Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association

After extensive consultation and review, I’m pleased to say we’ve worked closely with Magic Millions CEO Barry Bowditch and his team, who have shown incredible support for our industry and a genuine commitment to listening to stakeholder feedback resulting in a refreshed format for the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale, starting in 2026. The sale will now take place on Thursday, 12 and Friday, 13 March, followed by the QTIS Jewel Raceday on Saturday, 14 March. This change is designed to better support buyer attendance and engagement across both the sale and raceday, making it a real showcase event for Queensland-bred talent. The catalogue will be composed of a minimum 300 QTIS-eligible yearlings and breedbacks will be included. This is vital for ensuring the sale keeps its identity as the premier platform for Queensland-bred horses and maintains that critical mass for both vendors and buyers. On top of that, the current discount entry into the Magic Millions Race Series for yearlings purchased at this sale will remain in place – another great incentive to invest in a Queensland-bred yearling.  I want to personally thank Barry for his ongoing commitment to the Queensland breeding industry. Our partnership with Magic Millions isn’t just valued – it’s essential for the strength and success of our industry. I’m confident these improvements will set the 2026 sale up to be one of the best yet.

Having never started in an official race on the track, Koko Story is instead proving that life off the track can be far more successful. The retired racehorse and rider Jamie Hewitt-Toms took out the 1.20m class in Monday afternoon’s Queensland Off-The-Track (QOTT) Program Showjumping Showcase at the Ekka. The pair had finished third in last year’s class, and Hewitt-Toms said they were determined to climb up the leaderboard for the 2025 edition. “It was pressure on myself to want to do something a little bit better than that, and I was just trying to go in with very low expectations, but it's good to finally get the win,” Hewitt-Toms said post-event. “I definitely didn't have any expectations coming into today - I just wanted to have a nice round but it was definitely great to be able to pull it off and Koko Story was great. “Any of those horses out there today that jumped over clear could have easily taken the win, they all deserved it and they're all really great horses, so it's just a bit of luck of the draw I think.” Of the field of 17, the top eight had progressed to a jump off at the Brisbane Showgrounds. Koko Story and Hewitt-Toms, who was herself battling sickness, claimed victory in the last run of the day to take home the $10,000 top prize. They finished ahead of last year’s winning rider Makaylah Fenwick on The Garret in second place, and Natalie Siiankoski and Curwood in third spot. Watch here Twenty-two-year-old Jamie and her mum Christine Hewitt, a former jockey, had bought the 18-year-old retired thoroughbred off Victorian event rider Robert Palm in 2023. Racing as Southern Pride, the chestnut gelding had just three trials at Doomben, the Gold Coast and Eagle Farm back in 2009 and 2010, finishing last in all three runs. Having now successfully transitioned to life as a showjumper with no hesitation, Hewitt-Toms has developed a strong bond with the horse they call “Woody” at their Gympie property. “He's very special to me, and my life revolves around him - every day I'm with Woody, and I always put him first and what he needs,” Hewitt-Toms said. “He is very laid back, very easy to do everything with, he never has any issues or anything hard to deal with, he's just a perfect horse. “The plans now are to have a couple of weeks off, and then we'll head down south and do Tamworth World Cup, and then decide what we're doing from there and if we want to keep going a little bit further.” Koko Story was also crowned the highest-placed Queensland-bred thoroughbred by the Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association for the second year running. On Sunday, the 105cm class of the QOTT Showjumping Showcase had been taken out by Hugh Buchanan and It’s Bandito, who claimed the $4,000 top prize. Monday also saw the Main Arena play host to the prestigious Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day. Over $25,000 was on offer across 18 ‘Led’ and ‘Under Saddle’ classes. The race day-style event saw the two versatile racing breeds compete for the sought-after Champion of their Breed, with horse handlers presenting their horses to the judges in formal race day attire. Harness trainer/driver Felicity Reinke swapped the track for the showring to compete with mare Pretty Good Reason and gelding Parcellaires in the Standardbred Led Classes. “It’s fantastic - these horses definitely deserve a chance after racing and it shows their versatility,” Reinke said. “I’ve been predominantly in the show world, but I’ve also taken some horses jumping, had some in the harness, had some campdrafting and they’ve gone very well. “The competition today, the horses were presented immaculately, so a credit to everyone that’s come today, and it just shows they’re not just for racing and can have a very good life after. “It was raining last year, and the weather is beautiful today, so I very much encourage people to bring their horses out and just have fun next year.” RQ Senior Animal Care Manager Kim Duffy said the QOTT Program was again proud to be sponsoring the two days of showjumping along with Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day. “We’ve seen an increased number of entries year-on-year, and this year is a record-breaking one for us with 214 entries for Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day,” Ms Duffy said. “It is a really good way to showcase the versatile racing breeds in a range of led and under saddle classes. “It’s just another avenue for them post-racing that’s not as traditional as some of the other pathways such as eventing and showjumping. “We have also seen increased entries in the showjumping competitions as well. “We are seeing a more diverse range of riders getting involved — not just professionals, but passionate amateurs, juniors, and even adult riders who are returning to riding. “When these horses are showcased at the Royal Queensland Show, they are no longer seen solely as retired racehorses. Instead, they're viewed as versatile athletes with second careers worth celebrating.” Click here for the full results from the QOTT Showjumping Showcase and Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day.

