Racing Qld adjusts the zonal system to keep the industry in stride

In late March Racing Queensland unveiled five regions in which events could proceed despite Covid-19 impacting on countless other sports, businesses and community life.

Originally, RQ said the state would be divided into Metro North, incorporating Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, Metro South West (Gold Coast, Ipswich and Toowoomba), Darling Downs and SEQ Coast, Central West and Central and North West and North.

Creating the zonal system would comply with the government-imposed sanctions on movement to contain the spread of coronavirus while allowing the industry to continue albeit without public attendance, RQ's chief executive officer Brendan Parnell said.

Greater Western covers an extensive region of outback Queensland and, according to at least one media report, might lead to a re-start of race meetings in Barcaldine and Longreach.

In another change, horses trained in Emerald will be allowed to compete in Rockhampton and Mackay (Central zone) after previously being excluded and only permitted to participate in the Central West zone. Conversely, Rockhampton and Mackay-based runners can travel to Emerald to race.

It is also understood horses from Thangool, Gladstone, Bluff, Clermont, Springsure and Yeppoon can also contest Central zone races but no stable in those areas has taken up the opportunity to travel to Mackay for the April 28 meeting.

Julia Creek trainer Kerry Krogh made a 500klm round trip to Mt Isa worth its while on Anzac Day when he landed a winning treble through Rock Tsar, Caitlyn Emily and Explosive Missile.

Former Brisbane jockey Jason Babarovich landed narrow, if worthy wins on Rock Tsar (Star Witness-Rock Princess) in the Benchmark 69 Handicap (1450m) and Explosive Missile (Smart Missile-Longueville Lass) in the Benchmark 50 (1200m).

Sandwiched in between was Caitlyn Emily (Dash For Cash-Consensus), a runaway winner of the Maiden Plate (1100m) for rider Ngaire Nelson.

Trainers from five country centres found their way to the winning stalls at Dalby on April 25.

Oakey's Patrick Sexton won races with Raku's Secret, Tony's Decree and Vermulin. Dalby pair Charlie Henry (Abitofacard) and Matt Kropp (Wait A Minute) were also winners as was Roma-based Craig Smith (Pogo), Goondiwindi mentor Peter Clarke (Cash 'N' Run) and Miles's Norma King (Silent Flyer).

More than half the field of nine in the Smartstate Rentals Two-Year-Old (1200m) in Mackay on April 28 will be racing for a winning cheque of $23,250. The usual winning stake of $10,500 will be boosted through QTIS bonuses for eligible runners.

Eight of the acceptors have QTIS status and will vie for an additional $12,000 in general bonuses, $8500 of which will go to the winner.

An additional, special bonus of $6000 ($4250 to the winner) is also available for QTIS-registered fillies and Queen Of Style (Wicked Style-Antiquity), Aleysa's Dream (Carrara-Alyesa's Kan), Cat In The Raine (Hemingway-Miss Goody Goody), Natural Emperor (Holy Roman Emperor-On The Natural) and Java Sparrow (Spill The Beans-Sintessa) fall into that group.

Queen Of Style will be ridden by Elyce Smith, whose dad Fred trains the filly. Queen of Style has not finished further back than third in her five runs and they've yielded $66,100 in raceday earnings.

Queen Of Style is one of nine engagements for Smith, who rode six winners on the same afternoon in Emerald earlier in April.

Aleysa's Dream ($82,850) is the the "wealthiest" of the runners and will have a riding change with Beau-Dene Appo taking over. In the past Nathan Day, Tasha Chambers and Nigel Seymour have ridden her.

Smith's brother Tom has Bowen winner Java Sparrow ready to race well.