500 horse carcasses discovered, no evidence linking to racing at this stage
Authorities in New South Wales are conducting an investigation following the grim discovery of approximately 500 horse carcasses on a property in the southern part of the state.
The Wagga Wagga City Council, along with NSW Police and other government agencies, are probing the incident after finding the remains in a dried creek bed near Wagga Wagga believed to be an illegal knackery.
"It is estimated that there are in excess of 500 horse carcasses," said Peter Thompson, Wagga Wagga City Council General Manager, in an official statement.
"There was no evidence collected on the day that I am aware of that point to racehorses being on the property, whether or not agencies at the state level have been able to investiagate further and discover anything, I wouldn't be aware of that," Thompson said.
While the duration of the illegal operation remains unclear, the condition of the carcasses ranged from skeletal to recently deceased.
The council was alerted to the situation eight weeks ago due to the neighbours complaining about the smell, and conducted a site visit four weeks later. Investigations revealed multiple piles of horse remains, the largest containing 200 bodies. Efforts to conceal the remains with soil were noted, having been made just days before the authorities arrived.
Following the discovery, NSW Police and state agencies began gathering evidence for potential legal and regulatory actions under various state laws.
New Zealand Bloodstock's 2024 National Online Yearling Sale
The third annual National Online Yearling Sale run on New Zealand Bloodstock’s Gavelhouse + platform ended on Wednesday. The catalogue of 100 yearlings was topped by Lot 36 (Written Tycoon x Mozzie Monster, by Sebring) who sold for $80,000 to Stephen Marsh Racing / Dylan Johnson Bloodstock. The filly is the first foal of Listed Bendigo Guineas-placed winner of two races Mozzie Monster who is a daughter of Group 3 winner Valentine Miss (Danetime).
All unbroken yearlings purchased from the National Online Yearling Sale are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series. Just nine short months after they make their virtual sale-ring debut, graduates of the online sale can compete for a share of the $1 million R. Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200 metres), followed by the $1.5 million R. Listed TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600 metres) plus a $200,000 bonus for new owners.
Melham hospitalised with suspected broken leg
Jockey Ben Melham was dislodged from the Chris Waller-trained Heed The Omens (Hallowed Crown) shortly after the start of race seven at Caulfield Heath on Wednesday. Racing.com reported that he was taken to the Alfred Hospital with a suspected fracture to his left leg.
Ben Melham | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Heed The Omens was uninjured in the incident, completing the course riderless. Melham was booked to ride Malkovich (Choisir) in The Quokka at Ascot on Saturday afternoon.
Champagne a distance stretch for Manaal
G1 Sires’ Produce S. winner Manaal (Tassort) will have to stretch for the mile in Saturday’s G1 Champagne S.
“On pedigree you would suggest it would be her outer limit and when she comes back in the spring as a 3-year-old we’ll see how it pans out,” trainer Michael Freedman told Racingnsw.com.au.
Manaal | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Once she gets into a nice rhythm she seems to relax and for any horse, in particular a young horse, that’s important. It gives me encouragement she can run it out.”
Snitzel’s Wee Nessy aimed at G1 Doomben 10,000
Co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have outlined the plans for Group 2 winner Wee Nessy (Snitzel).
“She'll go to the Doomben 10,000. Five weeks is a nice gap for her and she loves soft and heavy tracks,” Kent Jnr told Racing.com.
“The Sangster proved a bit too close as she would have to come back to Melbourne and then go to Adelaide. Her form looked good through her third placing behind Chain Of Lightning at her previous start.
Wee Nessy | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“We gave her the spring off as she didn't come up. We gave her an extra-long spell at Arrowfield and she returned to us looking a treat. She's a robust, rotund mare and third-up she was close to peak fitness. It wasn't really a soft track but there was enough give in the ground so she could let down properly.
“There are a host of Group 1 sprints in Brisbane, so we'll see how much fuel she has left in the tank after the Doomben 10,000.”
