In Reflection QTIS 600 registration is a necessity
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Reflection of Jade returns with a $74,000 cheque in only her second start (Noel Pascoe photo)
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Talk around racing circles has definitely been focussed on Queensland’s added stakes incentive in recent times, and with good reason as registered horses each week are returning impressive sums of money for their connections.
Saturday, November 21 at Eagle was no different as four QTIS and QTIS 600 registered horses returned to scale with a healthy cheque under their limb totalling $151,000, which included an unbelievable $72,000 in prizemoney bonuses because of their eligibility.
The star of the day, in prizemoney terms, was the Kelly Schweida-trained Reflection of Jade who won the RBWH Stakes QTIS 600 2YO Fillies Handicap 1000m.
The two-year-old filly, ridden by Jim Byrne, recorded a victory in only her second start. This entitled her to $74,000 in total prizemoney from this race alone including $42,000 in QTIS and QTIS 600 added stakes for connections, which is headlined by sole owner and chairman of the Brisbane Racing Club, Kevin Dixon.
To best explain the impact of QTIS and QTIS 600 registration, a win in the same race for a non-eligible horse would have returned only $32,000.
Stories are rolling in of owners from around the state who are taking advantage of the incentive scheme after purchasing horses for what now proves to be a minimal outlay.
Reflection of Jade, sired by Show a Heart, was joined in the QTIS beneficiaries circle by second and third placed Wandering Star (Stathi Katsidis) and Raise Up (Damian Browne) respectively.
Wandering Star, a filly trained by Liam Birchley, fell three quarters of length to Reflection of Jade, however provided owners with a $16,000 payday, which consisted of $6000 in solely QTIS bonus stakes.
Raise Up, also exclusively QTIS registered, had Wandering Star’s nose separate her from the post, but was still the recipient of an $8000 cheque, boosted by a $3000 QTIS bonus.
To make the Reflection of Jade story that little bit sweeter for Dixon was the fact the filly came with no price tag. The owner raced her dam Miss Raffin Dane, a half sister to Group race winner Buck’s Pride, and hence bred from her to produce what is now a very profitable little filly.
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A profitable QTIS race win has allayed any worries for Howard Wilson to run Fifteen Carat at the Magic Millions
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To open proceedings at the Eagle Farm raceday, a very impressive performance from Fifteen Carat out of the Howard Wilson stables saw the three-year-old earn a $21,000 QTIS bonus from his $53,000 in total prizemoney in the QR Reds QTIS 3YO Handicap 1400m.
Almost of equal importance to connections was the way in which the gelding marched over the top of the field in the straight after giving up plenty of ground for the majority of the trip.
Jockey Stathi Katsidis had the gelding rested eight lengths behind the pacesetters from the barriers, and had made little movement by the top of the straight still trailing by six lengths.
Katsidis eventually gave the nod and Fifteen Carat answered with a blistering gallop down the centre of the track to record his much anticipated maiden win by a neck.
The performance was best summed up by Brisbane racecaller Wayne Wilson as he exclaimed “That’s unbelievable!” as the Show a Heart gelding passed the post.
Katsidis also had nothing but praise for the three-year-old. “I’ve rode him twice, and both times I’ve had no luck on him. The first time I got caught three wide on him and now he’s made himself worthy of Howard’s and my opinion of him,” he said.
“I knew he had to be really good to pick them up from there (six lengths back). A lot of horses will dart to them and then not be able to go on with the job. He made a 400 metre run and was able to go on with it.”
This marked Fifteen Carat’s first attempt at the 1400 metre trip and the extra furlong or two may prove the difference for the gelding in future trips, which looks to include a date with the Magic Millions Carnival.
“It was a big run,” said trainer Wilson. “I thought he got too far back again, but he’s a very smart horse.
“I think we’re going to give him an ease-up and get him ready for the Magic Millions. The only reason we kept him going is he didn’t have enough prizemoney to get in the Magic Millions.”
Wilson has Fifteen Carat’s QTIS registration and victory to thank for any prizemoney qualms in the future.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Ross Dowd – November 23
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