Queensland Harness Racing is set to shine on the national stage when the 2016 Queensland Winter Harness Racing Carnival kicks off tonight at Redcliffe, with the running of the 2016 Garrard’s Redcliffe Yearling Sale Series Final (1780m).
With $80,000 in prize money up for grabs, the Group 2 feature race will be the jewel in the crown on an exciting night of racing.
A grand total of $149,000 in prize money is on offer this Friday night and the quality and depth of horses attending has impressed Redcliffe Harness Racing Club president Bernie Ring.
“The Yearling Sale Series Final is a strong field. It offers newcomers a great chance to buy into harness racing on a grass roots level and win the great money that’s on offer,” said Ring.
Local trainer Kylie Rasmussen will be well represented with three runners; Vintage Dream (1), Heart Of Change NZ (2) and Changeoverme (6).
Heart of Change is the $2.25 favourite with UBET ahead of Vintage Dream ($3.30) and Changeoverme ($5.50)
The Wayne and Shane Graham-trained January (7) is rated as a $5.50 chance while heat winner Lucifers Legend (9) for trainer Edd Bailey is at the longer odds of $21.00.
Another noteworthy race on the card this Friday $20,000 2016 Comfort Inn & Suites Redcliffe Derby (2040m) which has attracted one of the strongest collection of three-year-olds in the race’s history with both interstate and locals in the mix.
Trainer Grant Dixon will boast three runners including Leos Best (3), Get In The Groove (6), who in her last start won the Group 1 Fillies Triad, and Frankie Rocks (7), who won the Group 1 Colts & Geldings Triad at his last start.
From across the border, NSW trainer Kristin Cunningham has two runners in Roarn (2), who was a brilliant winner of the Colts & Geldings Triad Consolation in faster time than the Final, while Boobalaga Road (10) is also in impressive form, winning his last three starts in NSW including win over Roarn at Young and a victory in which the track record at Canberra was broken three starts ago.
New Zealand visitor My Mastercraftsman NZ (8) is unbeaten from two starts this season for local trainer Adam Sanderson and is drawn on the second row.
After attracting a strong list of nominations for the Derby, Racing Operations Harness Manager Brett Rail said a Derby Consolation had been added to the program in order to give an opportunity for the three-year-olds who just failed to make the cut for the Derby prove themselves for future races throughout the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.
“We received a total of 19 nominations for the Redcliffe Derby and with nine quality horses missing a run in the main race a Consolation of the Derby was added to give those nine three-year-olds a chance to prove themselves for other upcoming features including the Gold Coast and Queensland Derbys,” said Rail.
Visiting NSW trainer Belinda McCarthy has Living Again poised in gate two for the Derby Consolation, against the likes of stablemates Gasmonkey (9), Cherish The Moment (8), Sams A Champ (4) and Oliver Winkle (1).
“In my 20 odd years in harness I have never known Redcliffe to have a consolation on the Derby, it’s a great start to the Winter Carnival,” Redcliffe Harness Racing President Bernie Ring said.
“It will start and finish here in Redcliffe, with the Morton Bay Regional Council Redcliffe Gold Cup tying up the Winter Carnival on July 30.”
“It’s shaping up to be a good year and we’re travelling along well.”
A strong support card is assembled, commencing with the Terry Flynn Claiming Pace at 6:47pm.
For further information please contact:
Communications Manager Adam Gardini on 0438 733 738 or email agardini@racingqueensland.com.au
Communications Officer Michelle Anderson on 0408 579 285 or email
manderson@racingqueensland.com.au
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