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Queensland breeding goes from strength to strength

5 August 2020

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Racing Queensland’s breeding incentive schemes have enjoyed record-breaking years with more than $13.7 million paid through QTIS and QBRED during 2019/20.

Having introduced a range of enhancements over the past year, including QTISx and QBRED For Life, RQ set new benchmarks across the thoroughbred and harness codes. They include:

  • QTIS - $11.08 million in FY20 compared to $8.69 million in FY19 (23.7% increase); and
  • QBRED - $2.65m in FY20 compared to $1.67m in FY19 (59.4% increase).

With QTISx providing bonuses on black-type and feature races for Queensland thoroughbreds for the first time, Outback Barbie saluted in the inaugural race by securing victory in the Listed Keith Noud Handicap.

More than 10 individual QTISx winners were crowned throughout 2019/20 including Rothfire and Tyzone.

Not surprisingly, Rothfire, the JJ Atkins winner, was the leading two-year-old QTIS earner, collecting $133,500 in bonuses including a $100,000 QTIS yearling sale voucher for his Group 1 victory.

Bred on the Western Downs by Gleeson Thoroughbreds, the son of Rothesay was a $10,000 purchase by Rob Heathcote before becoming one of Queensland’s rising stars.

In addition to winning the $500,000 Aquis QTIS 2YO Jewel, Kisukano claimed $54,450 in QTIS bonuses.

For the three-year-olds, the Team Edmonds trained Baroda led the way with $106,500 in QTIS bonuses, narrowly edging out Guntantes ($105,000), while The Odyssey pocketed $52,500 in bonuses in addition to victory in the $300,000 TAB QTIS 3YO Jewel.

“I think people are starting to realise just how good a scheme QTIS really is,” Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association President Basil Nolan.

“The introduction of QTISx provides further opportunities at Group and Listed level including breeders’ bonuses which are very important.

“And initiatives such as the Jewel Raceday ensures every QTIS horse has the opportunity to run (for great prize money).”

For a successive year, Spirit of Boom was once again Queensland’s champion stallion with 96 winners, 144 wins and more than $6 million in earnings.

Spill The Beans, who tragically passed away in November, was the leading first season stallion with 13 winners, 22 wins and more than $1 million in earnings.

Under QBRED For Life, the age restrictions on the first and second win bonuses were lifted in 2019/20, launching an exciting new chapter for standardbreds.

The initiative paved the way for a number of older horses to benefit from the scheme, with the Brittany Graham-trained Glencoe Reign, 10, among the beneficiaries.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Mal Charlton-trained Mistakes Were Made created a slice of history when she became the first two-year-old trotter to win a QBRED first win bonus.

“It’s great for our industry,” BOTRA President Daren Garrard said.

“We’ve got the best breeding incentive scheme in the country.

“QBRED For Life has been a massive bonus. A lot of horses aren’t successful as two or three year-olds – or as younger horses – so it’s great that they can race on and be eligible for QBRED For Life.”