QUEENSLAND Racing Minister Grace Grace believes nation-leading racing integrity reforms introduced by the Palaszczuk Government 12 months ago have delivered strong results for the Queensland racing industry.
Ms Grace said the new stand-alone Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) – established in July 2016 – was setting the standard nationally on racing integrity and animal welfare matters.
“Thanks to our racing integrity reforms, we’ve been able to build a stronger racing industry in Queensland with higher standards of integrity and animal welfare,” she said.
“QRIC has expanded the drug sampling regime to test for prohibited substances in 100 percent of winning animals across all three racing codes – Thoroughbred, Harness and Greyhound. It has also enhanced its stable and kennel inspections, including the establishment of a dedicated kennel inspection team and increased its integrity complaints and investigation capacity. Licensing standards have also been established, giving QRIC powers to exclude people from the industry for a range of offences,” she said.
The Minister said QRIC had also forged a partnership with the Queensland Police Service’s Queensland Racing Crime Squad, resulting in 23 charges against 14 offenders. “It has also entered into a formal partnership with Crime Stoppers to provide a trusted avenue for people to anonymously report animal abuse and misconduct within the racing industry,” she said.
“A new Equine Welfare program to support the transitioning of retired racehorses into other sports such as show jumping, dressage and eventing is also now operating. In addition, six animal welfare directions have been issued under the Racing Integrity Act 2016. These are outstanding results that highlight the success that’s resulting from our racing integrity reforms 12 months on,” she said.
Ms Grace said the previous racing governance structures – which saw Racing Queensland oversee both the commercial and integrity functions of the industry – were clearly broken.
“The MacSporran Commission found that industry self-regulation had failed and that a new independent ‘cop on the beat’ was needed. Given the sickening images of animal cruelty we saw in the greyhound live baiting scandal, we make no apology for acting swiftly and decisively. Queensland now has the strictest racing integrity and animal welfare regime in the country – and I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of QRIC Commissioner Ross Barnett and his team over the last 12 months.
“Other jurisdictions including Victoria are now looking to adopt Queensland’s racing integrity model. They know our racing integrity reforms – which the LNP fought tooth and nail – are working,” she said.
Paradis Imperial wins in Townsville
ROCKHAMPTON filly Paradis Imperial has capped a stellar season with victory in North Queensland’s richest 2YO race at Cluden Park – the Townsville RSL Two-Year-Old Classic (1200m) – on Saturday, July 15.
The Townsville Bulletin reports trainer Tony McMahon said he had long targeted the Townsville Winter Carnival feature race for Paradis Imperial and felt his star sprinter did exactly what was required against a strong field.
The Townsville victory was Paradis Imperial’s seventh from 12 starts McMahon said he has no plans to spell her just yet. “She doesn’t get the recognition deserves. She’s won more races than any other 2YO in Australia,” McMahon said.
McMahon’s $9000 outlay has now returned more than $303,000 including $125,400 in QTIS bonuses. By black type winning first season sire Instinction from Randwick winner Hennessy Beau – a daughter of USA Group 1 winner Hennessy – Paradis Imperial was offered by Gainsborough Lodge Stud, Toowoomba, at the 2016 Magic Million March yearling sale at the Gold Coast.
Wanted to stand in Queensland
QUEENSLAND-BRED Group 1 winning sprinter and son of champion sire Fastnet Rock, Wanted, will commence stud duties at Clear Mountain Fairview, Greenmount, in 2017 after being sold and relocated from Victoria.
A Group 1 winner and three-time Group 1placed as a 3YO, Wanted has already sired seven Stakes performers in his short career at stud including Dead Or Alive, Rough Justice, Sort After, Wazzenme, Shaf, War Point and Sun Seeker.
Bred at Highgrove Stud, Westbrook, Wanted was a precocious juvenile, recording black type honours in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes, before stamping himself as a serious racehorse as a 3YO when gallantly defeated by a minor margin from future world champion sprinter Black Caviar in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes.
His Group 1 success in the VRC Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington saw him lead all the way to dominate his rivals Sarspangledbanner, Eagle Falls, Headway, All Silent, Nicconi and El Segundo. Wanted’s outstanding achievements were certainly noticed and was awarded Joint Third Colt on 2009-10 Australasian 3YO Classification. Wanted went on to race in 10 races as a 3YO – eight at Group 1 level. He finished runner-up in three Group 1 races that year and only finished out of the top four placings on one occasion.
With Wanted’s impressive racing history and his exciting progeny leaving their winning mark on tracks across Australia, it was a genuine decision for the new owners to relocate the Group 1 winning sire to Queensland.
“We believe Wanted is one of the best credentialed stallions to stand in Queensland. In addition to being a son of Fastnet Rock – one of the most brilliant stallion sons of Danehill – Wanted is from Fragmentation, a stakes winning daughter of Snippets,” said Clear Mountain Fairview Principal Bob Frappell.
“Wanted won more than $1.1 million in prizemoney and defeated an extensive list of track stars – a remarkable achievement. He has since gone on to produce multiple Stakes performers including 2YO SAJC Oaklands Plate winner Dead Or Alive. He was an $800,000 yearling and his quality attributes have been seen in his progeny with his yearlings selling up to $460,000 in the sales ring. There are ample reasons for breeders to send their broodmares to Wanted this season - and let’s not forget about the lucrative opportunities with his future QTIS eligible foals,” Frappell said.
Wanted will stand at $5500 with payment on a live foal available for breeders. For further information, contact Clear Mountain Fairview on (07) 4697 1198 or visit clearmountainstud.com.au.