Daily News Wrap

Ebor sole international ‘win and you’re in’ Melbourne Cup race

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) on Thursday announced the conditions for the 2023 G1 Melbourne Cup, worth $8.4 million. The G1 Ebor H. at York becomes the only international ‘win and you’re in’ race, with the winner of that 2700-metre on August 26 gaining an automatic berth on the first Tuesday in November.

The Ebor has a strong Cup record, with 2016 winner Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger}) making the trip to Flemington to run an eventual second to Almandin (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). The 2023 Cup trophy will visit the Ebor festival in August as part of its annual tour around the world.

“It’s fantastic to officially connect two iconic races in the Ebor H. and the Melbourne Cup with the introduction of a golden ticket for the Ebor winner into the race that stops a nation, and indeed much of the world,” said William Derby, chief executive of York Racecourse. “With the York winner having finished in the top 10 at Flemington in three of the four years preceding the pandemic, this great news will give confidence to winning connections that their start at Flemington is secure, further linking two great races.”

The Ebor is now one of the seven ‘win and you’re in’ races for the Cup, joining the Roy Higgins, Andrew Ramsden S., The Bart Cummings, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Archer S.

Additionally, the VRC made a slight alteration to this year’s balloting, with any placegetter from a golden ticket race, or any Group 1 event over 2000 metres or more, passing the first ballot for the Cup.

Horses disqualified in Wiremu Pinn apprentice claim mix up

Racing Victoria (RV) on Thursday announced the disqualification of 29 horses that apprentice jockey Wiremu Pinn rode with an incorrect weight claim afforded to him by stewards after 'imprecise' communications with New Zealand counterparts.

An audit by stewards on June 13 established Pinn was only entitled to claim 2kg in metropolitan races upon arrival in Victoria last month, and he had been 'incorrectly' allocated a claim of 3kg between May 27 and June 12.

The placings will be amended for the relevant races, and prizemoney awarded as though the disqualified horse had not started in the race. The RV Board has opted not to order the repayment of any prizemoney paid to the owner(s), trainers or Pinn from the 29 horses disqualified by the stewards.

“The RV Board reached this position in consideration of all the circumstances, including that the error in miscalculating Pinn’s claim was not attributable to him, nor the owners and trainers of the 29 horses who all acted in good faith in booking Pinn in the races in question,” the RV statement read.

“The RV Board notes that the error was made without ill intent and apologises, on behalf of RV, to all affected parties for any distress that this unique situation has occurred.”

RV has commenced a review of the relevant systems and processes to ensure this error is avoided in the future. Prominent owner Bob Peters, who lost two metropolitan race win credits for his mares Frigid (Frosted {USA}) and Mystery Moment (Animal Kingdom {USA}), said; “I think it was all the stewards could do. They did what they had to do. They aren’t going to ask owners to send back stakes money, so they are compensated as best they can.

“We’ve lost a city win, so there is a decrease in the value of the mares, but it was the right call.”

Vale Ray Selkrig

The indelible jockey Ray Selkrig died on Thursday, it was confirmed by friends of the family. The 93-year-old, who won the Melbourne Cup on Lord Fury in 1961, was one of the brightest lights of the riding ranks for decades.

During his career, Selkrig won four editions of the AJC Derby, the first of which came in 1954 aboard Prince Delville. He was associated with such horses as triple Derby winner Royal Sovereign, Swift Peter and Gold Brick (NZ).

However, his most famous victory occurred at Kembla Grange one afternoon when he came off the sprinter Hot Chestnut just a few strides short of the winning post. Refusing to let go of the reins until the line, Selkrig was awarded the race in a storm of controversy. He cracked his pelvis in three places as a result of the effort, and the story goes that Jack Denham, who had the runner-up, refused to send a horse to Kembla for two years.

Selkrig retired from the saddle at the age of 53 after riding his first winner in 1947.

