Nichols announces retirement from RVL
Racing Victoria director Greg Nichols has announced his retirement, leaving three empty spaces on the RV board.
“It's been a pleasure to serve on the Racing Victoria Board for the past 12 years, working alongside a raft of highly accomplished and committed directors,” Nichols told Racing.com.
Greg Nichols | Image courtesy of Racing Australia
“Victorian racing has come a long way in that time, delivering record returns to participants and unparalleled investment in integrity, welfare and infrastructure. I want to acknowledge and thank all of the stakeholders and staff whom I've had the privilege of working closely with over the past 12 years.”
With the departure of Nichols on March 31, Chairman Mike Hirst leaving at the end of May, and Brian Kruger who left last year and is yet to be replaced, the Victorian Racing Minister Anthony Carbines needs to find three new directors.
Thrilling finish sees Quickster win at Sandown
The second race at Sandown went down to the wire with favourite Quickster (Shamus Award) just prevailing over $18 shot The Shaper (Street Boss {USA}).
Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, Quickster is a full sister to G1 Toorak H. winner Mr Quickie. The 3-year-old filly was having her fifth start, but showed ability early, running fourth in the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic at only her start. Raced by Rosemont Stud, Quickster is the third winner for her dam, city winner Special Favour (General Nediym).
Emotional win for Kent at Balaklava
Co-trainer Glen Kent dedicated the win of Super Alana (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) at Balaklava on Wednesday to the stable’s injured apprentice, Chelsea Reynolds.
It’s pretty tough … good to get the win for Chelsey,” Kent told Racing.com.
Kent trains in partnership with Wayne Francis, and Super Alana is now the winner of two races from fifteen starts.
“She’s not the easiest horse … she’s got city ability in the right races but she just does a lot wrong. The girls do a really good job with her out the back because she's one that likes to kick a bit at the wall … Amabel like myself is a bit emotional, she’s best friends with Chelsey and they're pretty tight, we’re getting through it.”
A $30,000 purchase from the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Super Alana now has earnings over $47,000.
Wilson-Taylor gets Oaks ride in New Zealand
Queensland jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor has picked up his first international ride, and will be aboard Cupid’s Arrow (NZ) (El Roca) in the G1 New Zealand Oaks on March 16 at Trentham.
“I struck up a relationship with Andrew Scott when he was here for the Brisbane carnival last time, I helped him out with trackwork gallops,” Wilson-Taylor said.
“He sort of said that if I ever wanted to go and ride in New Zealand, I should let him know. So I thought I would see if they needed me any time soon. He offered me a ride on Cupid’s Arrow in the Oaks and Grail Seeker who is a promising filly in the Guineas. I also have a couple rides on the day for Tony Pike at this stage. I’m really looking forward to the day as it should hopefully build some foundation for some Kiwi horses coming to Brisbane in the future.”
Trained by Andrew Scott and Lance O'Sullivan, Cupid’s Arrow broke her maiden two starts ago and is a winner from seven starts, while Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) is also a winner from seven starts and was third in the G2 Eight Carat Classic three starts ago.
Karaka Million winner Velocious gallops well ahead of G1 target
Last start Karaka Million winner Velocious (Written Tycoon) galloped on Wednesday morning ahead of her G1 Sistema S. assignment on Saturday.
“She had a little break after that and has done very well since, her trial the other day (at Cambridge) topped her off nicely,” trainer Stephen Marsh told loveracing.nz.
“She had her final gallop this (Wednesday) morning and everything looks bang on track for her.”
Velocious | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Assuming all goes well on Saturday, Velocious will head to the other 2-year-old Group 1 in New Zealand.
“I think we will certainly be looking at that, she’s thriving and there will be a nice gap between races for her,” Marsh said. “The Manawatu Sires’ is part of the $1 million bonus for the Kiwi, so it’s all on the radar.”
Velocious has won three of her four starts with earnings over NZ$650,000, and was a NZ$190,000 purchase from Inglewood Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Bedtime Story wins her way into Guineas field
Exciting 3-year-old filly Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) won her way into the G2 Wellington Guineas field with a strong victory at Otaki on Wednesday. “It was good to get another win with her. You need a bit of luck every now and then,” co-trainer Guy Lowry told loveracing.nz.
“Not only will she benefit from the run, she would have learnt a lot from today as well. With blinkers on for the first time she over-raced a bit, but other than that she was good. She will go on to the Wellington Guineas next Saturday.” Lowry trains in partnership with Leah Zydenbos.
Bedtime Story has now won three of her five starts and placed in the other two. She is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Dragon Queen (NZ) (Sweynesse) out of an unraced daughter of Group 1 winner Snap (NZ) (Kingdom Bay {NZ}).
