Ladies Day bonus push
2K Thoroughbreds owner Sterling Cincotta has spruiked a new racing concept for the Magic Millions carnival he believes will keep female owners in racing.
Cincotta said Magic Millions and Racing Queensland officials should consider offering a new women’s racing bonus in the Gold Coast race meeting in the week leading into the annual race day.
Magic Millions currently offers $500,000 in bonuses to the connections of the top five all-female owned horses in the 2YO Classic.
Cincotta said many missed out on getting to the main race and suggested offering a bonus in a threeyear-old race the week before would provide greater incentive for females to retain their share and stay engaged.
“The overall scheme is going to increase each year by way of numbers and it’s a concept I have been thinking about,” Cincotta said.
“The Saturday before Magic Millions has been used as the Ladies Day and I think there is room to put on a three-year-old race, a 1200m with a smaller women’s bonus or even a women’s-only race.
“It offers something to the ladies, ties in nicely to the theme of the day and provides an opportunity with programming where you can still target the 1400m ($2 million) 3YO Guineas on Magic Millions day the week after.
“It gets everyone reengaged through the summer period without having the pressure of always reinvesting. It gets more women to Ladies Day and it adds to the carnival.
“The race could have a $100,000 bonus for the female connections or $200,000 spread across first to fourth.
“It wouldn’t be hard to find someone to sponsor it. I’d consider it.”
His comments come as 2K Thoroughbreds horse and 2019 2YO Classic runner Champagne Jet prepares to race in today’s QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1200m) at Doomben.