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The Mort & Co King of the Mountain has a new home on the Queensland racing calendar.
Entering its third iteration in 2025, the $750,000 slot race will take centre stage on Friday, March 28, coinciding with the Toowoomba Royal Agricultural Show holiday.
As a result, the slot race will serve as the ideal lead up to the Queensland Racing Carnival's feature sprint races, commencing with the Group 2 Victory Stakes on May 3.
Previously held in line with New Years celebrations, the race was restricted to Queensland-bred and trained horses, with only locally based hoops riding.
The reimagined race will now be open to all horses aged three and older, with trainers and jockeys from across the nation now eligible to take their place.
The race will still have added incentive for Sunshine State participants, with a $50,000 QTIS sales voucher on offer for horses registered under the scheme.
"After only two years, the King of the Mountain has established itself as one of the state's headline feature races," Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said.
"Any honour board that features Yellow Brick and Rothfire underpins the strength of the race, with both past winners solidifying their status as two of the state's top thoroughbreds in recent years.
"By making the race open to all comers, we're confident that the race will attract its strongest ever field as we build towards another epic Queensland Racing Carnival."
Further information around slots for the King of the Mountain will be unveiled in early 2025.
Toowoomba Turf Club Chairman Jason Ward welcomed the change of date.
"It's great for the race and great for Toowoomba that we see thoroughbred racing return to the traditional Toowoomba Show Holiday slot," he said.
"The Weetwood Handicap was conducted on the Show Holiday for many years, and the Toowoomba community will be sure to embrace the return to racing on that date.
"Having the race restricted to Queensland-trained horses and ridden by local jockeys provided some challenges for slot holders the last two years, however now that those restrictions have been removed, it has presented Slot Holders with an opportunity to source a runner from anywhere in Australia.".
The card will also include the $125,000 Pat O'Shea Plate for two-year-olds, as well as the $100,000 King of the Mountain Consolation.
