The 2024/25 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival has taken shape, with further enhancements unveiled as part of today’s programme release.
The new-look Summer Carnival will see close to $30 million in prize money and bonuses on offer, with Australia’s most exciting Summer Carnival poised to be conducted over 10 action-packed meetings.
The Mooloolaba Cup at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club on November 16 will continue to serve as the Summer Carnival’s official opening, before the Tattersall's Listed Recognition Stakes and Tattersall’s Classic take centre stage at Doomben one week later.
A new five-week programme at the Brisbane Racing Club commences on November 30 headlined by the $200,000 Group 2 George Moore Stakes and Listed Phelan Ready.
The Calaway Gal, which had previously been run alongside the Phelan Ready, will now take its place in The Star Stradbroke Season, with the latter now open to colts, geldings and fillies as a two-year-old lead up into the Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes on December 21.
The day will also host the finals for both the Country Cups Challenge and Country Stampede, giving regional participants the chance to compete on a metropolitan raceday for more than $300,000 prize money.
A re-imagined The Gateway will now be open to three and four-year-olds for the first time at Weight For Age conditions, with a berth in the $3 million The Star Stradbroke Handicap on offer.
Winning connections of The Gateway will again have the option to run their own horse or negotiate to designate their slot to one of the horses nominated, and in the top 40 order of entry, for the Stradbroke.
Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival caters for every sector of the industry, with breeders, owners, trainers, syndicators, and participants given the opportunity to taste success in Queensland.
“The re-shaped Summer Carnival programme ensures the Sunshine State remains the ‘must-race’ summer destination,” he said.
“In recent years, Magic Millions 2YO Classic champions like Storm Boy and Coolangatta have made their name in Brisbane before going on to frank their form by tasting the ultimate success at the Gold Coast.
“Similarly, The Gateway continues to unearth future champions of the sport, with subsequent Group 1 winners Vega One and Apache Chase securing their spots in the Stradbroke via the race.”
The three-year-old staying programme remains a feature of the Summer Carnival, with the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes – featuring an honour roll including recent Group 1 champions Kovalica and Gypsy Goddess – now run over 1800 metres on December 14.
The $300,000 event is positioned three weeks from The Wave over the same distance on January 4, which is now open to all Magic Millions Race Series nominated horses aged three and up.
The Eagle Way has also been re-positioned to allow three-year-olds the option to race over 2100 metres on December 28.
Earlier this month, a new-look Magic Millions schedule was unveiled, with the final two meetings of the Summer Carnival providing an incredible $20.55 million in prize money and bonuses across two feature 10-race programs conducted at the Gold Coast.
For the first time, a meeting under lights will also be held as part of the Summer Carnival on December 20, which will host a $250,000 edition of Magic Millions The Debut, open to unraced 2YO colts, geldings and fillies.
In the lead up to The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday, the penultimate Summer Carnival meeting on Saturday, January 4 swells from $1.6 million to $6.05 million and includes the new $3 million TAB Magic Millions Sunlight (3YO) slot race.
Star Victorian filly Arabian Summer was recently unveiled as the first runner in the Sunlight, running in Widden Stud and RMA Bloodstock’s slot.
The $14.5 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday on Saturday, January 11 also boasts a raft of enhancements headlined by the Magic Millions Cup doubling in prize money to $2 million.
The Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS race will also receive a $500,000 increase to $1.5 million.
Click here to see the full programme for the 2024/25 Queensland Summer Racing Carnival.