Johnson to head Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association
Nick Johnson has been announced to take up the position of Chief Executive Officer in October this year, for the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.
Johnson, an expat Kiwi, has been based in the United Kingdom for the past 10 years, where he has gained extensive experience in the commercial world of sales and marketing and a passion for the thoroughbred industry. Johnson, who has a young family, had a desire to return to New Zealand with them.
NZTBA President John Thompson said, “We had a lot of interest in the CEO role and some candidates but we felt Nick (Johnson) with his passion and enthusiasm for the industry will fill the role admirably.
“There are many positive changes in New Zealand, and we are confident Nick’s fresh perspective will be an asset. Our previous CEO Justine Sclater during her tenure lifted the profile of the association and left it on sound footing, and we are looking forward to how Nick can extend that growth.”
Johnson is excited about returning home to New Zealand and is honoured to have been chosen for the CEO role.
Johnson said, “The opportunity to advocate for and represent the wider New Zealand breeding industry on a variety of different issues carries with it a big responsibility, but it is something I am really looking forward to.”
Walker reaches 200 winners in a season
Te Akau Racing’s Head Trainer Mark Walker has become the first New Zealand-based trainer to record 200 domestic winners in a season at Awapuni on Thursday.
It was the 3-year-old filly Angels Wings (Heroic Valour) with Michael McNab aboard who provided Walker his 200th winner in a BM65 event on the synthetic surface.
“It’s great to get that milestone of 200 wins in a season today (Thursday) and to get another win for Fortuna Racing,” Walker said.
“John and Jessica Galvin, who own the business (Fortuna Racing), are very good friends of everyone at Te Akau and it’s thrilling to get the 200th with one of their horses.”
Walker eclipsed the record, as later in the day Treaty Of Paris (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Star In The Sky (Savabeel) saluted later in the meeting and brought Walker’s tally to 202 wins for the season.
King Frankel to chase Cup glory?
Warwick Farm-based trainer Annabel Neasham has welcomed the former Mark Newham-trained King Frankel (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) into her care and is excited over his prospects as a spring contender in the major staying races.
“King Frankel is one of the better stayers that we’ve seen around in Sydney, he’s pretty diverse on the ground,” Neasham said.
“We’ve set the Caulfield Cup as his sort of grand final as such, hopefully, he might be able to go on towards a Cox Plate or a Melbourne Cup as well.
“I believe the 2400-metre, handicap conditions of the Caulfield Cup will really suit the horse.”
Neasham indicated that King Frankel had come through his recent hitout at Rosehill well, and will kick off his spring campaign in the G3 Premier’s Cup on August 19 at Randwick.
‘Sky’s the limit’ for Mogo Magic
The exciting Scott Collings-trained Mogo Magic (Duporth) is set to keep his unbeaten record intact on Saturday at Randwick. The unbeaten 3-year-old gelding is set to contest the BM72 for 3 and 4-year-olds over 1100 metres, where he will be partnered by regular jockey Nick Heywood, who believes the ‘sky’s the limit’ for Mogo Magic.
Mogo Magic | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It looks like a nice stepping stone for him on Saturday. The connections are pretty loyal, they could put anyone on him but they stuck with me because I know him well,” Heywood said.
“He (Mogo Magic) feels like he hasn’t missed a beat since his last run. When Scott (Collings) wants me to gallop him with a mate, I head out there and jump on him and he feels really good and the gap between his runs he really appreciates.”
Zoustar juvenile impresses overnight
The Owen Burrows-trained Miaharris (GB) became a new winner for the Widden Stud-based Zoustar in the United Kingdom at Sandown overnight.
The Champion Sire has made a strong start with his Northern Hemisphere-based crops conceived from his stints at Tweenhills Stud, producing the Champion European 2-Year-Old in 2022, Lezoo (GB).
Miaharris is the 76th winner for Zoustar in the Northern Hemisphere. She is from the Listed winner An Ghalanta (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
Impending filly breaks her duck
The Aaron Laing-trained 2-year-old Imminance is a maiden no more, after the Impending filly won at the fifth time of asking.
Imminance stormed home down the outside of the track in Race 2 to topple the favourite, the James Cummings-trained Abstruse (Sidestep).
The filly showed ability at her first campaign, finishing just 2.81l behind Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}) in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium in February.
Bred by Merricks Station, the filly was passed in at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. She is from the winning Flying Spur mare Gin Lizzie.
Imminance is the fourth 2-year-old winner of the season for Impending, who is fourth on Australia’s Leading Second Season Sires’ table.
Alpha One heads to Hong Kong
The speedy Alpha One (Super One) will continue his career in Hong Kong after his current trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young confirmed he had departed their stable but has not left Australia.
