Queensland responsible for three of likely top five Australian-bred horses

RATINGS are likely to show Queensland breeders are responsible for three of the top Australian-bred horses.

Jim Cassidy rides Zoustar to a win in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. Picture: Mark Evans

THE looming release of the official handicapper ratings are likely to show Queensland breeders are responsible for three of the top five Australian-bred horses in the land.

Dual Group 1 winner Boban was bred at Greendale Lodge near Toowoomba by Tony Thomas, while Kevin Dixon's Racetree, near Beaudesert, is responsible for Buffering and Zoustar.

Australia's representative on the official international handicapping panel, Greg Carpenter, said Boban would go to 118 following his Emirates Stakes win, putting him on a par with Happy Trails and Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente (IRE).

Carpenter said he would be pushing for Buffering to be elevated from 117 to 118 after his two Group 1 wins.

In the three-year-old category, Cox Plate winner Shamus Award predictably heads the ratings at 119, but Zoustar earned a 117+ after his dominant Coolmore Stud Stakes success.

With Black Caviar, Pierro, All Too Hard and Atlantic Jewel all being retired this year, the highest rated Australasian horse in training is It's A Dundeel (NZ) at 121.

Boban is the 10th foal of the AJC Oaks winner Kenbelle, who was purchased by Thomas for $150,000 at the 2005 Easter Broodmare Sale in Sydney.

Peter Howard reported in The Courier Mail last week that Kenbelle recently foaled a full-brother to Boban at Greendale and has just returned from another covering by Bernardini.

Thomas has also confirmed that Kenbelle's yearling colt by Authorized is entered for next year's Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

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The "Girls of Racing" were in full bloom at Eagle Farm on Saturday, with Priscilla Schmidt steering home a winning double and Ruby Ride winning at her first city Saturday attempt.

Schmidt and her sister Cassie feature on the cover of Ross Stevenson's 2014 Girls of Racing calendar, which is now on sale, with all funds going to the National Jockeys Trust.

Ride also features prominently in the calendar.

Schmidt's good fortune on Clever Hans was at the expense of her younger sister, Cassie.

"The only reason I got the ride is because she's suspended, so thanks Cass," Schmidt, who was later suspended herself, said.

The calendar is available from the National Jockeys Trust online shop.