QTIS 600 SALE HAILED A MAJOR SUCCESS IN NORTH QUEENSLAND

The inaugural QTIS 600 Sale has been hailed an instant success in North Queensland with nine of the 14 acceptances from the historical Pallarenda Stakes in Townsville next Tuesday, October 6, purchased at the Magic Millions QTIS 600 Sale on the Gold Coast in March.

Queensland Racing Limited (QRL) initiated the QTIS 600 scheme during the 2008/09 financial year and backed this incentive scheme with an extensive marketing and promotional campaign throughout Queensland.

In addition to being eligible for $6.04 million in QTIS bonuses, horses paid up for QTIS 600 are also eligible for $4.83 million in QTIS 600 bonuses and restricted races.

An added incentive of the Magic Millions QTIS 600 Sale was that these horses also received free entry into the $5.975 million Magic Millions race series, taking the total value of bonuses and restricted races for these horses to $16.845 million.

The logical favourite for the Pallarenda Stakes, Whitsunday Express, was extremely impressive in a recent Townsville barrier trial, with a winning margin of five and a half lengths and running close to one second quicker than the other heats conducted on the day.

Whitsunday Express is trained at Charters Towers by Cheryl Williams and was purchased for $25,000 at the Magic Millions QTIS 600 Sale. Interestingly, this colt has the opportunity to repay this purchase price at his first race start with the Pallarenda carrying winning prizemoney of $12,800, and a total of $14,000 in QTIS and QTIS 600 additional bonuses. Due to his eligibility into the QTIS and QTIS 600 schemes, Whitsunday Express will be running for $26,800 if successful.

QRL’s racing services manager, Paul Brennan said this is the largest number of entries received for the Pallarenda Stakes in a considerable period.

“All looks well for the first of the QTIS 600 restricted races in Cairns on Saturday, October 24, 2009 with the running of a $50,000 QTIS 600 2YO Plate over 960 metres,” said Mr Brennan.

“One of the key objectives of this initiative was to provide increased incentive for regional stakeholders to purchase yearlings and race them throughout their two-year-old season. Although this is the first two-year-old race to carry a QTIS 600 bonus, all signs appear positive as to the success of this initiative.

“Without doubt the assistance received from the Townsville Turf Club’s Michael Charge and Far North Queensland media personality ‘Bluey’ Forsyth was instrumental in the successful implementation of this initiative into North Queensland.”

For further information contact QRL senior communications officer Hollie Roberts on 07 3869 9760.