By Jordan Gerrans
Leading Sunshine State kennels have hailed the bonuses on offer for dogs participating through the TAB Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival as vital for the local industry.
Introduced in 2021, there is a brand new incentive for kennels to participate throughout the entirety of the exciting carnival, which started in early May and runs through to August.
The new additions include any greyhound that places first, second or third in the final of a carnival lead-up event and subsequently wins a heat of either the Sky Racing Brisbane Cup or the TAB Queensland Cup, earns a $10,000 bonus.
The lead up events includes the Brisbane Young Guns, Carnival Sprint, Carnival Chase, TAB Flying Amy Classic, TAB Dashing Corsair, Super Sprinters, Super Stayers, Origin Distance, Origin Sprint and Origin Match Race.
Churchable-based trainer Jamie Hosking is in line to claim one of the bonuses with Micks Recall running third in the recent Origin Distance event at Albion Park and is now set for the upcoming Queensland Cup.
“I did not know about the bonus on offer until last week but when I was notified, it was a pleasant surprise to know about them,” Hosking said.
“In the heats, you are seeded with the best dogs with a chance to get through and once you get to the final – it is anyone’s race – it is a bonus to get something like this if you can win a heat, it is like winning another race.
“Sometimes you can make a final and finish last or something, if you win a heat and get through to the final, you already have had a bit of a win and takes the edge of not going so well in the final.
“It is an awesome idea and we only just ran third in the Origin Distance race by a nose so we are very lucky.”
It is hoped the increased bonuses on offer will see more trainers race their greyhounds throughout the carnival in future years with an eye to claiming a slice of the prize.
Regal Rocky finished second in the Carnival Chase and is also looking towards the Queensland Cup with owner Mary Burman hopeful of claiming the bonus on offer.
“I think it is a great initiative, I mean gosh it is a super thing,” Burman said.
“You do not even have to win a feature to be eligible for the bonus, it is great for trainers.
“It is a great idea, hopefully he can win on Thursday night and put an extra $10,000 in our pockets.”
When the carnival was launched earlier this year, Hall of Fame trainer Tony Brett described the new addition as “fantastic” and would have it in the back of his mind as he plans out all his dogs campaigns this year and into 2022 and beyond.
The Brett kennel has three dogs eligible for a bonus.
Hosking’s Micks Recall will wear the black rug in Thursday evening’s heat for the 710-metre Group 1 Queensland Cup.
“She has come back as good as ever, we were a little bit cautious about if she would be fit enough early on,” Hosking said.
“She has had three good runs under her belt now over 700 metres, if not this week, then hopefully we can be at our best come the final next week.
“She would have had a solid five 700-metre races in a row and she should be tip top fit come the final next week.”
Regal Rocky hits Thursday evening’s heats in form, winning on Monday evening at Albion Park over 600 metres, which Burman hopes will put the needed miles in his legs to be competitive in the Group 1 heats.
“He is in a tough race on Thursday night going against the southern state dogs who have pretty good form,” Burman said.
“I think he will be up there early in the race but it will be about if he can hang on late in the race.
“I give him some sort of a hope, he is coming off a good win on Monday night over 600 metres so he is certainly in form.
“The 700 metres is not his ideal distance usually; we have run him on Monday night to try and toughen him up for Thursday night and he has pulled up a treat.”
Almost 20 greyhounds are eligible for the bonuses leading into Thursday night’s Sky Racing Brisbane Cup and TAB Queensland Cup heats, with the Finals to be run seven days later.