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News gets 'Better' for first season sire

19 December 2018

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By Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association

MAGIC MILLIONS CONTENTION

 

Queenslanders have won the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic in three of the last six years and on Saturday a couple of banana benders surged into contention for the 2019 edition of the rich race.

Kelly Schweida’s colt The Odyssey (pictured by BRC with connections), which earlier this year became the first winner for former top sprinter Better Than Ready, franked his Magic Millions credentials by winning one of the key lead-ups, the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1110m) at Doomben.

And another Queenslander and offspring of Better Than Ready, Rockhampton filly Better Reflection, won her place in the Magic Millions when she sat wide the trip but was still too strong in winning the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes (1110m).

Read More...

HE'S BETTER THAN READY FOR FIRST SEASON HONOURS

 

Lyndhurst Stud sire Better Than Ready is off to a flying start in the First Season Sire Premiership.

 

In the first four months of the current season, Better Than Ready has recorded nine wins by six individual winners (including two Stakes winners) from sixteen starts, including The Odyssey, Better Reflection and the impressive Sizzling Plate (1050m) victor Betaima. (pictured)

Online bookmaker Ladbrokes has Betaima quoted a $12 second favourite for the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m).

Better Than Ready, the Kelly Schweida-trained son of More Than Ready won four Listed races hinself – three at Eagle Farm and one at Randwick – in 16 starts and his first crop is certainly making industry participants sit up and take notice.

The 2017-18 season saw Eureka Stud’s Spirit Of Boom set the nation of fire with an incredible 19 individual two-year-old winners and Better than Ready following in his hoofsteps.

 

THE BOOM CONTINUES

 

Good results since the start of the 2018-19 racing season have shown Spirit of Boom won't be a one season wonder.

 

So far this season Spirit of Boom has had Champagne Boom win the Listed Debutante Stakes at Caulfield on October 13, (story here), a quinella with Outback Barbie and Jami Lady  in the Listed BRC Mode Stakes (details here) and Spirits Aubeersaluted in the G3 Bonecrucher Stakes (read more).

 

Eureka Stud's Scott McAlpine said the results confirmed his confidence that Spirit of Boom could match it with the best sires in Australia.

"Word has it there are a few more of his two-year-old crop showing a lot of promise," McAlpine said.

TOP QTIS TRAINERS FOR NOVEMBER

November was a good month for Toby Edmonds, (pictured) collecting $48,450 in QTIS bonus prizemoney to claim the leading 2YO QTIS Trainer for November. He had a clear run ahead of Les Ross on $16,200 while Angela Stephens, John Sigginton and Ricky Ludwig all earnt $12,750 in QTIS bonus prizemoney for third.

Toby is currently top of the seasonal table on $61,200, well ahead of Ben Currie with $36,750 and he had Kelly Schweida and Robert Heathcote nipping at his heels, both collecting $31,500 in QTIS bonuses so far this season.

Toby also had a good month with his 3YOs and pocketed $37,250 in QTIS prizemoney, but he was pipped at the post by David Vandyke on $55,750 to take top spot for November with Toowoomba trainer Kevin Kemp in third on $36,750.

Despite not making the top three in November, Les Ross leads the 3YO QTIS Premiership with an impressive $119,500 in the first four months of the season, followed by Steven O'Dea on $113, 850 and David Vandyke is third with $107,200.

See the QTIS Trainers Premiership table here

 

LEADING QTIS RUNNERS IN NOVEMBER

 

Lyndhurst Stud's first season sire, Better than Ready has rocked the 2YO scene, but it was the former Queensland Champion, Jet Spur to have the leading performer for November with Champagne Jet (pictured) earning $36,750 in QTIS bonus prizemoney. Mishani Desire, by Real Saga came in second on $16,200 and two Better than Ready runners, Better Reflection and Lepreezy, along with Kodai, by Sidereus were equal third with $12,750 in QTIS bonus prizemoney.

Jet Spur currently leads the 2YO season table for QTIS with two of his runners sharing the top spot, Champagne Jet and Mishani Spirit. The Odyssey, by Better than Ready and Guntantes, by Rothesay are in equal second on $31,500, with Button Pusher by Grandview Stud sire, Whittington making up the trifecta after collecting $28,500 in QTIS earnings so far this season.

See the 2YO QTIS table here

For the 3YOs, Spirit of Boom continues his good form, with Plumaro raking in the most earnings for QTIS 3yos alongside Hold the Line, both collected $36,750 in QTIS prizemoney in November. Real Saga's Coastal Prince had a metro win and earnt $24,500 with Barefoot, by Show a Heart close behind on $23,250.

Hold the Line currently leads the season ladder for 3YOs, with a total of $84,000 in QTIS prizemoney, Defence Missile by Love Conquers All sits in second sport with $80,5000 and Gypsy Toof, by Toorak Toff is third with $51,000.

Leading 3YO QTIS Performers here

RQ & BRC CONFIRM RETURN TO EAGLE FARM

Racing Queensland, in conjunction with the Brisbane Racing Club (BRC), has confirmed the Saturday metropolitan thoroughbred meeting scheduled for 22 December 2018 will be transferred from Doomben to Eagle Farm.

The change in venue follows successful barrier trials and jump-outs held at Eagle Farm on Tuesday morning.

Read More...

 

RQ ANNOUNCES PRIZEMONEY INCREASE

 

Racing Queensland Chairman Steve Wilson has announced $550,000 in prize money increases for non-TAB thoroughbred racing as part of the state government’s welcomed $18 million allocation for thoroughbred prize money.

The announcement comes in the wake of the highly successful $75,000 Country Cups Challenge Final; one of a number of new country racing initiatives introduced by Racing Queensland over the past two years.

Mr Wilson said minimum prizemoney for all non-TAB thoroughbred races will rise to $7450 with the payment for first place rising to $5000. 

The increases come into effect on Saturday, 15 December 2018 and were finalised after consultation with the Country Racing Advisory Panel.

Details here...

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