Queensland’s winter carnival will now boast seven million-dollar feature races after significant prizemoney boosts were signed off on by Racing Queensland officials during the week.
Two of the big winners are the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) and Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m), with their respective prizemoney being enhanced from A$700,000 and A$600,000 to A$1 million.
A further drawcard for three-year-old’s is the A$1.2 million Q22 (2218m), with Racing Queensland offering A$100,000 in cash or A$250,000 QTISx vouchers to any horse that runs first or second in the Queensland Derby or Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) and then back-up to run top-three in The Q22.
New Zealand-breds had a lucrative winter in Queensland this year, with Kukeracha winning the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m), and Tofane winning the Gr.1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) and Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
