Australia’s best are Brisbane bound for Carnival 2012!
The Brisbane Racing Club (BRC) today announced an initiative aimed at attracting Australasia’s best racehorses to
Queensland for the 2012 Brisbane Racing Carnival.
The initiative, which is being jointly funded by the Queensland Government through Events Queensland, and the BRC will see the race entry fees and travel expenses covered for select horses invited to compete in the Gr1 Treasury Casino Queensland Oaks (three-year-old fillies - 2400m) and Gr1 AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
“Our vision was to create the ultimate showdown of Australasia’s racing champions here in Brisbane, setting a new
benchmark in Australian racing which champions our local industry,” said BRC Chairman Kevin Dixon.
“We anticipate this initiative, along with the wonderful Brisbane Racing Carnival atmosphere and mild Queensland winter weather, will entice the connections of Australasia’s best sprinters and staying fillies to take on the best in their league in either the Treasury Casino Queensland Oaks or the AAMI Stradbroke,” Dixon said.
Horses become eligible for the invitational scheme if they win select sprint legs or Oaks races in Australasia in the lead upto the 2012 Brisbane Carnival.
“The greatest races always involve great horses. For example, under this initiative, world-class champion mare Black Caviar would have been invited to race in the 2011 AAMI Stradbroke field alongside Australasia’s other top champions such as King Mufhasa,” Dixon said.
“We look forward to these two races being the highlights of the Brisbane Racing Carnival in 2012.”
Queensland Racing Minister Tim Mulherin said: “This initiative is great news for both the local thoroughbred industry and will further enhance the profile of Brisbane racing.
“In 2011, more than 68,000 people attended the Brisbane Racing Carnival – which is great for the local economy,
businesses and jobs.
“Hosting major events like the Brisbane Racing Carnival, including the Stradbroke Handicap and the Queensland Oaks is part of our plan to continue building Queensland’s bright future – and encourage visitors to escape from the southernwinter chill and head to Queensland.”
Events Queensland CEO John O’Sullivan said the initiative would help further enhance Brisbane’s profile as an events destination.
“This initiative follows unprecedented growth in our major events calendar,” Mr O’Sullivan said. “In 2012, we will see anumber of significant sporting, arts and cultural events for Brisbane including Matisse: Drawing Life, QPAC InternationalPerformance Series, Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces from the Prado, 34th International Geological Congress, WorldTheatre Festival, Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb and the Rugby Union Castrol Edge Welsh Tour.”
This initiative will see the winners of Australasian sprints including the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on March 10, the T.J. Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick on April 14, The Goodwood at Morphettville on May 12 and the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham Racecourse, New Zealand on Saturday, January 21 invited to Brisbane.
The three-year-old staying fillies winners in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) on March 17, the WA Oaks at Ascot on
March 31, the ATC Oaks on April 21 and the Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on April 28 will be invited to Brisbane.
Eligible horses so far include the Paul Mesarra trained Ortensia (2011 Winterbottom Stakes Winner) and the Robert
Smerdon trained Mosheen (2011 VRC Oaks Winner).
“The Queensland Winter Racing Carnival has a long history of attracting Australasia’s leading thoroughbreds and this joint initiative can only further enhance the quality of horse competing in our Group 1 races. Racing Queensland
congratulates the Queensland Government for their continued support of the Queensland racing industry through the allocation of funds by Events Queensland for this initiative,” said Racing Queensland Limited Chairman, Bob Bentley.
Gai Waterhouse threw her support behind the initiative declaring it to be a great concept.
“It’s a great concept because you’re bringing together the best of the best. To think you’re going to bring together a
number of Group 1 winners from the other handicaps around Australia and New Zealand only can make for better racing and a better quality field.”
Black Caviar Trainer Peter Moody said: “This is certainly a great way to end our racing year. It goes a long way to forming part of a championship of racing here in Australia where we can have fun in the sun in the middle of winter in Queensland!”
The Brisbane Racing Club Chairman was also ecstatic to announce a new partnership with Brisbane BMW & Westside BMW.
“Any trainer who has a placegetter (1st – 4th) in both the Doomben 10,000 and the Stradbroke Handicap will have a chance to select 1 of 50 keys which will unlock a new BMW 5 Series Sedan with a retail value of $95,139 drive away. Should no trainer achieve that feat, the winning trainer of the Stradbroke Handicap will be extended that opportunity.
“We feel this is yet a further opportunity to reward a trainer for their support of our Carnival in preparing their horses to run in our feature events,” said Mr Dixon.
The Brisbane Racing Carnival will take place at Doomben and Eagle Farm Racecourses between May 12 and June 9.
The $1 million AAMI Stradbroke will be run on Saturday, June 9 with the $400,000 Treasury Casino Queensland Oaks run the week earlier on Saturday, June 2. Both events are conducted at Eagle Farm Racecourse.
Carnival Hospitality Packages go on sale early February 2012.
