AUSTRALIA’S first Jockey Task Analysis is being developed by Racing Queensland as part of a new Injury Management Strategy to help improve the recovery of injured jockeys.
When developed the Task Analysis will be used to determine what type of employment will assist an injured jockey’s recovery
Releasing the new strategy on RQ’s website this week, RQ Education and Welfare manager Maurice Logue said Racing Queensland understands that if a jockey sustains an injury it can affect their family, friends, their income and their total wellbeing.
“In recognising this, RQ is focusing on having a network of Queensland’s leading medical specialists and allied health professionals that understand the Racing Industry and have the experience and expertise to implement an early intervention process.
“That is early diagnosis and then the appropriate treatment as soon as practicable. Along with this, RQ has identified that upskilling a jockey while they are recovering from an injury will greatly assist in their overall wellbeing and their long term recovery while offering them an alternate career path should the need arise,” he said.
Mr Logue said another important part of recovery was providing Jockeys with suitable duties geared to assist with their recovery and any upskilling educational processes they were participating in. To this end, RQ believes we are implementing an Injury Management process that will benefit the racing industry as a whole.
“Racing Queensland is also in the process of developing what is believed to be Australia’s first Jockey Task Analysis in association with medical specialists, allied health professionals, the Queensland Jockeys Association, licensed jockeys and industry experts,” Mr Logue said.
“Unfortunately, not every injured worker will return to preinjury duties, but it is important they received the opportunity to be reskilled and find meaningful employment and the Jockey Task Analysis will play a critical role with such outcomes,” he said.
Mr Logue said one of the first to benefit from the new approach is former jockey Ben Saunders who received career ending injuries in April 2017.
“Ben is currently being reskilled as a qualified workplace trainer and assessor and will be based at Toowoomba,” Mr Logue said.
Entries open for Magic Millions National Sale
AUSTRALIA'S largest thoroughbred sale which spans May 24 to June 7 in 2018 is now open for entries.
A significant domestic and international buying bench coupled with attractive rates are expected to ensure another very strong renewal of the Magic Millions National Sale at the Gold Coast this Winter.
"We are delighted to again present vendors with an opportunity to nominate for one of the world's great auctions," Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said.
"Whether it be a weanling, broodmare, yearling or racehorse, the Magic Millions National Sale provides an unmatched selling opportunity for bloodstock at every level. Our industry leading commission rates from the past two years apply again in 2018 and the format of the sale around the Brisbane Winter Carnival is proven to perform across all markets," he said.
The National Sale comprises four distinct sales: Weanling, Broodmare, Yearling and racehorse. Entries for weanlings, yearlings, race fillies and broodmares close on March 16. Entries for racehorses close on May 11.
National Weanling Sale: May 24-25
The 2017 sale was a great success with 171 individual buyers, including eight who spent more than $500,000. A staggering 68 weanlings sold for $100,000 or more.
National Broodmare Sale: May 29-June 1
In 2017 the race fillies and mares section grossed more than $30 million including 16 lots realising $500,000 or more. One in five lots offered sold for $300,000 or more and stakes winners in this section of the sale averaged a massive $482,000. The broodmare section in 2017 saw the gross rise by 42 percent with an international spend of almost $31 million. Seven mares sold for $1 million or more, 23 lots for $600,000 or more and 60 mares sold for $400,000 or more.
National Yearling Sale: June 5-7
A top performing auction, last year’s Book One averaged more than $50,000 with 53 lots selling for $100,000 or more. A third of the sale gross came from international buyers spending more than $5.7 million. The growth of the National Yearling sale is phenomenal with a gross of more than $17 million - up 37 percent in 12 months.
National Racehorse Sale: June 7
At the last Magic Millions Racehorse Sale lots sold for $195,000, $115,000 and $110,000 achieved with an average price of almost $30,000 and clearance of 97 percent.
Spirit Of Boom filly tops Inglis Classic Book 2
TOP seller in Book 2 on the fourth and final day of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale at Riverside Stables, Warwick Farm, Sydney on Tuesday, February 14 was a filly by Eureka Stud's sire-of-the-moment Spirit Of Boom sold to Queensland-based Hopefull Unit Trust for $200,000.
The filly is from the Group 2 winning Palace Music mare Laurinel Argie and is a half-sister to Rustic Melody – runner-up in a Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes and fourth in a Group 1 Australian Oaks. The filly is also closely related to dual Group1 winner and former champion 2YO colt of South Africa Palace Line.
Spirit Of Boom's tremendous start to his stud career is the talk of the racing world and Eureka stud master Scott McAlpine is understandably delighted. "No one can say the colts are better or the fillies are better. They are coming up with the goods from the word go and making it happen. Hopefully they can keep going and pull off the Blue Diamond," he said, referring to Group 1 Blue Diamond favourite and impressive debut winner Kinky Boom.
Spirit Of Boom, who stood at Eureka last season at a fee of $11,000, finished the Book 2 sale with an average of $135,000 (for 3 or more sold).