Under the updated Racing Australia penalties, all foals must have their details confirmed within 30 days of birth to avoid an increased fee. Any foal not registered within 60 days of birth will be subject to a racing embargo, unless the owners successfully appeal. (Click here for further information from Racing Australia). While TBA continues to work with Racing Australia to minimise the impact of these changes, it is vital that breeders act promptly to avoid penalties by lodging all mare returns/Foal Ownership Declarations (FODs) within 30 days of a foal’s birth. Support for you during this process: • Streamlined process: The mare return and FOD are now a single process. For best results, complete it on a PC rather than a smartphone or tablet. • Step-by-step guide: View the Stud Book’s ‘How To’ user guide here. • State Breeding Organisation support: Your State Breeding Organisation Executive Officer can assist if you need help. • Stud Book assistance: The Stud Book team is also available to provide support. Contact them on 02 8072 1900 or email studbook@racingaustralia.horse; they have also prepared this useful FAQ document • Stud farm assistance: Stud farms can complete the process on behalf of owners. Ensure you confirm who will be lodging the combined mare return/FOD for each mare and foal well ahead of the 30-day deadline. • For new breeders: Make sure you have a Contact Breeder Number and that your mare is registered for breeding. There is no cost for either process. We strongly encourage all breeders to put systems in place now to ensure timely lodgement and avoid unnecessary costs or restrictions

Have you cared for a horse with Qld Itch? If so UQ Gatton would love to hear from you! Please consider filling out this survey on owner perspectives and experiences with treating and managing Qld Itch (insect bite hypersensitivity), which is part of an honours research study project. Survey here

The Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association (TBQA) is pleased to announce the 2025 Queensland Champion Stallions recognising outstanding achievements in the state’s breeding ranks during the 2024–25 season. Champion First Season Stallion – Prince Fawaz Group 1 winner Prince Fawaz has claimed Champion First Season Stallion honours with his debut crop delivering A$162,265 in earnings from just 10 runners. His standout performer was Idyllic Affair (f. 2022 – Flawless), who accounted for the bulk of that figure with A$112,450 earned across five starts. Prince Fawaz, by Fastnet Rock, won the G1 J.J. Atkins as a juvenile and has made a promising start to his stud career standing at Oaklands Stud on the Darling Downs. ________________________________________ Champion 2YO Stallion – Spirit of Boom Outstanding stallion Spirit of Boom has once again reinforced his reputation as one of Queensland’s greatest ever sires by being crowned Champion 2YO Stallion for 2025 – the fifth time he has won this prestigious title. During the 2024-25 season, his 42 juvenile runners yielded 9 winners and 17 wins overall, with two of those being stakes winners, and total earnings of A$1,765,185. The standout performer was the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Shining Smile, who won twice at stakes level in Melbourne on his way to completing a remarkable season with 5 wins from just 7 starts and never finishing out of a place. Spirit of Boom once again finished within the Top 10 Stallions nationally on the Australian 2YO sire rankings—a feat he has now achieved for the third time in the last four years. ________________________________________ Champion Stallion – Better Than Ready For the third year running, Better Than Ready has been crowned Queensland Champion Stallion, capping a superb season where his 304 runners accounted for 144 winners and 222 wins, including four individual stakes winners of five stakes races and collecting an impressive A$11,485,640 in prizemoney. Among many highlights was his top earner Hidden Wealth, who exceeded A$1.1 million in earnings and captured multiple feature races, along with the Group One winner Port Lockroy who saluted in the time honoured WATC Railway Stakes, and winner of the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic, Isti Star, reinforcing Better Than Ready's broad influence across age groups and distances. Broodmare of the Year as per previous years, will be announced at the annual Racing Queensland Thoroughbred Awards