Luncies targets Caloundra Cup

Newcastle trainer Kris Lees will send out the 6-year-old gelding Luncies (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the Listed Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast this Saturday, and he’s hoping the horse can wrap up a successful Queensland carnival for the stable. Lees has already won three features, including the G1 Queensland Oaks with Amokura (Kermadec {NZ}), while Luncies handed him the G3 Tattersall’s Cup at Eagle Farm last week.

“The Caloundra Cup looks another nice race for him,” the trainer said. “He rarely runs a bad race but he’s up in the weights this time. Desert Icon has been racing well and Gai Waterhouse’s Zoumon has no weight and will take catching.”

Luncies was imported from the UK in late 2020. He has won two races for Lees but has been ultra-consistent at stakes level with nine places and six wins across his career to date.

Beauty Generation’s half-sister set for Flemington debut

The Peter Moody-trained Yeronga Songbird (I Am Invincible) will attract plenty of attention in Race 1 at Flemington on Saturday. The juvenile filly is a half-sister to one of Hong Kong’s all-time greats, the eight-time Group 1 hero Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock).

Yeronga Songbird - a homebred for Rosemont Stud - is from the unraced Bel Esprit mare Stylish Bel.

“She’s a lovely filly, she’s always shown a fair bit of natural ability, but we’ve just had to be a little bit patient until she was physically mature enough (to race)," Moody’s assistant trainer, Katherine Coleman, said.

“She’s trialled up really nicely and her work this week has been quite sharp. Flemington looks a nice, little debut option for her.”

Billy Egan will ride the filly off gate four.

Lavish thoughts ahead of stayers’ Mahogany Challenge Final

Pakenham trainer Phillip Stokes has his 3-year-old gelding Lavish Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) in this Saturday’s staying feature, the Mahogany Challenge Final at Flemington. The trainer said the 2500-metre race lines up well for his lightly raced gelding, with just seven starts to his name.

“He’s a So You Think, and if you look at his profile and compare it to a horse like Good Idea that won an Adelaide Cup and other staying races, he’s in front of him at the same age,” Stokes said. “He’s drawn the carpark (barrier 16), but I’m confident the trip won’t be a worry. We need a bit of luck but I’m happy with the horse. He’s a real stayer and he’s got a clean set of lungs.”

Hong Kong Jockey Club announce Champion Awards nominees

The Champion Awards Judging Panel has elected the final nominees for the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) Champion Awards for 2022/2023.

The Horse of the Year is elected by votes of the Judging Panel from winners of the respective categories, excluding the Champion Griffin.

Judges will decide between Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) and Wellington (All Too Hard) for the Champion Sprinter title.

California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) and Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) are the two finalists in the Champion Miler category.

Golden Sixty has also been nominated for the Champion Middle-Distance Horse, so too has Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Voyage Bubble (Deep Field).

Romantic Warrior and Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are the two nominees in the Champion Stayer category, while one of Lucky Sweynesse and Voyage Bubble will be named Champion four-Year-Old.

The Champion Griffin, which is for new imports in the current season which arrived in Hong Kong unraced, and which were aged either two or three on the date of the first Hong Kong race meeting of the season, will either be Dream Winner (NZ) (Exosphere) or Howdeepisyourlove (Deep Field).

The Judging Panel comprises three members each from the HKJC and the Association of Hong Kong Racing Journalists.

Winners of the Champion Awards will be announced at the HKJC Champion Awards 2022/2023 presentation ceremony to be held on July 14.

Andrew Angelone makes his training debut

Warrnambool trainer Andrew Angelone will have his first starter on Friday at Geelong after taking out his trainer’s ticket. The former Snowden foreman will send out the 3-year-old filly Luna Diva (Odyssey Moon).

“I learned pretty much everything from Peter and Paul (Snowden) to be completely honest,” Angelone told Racing.com. “They’ve been a part of my racing career for the better part of eight years, and the main thing I learned from them is hard work. You’re not going to get anywhere if you’re not willing to work hard. Look after your horse and they’ll look after you.”

Luna Diva had 11 starts for the Snowdens in Victoria before being gifted to Angelone by the owners for his first runner. She has won two races, with her new trainer adamant that she is suited by the 1100-1200 metres.

Finals Day at Flemington

Saturday is Finals Day at Flemington, with the popular winter series coming to a close at HQ. The Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final over 1200 metres will occur for the sprinters, while the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final over 1600 metres will be for the juveniles over the mile course. There is also the Creswick Sprint Series Final over 1200 metres for the 3-year-olds, and the Silver Bowl for the 3-year-olds over a mile.

The Mahogany Challenge is for the stayers over 2500 metres, as is the 2600 metres of the Banjo Paterson Final, which can feature the experienced stayers heading to the spring features.

Meech return delayed

Linda Meech will have to remain patient as she eyes a return to the saddle after being sidelined due to concussion.

Meech was hoping to ride at Flemington on Saturday, which is 11 days after she fell from the Lindsey Smith-trained Bitcoin (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) on June 17,

However, the Group 1-winning jockey failed to receive a medical clearance and will miss her three rides, including Peter Moody’s Invincible Caviar (I Am Invincible), who will contest the Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final.

Fellow rider John Allen was handed a 30-meeting suspension by Victorian stewards over the June 17 incident after being found guilty of careless riding rule AR131(a). The ban kicks in on July 5 and expires on August 5.

Fasig-Tipton opens nominations for ‘Night of the Stars’

The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, also known as the 'Night of the Stars,' has officially opened nominations for the 2023 edition, which will be held on November 7 at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington.

“We advertise the Fasig-Tipton November Sale as the world's premier breeding stock event, and for good reason,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “It provides an atmosphere of electricity unlike any other thoroughbred auction in the world, providing sellers with the strongest market for quality out there.”

The top-class sale is always held in the days following the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which are scheduled this year for November 3-4 at Santa Anita. As such, the sale will be held a bit later in the week than its usual spot in order to allow both humans and equines to travel.

Last year's sale continued to live up to lofty expectations, with the one-night auction exceeding US$100 million (AU$151 million) for the second year in a row. A remarkable 30 fillies or mares sold for US$1 million (AU$1.5 million) or more, including five of the six most expensive fillies or mares sold in North America.

The sale featured the US$7 million (AU$10.5 million) hammer price on Gamine (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}), marking both the highest-priced thoroughbred and highest-priced broodmare sold at public auction in the world in 2022.

Inaugural Midlantic June Sale ‘a productive exercise’

The inaugural Fasig-Tipton Midlantic June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training drew a limited catalogue of 99 juveniles that had some consignors worrying about a lack of buyers, but the auction ultimately proved a good first step in remaking the juvenile sales calendar. A filly by Kantharos (USA) brought the auction's top price of US$500,000 (AU$760,000) when selling to bloodstock agent Steve Young. The juvenile was one of four to bring six figures on Wednesday in Timonium.

“I would be less than honest if I said we weren't a little disappointed with the number of horses that we received,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. “But I would also be less than honest if I didn't say we were very surprised at the strength of some of the results. I think it clearly demonstrated that there was a legitimate marketplace here for quality horses. There was significant demand and bidding well above reserves on the top-priced offerings.”

From a catalogue of 99 head, 79 juveniles went through the ring on Wednesday with 59 selling for a gross of US$2,541,000 (US$3.85 million). The average was US$43,068 (AU$65,000) and the median was US$26,000 (AU$40,000). With 20 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 25.3 per cent.

Purton edges closer to record

Australian jockey Zac Purton managed just the one victory at Happy Valley on Wednesday, meaning the six-time Champion Jockey needs another 10 wins in the final six meetings to break Joao Moreira’s single-season record of 170, which the Brazilian established in 2016/17.

Purton claimed the opening race aboard Turin Mascot (Ire) (Caravaggio {USA}), which was one of two winners on the night for in-form trainer Pierre Ng.