No Everest for Amelia’s Jewel
Owner Peter Walsh won’t push Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) to The Everest. “We won't be going to sprint races, obviously we might to start with, but that 1400-1800 metres is where she is best suited now,” Walsh told racing.com.
“She won't go to The Everest or anything like that, we're not even thinking about that. I haven't even actually spoken to Annabel (Neasham) about it, I'm going to just leave it with her. (Amelia’s Jewel) could do everything there for a while, she just wasn't quite up to sprinting last campaign. It wasn't her best campaign, but she still won $600,000.”
Bezique ready for Ramornie
Trainer Tony Gollan’s assistant trainer Craig Cavanough has been frustrated by Bezique's (Spirit Of Boom) run of second placings and hopes that changes in the Ramornie S. on Wednesday. “We started high fiving and next minute Aurie’s Angel came from nowhere (in the Bright Shadow), the run behind Chinny Boom was good in the Coughlan and the horse that ran third has placed in a Group 1 since then,” Cavanough told Racingqueensland.com.au.
“It was unbelievable how she got run down at Ipswich, especially when her and Party For Two went at it. She fought Party For Two off, you thought she was home and hosed and Wollombi came from nowhere and caught her on the line.” She has run second in Listed races in her last three starts.
Warning retired
G1 Victoria Derby winner Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}) has been retired. “Known as the gentle giant around our stables, he provided us with some thrilling wins, consistently racing at the highest level,” Freedman Racing posted to X.
“A sincere thank you goes to all of Warning's owners and the staff who have loved him throughout the years. Not to mention, a special thank you to the big man himself, what a remarkable journey it's been.”
Purchased by Sam Freedman and De Burgh Equine for $65,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale from Mill Park Stud, Warning has won five of his 47 starts and over $2.4million.
Ryan to run pair of juveniles on Saturday
Nick Ryan will be hoping for a home-track advantage with two progressive 2-year-olds in Saturday's Byerley H. at Flemington. “It's probably not ideal, (I) would've certainly have liked another run under his belt, but he's done plenty of work, his first-up run at Seymour was very encouraging and he was very solid through the line,” Ryan told racing.com about Red Aces (Dundeel {NZ}).
Nick Ryan | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She's probably got the benefit of another run under her belt, over the mile,” Ryan said of Suntora (Toronado {Ire}). “You could say, they're both on trial for a Derby, Oaks and we'll get a good assessment of where we're at after Saturday.”
Cranbourne Thursday moved
After receiving 40mm of rain, the meeting at Cranbourne for Thursday has been shifted to Pakenham’s synthetic surface.
Weeraechoux to go one better in Belmont Classic
Trainer Brian Kersley knows 3-year-old gelding Weeraechoux (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) can improve into Saturday’s Belmont Classic. “He seems to have pulled up pretty good and I think it was a big run under the circumstances,” Kersley said to The Races WA.
“I’ve always had a bit of faith in the horse when he puts it all together and he pretty much did that the other day (Aquanita).” He has won two of his 14 starts and ran second in the Listed Aquanita last start.
Melham returns from injury on Wednesday
Jockey Ben Melham will resume riding on Wednesday at Sandown. He hasn’t ridden since sustaining a ruptured quad muscle in a fall on the Caulfield Heath track in April.
Ben Melham
Kah resumes on Saturday
Jockey Jamie Kah has been on holiday since June 8 and will resume riding on Saturday at Flemington. So far in 2024, she has ridden five Group 1 winners; G1 Blue Diamond S. on Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}), G1 Australian Guineas on Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon), G1 Newmarket H. on Cylinder, G1 Goodwood H. on Benedetta (Hellbent), and the G1 South Australian Derby on Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun).
Mansour leaves NZ Equine Academy
Donavan Mansour has resigned from the New Zealand Equine Academy (NZEA) and will be replaced by Leith Innes and Amie Best. “Donavan has really put the New Zealand Equine Academy on the map as a career pathway provider since it was established in 2021,” NZEA Director Daniel Nakhle said.
