TAB winner with Slifza at Rockhampton in June and now has six wins to her credit.

Before joining John's team some three years ago, Jade worked for many years as a strapper and track work rider for her late father George Doolan. A leading north Queensland trainer based at Cairns for many years after retiring in 1993 from a 30-year career with the Queensland Police Force, George died from cancer in 2015.

One of George's major victories was the 2004 Cairns Cup with Varmint. Now Jade has emulated her father as a Cups winning trainer courtesy of her 6YO gelding Captains Way winning the 2000m Ingham Gold Cup last Saturday. The Ingham Gold Cup has a proud 140-year history as it continues to be the feature race since the Herbert River Jockey Club was established in 1879.

The Cup win was made more memorable because Ingham was where George started training as an owner/breeder, where he married Vivian Romano in 1988 and where Jade was born in 1989. Jade's mother Vivian is visiting Ingham to care for her father 'Buck' Romano and was trackside to cheer her daughter's horse home. As an added bonus the winning jockey Bonnie Thomson rode in George Doolan's colours of blue, white sash, red and white striped sleeves and red cap.

It was Captains Way's third Cup win having won the 1900m Patrons Cup at last year's Cairns Amateurs and the 1830m Burdekin Cup at Home Hill in May last year - both times trained by John Manzelmann who's now listed as the owner. His first two wins were at Toowoomba when trained by Lindsay Hatch and his race record stands at eight wins and six placings from 54 starts.

Captain's Way is by Group 1 Epsom winner Captain Sonador from the Coolong Road (NZ) mare Pearly Way. The ill-fated Captain Sonador, who stood at Raheen Stud, Gladfield, now has 129 winners from his three crops and progeny earnings of more than $16 million.

"A RACE I would dearly love to win" is how Dalby racing stalwart Mike Kelly describes the local historic Plough Inn Cup (1400m).

This year was the 160th running of the race for maiden horses at weight-for-age first run at Dalby in 1859 which makes it older than the Melbourne Cup. The race name comes from the local Plough Inn which was owned by Joseph and Teresa Whalin. The couple donated the impressive trophy four years later. It subsequently went missing for many years but in 1962 the original Cup was handed back to the club.

Last year the founding couple's great-great-grandson Peter Stuart became the first family member since the race's inception to present the Cup and he was at Dalby's Bunya Park again for this year's renewal on Saturday.

Kelly's wish came true when Droplet - a 5Y0 mare he owns and bred - won the Cup by 1.25 lengths at the lucrative odds of 20/1. Kelly almost gained a second cup for the mantelpiece when his 7YO grey mare Rosie Posie was runner-up in the 1400m Dalby Cup. Both mares are trained by Toowoomba-based Matt Kropp who had previously won the Dalby Cup four times with Uncle Jan, Modern Al, Billy Goat and Zip To The Moon.

Droplet is by five times Group 1 winner Canford Cliffs (Ire) from the winning Beautiful Crown (USA) mare Little Beautiful - also trained by Matt Kropp - while Rosie Posie is by Top Echelon from the winning Monashee Mountain (USA) mare Monaleah.

TOOWOOMBA-based galloper Real Ego took his prizemoney earnings past $200,000 when he won the 1400m Dalby Cup on Saturday, August 31.

The 7YO gelding trained by Toowoomba-based Rex Lipp has now started 47 times for seven wins and 13 placings. A son of outstanding juvenile Group 2 winner Real Saga, Real Ego has an authentic Queensland pedigree as his dam is the winning Sequalo mare Seconde who in turn is from the Grand Chaudiere (Can) mare Beating The Odds.

Real Ego is one of four winners produced from Seconde - the latest being the 3YO filly Ginger Rock who won a metropolitan 2YO race at Eagle Farm on the last Saturday of the 2018/19 racing season. A daughter of Rothesay, Ginger Rock was sold at the 2018 Magic Millions March yearling sale for $38,000 to Brisbane trainer Dan Bougoure.