The Verdict: Queensland Winter Carnival woes lead to missed chances with star performers

AMID all the Doomben 10,000 debate last week, two questions struck me. Why is there a desperate need to change our carnival every year? And, is it really that bad?

Champion mare Winx started her latest winning streak in Queensland last year.

AMID all the Doomben 10,000 debate last week, two questions struck me.

Why is there a desperate need to change our carnival every year? And, is it really that bad?

No, we don’t get the headline horses like we used to, but that’s a product of a vastly different racing landscape.

Horses no longer compete at every carnival like they did 30 years ago, not to mention the competition from international carrots such as Europe and Hong Kong.

But the Queensland carnival unearths future stars every year.

Some of the most valuable colts sold in Australia in the past four years used Queensland as their launching pad.

And it also was the Winter Carnival that started Winx’s rise to superstardom.

Rather than all the time spent coming up with and then debating a new program each year, why doesn’t Racing Queensland expend the same amount of energy and resources in preaching to interstate trainers on the benefits of coming here.

We also need to capitalise on the opportunities that present themselves.

The red carpet should be rolled out to get Melbourne Cup winner Almandin to line up in the Doomben Cup next year. Picture: Ian Currie

While the past week has been spent talking about dismantling the Doomben 10,000, how much time was spent following up with Lloyd Williams on his suggestion the Doomben Cup is the right race for Almandin?

You would hope the red carpet is out to get the Cup winner here.

Similarly, have officials mapped out a path for James Cummings after his Doomben Cup call for Prized Icon?

There is a host of other Spring Carnival runners that would also be ideal Brisbane candidates.

Instead, the narrative is about making yet more changes to a program that continues to prove one of the best nurturing grounds in the land.

Mum’s the word

IN A week where the Doomben 10,000 was the hottest topic of discussion, Flitero should have been the omen bet of the day at Doomben on Saturday. His mum Flitter won the 1994 10,000.

How much is enough

MATT Dunn was the latest trainer to question whether one city win will be enough to qualify for the Magic Millions after Saxton Rock won on Saturday.

Chris Munce is another who has concerns that with the boosted prizemoney on offer in Sydney, whether or not a metro win will be enough for the locals to qualify.

Saxton Rock boosted his hopes of a Magic Millions berth with victory at Doomben on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters

Interestingly, the qualifying figure for the 2YO MM Classic has not changed much in the past five years. In 2012, $32,200 was the cut off. Last year, the last horse into the field had won $38,750 — less than the $40,200 you get for winning a metro race in Queensland. Second prizemoney in Sydney is $19,000, so even two of those still falls short of a single Brisbane win. The lowest qualifying number in recent years was $28,300 in 2014.

Claim an opportunity

TIFFANI Brooker made the most of her claim to win on Lady Jetsetter at Doomben. More opportunities are likely to be forthcoming. Trainers are desperate for 3kg claimers in the city. There’s a big void waiting to be filled if there’s an apprentice with the ability to capitalise.

Forster disappointed to miss out on beach weather

FRUSTRATED trainer Desleigh Forster was furious with the decision to abandon Saturday’s Doomben meeting after the storm.

Stewards deemed the track unsafe for racing, with surface water on the course after 38mm fell in the space of an hour. Forster felt stewards should have waited longer before making the decision.

“They waited three hours on Melbourne Cup day. Why couldn’t they wait a bit longer (Saturday)? It’s still light at 6.30pm,” she said.

Chief steward Allan Reardon said calling the meeting off was the only option.

Swimming pool in the Doomben enclosure for thrill seekers. pic.twitter.com/ggasXDGD8q

— Nathan Exelby (@xlbnathan_cmail) November 12, 2016

“There was surface water and with that amount of rain, the track would have been a Heavy 10 at least,” Reardon said. “It was unsafe for racing and for everyone’s benefit we called it off.”

Forster had Group 3 winner Cylinder Beach resuming in the final event.

The Brisbane Racing Club has programmed a set of trials on Thursday on the Doomben course proper for horses that missed out because of yesterday’s abandonment.

In previous episodes where races have been lost, Racing Queensland have programmed an extra race on the midweek card, but with 12 races already set down for Caloundra on Wednesday, that option was deemed impossible.

Instead, a 2MW 1200m race has been added to Saturday’s Eagle Farm card.

Originally published as The Verdict: Queensland Winter Carnival woes lead to missed chances with star performers