Queensland Champions and Premiers

Two Darling Downs studs have dominated this year's Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association (TBQA) Queensland Champion Stallions Awards.

Eureka Stud at Cambooya, near Toowoomba is home to the 2019 Queensland Champion Stallion - Spirit of Boom. Spirit of Boom was last year's Champion 2yo Sire and Champion First Season Sire and his progeny are continuing to be successful as they mature.

This season (2018/19), Spirit of Boom produced 129 runners for 62 winners including five Stakes winners with total earnings $5,756,050. His top runner was Boomsara who banked $1,349,100

It was a double whammy for Lyndhurst Stud at Warwick. Their promising young stallion, Better than Ready, has really hit the ground running taking out both the 2019 Queensland Champion 2YO Sire and Champion First Season Sire.

Better than Ready had 47 runners this 2018/19 racing season for 23 winners including three Stakes winners, with prizemoney totalling $2,032,420. His top runner was the Kelly Schweida trained, 2YO Jewel Champion, The Odyssey who collected $557,550 for connections this season.

TBQA President, Basil Nolan congratulated both Studs for taking out these highly sought-after awards.

"There are hundreds of stallions, so it's not an easy task to produce consistent winners and both Spirit of Boom and Better than Ready have had a significant impact on the National racing industry and their progeny are highly sought after by Australia's top trainers," said Mr Nolan.

"The fact that both these stallions are so young is great for the future of the Queensland breeding industry and we look forward to watching their progress."

For the first time in the history of the QTIS Premiership Awards, the same trainer has won both the two-year-old and three-year-old trainers' premierships.

Toowoomba's Tony Sears secured both victories after a tremendous season with his juveniles. Sears had eight two-year-old QTIS winners and picked up $125,650 in QTIS bonus prizemoney for the season to finish ahead of Michael Nolan who banked $118,150 with five QTIS two-year-old winners and Toby Edmonds who had three QTIS two-year-old winners for $111,050 in bonus prizemoney.

Edmonds trained the leading two-year-old runner (on earnings) for the 2018-19 season, with Champagne Jet, by Jet Spur, topping the table after earning $64,800 in QTIS bonus prizemoney. Champagne Jet soared to victory in the last month to just pip Gem of Scotland at the post, after the Rothesay youngster lead the standings for most of the season to finish on $62,250.

It had been an interesting battle in the three-year-old Premiership on Earnings, with Spirit's Choice and Hold the Line chopping and changing in the top positions for most of the season. The Spirit of Boom filly was leading heading into the final month, however Hold the Line got over the line in the end, after earning $36,750 in QTIS bonus prizemoney in July to finish the season with $122,550.

Sears' win in the three-year-old Trainer's Premiership wasn't quite as cut throat. He dominated the table for most of the season to finish with 11 three-year-old winners and $190,700 in QTIS bonus prizemoney, ahead of David Vandyke on $187,850 and Tony Gollan who banked $179,650 in QTIS bonus prizemoney this season.

This is the second season that Sears has won a QTIS Trainer's Premiership, after taking out the three-year-old award in 2015/16. Sears has won two complimentary entries into the 2020-21 Magic Millions Series for any two yearlings that he purchases at one of the 2020 Magic Millions Sales.

Thank you to Magic Millions for their ongoing support of the QTIS Premiership, which has become a highly sought-after title and prize. It's fantastic to see that everyone who supports the Queensland industry can reap the rewards and be recognized for their efforts.

2018/19 QTIS PREMIERS:

2YO Trainer – Tony Sears $125,650 and 8 winners

2YO Runner – Champagne Jet (by Jet Spur) $64,800 and 1 QTIS win

3YO Trainer – Tony Sears $190,700 and 11 winners

3YO Runner – Hold the Line (by Your Song) $122,550 and 4 wins