Qld expands winter feature racing campaign
Queensland’s winter feature-racing season has been extended into July with 10 extra races.
Racing Queensland originally scrapped the entire winter carnival but under pressure from race clubs and trainers reinstated some races.
It is currently conducting a vastly reduced winter which will see only two of the usual eight Group One races run – the Stradbroke Handicap and JJ Atkins on Saturday week.
Racing in the state has been run under strict biosecurity measures because of the coronavirus restrictions.
Race clubs, owners and trainers called for more feature races as restrictions were gradually lifted in other areas.
Racing Queensland has announced additional feature races from late June into July at reduced prize money levels.
The Group Three Queensland Sapphire Stakes will be run at Doomben on June 27 with the Bright Shadow Handicap at Eagle Farm on July 4.
The following week the Sunshine Coast Turf Club will run the Group 3 Winx Guineas for the first time under its new name and the Listed Glasshouse Handicap.
Feature racing will return to Ipswich with the Gai Waterhouse Classic and Eye Liner Handicap on July 18.
“With the Magic Millions National Sale on the horizon, we wanted to provide some further feature racing, in particular for our fillies and mares,” RQ’s chief operations officer Adam Wallish said.
“The limited program ensures we are able to host feature racing at Ipswich for the first time this year.”