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TRSA boosts vital SABOIS scheme

SABOIS – the innovative Breeders and Owners’ Incentive Scheme for the South Australian industry – has received a major boost with a range of changes announced by the Board of Thoroughbred Racing SA (TRSA).

The headline is a 43% increase in the SABOIS Bonus Pool which grows from $1.4 million to $2 million per annum effective from 1 December, with the bonuses available per SABOIS race increased by the same amount.

TRSA has also announced amendments to the qualification categories and corresponding fees and has also decided to allow purchased weanlings and yearlings into the scheme from December 1 where they are based in SA and primarily owned by South Australians.

SA Thoroughbred Breeders Chair Sam Hayes welcomed the announcements as “fantastic news for the whole industry.”

“SABOIS is a really important tool in terms of maintaining a healthy brood mare and foal crop in South Australia because it puts money directly back into the pockets of SA trainers, owners and breeders,” Sam said.

“It supports local participants who, in turn, provide the next generation of horses that are so vital to the future of our industry in this State.

“This announcement is great news and we thank the Board of TRSA for working with us to achieve this result.”

TRSA Chair Rob Rorrison said the SABOIS scheme continued to be a vital part of TRSA’s long-term strategic planning.

“SABOIS has proved itself to be an effective lever in helping to grow the race field sizes and horse numbers that are crucial to our future growth,” he said.

“We have taken a thorough look at every element of the scheme to see how we can make further improvements that will benefit the industry, and I believe the changes we are announcing will be well received by breeders, owners and trainers.

“We believe the introduction of the new Weanling category will provide the opportunity for SA breeders and owners to acquire these young horses and bolster our base of horses for the future while generating revenues for our breeding/agistment industry in the short term.”

“The yearling category has been introduced for one year only and will provide a required boost in our younger horse numbers while the benefits of the other SABOIS changes we have made filter through resulting in a larger future foal numbers.”

A summary of the SABOIS changes in full is as follows:

1. An increase in the Bonus Pool: The SABOIS Bonus Pool has been increased from $1.4 million to $2 million per annum effective from 1 December, with the bonuses available per SABOIS race increased by 43%.

2. Qualification and Fee amendments: There will now be just one qualification level and fee per category, while fees for the categories for the upcoming foal crop have been amended:

  • Category 1 (SA based Stallion) – Zero entry cost
  • Category 2 (bred back to SA based stallion) - $500 (ex GST)
  • Category 3 (SA breeder) - $750 (ex GST)

3. Weanlings: The Board has decided to allow weanlings into the scheme from 1 December, on the basis they are agisted in South Australia and majority-owned by South Australians for the following fees:

  •  Weanlings - $2,000 + GST

4. Yearlings: The Board has decided to allow yearlings which would not otherwise qualify and are purchased between 1 December 2020 and 31 July 2021 into the scheme, this is for this one year only and on the basis they are based in South Australia and majority owned by South Australians for the following fee:

  • Yearlings - $3,000 + GST (for one year only)

5. Adelaide Cup: The Board has introduced two key initiatives to re-invigorate the weekend of the Adelaide Cup:

i. SABOIS Bonus on every race for both the Saturday prior to the Adelaide Cup and at the Adelaide Cup meeting regardless of the age, with the cost to be managed within increased SABOIS Bonus budget; and
ii. Offer a $5,000 non-transferable voucher to be spent at the 2021 March Magic Millions Sale conducted the week after the Adelaide Cup for the first SABOIS horse home in each race.

6. SABOIS-only races: The Board has determined to continue with the two $100,000 SABOIS-only races.

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