Racing Queensland (RQ) has increased prizemoney for eight races over the Queensland Winter Carnival, meaning there are now seven AU$1 million events to be run and won each year in the Sunshine State.
Increases to both the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) and Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) will mean that there are five $1 million races during the Winter Carnival, with those two races joining the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) and The Q22 (2200m).
While those two Group 1 races are boosted significantly into seven-figure territory, six other races will also receive a prizemoney bump – including the Queensland Oaks (2200m) and Tattersall's Tiara (1400m), with both rising $100,000 to $700,000.
Racing Minister Grace Grace believes that the 2022 Queensland Winter Carnival will be the biggest and “most exciting one yet”.
“If past Carnivals are anything to go by, we are in for another incredible year with three $1 million features on Stradbroke Day alone,” she said.
“This means seven races throughout the Carnival with $1 million per race up for grabs – there really is no better place to come and race during the winter months.
“It was incredible to see young and emerging superstars like Zaaki, Eduardo and our very own Incentivise starring throughout the Spring Carnival and I'm excited to see how they build on this success.
“I'm looking forward to next year's Carnival being our most exciting one yet.”
On top of the generous prizemoney increases to feature races in the state, there will also be a number of bonus schemes introduced in 2022.
Should the winner or the runner-up of the Queensland Derby and Queensland Oaks head on to compete in the second running of The Q22 and finish in the top three, they will receive a $100,000 cash bonus or a $250,000 QTISx voucher.
As well as that, Oaks Day (June 4) is set to be one of the richest days on the Queensland racing calendar for local gallopers, as every race on the program will include a $25,000 QTIS cash bonus or a $50,000 QTISx voucher to eligible winners.
“We really want to hero Queensland on Oaks Day with the Magic Millions National Classic and the QTIS bonuses,” RQ CEO Brendan Parnell said.
“Our three-year-old program has really been bolstered, with the prize money increases for the Oaks and Derby, along with the Q22 incentives and the increase for the Winx Guineas.
“We want to see Australia's stars campaign during winter, and these enhancements support that, with older horses able to come through the Hollindale (Stakes), a richer Doomben Cup and then onto the Q22.
“Once again, the fillies and mares program gets a boost with the Tiara and the Tattersall's 3YO Fillies, while the time-honoured Eye Liner also enjoys a raise.”
This year's spring races in Sydney and Melbourne featured six individual Group 1 winners that came through the 2021 Queensland Winter Carnival.
Wild Ruler and Jonker were successful in Moonee Valley's sprinting Group 1 races, taking out the Moir Stakes (1000m) and the Manikato Stakes (1200m) respectively, while Doomben 10,000 winner Eduardo went on to finish third in The Everest (1200m) behind Nature Strip and Masked Crusader.
Incentivise and Zaaki combined to win five Group 1 races during the spring, including the former's dominant Caulfield Cup (2400m) win.
“Stradbroke Season is where the stars of tomorrow emerge and use as a launching pad to win lucrative races in the spring,” Brisbane Racing Club CEO Tony Partridge said.
“Results of The Everest, and the past decade of Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and the Cox Plate show that racing at that time of year is conducive to success in those races.
“Stradbroke Season is a huge drawcard and combined with seven individual $1 million races and other features on the calendar enhanced, the interest in Queensland racing is going to be stronger than ever in 2022.”
The Queensland Summer Carnival is in full swing as horses head towards the Magic Millions Raceday at the Gold Coast on January 15, where two of the state's richest races – the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) and the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) – will be run and won.
Prizemoney increases:
- Queensland Derby – rises to $1 million from $600,000
- Doomben Cup – rises to $1 million from $700,000
- Queensland Oaks – rises to $700,000 from $600,000
- BRC Sprint – rises to $250,000 from $175,000
- Moreton Cup – rises to $250,000 from $200,000
- Tattersall's Tiara – rises to $700,000 from $600,000
- Eye Liner – rises to $200,000 from $175,000
- Winx Guineas – rises to $200,000 from $175,000
Distance changes:
- Tattersall's Stakes – Now 1400m, was 1800m
- Bright Shadow Stakes – Now 1110m, was 1200m
- Oxlade Stakes – Now 1300m, was 1200m
New race:
- $150,000 Tattersall's 3YO Fillies (1200m)