The most talked about Queensland racing initiative in years has hit the mark for industry stakeholders in its first season, and instalment two of QTIS 600 looks set to be bigger and better.
The 2010 QTIS 600 Sales hit the Gold Coast Magic Millions complex on Sunday, March 21 and Monday, March 22 and plenty of buyers will be looking to duplicate the successes of last year’s QTIS 600 graduates.
Saturday, before the sales, the $250,000 QTIS 600 Two-Year-Old Plate 1200m will be conducted at the Gold Coast.
The race is restricted to QTIS 600 registered horses only and forms part of the $1.5 million QTIS 600 race series. The race attracted 35 nominations where unfortunately there is a prizemoney ballot for the 16 starting positions.
The unbeaten gelding “Steel Dragon” recently took out his fourth win from as many starts in the $150,000 QTIS 600 2YO Plate at Townsville, bringing his total prizemoney to $163,800.
Previously trained in Townsville by Ray Long “Steel Dragon” was purchased for $22,000 by his Townsville owners Graham Nicolls and Neville Walsh at the January 2009 Magic Millions Yearling Sales. The gelding has since been transferred to Gold Coast trainer Gillian Heinrich. By registering the horse for QTIS 600, $138,000 of his total earnings have come from QTIS 600 bonuses and series winnings.
The township of Ayr is represented by “Bianca Jewel”. Owned by Joe Rapisardo, the filly will take her place in the field after earning $77,500 in prizemoney including $44,000 in QTIS and QTIS 600 bonuses.
“Marking Time” is trained on the Gold Coast by trainer Alan Bailey and was purchased at the 2009 QTIS 600 Sales for $52,000.
The gelding has enjoyed two wins and two seconds to take home $148,500 in prizemoney including $68,000 in bonuses.
Brisbane will be represented by the starters, “Hidden Kisses”, “Huff and Puff” and “Reflection of Jade”. All have earned over $74,000 in prizemoney and bonuses from just one win after registering for QTIS 600.
Downs horses will prove a force to be reckoned with in the Gold Coast feature race.
“Dulacca Jet”, prepared by Toowoomba trainer Kevin Kemp, recently won the $50,000 QTIS 600 series race at Dalby and followed it up with a mid-week win at the Gold Coast.
This win bought the filly’s total prizemoney to $56,750, well and truly recouping her sales purchase price.
Roma trainer Craig Smith will present “Lambert” who is looking to add another scalp to his tally of one win and two seconds for his syndicate of nine owners.
Two thirds of Bundaberg-based “Queen of Happiness” prizemoney has come from bonus winnings.
The $9000 purchase has won her last two starts at Rockhampton and her earnings tally is $13,000 in prizmoney plus another $28,000 in QTIS and QTIS 600 bonuses for Noosa owners John and Kathleen Hoffman.
Heading for her 11th start, “Tough Luck”, who is trained on the Sunshine Coast by Robert Bradshaw, has certainly earned her keep travelling from the Gold Coast to Townsville and everywhere in between.
To highlight the extent to which the QTIS 600 Sales has encouraged first-time owners into the game, “Tough Luck” was purchased for only $9000 and has returned $271,250 in her first year of racing after following the lucrative QTIS 600 Race Series and regular QTIS 600 feature races at Queensland’s provincial tracks.
The added stakes incentive has dramatically increased the interest in Queensland-bred racehorses by benefiting breeders, first-time owners and long-time enthusiasts alike.
Restricted additional races are programmed each racing season which provide over $16 million in extra prizemoney and benefits available to QTIS 600 registered horses.
With increased races and prizemoney there is more opportunity to participate and succeed in the sport you love, and ask any owner, there’s nothing like the feeling of cheering your own horse to victory.
The 2010 QTIS 600 Magic Millions Yearling Sales initiative continues to enhance the overall Queensland Racing QTIS scheme by providing a ‘double-up bonus’ to dual registered horses.
The sale is only available to a select band of 462 QTIS registered and Queensland-bred yearlings.
The following year, as two-year-olds, QTIS 600 graduates are eligible to contest the $4.83 million QTIS 600 Race and Bonus Series, as well as being eligible for $6.04 million in standard QTIS bonuses and receive free entry into the lucrative $5.15 million Magic Millions Race Series.
All this is offered for a $3300 QTIS 600 registration fee, which pales in comparison to the success stories of the 2009 QTIS 600 Sales.
To find out how easy and surprisingly inexpensive it is to enter into the horseracing ownership game please contact Queensland Racing for a QTIS 600 brochure or visit www.qtis600.com.au.
A copy of the ballot order for the QTIS 600 2YO Plate accompanies this email.QUEENSLAND RACING MEDIA RELEASE
For further information contact QRL senior communications officer Hollie Roberts on 07 3869 9760.