Racing Queensland has today unveiled its programme for the 2022/23 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival.
With more than $22 million in prize money and bonuses, Australia’s most exciting Summer Carnival will take centre stage over 10 action-packed weeks, culminating with The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions.
As announced earlier this year, the famous Magic Millions Raceday will reach new heights in 2023 with the introduction of two world-first innovative races, along with added investment of $1.5 million taking the prize money pool to $11.75 million across the day.
As part of the expansion, the Magic Millions The Syndicate – for horses owned by a minimum of 20 individual registered owners – will be run for $1 million for horses aged three-year-olds and up, creating the world’s largest ownership experience in the process.
Meanwhile, the Magic Millions The Debut will be run for $500,000, restricted to first starters, and will become the richest two-year-old maiden in the world.
“The Queensland Summer Racing Carnival continues to go from strength-to-strength, and this year’s iteration is set to be our most exciting and innovative yet,” Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said.
“The Summer Carnival is designed to cater for all sectors of the industry; inclusive of breeders, owners, trainers, syndicators, and participants at every level, highlighted by the $12 million Queensland Thoroughbred Incentive Scheme, with a number of QTIS bonuses on offer.
“As we embark on our lucrative Summer Carnival yet, we welcome the opportunity to showcase everything that is great about racing in the Sunshine State – and what makes Queensland the ‘must-race’ summer destination.”
The Mooloolaba Cup at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club on November 19 will once again act as the Summer Carnival opener, before heading south to Aquis Park on November 26 for the Tattersall's Celebration Season Raceday, featuring the Listed Recognition Stakes and Tattersall’s Classic which will increase to $150,000 apiece.
Six consecutive weeks of racing at the Brisbane Racing Club will once again culminate in the Magic Millions Prelude Raceday on New Year’s Eve, with 15 black-type races and four chances to secure a lucrative wildcard into Queensland’s richest raceday at the Gold Coast.
This includes prize money increases for the Lough Neagh from $150,000 to $200,000 and the Buffering from $200,000 to $300,000.
Doomben will host the opening Group race of the Summer Carnival on December 3, with the $200,000 Group 3 TAB George Moore Stakes over 1200 metres, a day that also features the finals for both the $200,000 Country Cups Challenge and $105,000 Country Stampede.
The renowned two-year-old programme will continue to act as the ideal lead-in to the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, featuring the Listed Calaway Girl and Phelan Ready (December 10); as well as the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes (December 24).
For the four-year-olds, The Gateway will again provide a ‘win and you’re in’ for the TAB Stradbroke Handicap next June, a race most recently taken out by subsequent Group 1 champion Apache Chase.
In a welcomed boost for the stayers, this year’s $125,000 Shoot Out on December 31 will come back to 2000 metres, providing aspirants for the Magic Millions Subzero the ideal launching pad to step out to 2200 metres a fortnight later.
“The Road to Magic Millions continues to build each year,” Brisbane Racing Club CEO Tony Partridge said.
“The last three Magic Millions 2YO Classic winners have run in key lead-ups at Eagle Farm and Doomben, while The Gateway is proving a great success, with two of the three Gateway winners to date, Vega One and Apache Chase, winning Group 1 races during Stradbroke Season.
“This year we also saw Gypsy Goddess emerge from her win in the Group 3 Grand Prix during the summer to claim the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, underlining how the Summer Carnival has become a launching pad for future big race success.”
The Carnival culminates at the Gold Coast Turf Club, hosting back-to-back meetings including the Aquis Wave Raceday on January 7 before The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday one week later.
For the first time, the Magic Millions meeting will expand to a 10-race card, and will be the first raceday in Australia to stage eight million-dollar plus races.
In further changes, the Magic Millions Country Cup (1200m) will double in prize money from $250,000 to $500,000 and will relocate from the Aquis Wave Raceday to the feature raceday one week later.
At the same time, the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden will be run as part of Aquis Wave Raceday, providing more than $13 million in prize money and bonuses across both Gold Coast meetings.
Finally, the popular Magic Millions Women’s Bonuses will be on offer once again, with $750,000 in total across both the 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas races.
“The participation and reach of The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday in January 2023 will be its largest ever,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said.
“We are enormously excited for what is the finale to the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival to introduce two new world-first feature races to a now 10-race program.
“The $1 million Magic Millions The Syndicate and $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut will benefit all sectors of the industry in driving growth, investment and returns.
“The raceday’s expansion to $11.75 million will bring more participants to the Gold Coast to experience one of the biggest and best racedays in the world.
“This is fantastic for racing and fantastic for Queensland.”
Click here to see the full programme for the 2022/23 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival.