Breeding Industry Showcased to Politicians

Being acknowledged for your dedication to retraining retired gallopers is special enough, but for Alex Kelly, receiving congratulations from an industry legend in Bruce McAvaney was the true icing on the cake.  The Queensland Off-The-Track Acknowledged Retrainer took home the Thoroughbred Care and Welfare Award at last night’s Australian Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (ATIEA) ceremony on the Gold Coast. Formerly known as the Stud and Stable Staff Awards, the ATIEA celebrate the people whose work sustains Australia’s world-leading thoroughbred industry. Kelly has been part of the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainers Program since April 2024, and was quick to pay tribute to the team who help her juggle work and motherhood alongside her care of retired racehorses. “I was so excited, and it was just amazing watching all of the participants and nominees up there,” Kelly said. “It's not just a win for me either - it's a win for everybody who works with me and supports me, from my husband Jack to the feed man Glen, and our vets and farriers. “Every day Jack is doing something to make sure that I can put in the time, and in at the feed shop talking to Glen and asking him what I should do and where we're going here and what we're doing with this horse. “There's so many moving parts to this - I have more commitments than just the horses, and people have moved mountains to make sure that I could get there last night. “We even had the girls drive two and a half hours just to look after the baby for me for a couple of hours, just so we could go out and go to the awards night.” The night also included the presentation of the inaugural ATIEA Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary racing broadcaster Bruce McAvaney. Kelly said receiving recognition from the industry doyen had been the highlight of her extraordinary evening. “I got back to the table, and I said, 'Oh my gosh guys, Bruce McAvaney hugged me, I can't go and have a shower now,’” Kelly said with a laugh. “I've been watching him call the Melbourne Cup since I was very young. “That was so exciting just to be in the same room as him.” The QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer was not the only Queensland-based winner on the evening. Brett Killion, who runs master trainer Chris Waller’s Gold Coast satellite stable, took home the Dedication to Racing Award. Awards were also presented in the categories of Leadership, Dedication to Breeding, Administrative and Ancillary Services, Newcomer and Horsemanship. Kelly, who took home a $10,000 cash prize, said the gong had provided some extra motivation for future retraining plans. “The ATIEA is incredibly important - I think the horse industry in general, we don't do it a lot of the time to be showcased,” Kelly said. “To have that recognition, it lights a bit more of a fire in your belly too. “We have already been discussing what's next for us - how we can make this bigger and better, where are we improving, and how can we try and affect and help within that industry? “It also inspires those young people coming up through the ranks too.” The 30-year-old currently houses 13 horses on her 20-acre hobby farm at Widgee, just west of Gympie. Five of those horses are currently being retrained as part of the QOTT Program. Kelly said her biggest thrill as part of the program came from receiving updates on how retired thoroughbreds and standardbreds formerly in her care had progressed in their new lives. “We are able to make a positive change for these horses and set them up so that they can go and do anything,” Kelly said. “So to hear that they're being successful down the track is great, and it doesn't necessarily mean that it's competition success. “It's just that they're someone's best friend, and they are super valuable in that next life.” RQ Senior Animal Care Manager Kim Duffy said the Thoroughbred Care and Welfare Award provided important recognition for individuals with an exceptional commitment to the care, retraining, and welfare of thoroughbreds beyond racing. “Alex embodies everything this award represents and is a wonderful example of the positive impact retrainers can have on the welfare and future of retired racehorses,” Ms Duffy said. “Her recognition on the national stage is incredibly well-deserved and reflects the dedication, patience and care she invests into every horse that comes through her retraining program. “Behind every successful transition are countless hours of hard work, consistency and passion, and Alex continually goes above and beyond to give her horses the best possible foundation for life after racing. “Alex’s success is a testament to the important role retrainers play in creating positive post-racing outcomes for retired racehorses, and we are incredibly proud to have her as part of Queensland’s Acknowledged Retrainer community.” Click here for more information on the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainers Program.

