Racing has key role in post-pandemic recovery

With racing currently being held under strict biosecurity measures, organisers of the Birdsville Races and Cairns Amateurs have announced their iconic events will not be held under patron-free conditions this year.

Despite their absence from this year's calendar, Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said racing could play a key role in Queensland's post-pandemic recovery, with the industry responsible for generating $1.5 billion to the state's economy per annum.

"Events such as Birdsville and the Cairns Amateurs extend well beyond the racecourse. They are true highlights on the state's social calendar - showcasing food, fashion and style and driving significant tourism numbers to each region. Every year, pictures from the Simpson Desert are beamed around the world and the annual pilgrimage has become a bucket list item for so many people.

"With tourism forming part of Queensland's DNA, racing can play a key role in re-energising our state through events such as Birdsville, the Amateurs and Magic Millions once patrons are safely able to return on-course," he said.

A recent economic report commissioned by RQ found Magic Millions generated an incredible 91,104 total visitor nights and $49.8 million of total economic impact, with Queensland's richest raceday and the yearling sales in January and May contributing to the tourism windfall.

In addition to Magic Millions, the two-day Amateurs Carnival in Far North Queensland generated 11,110 visitor nights and $3.6 million in direct economic impact, while the iconic Birdsville Races was responsible for 55,872 visitor nights and $5.4 million to the state's economy.

"Racing and tourism boast a symbiotic relationship which we would like to turbo-charge once patrons can return. In regional Queensland, there are 62 towns whereby racing provides the biggest event in their respective communities each year," RQ Chairman Steve Wilson said.

"With more than 60 percent of Australians planning to take a holiday as restrictions ease, racing is set against the backdrop of the Outback, the Barrier Reef, the beaches and the bush, and we want to encourage as many people as possible to explore our vast state while enjoying our events," he said.

RACING Queensland has announced additional feature races will take place throughout June and July at reduced prize money levels.

With an emphasis on providing opportunities for fillies, mares and youngsters, RQ has programmed the Group 3 Queensland Sapphire Stakes at Doomben on June 27 before the Bright Shadow at Eagle Farm on July 4 and the Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich on July 18.

In total, a further 10 features have been programmed with the Ipswich Turf Club granted its first opportunity to host black-type racing this winter.

With back-to-back meetings at Doomben on June 20 and 27, the feature races move to Eagle Farm on July 4 with the Bright Shadow and a listed race for 2YOs. The next week the Sunshine Coast Turf Club will run the Group 3 Winx Guineas for the first time under its new moniker, along with the listed Glasshouse Handicap. Finally, Ipswich will host the listed Eyeliner Stakes in addition to the Gai Waterhouse Classic on July 18 after successfully returning to racing last month.

With the Magic Millions National Sale on the horizon, RQ COO Adam Wallish said RQ wanted to provide some further feature racing, in particular for fillies and mares.

"The limited program ensures we are able to host feature racing at Ipswich for the first time this year. We're also looking forward to the Sunshine Coast being able to stage the Winx Guineas for the first time after her memorable victory in 2015 and for the Glasshouse to maintain its position on the racing calendar," Mr Wallish said.

EIGHT wins on eight different tracks in north and central western Queensland shows the versatility of Winton trained galloper Bollente.

By outstanding sire Sizzling, Bollente is the second foal of the Encosta De Lago mare Zabrowski. Although unraced she is a half-sister to Group 1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas winner Rock 'N' Pop and Listed winner Lilakyn who placed second in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup - all progeny of Group 1 New Zealand Derby winner Popsy. Consequently, Bollente was sold for $100,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast National yearling sale and placed with Sydney trainer John O'Shea.

Bollente only had four starts as a 3YO gelding for O'Shea with two placings at Newcastle and Goulburn before he was on-sold to Winton trainer Ray Herman. Including a first-up second at Barcaldine for the new stable in June last year, Bollente has now started 19 times in western Queensland for eight wins and five placings. The wins occurred in order at Stamford, Richmond, Winton, Isisford, Cloncurry, Mount Isa, Barcaldine and Longreach

Indeed, his latest campaign, which began with a win at Cloncurry on March 21, has resulted in four wins from five starts - the last three in succession at Mount Isa, Barcaldine and then a 1200m Open handicap at Longreach last Saturday.