A $400,000 graduate from Arrowfield Stud’s 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchased by Flying Angels/ARJB, Wee Nessy has won four of her 16 starts and nearly $700,000.
Dual Kosciuszko winner has Everest goals
Trainer Matt Dale will aim dual Kosciuszko winner Front Page (Magnus) at one raceday but whether it will be in the $2 million The Kosciuszko, the $3 million Sydney S. or the $20 million TAB Everest is still unknown. All three run at Randwick on October 19.
“You aim him for that day, first-up, to be peaking,” Dale told Racingnsw.com.au.
Front Page | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’ll be in the Kosciuszko or the Sydney S., or if some level of stars align he could be in an Everest.” Front Page runs on Saturday in the G3 Hall Mark S. and is coming off a third place in the G1 Galaxy.
J-Mac confirmed for South Australia
Global superstar jockey James McDonald will be one of the star attractions at Morphettville on the opening day of the 2024 Adelaide Racing Carnival.
“It’s J Mac’s first trip down there,” McDonald’s manager Mark Guest told Racingsa.com.au.
“He’s booked for the two Group 1 races at this stage, Roots in the Sangster and it will be another horse for Chris Waller in the Oaks.”
Justify 3-year-old ready for Thursday
Hawkesbury trainer Steve O’Halloran has taken his time with 3-year-old gelding Royalify (Justify {USA}) who runs at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
“Billy Xantos rang me out of the blue, and said he had been following my stable and asked if I would be interested in training a horse for him,” O’Halloran told Racingnsw.com.au.
“His attitude is good, and he wants to please you in everything he does.” From the first crop of Justify (USA), who already has 26 stakes winners and six Group 1 winners globally, Royalify is out of Group 3 winner Lady Melksham (Artie Schiller {USA}).
Five for Gollan at Doomben
Trainer Tony Gollan had a day to remember at Doomben on Wednesday, training five winners as well as the trifecta in race 10.
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
He won with Adranos (Capitalist), Boom In The Dark (Spirit Of Boom), Tenzing (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), Veloz (I Am Invincible), and the trifecta in race 10 was: Typhoon Taavi (I Am Invincible) from Blakmax (Brazen Beau) and Fumiko (Flying Artie).
Wednesday’s debut winner to head to Queensland Carnival
Mick Kent's 3-year-old gelding Steel Run (Real Steel {Jpn}) is potentially Queensland-bound this winter after an impressive debut win at Caulfield Heath on Wednesday.
“Queensland's on the radar if he can improve a lot, so we'll just go to 2000 metres next start in a 3-year-old race and see where we end up,” Kent told Racing.com.
He is the sixth winner for his dam North Sea (Hussonet {USA}) who has left three stakes-placed winners in Jeanneau (Beneteau), Aim Smart (Smart Missile), and Northern Barrage (Churchill {Ire})
Playing God 3-year-old takes on big names in The Quokka
Trainer Mitchell Pateman believes his 3-year-old gelding Almighty Class (Playing God) has what it takes to knock off some pretty big names in Saturday’s The Quokka.
“He probably gets the race shape he wants on Saturday to see him at his best I would have thought,” Pateman said to The Races WA.
“I think he gets speed which is probably what he needs. The way the barrier draw has turned out he gets the chance to sit behind them. When he gets cover you will see a different horse. The two starts he’s got cover he’s exploded.”
Almighty Class is rated by punters at $41 to Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}), runner-up in last year’s Quokka the $3.10 favourite, ahead of defending champion Overpass (Vancouver) at $4.60. Almighty Class is a winner and Listed-placed from only five starts.
Racing nerd rides NZ raider in The Quokka
Jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor will ride Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) in this Saturday’s The Quokka.
“I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to racing and I love watching racing and I watch races wherever they are,” Wilson-Taylor told Racenet.com.au.
Kyle Wilson-Taylor | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
“I do it to improve myself and also because I am very passionate about the sport. I want to be a world-class rider and I think you have got to have that level of obsession to continue to improve.”