One of the most important responsibilities we have as an industry is ensuring that Queensland breeding remains strong, sustainable and well-positioned for the future. With that in mind, the TBQA will hold a Special General Meeting at 10.30am on Tuesday, 25 August , in the Members Room at the Toowoomba Turf Club to discuss the future of Queensland breeding. The meeting follows concerns raised by industry stakeholders at our March AGM, along with the results of the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale, which highlighted a number of issues affecting breeders across the state. This meeting is open to everyone involved in the thoroughbred industry, not just TBQA members. I strongly encourage breeders, owners, vendors and industry participants to attend and have their say. The more voices we have in the room, the better informed our discussions and future planning will be. For catering purposes, please RSVP by Friday, 14 August to info@queenslandbreeders.com.au. We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

After more than a decade leading the Thoroughbred Breeders Australia Basil Nolan announced his decision to step down as President of the national breeders’ body. Mr Nolan, who will remain on the TBA Board as the representative of Queensland breeders, has served as President since 2014 and has been a member of the Board since TBA’s establishment in 2005. A highly respected breeder and principal of Raheen Stud, Mr Nolan has helped guide TBA through a period of significant change and challenge, including Equine Influenza, the 2011 Queensland floods, major commercial issues affecting breeders, COVID and ongoing national and international Pattern Committee matters. He said the time was right to hand over the role. “It has been a privilege to serve as President of TBA, and I am proud of what we have achieved together as a Board,” Mr Nolan said. “The time is right for me to hand over the role and make space for the next leader." Antony Thompson has been elected by the TBA Board as the new President at the May 25 meeting. “I have enjoyed working with Antony through his role as Chairman of Aushorse, and I wish him every success as President. “TBA has an important role to play for breeders and for the wider industry, and I am confident it will continue to be in good hands.” Mr Thompson, principal of Widden Stud and Chairman of Aushorse, said Mr Nolan’s contribution to TBA and the broader breeding industry deserved sincere recognition. “Basil has given many years of wise and committed service to TBA and to Australian breeders,” newly elected TBA President Antony Thompson said. “He has been a steady and respected voice around the Board table, particularly through some of the most difficult periods our industry has faced. “On behalf of the Board and the broader thoroughbred breeding industry, I want to thank Basil for his leadership as President and for the enormous amount of time and care he has given to the role." Mr Thompson said he was honoured to take on the Presidency at an important time for Australian breeders and the wider thoroughbred industry. “Our industry is facing some real challenges, but it also has enormous strengths,” Mr Thompson said. “We have a breeding sector that continues to produce horses of world-class quality, a racing industry that remains the envy of many jurisdictions, and a community of people whose skill, resilience and optimism underpin everything we do. “That optimism has been on display again this week, from the strength of our breeding stock sales to the Australian Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards tonight, where the people behind our industry are being recognised and celebrated. “Despite the pressures facing the industry, there is still great confidence in the Australian thoroughbred and great pride in the people who make this industry what it is. “As President, my focus will be on ensuring breeders have a strong, constructive and respected voice on the national issues that affect them, from the commercial settings that support investment to the Pattern system that underpins the value of our bloodstock.” Mr Thompson brings significant national industry experience to the role, including as Chairman of Aushorse and as a breeder representative on Australia’s Black Type Advisory Group. Mr Thompson formally joined the TBA Board last month in the vacant Aushorse Marketing seat. TBA also acknowledged the service of Jeff Kruger, who has resigned from the Board after many years of dedicated service representing Queensland breeders. Well-respected Queensland breeder and principal of Eureka Stud Scott McAlpine has been appointed to replace Mr Kruger as the representative of the Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association. TBA thanked Mr Kruger for his contribution and welcomed Mr McAlpine.  Newly elected President Antony Thompson said the renewed Board would continue working to support breeders and strengthen the industry’s confidence, unity and long-term sustainability.