Jockey falls off approaching winning post
In the race won by Bedtime Story, jockey Masahiro Hashizume fell off Revolt (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) just as the horse was hitting the lead with around 50 metres to go. The side-on footage didn’t show any obvious reason for the fall, although Hashizume had just swapped his whip to the other hand and perhaps the horse shifted sideways into the runner beside him, upsetting Hashizume’s balance.
Masahiro Hashizume | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Both horse and rider were unharmed, with Hashizume going on to fulfil his riding obligations for the remainder of the card. The winner of one of his seven starts (six completed), Revolt is third foal of winning mare Fascinate Me (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) whose yearling by Proisir sold for NZ$240,000 at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Hong Kong rematch confirmed for Dubai World Cup meeting
Trainer Caspar Fownes confirmed on Wednesday that Straight Arron (Fastnet Rock) will have a rematch with Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) in the G1 Dubai Turf over 1800 metres at Meydan on March 30.
“He’s going good. It was a bit of a forgive run the other day (in the Gold Cup) because he got taken out in the first corner and it definitely cost us third place,” Fownes told scmp.com.
“The first two were too good on the day, but the start before that was very, very good over 1800 metres (when third in the Centenary Vase). Just going through his form, we thought it was worthwhile going there over 1800 metres. It’s going to be tough, but his run in (December’s Hong Kong Cup) was outstanding. He didn’t have the best of luck against some of the best staying horses around, so we’ll take him for a trip and hopefully it will toughen him up and show us where we are on the world stage.”
English Guineas nominations released
Both the English 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas have 49 entries each at the current stage of nomination released on Tuesday with the colts running Newmarket on May 4 where the favourite is trainer Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten City Of Troy (USA) (Justify {USA}). City Of Troy's stablemate Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a son of the 1000 Guineas winner Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is currently second-favourite and is one of eight entries in the race for the Ballydoyle stable.
The 1000 Guineas will run on the following day with O’Brien’s G1 Prix Marcel Boussac Opera Singer (USA) (Justify {USA}) as the current favourite and O’Brien also has eight horses in the filly’s version of the Guineas. G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is currently the leading British-trained hope.
Welfare summit to be held in June
The 11th Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit will be held June 25 in the Longship Room at Kroger Field on the campus of the University of Kentucky.
“Keeneland has always been a great host. When its construction coincided with this year's summit, Dr Nancy Cox, dean of the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, immediately stepped up to host the summit,” said Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and deputy executive director of The Jockey Club.
Dr Nancy Cox | Image courtesy of the University of Kentucky
“Dr Cox and UK have been great partners with The Jockey Club and Grayson on multiple projects, and we look forward to working with them on our 2024 summit. I am certain they will be an excellent host.” The event will be livestreamed.
Sunshineinmypocket remains unbeaten
Trainer Ciaron Maher’s 3-year-old gelding Sunshineinmypocket (NZ) (Proisir) remains unbeaten after making it two from two at Sandown on Wednesday. The NZ$6000 weanling was passed in as a yearling and later purchased privately by a group of Maher’s owners after winning a trial in New Zealand. His second dam is G1 Thorndon Mile winner A Touch Of Ruby (NZ) (Pins).
New 2-year-old winner for Zousain
First-season sire Zousain picked up a new 2-year-old winner at Doomben on Wednesday when Zouna won on debut for trainer Lawrie Mayfield-Smith. He becomes Zousain’s fifth winner joining Drifting, Chateau Miraval, Dyer and The Victress.
Zouna was a $120,000 purchase from the Kenmore Lodge draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Makybe Diva son wins off-the-track class
Surrey (High Chaparral {Ire}), a son of Horse of the Year Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}) is now a Horse of the Year himself. The equestrian event was held over six days from March 5-1 at Tomoana Showgrounds in the Hawke's Bay region and is New Zealand’s premier showjumping, eventing and dressage event.
Newly crowned Horse of the Year, Surrey | Image courtesy of Michelle Hall
Surrey was competing in the “Ridden Thoroughbred Show Horse” class on Wednesday and goes home as the best in New Zealand. As a racehorse, he was a winner from 22 starts with five second placings. Makybe Diva, winner of three Melbourne Cups, left six winners from eight foals to race led by stakes-placed winner Divanation (All Too Hard).
Application date extended for bloodstock mentoring program
The application date for the Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia (FBAA) 2024 mentorship program has been extended until March 20.
Aspiring bloodstock agents will have the opportunity to work alongside a FBAA agent, shadowing them as they work for a two-month period with a variety of work ranging from office work to sales day inspections.
Applications open on March 1 and close on 20 March, with the program taking place from Saturday, June 1, 2024, until Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
The cost of flights and accommodation for mentees to attend the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale and Inglis Great Southern Sale will be covered by the FBAA. Applications can be submitted through the FBAA website.
