Daily News Wrap

Alan Acton killed in helicopter crash

Prominent Queensland owner Alan Acton, a cattle king of the Wilpeena Cattle Company and ‘backbone of the Rockhampton community’, died in a helicopter crash on Tuesday morning while mustering at Bingegand, about 140 kilometres west of Rockhampton. The 65-year-old was the sole passenger on board.

Acton was widely known in racing circles and, just last year, he was one of the biggest and most vocal supporters of The Archer slot race at Rockhampton, a concept he helped to launch with his involvement in the Central Queensland Amateur Racing Club. Acton owned Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom) and such other good horses in recent years as Honey Pot (Spirit Of Boom).

Speaking to the ABC on Tuesday, the Rockhampton Jockey Club chairman, Rob Carr, said the local racing community was in shock.

“Anyone that I’ve spoken to today, and I’ve had plenty of phone calls over this, had been the same way - saddened by everything that’s happened today and it’ll never be the same with Alan not in our lives,” Carr said. “He was a true gentleman, fair and honest. You’d never meet a nicer guy.”

An investigation into the crash of the Robinson R44 helicopter will be ongoing by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Capricornia MP Michelle Landy, a friend of Acton’s, said the grazing community had lost a true legend.

David Harris new Minister for Racing in NSW

Central Coast Labour politician David Harris has been announced as the new Minister for Gaming and Racing in NSW with the election last week of State Labour leader Chris Minns. Harris will also serve in the new government as the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Veterans, Minister for Medical Research and Minister for the Central Coast.

Harris has been a primary school principal and volunteer surf lifesaver throughout his life. He has served the Central Coast district for a long time, including numerous appearances at the Wyong Race Club. He has been an active local advocate, in particular, for health care in the Wyong district.

The new Minns cabinet was announced in full on Tuesday and will be sworn in on Wednesday morning, with Premier Minns stating he was “proud of the team we have. We have a lot of hard work in front of us and a big responsibility, but my team and I are up to the challenge.”

Anamoe draws alongside Dubai Honour

The anticipated clash between Australian Champion Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) and William Haggas’ G1 Ranvet S. winner Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) got even more promising on Tuesday when both horses were drawn alongside each other for the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. Anamoe drew barrier eight with jockey James McDonald and Dubai Honour was handed barrier nine.

The inside draw for the 2000-metre feature went the way of Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) for the Price-Kent Jnr stable, with last year’s G1 Australian Oaks winner El Partroness (Shamus Award) in barrier two. The widest marble went the way of the Japanese visitor, Unicorn Lion (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), while Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) will be side-by-side in barriers five and four respectively.

Gold Trip wide in the Sydney Cup

The Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) has drawn wide in barrier 16 for this Saturday’s G1 Sydney Cup, with those wider including the Irish visitors Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Cleveland (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) for Joseph O’Brien in 20 and 17 respectively, and Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) for trainer John Sargent landing barrier 18.

The inside draw for the two-mile feature was given to Torrens (Adelaide {Ire}), while Nerve Not Verve (NZ) (Shocking) will start from barrier two. Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a winner of his last two starts for Bjorn Baker, was handed barrier eight.

Craig Williams back at it Easter Monday

Melbourne jockey Craig Williams has been given the all-clear to resume race riding on Easter Monday at Sandown’s meeting. The popular jockey took to social media to announce the good news, stating he “can’t wait to be back on track”.

Williams has been sidelined since March 11 after he, along with Jamie Kah, took a serious fall at Flemington in the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. Williams suffered a fracture collarbone, broken ribs and a fractured finger, along with concussion. He came off Dubenenko (Russian Revolution), who clipped heels with Kah’s mount, Flyball (Starspangledbanner).

Learning To Fly home at Coolmore

Annabel Neasham’s boom juvenile Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}), who was a dramatic addition to the running of the G1 Golden Slipper last month when unseating her rider, Chad Schofield, has returned to Coolmore at Jerrys Plains. According to Tom Magnier, part-owner, she is on the mend.

“She’s just arrived back to the farm where she’s recuperating,” he said. “I think she’s going to miss the spring, but we don’t know that yet for sure. The team at Randwick Equine Centre (REC) did a great job with her.”

Learning To Fly sustained significant injuries during the Slipper and had been in the care of REC up until returning to Coolmore. Magnier said she had a lot of rehabilitation ahead and, despite spring plans being unlikely, he was hopeful she will race again.

Ripcord for Karrakatta Plate

Two-year-old gelding Ripcord (Written By) was a winner last weekend of the Listed Perth S. at Ascot, and trainer Luke Fernie said his smart stable charge isn’t afraid of the Territories (Ire) filly Live To Tell, who won the G3 Gimcrack S. at the same meeting and is now two wins for three starts. Live To Tell is a hot favourite for the G2 Karrakatta Plate on April 15.

“I think she’s (Live To Tell) a star, but I don’t know if there’s a huge difference between them,” Fernie told Tabradio this week. “She’ll have to run down a smart one. By the same token, if she draws a good gate, I don’t want to chase her down from too far off.”

The Karrakatta Plate may also feature the Melbourne-performed Brave Halo (Brave Smash {Jpn}), who was fourth to Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}) in the G1 Blue Diamond S. at his last start.

Tracey Bartley recovering

The Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley, who suffered life-threatening injuries on March 19 when kicked by one of his horses, is home from hospital after a fortnight of care. He underwent five procedures for bleeding to his spleen, liver and kidney.

“I’m just very weak and I have to take it slow and steady,” Bartley told journalist Frances O’Shea this week. “I’m lucky because they were able to save all my organs and, in time, I will be back to normal. For now I’m watching from the sidelines, which is frustrating when you’re used to being on the go all the time.”

Bartley will send out his mare Sebrenco (Sebring) in this Saturday’s Provincial-Midway Championships Final at Royal Randwick. He won't be trackside but is hoping to be on his feet in a fortnight to resume training duties.

Jack Bruce hoping to crack top 10 in Brisbane

Deagon trainer Jack Bruce, who set up on his own only 11 months ago, is hoping to break into the top 10 of the Queensland metropolitan trainers’ premiership this week. He is currently equal 10th with Kelly Schweida on 13 wins but 11th on placings, and his 18.1 per cent winning strike rate is bettered only by Eagle Farm’s Tony Gollan.

“I’ve only been training for 11 months, and the way the stable is going has been a surprise as it’s always difficult for a trainer or jockey to break in when they first start off,” Bruce said. “I’ve been lucky as I try to keep ahead of the curve and, when I opened the satellite stable (in the Sunshine Coast), I had four horses there on the first day.”

Bruce’s total number of horses has grown to 44 in the last 12 months, with 24 at Deagon and 20 on the Sunshine Coast. He heads to this Wednesday’s Ipswich meeting with three runners in a bid to crack the premiership top 10.

NZB National Online Yearling Sale live

New Zealand Bloodstock’s (NZB) 2023 National Online Yearling Sale is now live on Gavelhouse Plus. All lots in the sale are eligible for nomination to NZB’s Karaka Million race series, with the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO coming up just nine months after the current sale closes, with both the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic and R. Listed Karaka Cup also open to the older horses.

The 92-lot catalogue will feature 41 sires, including usual heavyweights Proisir, Shocking, Darci Brahma (NZ), Reliable Man (GB) and Ocean Park (NZ), as well as yearlings by emerging talents U S Navy Flag (USA), Ardrossan and Embellish (NZ), while progeny from the first crops of Super Seth, Castelvecchio and Ten Sovereigns (Ire) are also among them.

Bidding for the sale will open on Friday, April 14, and will close at 6pm NZST on Wednesday, April 19. For more information, contact NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or kane.jones@nzb.co.nz

Pennyweka a good chance in the Oaks

The last-start G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) will contest this weekend’s G1 Australian Oaks at Royal Randwick in a bid for back-to-back Oaks victories for Masterton trainer Jim Wallace. The filly has drawn barrier 11 with jockey Damian Lane.

“She will handle most conditions,” the trainer told NZ Racing Desk. “It will be interesting to see how many pay up. Depending on who you talk to over here, it doesn’t seem like there will be a full field.”

After initially declining to pay up for the Oaks this Saturday, Pennyweka’s late entry cost her ownership an additional $22,000, but with about 36 of the 38-strong ownership group flying to Sydney for the race, they’re hopeful it will be money well-spent.

Andalus a possible for Queensland Derby

The G1 New Zealand Derby runner-up Andalus (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), who was seventh to Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Randwick equivalent last weekend, will stay in the stable of trainer John O’Shea in Sydney with a possible tilt at the G1 Queensland Derby in Brisbane. The 3-year-old is co-owned by Lib Petagna under the JML Bloodstock banner.

“We were really happy with his run in the Derby (last Saturday),” said Bruce Perry, Petagna’s racing manager. “We were just disappointed that we got rain on the day. He is a horse that needs a good track. He has stayed in Australia with John O’Shea and the idea is he will race as a 4-year-old over there.”

Foxy Frida for Adelaide

Trainer Andrew Noblet will travel his last-start Bendigo Gold Bracelet winner Foxy Frida (Foxwedge) to Adelaide for the G2 Queen of the South S., after which a Queensland campaign may be in order. It will the 5-year-old mare’s maiden Group win should she be successful, after running second in the 2022 G2 Queen of the South S. last year.

“We’ll head to Adelaide again and maybe go up north with her, we’ll just see how she gets through it,” Noblet told Racing.com. “I’m really happy with the way she’s come back.”

Foxy Frida is now a back-to-back winner of the Gold Bracelet. She is a winner of seven races for six placings in 22 starts and she’s won close to $700,000 in earnings.

Irish ex-pat Joe Doyle on his way home

Irish jockey Joe Doyle is heading home after a breakthrough Group 1 victory in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. last weekend aboard Pignan (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}). It was his third blacktype-winning ride since arriving in New Zealand last November, with his tenure including 19 wins and over $1 million in prizemoney earned by his winning rides. Doyle picked up a suspension in the G1 New Zealand Oaks, which brought his stay to a close a week earlier than expected.

“I’m heading back to Ireland next Monday,” he told NZ Racing Desk, adding he will return for a full New Zealand season in July. “I don’t want to commit to three years or anything like that, but I will be here for a full 12 months when I come back. My agent, Kevein Booth, is pretty keen to push it as hard as we can and go hard for a full year to see how much ground I can cover.”

Pinarello sidelined

Group 1 winner Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) has been sidelined after incurring a hairline pelvic fracture after the running of the G2 Awapuni Gold Cup last Saturday. She will be joined in her spelling paddock by the G2 Avondale Cup winner Aquacade (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}), who was x-rayed and found with a chip in her near-fore fetlock.

“Pinarello will require four to six months on the sideline, where he will join our Avondale Cup winner Aquacade,” said a statement from Cambridge Stud this week. “Both horses are expected to make a full recovery and we are still optimistic about chasing big-race targets with them next season.”

July Cup target for Kinross

The dual Group 1 winner for trainer Ralph Beckett, Kingman (GB) 6-year-old Kinross (GB), will be aimed at the G1 July Cup at Newmarket in the European summer, with regular pilot Frankie Dettori also aiming for a debut win in the race. Kinross was a last-season winner of the G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint, and will kick off his new campaign at Royal Ascot.

“Kinross has wintered really well,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for the horse’s Hong Kong-based owner Marc Chan. “He has come out of a hard end-of-season campaign in great form and we will be concentrating on a latter-half of the year campaign with him.”

McCalmont also suggested that Hong Kong could be a likely target at the end of the year, in particular the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, which is the reason the horse will be targeting the latter end of the European season.

Vet in Laoban stallion death begins suspension

Dr Heather Wharton, the veterinarian responsible for injecting the WinStar stallion Laoban (USA) with a so-called ‘black shot’ shortly before his death in 2021, has begun serving a 90-day suspension as part of a negotiated settlement with the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners, it was reported this week.

Wharton’s treatment of Laoban, a son of Uncle Mo (USA) and a leading second-crop sire at WinStar at the time of his death, was in aid of sparking the horse’s interest in breeding. He was injected with a cocktail of four substances, three of which were expired and one which is used to treat anaemia in young pigs. The dose was five times the recommended usage and injected intravenously, not intramuscularly, with expired Vitamin B Complex carrying a risk of anaphylaxis.

Along with a 90-day suspension, Wharton is obligated to pay a US$30,000 (AU$44,000) administrative fine, complete at least four hours of continuing education, and she has agreed to accept a written reprimand that will serve as a permanent disciplinary mark on her record.