The outstanding people behind Australia’s thoroughbred racing and breeding industry were recognised last night at the 2026 Australian Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards , held at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort on the Gold Coast. Previously known as the Stud and Stable Staff Awards, the Awards showcase the people whose skill, care and dedication underpin the success of Australia's world-renowned thoroughbred industry. The Awards were introduced in Australia by Godolphin as part of a global commitment to recognising the people who are the backbone of the thoroughbred industry. Godolphin continued its support this year as principal partner of the Awards, which were delivered by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia on behalf of the industry. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural ATIEA Lifetime Achievement Award , sponsored by Godolphin, to legendary broadcaster Bruce McAvaney . TBA and Aushorse CEO Andrew Hore-Lacy said the Awards were an important opportunity to recognise the people who make the industry possible. “Whether you work in breeding, racing, welfare, administration, education, media, transport or any other part of the industry, we are all here because of the horse,” Mr Hore-Lacy said. “These Awards matter because they recognise people who are often not in the spotlight. The people who are up before dawn. The people who stay late. The people who notice when a horse is not quite right. The people who teach, lead, care, organise, mentor and keep the whole industry moving. “While the horses often become the names we remember, it is the people who give them that chance. Tonight was about acknowledging those people, and making sure their contribution is seen, valued and celebrated. “To every winner and finalist, congratulations. Your recognition reflects the skill, care and commitment you bring to the industry every day, and you should be enormously proud.” Mr Hore-Lacy said the presentation of the inaugural ATIEA Lifetime Achievement Award to Bruce McAvaney was a fitting addition to the program. “Bruce has told so many of Australian sport’s greatest stories, including some of racing’s most memorable moments,” Mr Hore-Lacy said. “His voice is part of the soundtrack of racing in this country, and his respect for the horse, the people and the emotion of the sport has helped bring those stories into homes across Australia. “To recognise Bruce as the inaugural recipient of the ATIEA Lifetime Achievement Award is incredibly special, and a fitting tribute to someone whose contribution to racing has been felt across generations.” While Mr McAvaney has been recognised across Australian sport and broadcasting, the inaugural ATIEA Lifetime Achievement Award carries a particular significance for racing, giving the thoroughbred industry an opportunity to formally thank one of its great storytellers. Bruce McAvaney said he was deeply honoured to receive the inaugural ATIEA Lifetime Achievement Award. "It is an incredible sport," Mr McAvaney said. "The more about the sport you think you know, the less about the sport you really know. It's fascinating, it's elusive, you never really conquer it. "If I put a full stop to my life in Australian racing today, there are two race days that stand alone. The 2005 Melbourne Cup, when Makybe Diva won it for the third time, and the 2019 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, when Royal Randwick was a sea of blue and white, when we said goodbye to the greatest racehorse this country has ever seen, in Winx. "Every one of us in this room has experienced the thrill of a famous final furlong, and that emotion that swirls when a champion returns to scale. "Great racing is great sport, and tonight I have received one of the greatest honours of my life. Thank you very much." The 2026 Australian Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winners were: Dedication to Racing Award (sponsored by Yulong Stud) • Brett Killion (QLD) Dedication to Breeding Award (sponsored by Magic Millions) • Verna Metcalfe (NSW) Horsemanship Award (sponsored by Inglis) • Arda Tascioglu (NSW) Leadership Award (sponsored by AgriFutures Australia) • Neasham Clegg (VIC) Administrative and Ancillary Services Award (sponsored by The Straight) • Matt Harrington (VIC) Thoroughbred Care and Welfare Award (sponsored by Queensland Off The Track) • Alexandra Kelly (QLD) Newcomer Award (sponsored by the Australian Trainers’ Association) • Cooper Albers (VIC) ATIEA Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by Godolphin) • Bruce McAvaney (SA) TBA congratulates all winners and finalists, and thanks the sponsors, judges, nominators, employers, families and supporters who contributed to the Awards. Further information can be found on the website atiea.com.au

