A Supreme Performance in Post-Racing Life

In an exceptional year for Queensland breeding, the Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association (TBQA) is proud to announce dual winners of the prestigious 2025 Broodmare of the Year title: Ready To Rule and Freezethemillions. The joint recognition reflects the remarkable achievements of both mares, each of whom produced Group 1 winners and contributed significantly to the state's growing influence on the national racing stage. Freezethemillions (by Freeze – Breeder: Yarramalong Park) Freezethemillions, the dam of Port Lockroy, whose commanding win in the Group 1 Railway Stakes at Ascot catapulted both horse and mare into national prominence. The 5YO entire, by Queensland stalwart Better Than Ready, is a product of Yarramalong Park, one of the state’s most respected and prolific breeding operations. His Railway Stakes triumph marked a milestone moment for the stud, showcasing its ability to produce high-class performers capable of succeeding at the elite level. Freezethemillions' influence has been significant as Port Lockroy’s impressive Group 1 victory comes on the back of this mare already having produced the multiple stakes winner, and now sire standing at stud, Alpine Edge, himself a winner of almost $2 million and a runner up in the prestigious Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Ready To Rule (by More Than Ready – Breeder: Daandine Stud) Sharing the title - back-to-back Broodmare of the Year honours have been awarded to Ready To Rule, whose 5YO entire Southport Tycoon built on an already impressive résumé with a victory in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on 27 September 2024. Trained by Ciaron Maher, Southport Tycoon further demonstrated his class when placing third in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes at Randwick during the spring. The colt amassed over A$1.7 million in career earnings and has been rewarded for his achievements with a position on the prestigious Widden Stud stallion roster for 2025. Bred by Daandine Stud, also the breeder of Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, Ready To Rule is by More Than Ready and hails from an elite American family that includes stakes winner Grace And Power (her full sister), Group 1 Darley Classic winner Delectation, and Blue Diamond champion Artorius. Stud principal Jan Clark purchased Ready To Rule for $260,000 in 2015, and the mare has cemented herself as one of Queensland’s most valuable broodmares. ___ The decision to award dual honours was made in recognition of the extraordinary Group 1 achievements by both mares' progeny, each bred in Queensland and out of mares carrying significant commercial and pedigree merit. “These two mares exemplify the standard Queensland is producing - Group 1 results, nationally respected bloodlines, and success on the biggest stages,” said TBQA President, Basil Nolan. “To have two such deserving candidates in the same season is a testament to the depth and class of broodmares now being developed in this state.”

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

Widely regarded as the nation’s best bonus scheme, the Queensland Thoroughbred Incentive Scheme (QTIS) was introduced to further reward the owners and breeders who invest in Queensland bloodstock, with the scheme offering more than $13 million in bonuses. In 2023, Racing Queensland (RQ) announced changes for the scheme, for all foals sired by a Queensland stallion and born in 2022 and beyond, scrapping nominations fees thus making it the only bonus scheme in the nation to be offered free of charge. Two and three-year-old Saturday metropolitan winners continue to enjoy prize money boosts across the board courtesy of the scheme, with QTIS registered fillies winner’s purse of $85,550 and colts & geldings $73,300 now applicable. The scheme will now offer four-year-old QTIS bonus prize money on a number of Saturday and mid-week metropolitan races, as well as lucrative provincial and non-TAB racing across the state for 4YO+ horses. QTISx will continue to offer bonuses on all black-type and feature races across the state, with connections able to choose between the cash bonus or double its value as a voucher to be used towards the cost of a QTIS-eligible horse at selected sales. QTIS registrations are now open Find out more here To become a QTIS Horse, a horse must be registered with QTIS as either an Eligibility A Horse or an Eligibility B Horse in accordance with the following process: Eligibility A – Queensland Sired - NO PAYMENT REQUIRED A horse may be registered as Eligibility A if: - it is the progeny of a stallion that was standing in Queensland at the time of conception; and - it is registered with Racing Australia. Eligibility B – Breedback - PAYMENT REQUIRED A horse may be registered as Eligibility B if, despite not being the progeny of a stallion that was standing in Queensland at the time of conception: - is the progeny of a non-Queensland based stallion, provided the dam was covered by a Queensland domiciled stallion in the year the foal being registered was born*; - it is nominated for registration with QTIS using the Prescribed Nomination Form; all payments are made in respect of the horse in accordance with the timeframe/s set out in the Prescribed Nomination Form; and - it is registered with Racing Australia. PAYMENT DEADLINES (Eligibilty B) 1. FIRST PAYMENT • A discounted First Payment of $770 (GST inc) made on or before October 31, 2025; OR • A late First Payment of $1,980 (GST inc) if First Payment is made after October 31, 2025 but on or before June 30, 2026. • If no first payment is received on or before June 30 the horse will not be eligible for QTIS. 2. FINAL PAYMENT A payment of $550 (GST inc) made on or before June 30, 2026. This assumes a First Payment has already been made. 3. FULL PAYMENT If a First and Final payment have not been made, full payment of $2,530 (GST inc) is required to be paid by June 30, 2026 to fully QTIS register your horse. 4. LATE PAYMENT A late payment option is available for horses not fully registered by June 30, 2026. The fee is $1,500 (GST inc) and is required by August 31, 2026. If no final payment is received on or before August 31, the horse will not be eligible for QTIS

