Racing in support for John Hunt
The BBC has confirmed that three women murdered in a crossbow attack in Bushey, Hertfordshire are the wife and two daughters of BBC racing commentator John Hunt. Carol Hunt, 61, died alongside two of her daughters, Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, following an attack at the family's home on Tuesday evening.
The suspected killer, Kyle Clifford, 26, was finally caught by police after a 23-hour man-hunt. “Following an extensive search Kyle Clifford, aged 26, was found in the Enfield area by officers this afternoon. He is receiving medical treatment, having been found with injuries. No shots were fired by police,” Detective inspector Justine Jenkins, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said in an official statement.
“At this stage we believe the suspect was known to the victims. This continues to be an incredibly difficult time for the victims' family and we'd ask their privacy is respected as they come to terms with what has happened.”
Golden Slipper 2025 nominations announced
The Australian Turf Club announced they have recieved 2094 first nominations for the $5m, G1 Golden Slipper (1200 metres) to be run at Rosehill Gardens on March 22, 2025.
Juddmonte fillies top day two of Tattersalls July Sale
While Godolphin hogged the headlines on the opening day, it was the turn of a couple of members of the Juddmonte draft to share the limelight during Wednesday's session of the Tattersalls July Sale. Sold consecutively as Lots 558 and 559, the 3-year-old fillies Anacapa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Calabria (GB) (Kingman {GB}) each brought the hammer down at 300,000gns (AU$599,000).
The Australian wing of the micro-share syndicate My Racehorse, in partnership with Victorian trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent, struck for Lot 631, 3-year-old Bur Dubai (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), at 250,000gns (AU$489,000).
Trade bounced back to being roughly on par with last year's figures, with an average price of 25,202gns (AU$50,400) (+7 per cent), median of 12,000gns (AU$24,000) (-8 per cent) and an aggregate of 4,813,500gns (AU$9,626,000) (+19 per cent) for 191 lots sold. The sale concludes on Thursday.
Hoystead and O’Dea partnership split
The training partnership of Matt Hoysted and Steve O’Dea is being dissolved and Hoysted will train in his own name in the next racing season. “I’ve been training for 19 years and feel now is the time for a lifestyle change while still being involved in racing,” O’Dea said in a statement.
O’Dea will focus on breeding horses for the future.
Master Jamie chasing third Rockhampton Cup
Master Jamie (Poet’s Voice {GB}) has won the Rockhampton Cup for the past two years and trainer Graeme Green is hopeful of a history-making three-peat at Callaghan Park on Saturday. “No horse has ever won three Cups in a row on the grass track at Rocky but there were quite a few who did when they raced on the sand track here quite a few years ago,” Green told Racingqueensland.com.au.
Master Jamie | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
Master Jamie has won 19 of his 63 starts with earnings over $1 million.
In Flight chases hat-trick of wins
Jay Ford and Joe Pride team up on Saturday at Randwick with 3-year-old filly In Flight (Flying Artie) who has won her last two starts in succession. “I think she’s better suited at the 1100 metres rather than going back to the 1000 metres, Joe went this way and I think it’ll be the right way,” Ford told Racingnsw.com.au.
“She’s having a really good preparation and I can’t see why that can’t continue albeit she has to carry the big weight. She’s very adaptable, depending on how the race is run she can tack up close to the speed up front or settle behind them and run on. It’s good to have versatility like she does.” She has won four of her eight starts.
Parnham one away from record
Trainer Neville Parnham saddles up Ghost Who Walks (God Has Spoken) and Multinational (Zoustar) in Saturday’s Listed Beaufine S. and is one win away from squaring the ledger with Vern Brockman as the most prolific trainer of the race. “He’s going along really well,” Parnham told The Races WA about Ghost Who Walks.
Neville Parnham | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“His trial was excellent and he’s improved off that. He needed that hit out and galloped super on Tuesday. I’m looking forward to a good first up performance from him.”
Turn The Ace attempts unique double
Saturday’s ITM/Gib Sprinters’ Winter Championship Final at Ruakaka will give Turn The Ace (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) an opportunity to complete a unique double. The Winter Championships were introduced in 2022 with $60,000 finals for 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, progressive horses (one win at nomination time), sprinters and stayers. No horse has yet scored two wins in those $60,000 finals.
Turn The Ace (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Turn The Ace won the inaugural 3-year-old Final in 2022. “He’s proven before that he can handle a quick back-up, so I don’t have any concerns about doing that with him this week,” trainer Andrew Forsman told Loveracing.nz. “And he was a good winner in his only previous run at Ruakaka, albeit just against his own age-group in the 3YO Final a couple of years ago.”
Lui loads up with 10 for final meeting
Trailing Pierre Ng by one in the Hong Kong Trainers Championship, Francis Lui will bring a team of 10 to Saturday’s final racemeeting of the season at Sha Tin. “It’s the strongest team I’ve had (this season),” Lui told scmp.com. “I think Call Me Glorious is the best chance.”
Francis Lui | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Pierre Ng has entered nine horses for the meeting.
Epsom Downs injunction extended
An injunction prohibiting acts of intentional disruption at The Jockey Club's Epsom Downs Racecourse has been extended an additional five years by a High Court judge, TJC announced on Wednesday. The injunction will be subject to an annual review.
“The interim injunction which was granted last May has remained in place for all fixtures staged at Epsom Downs since and has proved a very effective deterrent to those who had been considering illegally and irresponsibly protesting on racedays, with potential unknown and dangerous consequences for jockeys, racegoers and the horses themselves,” said Nevin Truesdale, chief executive of The Jockey Club.
“We have always said that we will do everything in our power to ensure that the safety of all horses, participants, racegoers and our employees is not compromised by such reckless actions and we are extremely pleased that this final injunction to restrain acts of trespass will keep the current restrictions in place for up to a further five years.
“We will never tolerate or acquiesce in a repeat of the disruption we saw last year and we welcome this High Court ruling.”
G3 Stanerra S. won by Grateful
As a daughter of the six-time top-level-winning dual champion grass mare Tepin (USA) (Bernstein {USA}), Ballydoyle's 3-year-old filly Grateful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has a lot to live up to, but she went some way to doing that on Wednesday with a hard-fought success in Fairyhouse's G3 Darley Irish EBF Stanerra S. She now has two wins from four starts.
Seize The Grey to Gainesway
This season's GI Preakness S. winner Seize The Grey (USA) (Arrogate {USA}) will stand at Gainesway near Lexington after he retires, said officials at Gainesway, who acquired his stallion rights, in a release Wednesday afternoon.
“We are excited to add Seize the Grey to our stallion roster,” said Gainesway's general manager Brian Graves. “Arrogate was cut out to be a top sire and we are excited to have one his best sons stand at Gainesway. His speed and good looks should prove to be very popular with breeders.”
Winstar Farm to stand Cogburn
Cogburn (USA) (Not This Time {USA}), who most recently won the GI Jaipur S. at Saratoga in North American-record time, will stand at WinStar Farm upon his retirement. The Central Kentucky nursery has entered a partnership with the ownership group of the 5-year-old, which includes Clark Brewster, William and Corinne Heiligbrodt and Lindy Farms, to acquire the breeding rights to Cogburn.
“There are not many times in life you get to stand the fastest horse in the world,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “I was in awe of his performance in the Jaipur and his balance and conformation are spectacular. I think horses are fast if they breeze five furlongs in 59s and change. He ran 5.5 furlongs that fast.”
