RACING Queensland is set to expand its northern programming in 2020 with the introduction of the Magic Millions Guineas Series and the launch of four new feature races.
Widely viewed as one of the nation's biggest - and well-regarded - racing brands, Magic Millions will sponsor four Guineas races across Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns, with almost $250,000 in prize money and QTIS bonuses going on the line.
Building upon the established Townsville Guineas, which will enjoy a prize money increase from $30,000 to $50,000 when held on July 25, RQ will introduce three new Magic Millions-sponsored races in July and August - the Capricorn (Rockhampton, July 4), Whitsunday (Mackay, July 11) and Daintree Guineas (Cairns, August 8) - which will also be worth $50,000 apiece. As a further enhancement, any QTIS registered horse which can win two or more of the Capricorn, Whitsunday and Townsville Guineas will receive a $25,000 bonus in the form of a QTISx sales voucher.
With the Magic Millions Guineas Series open to all 3YO horses and not restricted to those bought through the Magic Millions sales, RQ CEO Brendan Parnell said it was exciting to see the Magic Millions brand extending into Central and North Queensland through the Guineas Series.
"Our northern centres play a pivotal role in the Queensland racing landscape and it's important that we recognise their contribution to the industry by building out their feature race days - making it more attractive for trainers, owners and racegoers as a whole. Following the success of the Northern Crowns, the Magic Millions Guineas Series should add an extra dimension to next year's Northern Queensland Racing Carnival," he said.
Magic Millions MD Barry Bowditch was equally enthusiastic about the initiative.
"Via this new sponsorship we are excited to support racing in regional Queensland, in particular North Queensland. Fostering the continued growth of the industry and our participants in regional areas throughout the racing season is a key component of our long-term commitment to Queensland," he said.
In addition to the Magic Millions Guineas Series, RQ has also announced the introduction of the $105,000 Northern Jewel for 3YOs. Staged exclusively for QTIS horses, the inaugural edition will be held at the Mackay Turf Club on April 25 before rotating among Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns in future years. With the annual Jewel Race Day on the Gold Coast among the highlights on the Queensland racing calendar, the Northern Jewel is expected to attract its own following in 2020 and beyond.
"The Northern Jewel will support our highly successful QTIS program and will allow those in the north to race for metropolitan-level prize money. It complements our summer and winter carnivals and provides a real incentive to those who are supporting racing in the Sunshine State." Mr Parnell said.
Magic Million Country Cup qualifying races
TWO horses - Polar Blast and The Pines - are now exempt from the ballot for the 2020 Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m) with a further two exemption races being held at Rockhampton (December 17) and Warwick (December 26).
For the first time, the final has been moved from the Magic Millions race day, Saturday, January 11 to the lead-up meeting at the Gold Coast on Saturday, January 4 which features three exclusive Magic Millions races plus the introduction of a new $250,000 feature race for 3YO and 4YO The TAB Wave, the $125,000 Aquis Gold Nugget and the $125,000 Aquis Gold Pearl.
Run under quality handicap conditions, the Magic Millions Country Cup carrying $242,500 prize money is a 1200m sprint for Magic Millions graduates only. Other special conditions apply with horses that have won a race at a Metropolitan status meeting in Australia with winning prize money greater than $29,000 within the preceding two years ineligible to compete. Horses must also have started in a minimum of five Provincial or Country level races leading up to the nomination deadline of Monday, December 30.
Will he - won't he?
WILL he - won't he? Two times in succession Tolga trainer Janel Ryan has prepared horses that won qualifying races for the Battle of the Bush and Country Cups Challenge series but have been no-shows for the final.
Back in June How Can I Help claimed the final spot in the second Battle of the Bush final by winning the postponed Mareeba heat reprogrammed to Cairns on June 10 however did not make the long trip south.
Then last month, Ryan's horse Polar Blast won the 1400m Cairns City Cup - his third win in succession. However, one of the conditions for a horse to qualify is they must have started a minimum five times at a non-TAB meeting in the last 12 months. "Unfortunately, the only non-TAB meeting he's started in was at Innisfail where he won at his previous start, so he's not eligible for the final," she said.