SPECIAL AGM for Qld Breeding Forum

Entries are now open for one of the nation’s most lucrative showjumping events for retired racehorses, the Queensland Off-The-Track (QOTT) Program Showjumping Showcase.  After debuting in 2023, the event returns to the Royal Queensland Show on Sunday, August 9 and Monday, August 10, as part of the Ekka’s longstanding showjumping competition schedule. A total of $50,000 in prize money will once again be up for grabs in the 1.20m class, while the 1.05m class will see an additional $25,000 available, with both categories paying down to 30th place. To be staged in the Main Arena at the Brisbane Showgrounds, the events will be exclusively held for retired thoroughbred and standardbred racehorses. Racing Minister Tim Mander said he was looking forward to seeing the QOTT Program Showjumping Showcase return to help celebrate 150 years of the Ekka. “The QOTT program aims to maximise post-racing outcomes for retired thoroughbred and standardbred horses by identifying second career opportunities and retirement pathways,” Minister Mander said. “This program has been a major success and it showcases our commitment to further enhance animal welfare outcomes in Queensland racing. “For 150 years, the Ekka has been a highlight on the Queensland social calendar and the Showjumping Showcase, which offers a generous prize pool, is a tremendous opportunity to highlight the work of QOTT at one of Queensland’s most beloved events.” QOTT will also present the prestigious Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day on Monday, August 10, with over $25,000 on offer across 18 ‘Led’ and ‘Under Saddle’ classes. The raceday-style event will see the two versatile racing breeds compete for the sought-after Champion of their Breed title, with horse handlers presenting their horses to the judges in formal race day attire. Entries for the QOTT Program Showjumping Showcase events close on Friday, June 26, while entries for the Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day competition close on Friday, July 31. Racing Queensland Senior Animal Care Manager Kim Duffy said it was a thrill for RQ to continue the strong partnership with the RNA to deliver an exciting schedule of events to support retired racehorses. “The QOTT Program Showjumping Showcase and Thoroughbred and Standardbred Day have firmly established themselves as highlights of the Ekka program, and each year we continue to see a lift in the standard of competition, which speaks to the quality of retraining and the commitment of riders working with these horses,” Ms Duffy said. “What’s particularly exciting about these events is the continued growth in participation, reflecting the increasing confidence people have in retraining retired racehorses for competitive second careers. “The Ekka provides an unmatched opportunity for the public to see retired racehorses in action and better understand just how adaptable and capable they are in new environments. “It’s always rewarding to see these horses return to a large arena atmosphere and thrive – it really highlights the value of second careers after racing. “We’re excited to continue building on the momentum of these events, ensuring retired racehorses remain strongly represented in mainstream equestrian sport.” QOTT’s partnership with the ‘Horsing Around’ show will also continue, where acclaimed horse trainer Dave Manchon is joined by retired racehorses to share his training methods and how they can be applied when working with off-the-track horses. Three 30-minute shows will be held per day, with an opportunity for the public to also get up close and personal with the horses who are also the stars of the EkkaNites Show. Click here to view the RNA competition schedules. Click here for more information on the QOTT Program.

As far as Queensland cult heroes go, they don’t come much bigger than Master Jamie.  The former galloper claimed 19 victories from a 64-start career, with notable wins coming in back-to-back Rockhampton Cups in 2022 and 2023, and in the 2020 The Gateway at Eagle Farm to book a spot into the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. The gelding was also the first horse from the Beef City to go past the magical $1 million prizemoney mark. Trained by Graeme Green, he formed a formidable partnership with jockey Les “Bubba” Tilley who took the thoroughbred into his care in Toowoomba when he was retired in 2024. An excitement machine on the track, these days Master Jamie is a calming influence in retirement at the Glastonbury property of Queensland Off-The-Track Acknowledged Retrainer Sandi Sevior. The retrainer explained how a connection with Graeme’s daughter Sileas – known affectionately as Mully - led to the former champion racehorse landing with her in the Gympie Region. “I've had some really good outcomes for Mully Green, and she put me in touch with Bubba who had Master Jamie with him,” Sevior said. “He was obviously very special and instrumental in his career, and Bubba was just finding himself time poor, and wanted to ensure that Jamie wasn't sitting in the paddock and wasting his prime years, so he reached out to me to see if I could give him a job. “And he certainly found a job - he's got a really good job babysitting and educating the young horses coming through the QOTT retraining program. “We call him ‘Uncle Jamie,’ and we take him down the road with us when other horses have their first outings or showing them the arena for the first time - he’s just got the calming presence of an experienced horse. “I call him the VIP of the farm - whenever someone hears his name that's involved with racing, especially up in North Queensland, they're always really keen to see what he's doing and how he is.” The now nine-year-old has impressed Sevior since coming under her care in November last year. The horsewoman said Master Jamie’s calm demeanour had him primed for a new life after racing in the showjumping and dressage arenas. “He's a bit of an old legend…a lot of people get really hung up on and love these off-the-trackers that have had one or two starts, and they're great, but I love the older horses that are coming off the track and been everywhere,” Sevior said. “He's just a professional, and anything you do, if you ask him a question, he answers with, ‘let me figure it out.’ “He's just a bit of a calming force, and he's got a bit of a talent there for jumping and a little bit of dressage as well. “So, we'll make sure he has his opportunity to go out in the competition truck and show him off a little bit as well. “It's been really lovely being able to ensure that he's got a good job to do and has been given a solid education.” Running the thoroughbred spelling business Flynn Equine Solutions, Sevior usually has around 20 to 30 horses across almost 30 paddocks at the Glastonbury property. The 39-year-old was always destined to go into retraining, with grandfather Ray McCall a former trainer and her aunt Nat McCall currently in the training ranks, based on the Sunshine Coast. “I grew up in racing and always had a strong affiliation, especially with the horses that we'd bred, I was really interested in giving them quality homes off the track,” Sevior said. “I used to take a lot of off-the-track horses for Pop and retrain them, compete on them, and then find them homes. “I took the detour and went up to the Northern Territory and was in the Mounted Police for quite some time. “And when I came home to run the spelling farm, I'd seen the advances in the Queensland Off-The-Track Program, and I was really keen to find my place in that program and continue on in a larger scale than what I'd previously done.” Les Tilley celebrates winning the 2023 Rockhampton Cup on Master Jamie (Photo: Caught in the Act Photography CQ) While Master Jamie is not being retrained and rehomed through the QOTT Program, two other retired gallopers in Sevior’s care are thriving as part of the program. Each recording only a handful of starts on the track, the former Kevin Kemp galloper Mrs Kajudo and Zoublime, formerly trained by Taylah Mackinnon, are adjusting well to their post-racing lives. “After dealing with Mrs Kajudo, she's probably one of the most laid-back characters that you'll ever come across - I think Kevin needs a medal for even getting her to the races in the first place,” Sevior said with a laugh. “But I really rate her, she's a really nice animal, she's got a beautiful disposition, and she's going really well. “She's had about 12 rides under saddle, and we are really working on balancing her and getting a good, solid flat base. “Zoublime came to me as a weanling for spelling and is now in the QOTT Program. “I've had her in the paddock for a few years now…she’s a really big, tall, leggy mare, and needed just a little bit more time to mature, so she's commenced groundwork, and she'll have her first ride under saddle off the track soon. “I’m in a really privileged position to be able to know these horses really well and continue to support their careers after their racing careers finish.” Sevior has rehomed 12 horses since joining the QOTT Program in 2023. She is excited to welcome more retired gallopers in the future, thanks to the support offered to her as a QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer. “Without the support from Queensland Off-The-Track, I would not be able to have the horse numbers in retraining that I do… I think it's been instrumental with improving the quality and quantity of homes available,” Sevior said.' “It's something that a lot of us have always done out of the love and passion for the horse but on a really small scale, but it's enabled us to upscale and the quality of outcomes for the horses that graduate from the program is invaluable. “The program has allowed such a great base for these thoroughbreds, where they tick off all those first outings, and have their dentals, their shoes, and their vaccinations up to date. “We do thorough assessments on these horses, so we know their strengths, we know their weaknesses, and we're able to place them in suitable homes that are hopefully long term and set them up for a life after racing. “So, if you're thinking about it, definitely get in touch with QOTT. It's a really great program to be a part of.” Click here for more information on the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainers Program.

