Changes to QTIS scheme earn positive reviews from state’s breeders
Four-year-olds now eligible for lucrative Queensland breeder incentive as prize-money also increased
Racing Queensland will boost its popular breeder incentive scheme to the tune of $1.4 million per year and make four-year-olds eligible for the lucrative bonuses while also increasing TAB race meeting prize-money levels across the state.
The governing body yesterday announced it would enhance QTIS, make the three-year-old Jewel (1200m) worth $500,000, and add a fillies and mares race to the Gold Coast meeting in March.
The funding was part of a wider three-code $15.5 million plan, which has the backing of the recently returned Queensland Labor government and will include increased prize-money for restricted Saturday metropolitan races, which are set to rise from $50,000 to $55,000, as South East Queensland provincial races are also upped by $1,000 to $22,000.
The Toowoomba meetings will also gain an extra $1,000 per race, bringing the total to $20,000.
Racing Queensland also announced:
- Five showcase South East Queensland provincial Queensland meetings with races worth $25,000 to be held each month;
- The P1 meetings, such as Townsville, Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton, will have prize-money lifted by $500 to $18,500;
- The jockeys’ riding fee will increase from $212 to $225 this financial year, at a cost of $590,000 per year, and to $230 from July 1, 2022; and
- $3.5 million to support key infrastructure projects this financial year, including on-course stabling to assist sustainability of clubs and horse numbers.
Craiglea Stud’s Stan Johnston, vice-president of the Queensland Thoroughbred Breeders Association, welcomed the prize-money increases and the changes to the QTIS scheme.
“The four-year-old QTIS is really important. We have been advocating for it for a long time, but we haven’t had the money and we accept that. I wouldn’t be racing horses if we didn’t have QTIS,” Johnston told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday.
“It is only natural that I am in favour of that. It is very important. It is the lifeblood of our breeding industry and that is why we are producing horses like Better Than Ready and Spirit Of Boom and it is why they are staying in Queensland.”
Larrikin Johnston, who races a team of homebreds trained by his daughter Krystle, all of whom carry the moniker Craiglea, is a stalwart of the Queensland racing and breeding industry, particularly in the country.
“When we started going up north, I was the only one going up there with QTIS horses and now everyone’s got a QTIS horse going to Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns,” said Johnston, who is based near the Sunshine Coast.
“They never used to have QTIS horses as they’d all buy second-hand horses, but that’s developed now and owners and trainers are looking for QTIS horses, and that’s helped our breeding industry.
“That is the only reason why, because of the increased prize-money you can earn through QTIS.
“I used to go up there to Mackay and I had seven of seven, but now I am flat out getting in the race.”
QTIS bonuses have been paid on two- and three-year-old races for first, second and third with fillies receiving an extra 50 per cent, meaning a filly who lands a Saturday race can win approximately $80,000. Four-year-olds have now been added to the scheme.
Lyndhurst Stud principal Jeff Kruger, who stands Better Than Ready (More Than Ready) and Rothesay (Fastnet Rock), described the announcement as ‘great news’ but also warned that owners and trainers statewide needed to benefit from prize-money increases.
“Two- and three-year-old racing in the metropolitan area has been great for a couple of years, so much so that the Sydney trainers are bringing horses up here, particularly at this time of year for the summer carnival and Magic Millions,” Kruger said.
“But Queensland has a lot of tracks – it has over 130 tracks statewide – and as long as everyone is getting a go because those guys in those regional areas are the lifeline supporting my stallions.”
Kruger says Queensland trainers have long been strong supporters of QTIS and hopes the change will help incentivise more owners to back it by purchasing yearlings at the Magic Millions January and the March QTIS sales on the Gold Coast.
He said: “Most Brisbane and Toowoomba trainers tell me they only want QTIS horses. There is no point going around in two- and three-year-old races in Brisbane for half the prize-money that everyone else can go around for.
“Tony Sears, for one, I think has only got QTIS horses in his stable.”
The move by Racing Queensland follows on from prize-money increases and a boost to SABOIS in South Australia, changes which came into effect on Tuesday.
“It is important that we provide all participants with the confidence to continue to work and invest within the Queensland racing industry,” Racing Queensland chairman Steve Wilson said.
“As a result, we are providing strategic funding for our three codes, with a strong emphasis on commercial competitiveness at the grass roots and making Queensland attractive for all participants.
“These strategic investments are made possible thanks to the Palaszczuk government confirming that the Country Racing Program would be renewed for two further years from 2021, as well as the strong commercial performance of RQ amidst the global pandemic.”