A FIELD of 15 plus six emergencies has been declared for the 1600m Country Cups Challenge final at Doomben this Saturday, December 1.
The final brings together qualifiers from 16 Country Cups held across Queensland between September and November and complements the inaugural Battle of the Bush Series, which brought 16 sprinters from the country to the city on Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara Day held on Saturday, June 23.
Miles-based galloper Fab’s Cowboy has the rare distinction of being top weight for both finals although unplaced in the Battle Of The Bush.
He is one of four qualifiers for his trainer Bevan Johnson along with Blue Jest, Artie’s Shore and Still The Same while Mackay-based John Manzelmann has two (The Greatest and Sirius Witness).
The final will be run under the conditions of a Quality Handicap (1600m) race, with qualifiers required to have competed in no less than three non-TAB races in the 12 months immediately preceding acceptance date for that qualifying race.
Racing Queensland reported that ruled out Kumbia Cup dead-heater Land Office, Roma Cup winner Atouchmore and Ewan Cup winner Misc plus Vaunting, Misc, Turkey Beach, Calypso Bay and Good Job Bro. Cairns City Cup winner, the Stephen Potiris-trained Bold Kingston, was also ineligible under the conditions of No Metropolitan Wins in the Last Two Years, having won a $60,000 2YO race at Doomben in April 2017.
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale goes online
RECORD support from breeders across Australasia has led to Magic Millions cataloguing a record number of lots in a star studded catalogue for the 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
A total of 1122 lots have been confirmed by vendors for the first five days of the auction including a record 888 lots to be offered across Book 1 of the sale from Wednesday, January 9.
"Again in 2019 the breeders have stepped up to the plate as support for the sale is unprecedented. The depth and quality of this catalogue will present buyers with a selection of Australasia's best yearlings like no other sale." Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said.
"This sale is number one for producing breed shapers and record breakers including the two highest ever stakes earners in Australian history – Winx and Redzel.”
Books 1 and 2 of the 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale feature the progeny of 103 individual stallions including 19 first season sires. The catalogue for the 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale online is available at www.magicmillions.com.au or can be download on iPad via the Equineline Sales Catalog App. Printed copies of the catalogue will be available for distribution from November 29.
2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale Schedule
Wednesday, January 9
Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Book 1 (Day 1: Lots 1-265)
Thursday, January 10
Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Book 1 (Day 2: Lots 266-530)
Friday, January 11
Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Book 1 (Day 3: Lots 531-795)
Saturday, January 12
The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday
Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Book 1 (Day 4: Lots 796-888)
Sunday, January 13
Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Book 2 (Day 5: Lots 889-1122)
(Inspections from 8am Friday, January 11)
Tuesday, January 15
Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Book 3 (Day 6) - catalogue available December
Gunsynd Park to host Racing Minister
RACING Minister Stirling Hinchliffe will be guest of the Goondiwindi Race Club at the Bush to Port Christmas Party Raceday on Saturday December 1.
Club president Geoff Makim said the club was thrilled to showcase country racing venue at one of major days for the club.
“We are especially excited with the whole weekend proposal. Initially, we were lucky enough to attract Peter Moody to this meeting last year which was a great success. Then in September this year the Victoria Racing Club brought the Melbourne Cup to Goondiwindi and we heard from Cup winning jockey Larry Olsen and Brisbane premier trainer Tony Gollan,” Mr Makim said.
“Now in an incredibly generous gesture by the Tighe family following the fourth Cox Plate win by Winx, the club will stage the Winx Queensland book launch on Friday night when owner Peter Tighe will promote the new book and give locals the opportunity to hear some of the inside stories around the wonderful mare,” he said. Tickets can be booked at trybooking.com.au/winx.
Along with the Racing Minister, Peter and wife Pattie will also be guests at the Bush to Port Race day where one lucky patron will win five nights accommodation in low season at the Burleigh Beachtower on the Gold Coast. Christmas Party bookings have proved very popular with more than 400 people already booking places. Bookings are available phone 0428 987522.
VRC and Network Ten sign landmark deal
THE Victoria Racing Club (VRC) and Network Ten have announced a landmark media rights partnership deal which it claims will revolutionise the way the Melbourne Cup Carnival will be broadcast to audiences.
The $100 million, five-year agreement effective from 2019 to 2023, is the biggest in the history of the VRC, and one of the biggest in racing globally. It entitles Network Ten to broadcast live the four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival – AAMI Victoria Derby Day, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, Kennedy Oaks Day, and Seppelt Wines Stakes Day.
The agreement comprises a suite of Melbourne Cup Carnival media rights, including free to air TV, internet, social media, mobile within Australia. Network Ten previously held the television rights to the Melbourne Cup Carnival for 24 years from 1978 until 2001.
"During the comprehensive tender process Network Ten proved themselves to be the best partner to take us into the future," VRC chief executive officer Neil Wilson said. "This partnership will extend the Melbourne Cup Carnival to be visible across the network, across platforms and across the full year. In addition, it gives us the opportunity to engage new and growing audiences to our Carnival and to the sport of racing.”
Master planning process for Clifford Park precinct
THE Darling Downs region’s premier sporting precinct, Clifford Park, is set to be revolutionised to remain a centrepiece of Toowoomba’s entertainment portfolio for the next century.
The Toowoomba Turf Club recently announced the commencement of a Master Planning process to future-proof the home of the racing industry on the Darling Downs.
TTC Chairman Kent Woodford said that while Clifford Park had successfully hosted Thoroughbred racing for more than 155 years, the club must now work with State and Local Government to revitalise the 36-hectare racing precinct located just three-kilometres from the Toowoomba CBD.
“With the support of State and Local Governments and Racing Queensland, the club aims to conceptualise and create a state-of-the-art entertainment precinct that will attract investment and tourism opportunities to the region and grow the thoroughbred racing industry in Toowoomba," he said.
“The club committee is unconditionally committed to continuing thoroughbred racing at Clifford Park, but the location of the facilities and activities within site are all up for consideration as we plan the best use of the site for both racing and development."
Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the State Government fully supported race clubs pursuing the vision of self-sufficiency and maximising revenue opportunities at a local level.
Expressed excitement at the upcoming Master Planning process, Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said the racing industry provided an incredible economic stimulus in the region and the Council supported the TTC in its ambition to take Clifford Park into the future.
Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said many successful racing precincts had been realised through a considered master planning process. “Racing Queensland is delighted to provide support and expertise to the TTC for their Master Planning process. We support all clubs having a clear vision for the future, including the potential for generating non-racing revenue, which will help support racing’s long-term viability and growth," he said.
TTC Chief Executive Blair Odgers said a public expression of interest call would begin the planning process. “We recognise that most successful precinct developments enjoy benefit from joint-venture partnerships, and the TTC would welcome that knowledge and experience as we Master Plan for the next century of racing on the Darling Downs,” he said.