PRIZE FIGHTING
Coast battle next turns to pay equality
RACING Queensland could reveal as early as today how $26 million in prizemoney will be distributed, with Gold Coast racing officials set to deliver their own wishlist.
The governing body will hold a board meeting either today or tomorrow to decide by how much prizemoney will be increased across metropolitan, provincial and country tracks in Queensland.
The bulk of Gold Coast’s racing is at provincial level, with most races currently carrying $16,000 in prizemoney – including $10,400 for first – for those finishing in the top four.
Gold Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook said he wanted provincial races to carry a minimum of $22,000 in prizemoney, with participants paid back to 10th place.
It would mirror the money and format on offer at country tracks just over the border in NSW, including Murwillumbah, Grafton, Casino, Lismore and Ballina. “There are two arguments for it,” Cook (pictured) said.
“You can increase it for one, two and three or go to 10. From an industry point of view if it went to 10 it would be a better option because you can cover your expenses as a trainer and owner the further you get down the line.
“If we can match the northern NSW rivers that would be a good result.
“We don’t mind if a couple of our lower-grade races are about $18,000 and a couple at $25,000.”
The thoroughbred industry secured the added revenue for prizemoney following tense discussions with the Queensland Government that forced racing participants in the state to strike on Cox Plate day on Saturday. A second strike on Melbourne Cup day will no longer go ahead after the deal was struck.
Cook confirmed the club lost between $50,000 and $70,000 in revenue due to about 200 cancellations for their functions on Saturday, while they were forced to discount patrons and sponsorship deals for the race day.
“We still had about 1200 people through in our corporate space so it wasn’t too bad,” Cook said.
“The crowd and public numbers were still reasonably good despite some of our members not attending.”
TRAINER Chris Waller has given a strong hint that champion mare Winx will have her racing swan song in Sydney next autumn.
Waller won’t nominate a race but there is speculation Winx will be retired after contesting the Group 1 $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes during The Championships at Royal Randwick on April 13.
Winx scored a famous fourth consecutive win in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday but it now appears very unlikely the great mare will still be in training to contest the race for a fifth time next spring.
Waller would not be drawn on future plans for Winx until the mighty mare undergoes a thorough veterinary examination before spelling, and he has an opportunity to discuss all the options with her owners, Debbie Kepitis, Richard Treweeke and Peter Tighe.
Winx is a seven-year-old mare and seems to be racing as well as ever but Waller is also aware that time will eventually catch up with her.
“I would say we will have to intervene at some stage and label a race as her last race,’’ Waller said yesterday.
“I have no idea where it would be. I would love it to be a certain race towards the end of the carnival and The Championships but I dare not say that.
“It is not fair on the horse and the people that start betting on these races because we could pull the pin on any stage.
“Even people booking longrange flights and those coming from the country to watch her, it’s not fair to get them all hyped up for another preparation and then we pull the pin.
“It would be great to label a day – we will give it plenty of thought.’’
Waller tends to stick to what works with Winx and in recent years he has followed a similar race preparation during Sydney autumn carnivals.
So, if Winx were to continue racing next season, it is likely
she would resume in either the Apollo Stakes (1400m) or the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), then go to the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) before the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Winx has won three Chipping Nortons and three George Ryders in succession and the last two Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Winx’s greatness is defined by her longevity; she has won 29 races in succession, 33 in total, has been unbeatable for more than three years, claimed a world record 22 Group 1 wins and amassed $22.9 million prizemoney – simply staggering statistics.
IT’S NOT FAIR TO GET THEM ALL HYPED UP … AND THEN WE PULL THE PIN CHRIS WALLER