The rising 4-year-old gelding was originally trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and won three of his 10 starts, including a placing in the G3 Vain S. to Giga Kick (Scissor Kick).
Refreshed Nature takes aim at the spring
Champion Trainer Chris Waller is feeling confident that his Champion Sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) is a refreshed horse ahead of his latest tilt at a spring preparation, although Waller was conscious not to place too many expectations upon the son of Nicconi.
“Nature Strip is great and very happy. He’d been up for a very long time, and you could see he was a bit grumpy and not his normal bright self,” Waller said.
Nature Strip | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It wasn’t a major issue, but he’d had enough. We’ve seen none of that since he’s come back bright, happy and keen. We believe there’s a chance that he can get back in good form.”
Nature Strip was sent for an extended break after an autumn preparation that saw him go winless in two starts.
“We gave him a proper spell. He went back to nature, we got all the grain out of him, and he just on beautiful grass in a big paddock and roughed it. Nature Strip enjoyed the back-to-nature-type life.”
James eyes Cox Plate
Champion New Zealand-based trainer Roger James is eyeing the G1 WS Cox Plate for his star filly Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), although James admits he’s not sure whether it will be the 2023 or 2024 edition of the legendary race.
“The Cox Plate is the race I would dearly love to win,” James told Racenet.
“I have only ever had one runner in it and that was Silent Achiever when she was beaten by a small margin when third to Adelaide.
Prowess (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“I think Prowess is the ideal Cox Plate (horse), but it’s a question of whether it’s 12 months too early?
“That’s my only question.”
Prowess is set to get her spring preparation underway, permitting weather, in a trial next Tuesday, August 1.
James is planning to have Prowess wound up for a tilt at the G1 Memsie S. on resumption, and then take a race-by-race approach.
Campton plans for Deepour revival
Gold Coast-based trainer Adam Campton is planning a trip to Sydney to get his promising sprinter Deepour (Exosphere) back on track after a below-par run in the Listed Ramornie H.
Deepour finished fourth on that occasion when heavily backed, but there were excuses for the 5-year-old gelding.
“It was a matter of how the race panned out in the Ramornie,” Campton said.
“They went slow and has to get to the outside. It was nothing to do with Kyle (Wilson-Taylor), it was a beautiful ride, but he has to get to the outside and let rip in some clean air. Deepour kept trying and attacked the line.”
Campton has underlined the BM88 H. over 1100 metres on Saturday as the next start for Deepour’s preparation.
“It’s about getting him down there and having a look at Randwick, to set him up for his next preparation. It just looks a nice race for him really.”
Injury benches Group 1 winner Dubai Mile for the rest of the season
Group 1 winner Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion {USA}) sustained an injury to his near-hind fetlock in a piece of work at Martyn and Freddie Meade's on Monday, and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
“We were preparing him to run in the (G2) Sky Bet York S. when he suffered a conjugal fracture on his near-hind fetlock, so it is an absolute tragedy,” Martyn Meade told the Press Association.
“We were giving him his last bit of work yesterday on our watered peat moss gallop, which was absolutely perfect for him, but it was just a complete freak accident. We managed to get him straight up (to) Newmarket, where he has been operated on and it has been pinned. That appears to be a success.
“However, he is clearly out for the rest of the season, I would think. It always happens to the best horses. You wouldn't believe it.”
Highfield Princess tackles Goodwood's King George prior to Nunthorpe's defence
Top sprinter Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) will return from her mid-summer break with a start in the G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood on Friday, August 4, trainer John Quinn confirmed on Wednesday.
The triple Group 1-winning sprinter ran second in her seasonal bow, the G2 Duke of York S. in May, and was second and third in the G1 King's Stand S. and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot last month.
“Last year we gave her a mid-season break, which she did seem to enjoy, and we have done the same this year but instead of going to Deauville, we decided to go to Goodwood,” said Quinn of the Trainers House Enterprises-owned runner. “There are no easy Group races over any distance, but we thought possibly that the Goodwood race might be slightly easier than the (G1) Prix Maurice de Gheest. Another factor, as you know, is that the Prix Maurice de Gheest is 6.6 furlongs.”
Cosgrave departs UK to ride in Saudi Arabia
Pat Cosgrave, champion apprentice in Ireland in 2003 and the winner of Group 1 contests in Europe, Australia and the Middle East, will serve as the retained rider for Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz.
“I'd only been back from Dubai (back in March) for a couple of weeks and was approached by Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz's team about the opportunity,” Cosgrave explained.
”I knew how successful their operation was over there, particularly given they won the Saudi Cup back in 2022 with Emblem Road, but it was a tricky time to make a decision as racing was just getting going again in the United Kingdom.
