Brisbane Cup winners to be honoured

Five-time Brisbane Cup winning trainer Tony Brett and 2022 Brisbane Cup winner Orchestrate have been recognised with race name acknowledgments for the consolation events of the 2023 Brisbane Cup.

Two consolations of this year’s $1 million Group 1 will be staged on Friday, July 7 with heat performances determining contestants for both events.

The first consolation will this year be named the Orchestrate and the second consolation the Tony Brett.

In coming years, the naming acknowledgements afforded to the Brisbane Cup consolations will recognise the Cup winning greyhound and trainer from the year prior.

Racing Queensland’s Senior Greyhound Racing Manager Brenton Scott said RQ had introduced the twin Brisbane Cup consolation concept this year with boosted prize money, as another initiative aimed at rewarding participant commitment to the Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival.

“RQ deeply respects the time and commitment industry participants make to the carnival and of course the Brisbane Cup itself,” Scott said.

“As such, every effort has been made to provide a variety of value-adding concepts for those that target the carnival.

“In the case of the Brisbane Cup, trainers can nominate for the flagship $1 million event, knowing that two consolations also apply at highly impressive prizemoney levels - $112,000 and $45,000 respectively.”

Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club CEO Luke Gatehouse said he welcomed the consolation naming decision.

“The current Winter Carnival has been in the making for several years and the focus has always been about providing width of opportunity and a great experience for participants,” he said.

“Recognising Orchestrate and Tony Brett and future winners of the Brisbane Cup on an ongoing basis just underwrites the importance both RQ and the BGRC have placed on participant servicing throughout the carnival.”

Tony Brett, who trained his first Brisbane Cup winner in 2003 with Hall of Famer Bogie Leigh, was delighted to learn of the race naming tribute.

“Orchestrate was a mighty chaser who showed his complete brilliance in the 2022 Cup and both owner Tom Kinnear and myself are very proud to see him recognised at this year’s carnival,” Brett said.

“The ongoing acknowledgement from one year to the next is a really nice touch and provides a lovely connection.”

Nominations for the 2023 Brisbane Cup close with RQ at 9am on Monday, June 26.

Click here for more information on the QLD Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival.