Worried Sunshine Coast trainers face bushfire threat

Ben Dorries - Saturday August 19

Sunshine Coast horse trainers face a nervous day with mass evacuations of horses due to a large bushfire.

Bushfires have forced the evacuation of some horses from the Sunshine Coast.
A bushfire threat is a worry for Sunshine Coast horse trainers

The latest advice from the Queensland Fire Service is the western side of Racecourse Road, the southern side of Caloundra Road and Corbould Racecourse is expected to be impacted this afternoon.

Leading Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick, who was on his way to Brisbane to prepare runners at Doomben, has turned around and headed back to the Sunshine Coast.

Plenty of horses had already been evacuated overnight, including from the stables of trainer Stewart McKinnon who has stables near the track.

Some horses were also evacuated from on-course stables at the Sunshine Coast, including some which were sent to Yandina and the Nambour Showgrounds.

The fire had been expected to ease today however winds have begun to pick up in the area which is causing the fire to move quicker.

"It is all starting to get a bit scary, I was on my way to Brisbane but I've turned around the go back to the Sunshine Coast," Kendrick said.

Local trainer David Vandyke confirmed his Group I winner Yankee Rose was now in Melbourne, preparing for a Spring carnival assault, and all his horses were safe and well.

There have so far been no horses injured and Sunshine Coast chief executive Mick Sullivan said the situation was being monitored closely.

There is an eight-race program scheduled for the Sunshine Coast on Sunday and it is too early to say whether it will go ahead.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Yarraman Park Celebrate Historic Achievement - I Am Invincible Sets New Record
One of Australia's premier thoroughbred studs, Yarraman Park proudly acknowledges a momentous milestone in the world of horse racing and breeding in Australia.
$575,000 I Am Invincible Filly Tops Inglis Weanlings Day 1
An I Am Invincible filly for the Alma Vale/Kitchwin Hills partnership which realised $575,000 capped off a record opening day of the Australian Weanling Sale at Riverside.
Novara Park Announce 2024 Fees
Novara Park has stuck solid with its stallion roster, maintaining the service fees for all stallions for the 2024 breeding season.
Spring Goals for Renovations
Juvenile filly Renovations has already achieved a lot in a short space of time and trainer Cody Cole is excited to see what she can do as a three-year-old.
Oaks Filly for Wootton Bassett
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is a big name in the world of soccer, but is also making a mark as a racehorse owner with Wootton Bassett (GB) filly Gala Real, who he co-owns, showing serious Group I potential with a storming win in the Listed Prix de la Seine (2200m) at Longchamp on Sunday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday May 5
Here is the full list of 56 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Fastnet Rock Mare Stay Alert Wins G2 Dahlia Stakes
The form of outstanding Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina (IRE) was once again franked overnight in the UK when the Fastnet Rock mare she defeated to win the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes last year came out and won the Group II Dahlia Stakes Stakes (1m1f) at her first run this season.
Debut Winner for Gilgai Bred and Sold Grunt
Gilgai Farm have bred champions such as Black Caviar, All Too Hard and Ole Kirk and they also bred and sold eye-catching debut winner Ailyak, who scored at Werribee on Monday for the Ciaron Maher stable.
Sires With Winners - Monday May 6
Here is the full list of 17 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Guineas Upset – Shock Result
An unbeaten colt by a champion sire won the Group I Newmarket The Two Thousand Guineas (1m) overnight, but it wasn’t the one most people thought.