The recently announced Brisbane Racing Club initiative to boost the depth of 2012 Stradbroke Handicap acceptors this Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, which is expected to create an unprecedented amount of interest in the $1 million feature, has received a personal endorsement from the trainer of the country’s undefeated sprint queen Black Caviar – Peter Moody.
Peter Moody pictured with Luke Nolen, has expressed pensive plans to bring Black Caviar back to Brisbane this Winter Carnival
For the first time in Queensland racing history, this year two races will be part of an invitational scheme where the winning horses from a number of key lead-up features from around Australia and New Zealand will receive an automatic, all-expenses-paid ballot free ride into the field for the $400,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 2 and the $1 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 9.
The winners from both of these races will then feature in a new race dibbed the ‘Australasian Challenge’ to vie for the title of the year’s best racehorse.
Full details of the new 2012 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival Initiative can be found by following the link.
Already Queensland’s richest and most prestigious race, the 2012 Stradbroke Handicap is shaping up as the most exciting edition of the time-honoured sprint since its inauguration in 1890.
Races eligible for the Stradbroke invite are the already run Winterbottom Stakes won by Ortensia, $1 million Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 1, the $1 million Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 14, the $350,000 Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 12 and New Zealand’s Group 1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m) running at Trentham this Saturday January 21.
Victoria’s premier horseman Moody has expressed his full support for the concept, which had it been in place last year, would have seen his champion mare Black Caviar invited to race in the 2011 Stradbroke Handicap field for her blistering three-length Newmarket Handicap victory.
“This is certainly a great way to end our racing year,” the Queensland-bred Moody said.
“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.”
Moody has pensive plans to bring his $4.38 million earner Black Caviar back to Brisbane this winter after she won the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) last Queensland Carnival.
Another person firmly in favour of the initiative is Sydney’s leading lady of racing Gai Waterhouse who was admittedly excited over the prospect of so many elite level winners being given the chance to face off in Queensland winter sun.
“It’s a great concept because you’re bringing together the best of the best,” she said.
“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.”
The 2012 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival kicks off on May 12 with BTC Cup Day and continues through until June 9 with Stradbroke Handicap Day featuring a triple shot of Group 1 racing action.
For all the latest news and race updates leading up to the Brisbane Carnival, bookmark us here at Races.com.au.
In the meantime, Sydney and Melbourne are set to host a plethora of thoroughbred majors throughout the autumn with all the hottest odds on the events available online at Luxbet.
Sign up with Luxbet today quoting the exclusive codeword BONUSBET when making your initial deposit to have it matched 100% as a bonus bet valued up to a generous $400!