Skip forward almost six weeks and Polar Blast has now won four races in succession courtesy of victory in last Saturday's Magic Millions Country Qualifier Handicap (1200m) at Townsville.
So the question arises - will he or won't he take his place in the 1200m Magic Millions Cup which takes place the Gold Coast on Saturday, January 4 - the lead-up meeting before Magic Millions race-day the next Saturday, January 11? For good measure, Ryan provided the Townsville quinella when Polar Blast prevailed narrowly over his stable-mate Space Time.
A 6YO gelding by Smart Missile from the Storm Cat (USA) mare Driven Snow (USA) - a daughter of four time USA Group 1 winner Wandesta - Polar Blast now has 10 wins and nine placings from 28 starts. His stable-mate Space Time is a 7YO gelding by Tickets from the Hussonet (USA) Autumnconcerto and has now raced 46 times for 11 wins and 20 placings.
The Pines is MM Country Cup ballot exempt
FOUR-year-old mare The Pines has ensured a start in next month's Magic Millions Country Cup by winning the 1200m Noosa Cup at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast last Sunday - a ballot exempt race for the MM Country Cup.
Trained by Gold Coast-based Toby and Trent Edmonds, The Pines is by Group 2 Queensland Guineas winner Rothesay from the winning Show A Heart mare Kosmic Karma. Bred at Murray and Sue Murdoch's Fig Tree Thoroughbreds, Biddaddaba, The Pines was sold for $26,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions March yearling sale and now has five wins and a second from just six starts. Remarkably, four of those wins have been at Caloundra where she has progressed from winning a 3YO maiden on debut in late April this year to her open company win eight months later.
The Pines continues the recent great success this season of Lyndhurst-based sire Rothesay whose progeny include Group 3 George Moore Stakes winner Chapter And Verse, outstanding 3YO filly Gem Of Scotland and unbeaten 2YO gelding Rothfire. Indeed, Rothesay progeny have won at nine of the last 10 Brisbane meetings including 3YO gelding Ziemba who won a Benchmark 70 handicap at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Further proof of his sire prowess is that during the three weeks from November 22 to December 14 he has sired 12 winners in Queensland, NSW, SA and Tasmania.
Lyndhurst stud master Jeff Kruger reports Rothesay served 95 mares this season, which is more than three times his last two books of 28 mares each in 2018 and 2017.
"For the first time since he moved to Lyndhurst in mid-2017 he's had major outside support due to his regular supply of winners," he said.
Kilcoy yuletide festival of racing and pacing
KILCOY racing officials have introduced exciting new concepts for its Yuletide Festival of Racing and Pacing.
After the unveiling of a brand new cafeteria and attractive improvements to the betting ring and surrounds late last month, the Kilcoy Race Club will hold a seven-race gallops meeting on Friday, December 20 followed by its first standalone harness meeting on Monday, December 30.
Also, athletics officials have embraced the inaugural running of the $5000 Kilcoy Gift - a professional sprint over 120m to be staged on Australia Day, Sunday, January 26. There will be four heats early in the day with the final to be run late afternoon. Bookies will bet on all events.
"We hope this event will become the Stawell Gift of Queensland. This first running will be a highlight of what we hope will be a family day. It's a Sunday and it will be free entry for kids who no doubt will be interested in the mini-trot races which are run between the gallop races," Kilcoy chairman Con Searle said.
Kilcoy will also hold a New Year gallops meeting of eight events on Saturday January 4. "National and international television coverage of this meeting will no doubt attract favourable comments on the lush state of the turf track. We are blessed to be allocated 140,000 litres of treated water daily and even through the drought of recent months the Kilcoy track has been bright green. Betting turnover on our meetings has skyrocketed and I've no doubt part of the reason for the big uplift is the state of the turf.
"I'm really excited by the package of racing and entertainment we have programmed over the Festive season and on to Australia Day. The Somerset Regional Council has been wonderfully supportive of all the events staged at the Kilcoy racecourse including the annual Show and polocrosse matches,'' he said.