Of Waitak, Wilson-Taylor said, “he needs to take a big step up to challenge the Australian sprinters, but I think he can do it. They will be running along up front in The Quokka and he will be storming home.”
Nisbet retires
Country Championships-winning jockey Kayla Nisbet has announced her retirement. She will finish riding early next month to begin the next phase of her career as a presenter and form analyst for Sky Racing in Southern NSW and Canberra.
“It was my dream growing up to be a jockey, and I am really proud of what I achieved in my professional career riding, although it's now time for me to look ahead at the next chapter,” Nisbet told Racenet.com.au.
Asfoora flights delayed due to middle east conflict
Asfoora (Flying Artie) will remain in Australia for an extra seven days and is due to depart next Wednesday evening, rather than Wednesday this week, with Singapore Airlines for a raid on the English sprinting Group 1 races. Her flight was delayed due to air space closures over the Middle East.
Asfoora | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We've got the four definite races in England, then the one maybe race at the Curragh or Longchamp, then it's another month to Del Mar, she might be looking for a rest then but if she was going well, it's very easy going across to America from Europe,” Henry Dwyer told Racing.com.
Godolphin buys top lot on day one of Craven for 525,000gns
Agent Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin purchased the top lot at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale for 525,000gns (AU$1.1 million). 2-year-old colt Anno Domini (GB) (New Bay {GB}) was offered by Greenhills Farm, Ireland.
Bought for 125,000gns (AU$266,000) as a yearling from the Ogden family's dispersal at Book 1 last year, the already-named Anno Domini (Lot 26) was one of the big eyecatchers from Monday's breeze that took place in some of the most challenging weather conditions that many key stakeholders said they could remember.
Michael O'Callaghan purchased the day’s second top lot a colt by Mehmas (Ire) who is a half-brother to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Coventry S. winner and Classic hopeful River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) for 300,000gns (AU$640,000) while the third top lot was a colt by exciting first-season sire Pinatubo (Ire) from Johnny Collins's Brown Island Stables for 220,000gns (AU$470,000) through bloodstock agent Mark McStay for trainer Paddy Twomey.
The sale continues on Wednesday (Wednesday night/Thursday morning AEST).
Unbeaten Harry Angel filly to Irish Guineas
Trainer Paddy Twomey will skip the English G1 1000 Guineas with unbeaten 3-year-old filly A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) and head to the Irish version instead.
“I was very happy with how she did it in the Guineas trial the other day at Leopardstown,” Twomey said.
“She's a classy filly and, every time she's started a race, she's done exactly what we thought she would do. I'd say the Irish 1000 Guineas is the race she'll go for next. She's entered there and she's not entered in Newmarket.”
Half-brother to Frankel breaks maiden at second start
Juddmonte homebred Kikkuli (GB) (Kingman {GB}) backed up a promising debut effort at Newmarket last November with a neck victory at the same track on Tuesday. The 3-year-old half-brother to unbeaten Champion racehorse and sire Frankel (GB) has no plans for the future.
“It's wonderful to have him in the yard, but that comes with a little bit of added pressure,” admitted trainer Harry Charlton.
“There's no immediate plan and Ryan (Moore) thinks he'll be even better next year, but that doesn't mean we're going to do nothing this year! We'll talk to Juddmonte and see what they want to do.”
$775,000 top lot on day one for Ocala Breeze ups
Day one of the Ocala Breeze Up Sale was on par with the same session last year. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni and trainer Bob Baffert purchased the session's top-priced lot, going to US$775,000 (AU$1.2 million) for a filly by Caracaro (USA) on behalf of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. The filly was consigned by Global Thoroughbreds and was the third fastest overall at the breeze-ups.
From a catalogue of 302 juveniles, 205 horses went through the ring Tuesday for a gross of US$19,725,000 (AU$30,695,000). The average of US$136,034 (AU$211,700) was right on par with the 2023 figure of US$136,665 (AU$212,700), while the median of US$87,000 (AU$) rose 16 per cent from a year ago.
