O’Shea charged

Trainer John O’Shea has been charged by Queensland stewards for presenting Pretty In Pink (Sebring) to race with the party drug ice in its system when the mare won the G2 Moreton Cup during last year's winter carnival.

Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett confirmed stewards had called for submissions from O’Shea for an inquiry after a positive swab to the prohibited substances methamphetamine and amphetamine taken from Pretty In Pink on June 1, 2019.

O’Shea has not been charged with administration of the prohibited substances. Nine Entertainment reported there is a belief the drug got into Pretty In Pink's system because of inadvertent contamination while stabled on the Gold Coast.

Big shoes to fill

The last two editions of the Listed AR Creswick S. have been won by sprinters who have since reached far higher levels and the promising King Of Hastings (Ilovethiscity) will make his play for higher honours on Saturday.

The main event at Flemington was won in 2018 by Nature Strip (Nicconi) and last year by Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) with both subsequently claiming Group 1 titles.

Prepared by Anthony Freedman, King Of Hastings is coming off a confidence-boosting victory at Swan Hill and as clearly the highest-rated runner in the field looks well-placed with 60kg to continue his form.

Stayer in form

Mahamedeis (Magnus) will step up to 2540 metres in the George Watson H. at Flemington on Saturday off the back of a last-start success at Caulfield.

The 5-year-old will race through the winter with trainer Nick Ryan identifying the G3 Geelong Cup as a likely spring target.

Mahamedeis has won eight races and also finished runner-up to Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) in the G2 Feehan S. last spring.

Perth MM catalogue online

The catalogue and all digital assets for the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Winter Thoroughbred Online Sale are now available to be viewed.

The sale, which will open for bidding from 11am (AWST) on June 24 and close two days later, features 103 lots including weanlings, yearlings, race fillies, broodmares and racehorses. Photos and videos of every lot are available to view via the Magic Millions Online portal.

Lots catalogued in the sale include 25 yearlings by 15 individual sires, 35 weanlings by 15 sires, 25 broodmares, nine race fillies and nine racehorses.

"There's plenty of great opportunities for prospective buyers to get involved," Magic Millions WA Manager David Houston said. "Whether it's a weanling by a first-season sire, a proven stakes-producing broodmare or a city-winning racehorse - there's a great range of stock on offer.

"We encourage you to check out the catalogue and get in contact if there's any questions. All lots have photos and videos to assist buyers."

Bidding will open at 11am (AWST) on June 24 and will close with Lot 1 from 11am (AWST) on June 26.

Mott fined

Jockey Jamie Mott has been fined on a misconduct charge following a social media post that suggested he would flout whip rules.

Racing Victoria stewards on Thursday held an inquiry into a comment made by Mott on his Twitter account following the Sandown meeting on Wednesday.

In issuing a $1500 fine, stewards found Mott's comments were inflammatory and had the potential for serious consequences.

Randwick opens doors

Spectators will be welcomed back on track at Randwick on Saturday.

Australian Turf Club Chief Executive Jamie Barkley said Sydney racing had continued to lead the way in the safe return of racegoers to the track.

“We are delighted that Sydney and our customers can be the first in the country to return to the track.

“The Australian Turf Club not only continues to fully abide by New South Wales Government Public Health Orders, but has implemented extra measures such as state-of-the-art thermal imaging cameras for the health and safety of all patrons and racing participants.”

Speedy Meady set to fly

Trainer Stephen Ralph can’t wait to be back at the races this weekend, with up to eight runners set to represent his Te Awamutu stable at the Counties meeting at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.

Full fields and 11 races are the order of a bumper day, which marks the first time thoroughbred racing will take place in New Zealand since March 23.

“Speedy Meady, you would like to think is a standout, even with the 63kg top-weight. We get the three kilos off with Tegan (Newman), she rode him in a jump-out last week and he won,“ Ralph said.

“He beat New York Jazz, so we know the opposition was right up there and he seems to get out of the gates really well. That is important in an 800 metre race.”

Speedy Meady (NZ) (Swiss Ace) won the G3 Cambridge Breeders’ S. last season and matched motors with many of New Zealand’s best sprinters over the summer, including a sixth placing, beaten less than 2l in the G1 Railway S.

Inaugural Tattersalls Sale

The first edition of the new Tattersalls August Sale, to be held at Park Paddocks in Newmarket on August 25-26 has been announced by the sales' company. Comprised of primarily horses and fillies in training, the catalogue will also include some breeding stock and is in a similar mould to the Tattersalls July Sale.

“The decision to stage an August Sale is entirely in response to the unique COVID-19 related circumstances we all find ourselves facing,” Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said. “We were acutely aware as we took entries for the July Sale that the absence of racing was posing major difficulties in terms of assessing the merits of stock and what was suitable for entry in the July Sale.

“We spoke with a wide cross section of vendors and it became clear that there was significant demand for an extra fixture to accommodate requirements related to the impact of the global pandemic which has caused so much disruption in every walk of life.

“In a normal year there would be a major yearling sale in the week we have chosen for the August Sale, but with that sale moving to a later date we have been able to react positively and collaboratively for the benefit of all concerned.”

Cunningham bullish

Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore will offer a select draft of six weanlings through New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale, which is set to conclude via online auction Gavelhouse Plus on Sunday from 3pm (NZST).

Among his draft is a half-brother by Proisir to Hong Kong Group 3 winner Full Of Beauty (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and last-start Anthony Cummings-trained winner Clever Man (Dundeel {NZ}).

Watch: Gordon Cunningham on Curraghmore Stud's draft

“We also have a half-sister to Group 1 winner Planet Rock, that is a very well conformed Sacred Falls filly,” Cunningham said. “The Vadamos filly out of stakes-winning mare Mill Duckie is a good type of filly and is also a half-sister to two stakesperformers and there is plenty of upside with the young-stock from the mare.

“There is also an Iffraaj filly out of a Zabeel mare from a good family, so there is plenty of depth to our filly offerings. We have a couple of colts by Tarzino in which we’ve got good confidence and he is an exciting young sire.”

Countdown on

The countdown to the third edition of Australia’s longest flat race, the 4600 metres Jericho Cup, has commenced with the confirmation of its 2020 date and the qualifying races guaranteeing an automatic start.

The race, which commemorates Australian and New Zealand’s light horse involvement in World War 1, is run on the fourth Sunday after the G1 Melbourne Cup, which this year places it in the final weekend in November for the first time.

With a capacity field of 14 runners, it will be conducted under BM90 H. conditions with licensed jumps jockeys in the saddle and will again offer $304,000 in prizemoney.

The qualifying events are: BM 74 (3800m) – Wagga Wagga, August 9, BM82 (3210m) – New Plymouth, September 26, BM75 (3350m) – Mt Gambier, September 17, BM75 (3340m) – Gawler, October 23, BM82 (3000m) – Riccarton Park, October 24, BM78 (3800m) – Moonee Valley, November 13, BM85 (3400m) – Thoroughbred Park, November 15.