Racing Queensland’s interim chief executive Ian Hall will finish up on March 31

IAN Hall’s tenure as interim Racing Queensland chief executive is set to officially end on March 31.

Racing Queensland interim chief executive Ian Hall. Picture: Britta Campion

IAN Hall’s tenure as interim Racing Queensland chief executive is set to officially end on March 31.

Racing Minister Grace Grace yesterday confirmed Hall’s contract won’t be extended.

A new interim chief executive will be appointed from within Racing Queensland until a permanent chief executive is recruited.

“A permanent CEO will be recruited once the new interim Racing Queensland board is in place,” Ms Grace said.

“I hope to have the new interim board in place in the near future.”

Ms Grace thanked Hall for his 10-month service to Racing Queensland.

“Ian Hall has done a great job guiding Queensland racing through a challenging period,” she said.

“He has implemented stronger integrity measures in the industry and initiated reforms to put Racing Queensland’s finances on a more sustainable footing.

“I want to thank Mr Hall for his service to the Queensland racing industry and wish him well for the future.”

Hall took over as Racing Queensland’s interim chief executive last June.

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PETER Snowden is living proof the only way to long-term success is hard work.

You could forgive Snowden for taking the morning off yesterday after winning the Golden Slipper but that’s not how the talented trainer works.

“I got to the stables at 6.15am (yesterday) and I did have a little sleep-in,” he said.

“It was such a long day (on Saturday) and you start at 3am in the morning and by the time we went to the committee room and did the function thing it was 9pm when I left the track and I went straight home to bed.”

Getting a horse to peak on the Gold Coast in January and again two months later is no easy feat but it just goes to show how good Peter ­Snowden is.

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PUNTERS learnt two valuable lessons in the Golden Slipper on Saturday.

One is to always forgive a horse one bad run (Capitalist) and the other is just how hard it is for a horse to peak twice in one preparation (Extreme Choice).

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MARCH 28 is the deadline the Queensland Jockeys Association has given Racing Queensland to provide clarity around jockey wages.

Rumours have been rife there could be a reduction in the riding fee for Queensland jockeys next season but negotiations are ongoing and the QJA are still hopeful of achieving a positive outcome.

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MAGIC Millions officials are confident of producing another strong result when the two-day Gold Coast March Yearling Sale gets under way at Bundall today.

The March Sale has always been renowned for producing a bargain and Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox doesn’t expect this year to be any different.

“This sale last year had the biggest jump in any sale in the country and if we can come up with the same figures as last year we would be delighted,” Cox said.

“This sale produces as many two-year-old winners as the January sale.”

Superstar Buffering, Group 1 winner Tinto and Saturday’s Doomben winner Wicked ­Intent were just a few horses to be offered at the March sale in recent years.

Meanwhile, Capitalist’s victory in Saturday’s Golden Slipper was another feather in the cap for Magic Millions.

Ten of the past 13 Golden Slipper winners to be offered at auction were sold on the Gold Coast by Magic Millions.

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NOBODY deserved a city win more than Big Tree and his connections at Doomben on Saturday.

After five consecutive seconds, Big Tree finally saluted in the Three-year-old Handicap (1200m) courtesy of a peach of a ride from Brad Stewart.

It was a just reward for Big Tree’s trainer Peter Balzen and owners, who have knocked back countless Hong Kong ­offers to sell the colt including one offer of $700,000 last year.

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IT was a great day for Gold Coast trainers at Doomben on Saturday.

Along with Balzen, John Morrisey (Oak ’n’ Arthur) and Mario Caltabiano (Torbay) also tasted city success.

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