The $2 million Queensland Jewel race-day will be run at Doomben this year instead of Aquis Park at the Gold Coast, where it has taken place since its inception in 2018.
The Gold Coast venue is currently undergoing a $63 million redevelopment with all of the meetings there taking place of the new Poly-track until further notice.
The Jewel race-day, which carries the mantle of the state’s showcase QTIS (the Queensland thoroughbred Incentive Scheme) meeting, will be held on March 18 with the $500 000 QTIS Two-Year-Old Jewel and the $500 000 QTIS Three-Year-old Jewel taking pride of place on the day.
The Kelly Schweida trained The Odyssey has the distinction of being the only runner to salute in both the Two-Year-Old and Three-Year-old versions of the Jewel, an accomplishment that She’sgottheboom, who won the Two-Year-Old Jewel last year, will be trying to emulate come race-day.
Should she succeed, She’sgottheboom will become the first horse to win both big QTIS races for different trainers as she has been transferred from the Steven O’Dea and Matt Hoysted stable, in whose care she was last year, to trainer Desleigh Forster.
Queensland’s star stallion Spirit Of Boom will, in all likelihood, also have a chance to add to his Jewel race-day honour roll.
Spirit Of Boom sired the winners of both the Two-Year-Old and Three-Year-Old Jewel races last year when She’sgottheboom and Prince Of Boom won their respective races.
And here’s a point to note … a special offer has been announced by the Brisbane Racing Club CEO Tony Partridge, for the Jewel, March 18 race-day.
“This day is a celebration of Queensland racing,” said Partridge, “and as such, we are offering free entry to all registered Queensland racehorse owners, in addition to Members’ Reserve entry to all members of South East Queensland race clubs.”
For those who can benefit from that offer, it makes the day all the more worth diarising!