Donavan Mansour
“While we are sad to see Donavan go to pursue other career opportunities, it is an exciting time with Leith (Innes) taking over the Apprentice Jockey Academy and Amie (Best) coming in as Programme Leader of the Level 2 and 3 course.”
NZ Breeding Award finalists announced
The New Zealand Breeding Awards will be held the Don Rowlands Event Centre in Cambridge on July 27. “It’s an opportunity to recognise human and equine achievement, which once again the 2023/24 season has provided in spades. Not only that, it’s also a brilliant way to bring our industry together to celebrate at this wonderful night hosted by our Waikato Branch,” New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association chief executive Nick Johnson said.
Nominees for the coveted Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan Breeder of the Year award are Trelawney Stud, Waikato Stud and Ray and the Estate of the late Martha Johnson.
Nominees for the Small Breeder of the Year award, which recognises the achievements of a New Zealand breeder with a small broodmare band, are Ray and the Estate of the late Martha Johnson, Eddie and Nicola Bourke and Allan Piercy, and Carole and John Lynskey.
The Mary-Lynne Ryan Young Achiever Award, sponsored by Loveracing.nz, is named in honour of Waikato horsewoman Mary Lynne Ryan, who is remembered for her passion for thoroughbred breeding and racing and for her dedication to the development and education of young people wanting to develop their careers. The finalists are Hannah Airey (Trelawney Stud), Olivia Blane (Waikato Stud), Ryan Figgins (Waikato Stud), Grace McMillan (Windsor Park Stud) and Cameron Ring (Cambridge Stud).
Saratoga Derby winner to get Cox Plate berth
For the second consecutive year, the winner of the $600,000 G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational at Saratoga Race Course on August 3 will receive an invitation to the A$5 million G1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, according to a New York Racing Association release Monday.
“When assessing the strength of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate in recent years, there is a very definitive correlation between international participation, strong race ratings and strong wagering numbers,” said Moonee Valley Racing Club's Head of Racing, Charlotte Mills. “The Saratoga Derby brings together a talented contingent of northern hemisphere 3-year-olds each year, and we are hoping to see more of them follow the path paved by Joseph O'Brien and State of Rest.”
State Of Rest (Ire), who won the double in 2021, stands at Newgate Farm.
Kiwi duo trial well
Wexford Stables’ well-performed pair of Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) and Dragon Leap (Pierro) trialled quietly at Avondale on Tuesday for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.
“Most likely, they will both go straight into the Foxbridge Plate and they will also go to Hastings for the G1 Tarzino Trophy,” Scott told Loveracing.nz.
Japan Cup main aim for Auguste Rodin
MV Magnier has described the Japan Cup as “the main aim” for Auguste Rodin (Ire) where the six-time Group 1-winning son of Deep Impact (Jpn) will bid to bridge a gap of almost two decades to the last European-trained winner of the race.
Auguste Rodin (Ire) | Image courtesy of Racingfotos
“We've been sending mares to Japan for over 10 years now and September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) came from that first crop,” Magnier told TDN Europe. “They have been exceptionally good people to work with, to deal with, to have anything to do with.”
Record results for Ascot
Ascot Racecourse is set to return record prizemoney of £17.5 million to the sport in 2024, having announced on Monday its financial results for the 12 months ended December 31, 2023. Turnover for that period rose by 9 per cent to £110.9 million, with a pre-tax profit of £5.9 million–up from £3.4 million in 2022.
“Overall, we were pleased with our financial performance in 2023 with healthy revenue growth highlighting the continued popularity of racing at Ascot,” said Alastair Warwick, chief executive officer at Ascot Racecourse.
“As is being widely seen across the sport and leisure industry, costs have increased significantly which means we are operating in a challenging environment. We also have to prioritise our loan repayments and are particularly pleased to have been able to make additional payments in this respect.”
