Prize money and status increase for Redcliffe 3YO race

By Jordan Gerrans 

Redcliffe Peninsula Harness Racing and Sporting Club Bernie Ring is excited about the increase in prize money and upgrade to Group 2 status for the Redcliffe Yearling Sale 3YO final graduate race.

With the 2021 sales fast approaching, the races prize money will be increased from $35,000 up to $50,000 and will now be run as a Group 2 event.

The sale will be held at Redcliffe Paceway on Sunday, March 28 at 12 noon.

A quality line-up of 73 lots have been nominated.

President Ring thinks the extra prize money and making the race a Group 2 will be a positive for the industry.

“We are quite happy to do it, we have gone to the 3YO series because not all yearlings make it as 2YO’s, so we are happy to go into the 3YO’s,” Ring said.

“It is a good increase in prize money, the same as what we did with the 2YO a couple of years ago, going from $80,000 to $100,000.

“Now we have a Group 1 and a Group 3 race for 2YO and 3YO’s, so there is a chance they can win upwards of $100,000 in this series.

“We have worked on it for a little while to try and increase the prize money for the sales series races.”

The increase in prize money has been co-funded by Racing Queensland and the Redcliffe club.

The increase will take effect from this year’s sale, meaning the increase will come into effect from 2023.

As a Group 3 event in June of last year, the Grant Dixon trained and driven Governor Jujon took out the Redcliffe Yearling Sale 3YO final.

He started as a short priced favourite and won well, with the victory one of his 17 career wins.

If any potential buyers are looking to come from interstate for the 2021 Garrard’s Redcliffe Yearling Sale on Sunday 28 March, Ring (pictured) says they should contact the club to organise their accommodation and transport.

Ring and the club have structured a deal where interstate visitors can stay at a designated accommodation provider and get a courtesy bus to and from the sales, with another courtesy bus to the airport the following day.

Sale graduates are eligible for the Garrard’s Redcliffe Yearling Sale Series with a $100,000 2YO Sale Classic in 2022 and a $50,000 3YO Sale Classic in 2023.