GOLD Coast-based co-trainers Toby and Trent Edmonds led the charge for QTIS 2YO racing in April earning $61,250 in bonus prize money to come in $7000 ahead of Toowoomba-based Tony and Maddysen Sears with Steven O'Dea (Brisbane) third on $33,300.

It failed to change the standings for the seasonal table however with Les Ross, Robert Heathcote and Tony and Maddysen Sears still making up the top three.

Mark Currie (Toowoomba) had the best month for 3YO trainers, banking $54,750 in QTIS bonus prize money with Chris Munce, Jackie Crompton, Garnett Taylor and Matthew Dunn all on equal second with $24,5000.

Robert Heathcote maintains a comfortable lead for the overall seasonal table on QTIS earnings for 3YOs with $286,550, followed by Tony Gollan who has earned $235,800 and Tony and Maddysen Sears are holding on to third with $154,600.

Spirit of Boom juvenile Spirit One was the leading QTIS 2YO in April collecting $42,000 for connections. Loving Miss (Love Conquers All) banked $36,750 to take second position while third on $31,500 was Tumbler Ridge (Spill the Beans). The result has seen Spirit One jump to the top of the seasonal table on $89,250, relegating Lady Banff (Top Echelon) into second with $84,000 while Rothfire (Rothesay) on $73,500 moves down to third.

Mishani Secret by Mahisara raced away with $49,500 for connections and the title of top QTIS 3YO for April. It was a four-way tie for second with Whittington-sired duo Bold Style and Stampe and Better Than Ready progeny Iced and Xanthus all collecting $24,500 each and increasing the standings for their sires.

The monthly statistics haven't affected the top three positions on the QTIS 3YO seasonal table, with Guntantes (Rothesay) ($105,000), Better Reflection (Better Than Ready) ($94,500) and Gem Of Scotland (Rothesay) ($84,000) holding steady.

THEY represent the thousands of mostly unseen, often unsung and thoroughly essential members of Australia's racing and breeding industry.

The 14 finalists announced last month in the 2020 Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards (ASSSA) are the best-of-the-best in occupations ranging from mucking out stables, administration, education, riding, delivering foals, rehoming and retraining ex-racehorses and every other area of an industry that is one of the nation's biggest.

People like Brisbane-based Mandy Radecker, whose success as a jockey has been followed by a career curing problem racehorses of their bad habits and passing on her knowledge.

Radecker's nomination in the Horsemanship category is backed by the simple endorsement from her boss, Deagon trainer Michael Lakey: "Mandy has dedicated her life to the Thoroughbred horse."

In the Dedication to Racing category, Brett 'Lofty' Killion has worked for some of Australia's finest trainers during the past 25 years and is now the Queensland foreman for Chris Waller. Renowned as one of the few in the game who would arrive at Randwick before his first boss, Gai Waterhouse, Killion is described by his nominator Reg Fleming as "honest, hard-working and ever-loyal".

The awards are supported by Godolphin worldwide and in Australia are staged by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Racing Australia with sponsorship from the Melbourne Racing Club Foundation, the Australian Turf Club and Magic Millions. The winners of each category will be announced in a virtual awards ceremony on Wednesday, June 17 at 7:30pm AEST via https://www.studandstablestaffawards.com.au

TBA chief executive Tom Reilly said the 2020 Awards were made against a testing background that had demonstrated more clearly than ever the value of those who keep the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry at their world-leading level. The winner in each category, other than the Newcomer, receives $10,000 and a trophy with a further $3000 to share among workplace colleagues. The winner in the Newcomer category receives $5000.

The finalists are:

RACING Queensland has allocated two TAB race days for the Kilcoy Race Club in June which will be shown live on SKY TV.

Both meetings on June 8 and 22 will be "non-patron" race days with only the jockeys, trainers, strappers and officials allowed to attend as per the COVID-19 virus protocol. At this stage there are seven events each meeting, but with the influx of trainers wishing to nominate to race at Kilcoy, the club could be looking at 11-race programs.

Club president Con Searle reports the historic Kilcoy Cup race day which has been held in the month of June for more than 40 years, will not be held this year due to COVID-19. "Long term Cup sponsors - the Beavis and Bartels families - understand the present situation and wish to continue their support of our race club. The committee is grateful to the understanding and support given by the families and we hope we may run the Kilcoy Cup as soon as restrictions are eased and patron attendance is fully allowed," Mr Searle said.