The sudden loss of Spirit Of Boom last week is a heartbreaking blow for the Queensland and Australian breeding industry. On behalf of TBQA, I extend our sincere condolences to the McAlpine Family, Eureka Stud staff and to everyone who had the privilege of a connection with such a remarkable horse. Quite simply, Spirit Of Boom was one of Queensland’s greatest stallions. The sire of 32 stakes winners, led by Group 1 winner Jonker, he played a major role in elevating Queensland breeding onto the national stage and gave local breeders enormous confidence in the strength of our stallion ranks. What made his story even more special was that he was truly a Queensland success story from beginning to end. Bred, raised and raced in Queensland before retiring to stud at Eureka, he became a horse that the entire industry took enormous pride in. From the moment his first runners hit the track, it was obvious he was something out of the ordinary. He was crowned Australia’s Champion First Season Sire and went on to become Queensland’s leading sire on four occasions, while continuing to produce tough, fast and consistent racehorses year after year. Beyond the statistics, those closest to him speak most fondly about his character and presence. He was adored by the staff who handled him daily and became the cornerstone of the Eureka Stud operation. His passing leaves a tremendous void, both professionally and personally, for all involved.  There is some comfort, however, in knowing his legacy will continue. It was recently announced that his Group 1-winning son Jonker will stand at Eureka Stud this season, ensuring the Spirit Of Boom influence remains an important part of Queensland breeding into the future. We wish the McAlpine’s all the best with the new prospect and hope he delivers like his sire.

Have you moved in the past 12 months? To ensure you receive your complimentary copy of the 2026 Queensland Stallions Directory, please take a moment to update your contact details before April 25. Additional copies of the Directory are available on request, with a $20 postage fee applying. Bookings for this highly sought after Directory close on April 17 2026. If you have a stallion or business or service, you don't want to miss this great value publication that showcases your product to over 10,000 people Australia-wide involved in breeding and racing. There is no other opportunity like it! More details here