“I thought about it for a little while and decided it was a good thing to do. The racing, as well as other sports in Saudi, seem to be getting bigger and better every year and it's an exciting time to be getting involved.”
Cosgrave made headlines earlier in the year when he received a 28-day ban for easing up on favourite Concorde (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) in the final stages of a mile handicap at Chelmsford.
“I have been going along okay in the United Kingdom,” he said. “There were a couple of silly incidents that put me on the sidelines for a bit, but overall I was doing well, winning some decent handicaps and operating at a good strike rate.
“I was riding winners for the likes of George Boughey, Richard Hughes, George Baker and Jim Boyle, so things were going okay, and they were looking after me well, but it feels like the racing in Saudi is really progressing and I think it's a great opportunity to take.”
O'Brien hails 'Incredible' Paddington ahead of Sussex Stakes
No horse has ever improved at Ballydoyle quite to the extent that Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) has this season, according to Aidan O'Brien, who provided an upbeat bulletin on the colt ahead of the G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood.
Paddington has swept all before him this season. Having begun his campaign in handicaps, he landed the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, the St James's Palace S. and more recently the Coral-Eclipse S, proving that he is equally as adept over a mile than he is over 10 furlongs.
The plan is to step Paddington back to a mile for the Sussex S. at Goodwood, for which the hugely progressive colt is a heavy favourite with most firms to continue his winning streak and copper fasten his reputation as one of the most exciting horses in training.
O'Brien said, “What he has done has been incredible. He's gone from strength to strength with every run and it is very unusual. I know Ryan (Moore) is very impressed with him all the time and he looks like a very serious horse at the moment. I think he's standing up to a lot of scrutiny by the other horses that have gone before him.”
He added, “It's very unusual what he is doing and the ease with which he is doing it. It's very hard to compare him but I'm not sure we've ever had a horse that has made that improvement in the way he is doing it, mentally, physically and confidence-wise and everything really. He just looks so natural.”
Echo Zulu adds Honorable Miss to stakes resume
Getting down to business early, the champion 2-year-old filly from 2021 and 'TDN Rising Star' Echo Zulu (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}), added the second Graded stakes victory of her 4-year-old campaign with a geared-down win in the G2 Honorable Miss H. Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga Racecourse.
“She's able to go very (fast),” said winning jockey Florent Geroux. “She's able to set up very fast fractions and stay very nicely within herself. She's able to get a nice breather at the three-eighths and she's just waiting for my cue down the lane. As soon as I push the gas, she responds right away, so automatic. She's just gifted.”
Winning trainer Steve Asmussen added, “I was extremely nervous about just getting away from there (the gate) cleanly. She broke well, very comfortably and very fast. She looked beautiful coming into the stretch. (Her speed) is not new. From her maiden race here, she goes along at a rate that they're not comfortable doing. I think it's that simple: she's extremely fast. She really is. She's doing it quicker than they are, easier than they are in comparison to the other horses.”
A tearful Servis sentenced to four years in prison
Disgraced former New York trainer Jason Servis was sentenced to four years in prison by Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil in US District Court in Manhattan Wednesday. Servis, one of more than two dozen people charged after a wide-ranging investigation by the FBI into horse doping, had earlier pleaded guilty to one felony count and one misdemeanour count related to the use of the banned substances Clenbuterol and SGF-1000.
“You deliberately engaged in illegal conduct for years,” Vsykocil told Servis. “This was not a one-time offence or an aberration. You're doing so put the lives of the horses and the jockeys who rode them at risk. You caused staggering losses to multiple competitors, making more than $25 million in purses. You reaped huge financial rewards because of your criminal conduct.”
Four years was the maximum sentence that Vyskocil could have levied against Servis for the guilty pleas on the two counts. Before entering into a plea agreement with the government, Servis faced up to 25 years in prison on charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Those charges were dropped when Servis plead guilty to the lesser charges.
Servis, 66, addressed the court briefly, breaking down in tears before he gave his statement. Servis was so emotional that Vyskocil considered taking a recess in order for Servis to compose himself, but his lawyer, Rita Glavin, said that wouldn't be necessary.
“No words can explain how remorseful and sorry I am over the decisions I've made and the people I've let down, and the people I've hurt, mostly my wife and two sons,” he said. “I will live with this the rest of my life and I am most truly sorry and I throw myself at the mercy of the court.”
Government attorney Sarah Mortazavi told the court that not only had Servis used performance-enhancing drugs to gain an advantage for his horses. but he was slow to concede that he had done anything wrong.
“Jason Servis knew that using these drugs was a problem and was illicit and he tried to hide it,” Mortazavi said. “He thought he knew better than two oversight bodies and he assumed he could continue his conduct uninterrupted and that he would be fine. He was wrong.”