There has been a disappointing development regarding the TBA's request for changes to late Foal Ownership Declaration (FOD) process. Racing Australia (RA) CEO Paul Eriksson advised TBA CEO Andrew Hore-Lacy that the RA Board met last Thursday to consider TBA’s proposal. Despite what he described as “considerable discussion,” the RA Board has decided not to make any changes to the current system. There was no acknowledgment that RA has any interest in meaningfully improving things from an administrative or technical perspective; RA is of the belief that the forms only take three minutes to complete so they do not see any issues with the penalty time frames. This outcome is extremely disappointing, particularly given the extent to which TBA was willing to compromise, and the fact that our proposed solution was both moderate and entirely reasonable. The traceability difference and/or risk between 60 and 90 days is not backed up by any concrete data. It is especially frustrating given the broad support our position received from the majority of Principal Racing Authorities. This decision reflects a concerning disconnect between RA and the real challenges facing breeders. We are now considering how best we respond.

Entries for the Southern Hemisphere's most anticipated yearling sales series in 2026 have opened. The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales - from the Gold Coast in January to Perth and Tasmania in February and the Gold Coast and Adelaide in March - are ready to deliver more groundbreaking results. In 2025 the Gold Coast Yearling Sale produced Australasia's most expensive yearling - the Home Affairs filly from Sunlight - who sold for $3.2 million to Japan. "With proven performance at all levels of the market across our Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide and Tasmanian locations, we present a Sale Series that is backed by our energy and drive to achieve commercial success across the 2026 yearling crop," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. "The Gold Coast Yearling Sale is a festival like no other celebrating equine excellence - with the the strongest buying bench in the country on hand, as the finest Australasian yearlings take centre stage in the theatre created by the buzz of the Magic Millions Carnival." "We are proud to boast about the best auctioneers in Australia and achieving more individual buyers than any other yearling sale in the Southern Hemisphere, in turn providing greater year-on-year returns direct to our vendors." "The 2025 edition delivered at all levels, generating the highest priced yearling sold in Australasia, the highest amount of new international investment as well as the highest number of unique buyers in the middle market." "Offering yearlings at the 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sale Series provides vendors with exclusive access to the greatest marketing tool to support the sale of your stock – the Magic Millions Race Series." "More than $20 million and 28 races every year. There is simply no better Race Series in the world." "A national program of races that provides rich prizemoney opportunities across all ages, classes and distances supported by world-first innovation with initiatives such as The Syndicate and The Debut races plus the ground-breaking Magic Millions Racing Women’s initiative that has changed the narrative of ownership globally." "In 2026 we introduce an exciting new format for the Gold Coast March Yearling Sale with the sale now open to all Australian and New Zealand bred yearlings. The sale will continue to showcase outstanding QTIS stock plus providing a new opportunity for all breeders to participate on the Gold Coast this Autumn." Bowditch said the Magic Millions team, located across Australasia, was perfectly positioned to assist breeders in placing their stock in 2026. "Each and every year we provide the perfect springboard for the next stars of the racetrack in the sale ring. Our team looks forward to working with our breeders and vendors in placing stock in an auction where the best possible returns are realised." "We look forward to working with breeders across Australia and New Zealand in producing high quality catalogues that attract buyers from around the world - finding the next Magic Millions graduate to star for their stable," Bowditch added. Entries are now open for the following industry leading Magic Millions auctions: • Gold Coast Yearling Sale - 13-19 January • Perth Yearling Sale - 19-20 February • Tasmanian Yearling Sale - 23 February • Gold Coast March Yearling Sale - 12-13 March • Adelaide Yearling Sale - 19-20 March View the brochure for the 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales Series here. Nominations can be submitted now via the Online Entry Facility . Entries for the aforementioned sales close on Friday, August 29. For further information contact Magic Millions’ Bloodstock Department on (07) 5504 1200 or email bloodstock@magicmillions.com.au.