By Brett Rail
The 2017/18 racing season demonstrated the fantastic opportunities available for the
QBRED, highlighting the benefits of breeding and racing horses in Queensland.
In February 2018 the QBRED Cash Bonus was unveiled with eligible QBRED horses
gaining the opportunity to win a $1000 on any race labelled as a QBRED Cash Bonus
race, with no limit as to how many a horse can win.
This, on top of the normal $7500 bonuses for two and three-year-olds and the $2500 bonus for four-year-olds, means a QBRED now has the opportunity to win much more in bonuses during their career – well in excess the $17,500 available in first win bonuses alone.
One hundred and eighty-four QBRED bonuses, totalling $1,120,000, were paid out
in 2017/18 and 116 QBRED Cash Bonuses worth $116,000 were also distributed, meaning a grand total of $1,236,000 in QBRED bonuses were paid out.
Pleasingly, the number of three-year-old fillies to win a QBRED bonus was more than
double the previous year and 52 four-year-olds took the advantage of winning a bonus
following the reintroduction of four-year-old bonuses in 2017/18.
Outstanding QBRED performers during the season included the Grant Dixon-trained three-year-old Colt Thirty One, who won 12 races including the Group 1 Victoria Derby, Group 2 QBRED Triad Final and Group 3 Premiers Cup, earning in excess of $270,000 for the season.
Regulus, bred by Queensland’s La Spina family but trained in New South Wales by Rickie Alchin, won five races and almost $100,000 for the term including the Group 1 Garrards Redcliffe Yearling Sales Series Final and looks a star of the future, as
does the Kylie Rasmussen-trained two-year-old filly Smart As Camm Be who won five of her seven starts and in excess of $88,000 winning races such as the Group 1 QBRED Triad Final and the Group 2 QBRED Breeders Classic.
Other multiple winning QBRED horses in 2017/18 included Master Montana (10 wins), Statement Made (nine wins), Clintal Do (eight wins), Eleniark, Maretti, Bet Im Special, Red Charmer and Corey William who won seven races each.
While nominations for the 2018/19 3YO & 4YO QBRED Scheme have now closed, nominations for the two-year-olds don’t close until October 31, so be sure to nominate your two-year-old and take advantage of the fantastic benefits on offer in the greatest state-bred scheme in the country.