Michelle Payne officially retires from riding
After a 23-year career in the saddle, jockey Michelle Payne has retired. “I’ve handed in my license so that’s it for me,” Payne told justhorseracing.com.au.
“It was a tough decision to come to and obviously took a lot of time to decide on. But I’ve achieved my biggest dream of winning the Melbourne Cup and had my time in the sun. I really enjoyed it and obviously loved the competitive side of riding and being out there and being connected with the horse.”
Patrick and Michelle Payne | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“(I’m now) really looking forward to the training side of things, you still get as much of a kick out of it just watching it. I probably get a bit more nervous, which is interesting because it gets taken out of your hands a bit. But at the end of the day, it was always going to come to an end and I’m content and looking forward to the next step.”
Listed Opunake Cup won by Belardo Boy
Belardo Boy (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) is on target to defend his crown in next month’s G3 127th Winter Cup at Riccarton following his victory in Tuesday’s rescheduled Listed Opunake Cup at Hawera.
“It was a really good win,” trainer Lisa Latta told Loveracing.nz. “He has had one or two trips down there, he’s a bit older, so it is not like he is having his first trip down there. Providing he pulls up well, he will go.”
Belardo Boy has won 10 of his 37 starts with earnings over NZ$387,000 and this was his second Listed win in succession after winning the Listed AGC Training S. last start. A NZ$28,000 yearling purchase by his trainer from Haunui Farm, he is one of 12 stakes winners for his sire.
A brother to stakes-placed Cheveaux (NZ), Belardo Boy won last year’s G3 Winter Cup, and is out of Group 3-placed city winner L’Amour (NZ) (Towkay).
Orchestral’s light spring updated
Last week, trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood announced that their dual Group 1 winning rising 4-year-old mare Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) would have a light spring, and on Tuesday, Roger James told rsn.com.au, “She’s grown, she hasn’t fully furnished but she’s in grand order. She’s going to be a hulk of a mare when she’s fully mature. … she’s quite likely to be in Australia somewhere … we haven’t got a major race in Australia lined up for her. If she was to go to Australia, it would be to a lesser mares race.
“We are mindful that she had a big 3-year-old year and kept stepping up. … Sydney’s probably the strongest option for her, there are two or three nice options in fillies and mares races just to give her a little taste of races … and have a big throw of stuff in the autumn.”
Corstens team adds a third
Father-son training team of Leon and Troy Corstens will become a trio with the addition of Will Larkin. “We're going to start a partnership, with Will Larkin coming into the fold with me and Dad,” Troy Corstens told Racing.com.
“He started off as our racing manager, because I wanted him to see that side of things and then when Dom (Sutton) went out on his own, he moved into the assistant trainer's role.”
I Am Unstoppable moved to Maher
Coolmore Stud S. runner-up and rising 4-year-old colt I Am Unstoppable (I Am Invincible) is now part-owned by Widden Stud and has joined the Ciaron Maher stable ahead of the spring. “He had a few issues last prep and we are just trying a change of scenery and thought he might be better at the beach, and we've had some success from there,” Widden’s Antony Thompson told Racing.com.
I Am Unstoppable | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He has had a really good break in Queensland, and it will be a slow build-up, so he won't be seen any time soon.” Purchased by trainer Lloyd Kennewell for $65,000 at the 2022 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, I Am Unstoppable was an unbeaten Listed winning 2-year-old, before four starts as a spring 3-year-old resulted in four placings, including second to Ozzmosis in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.
Akeed Mofeed announced for Rosden Park
With Cornerstone Stud stepping away from standing stallions, Akeed Mofeed (GB) will move to Rosden Park for 2024 at a fee of $2200 (inc GST). The Group 1-winning son of Dubawi (Ire) has sired four stakes winners.
“That he's still got an opportunity to serve some mares was pretty high on their (owners) agenda, they were keen that he wasn't just retired,” Ros Day told racing.com. “He's done well enough to hopefully still get a few South Australian mares.
“It's nice that South Australians have another stallion to look forward to really - we've got Barood and Akeed Mofeed here, as well as Barbados, Valentia and Nostradamus. At least it gives breeders a little bit of a selection from a Racing Rewards SA scenario.”
Rosden Park also stand Barood for $2200 (inc GST). He is a stakes-placed brother to Starspangledbanner, and his oldest crop are 2-year-olds.
Ninth winner for Zousain
Trainer Wayne Wilkes unveiled 2-year-old gelding Laizabout (Zousain) for his first start at Taree on Tuesday and he won by an impressive 6.45l for jockey Patrick Scorse. He is the ninth winner for first season sire Zousain and was a $50,000 purchase by his trainer from Widden Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft.
Another juvenile winner for Dubious
Trainer Clinton Taylor won Rockhampton’s QTIS race on Tuesday with debutant 2-year-old filly Run Away Renee (Dubious), who paired with jockey Justin Stanley for a 2.56l win. She is the seventh winner for first season sire Dubious. Not offered at auction, Run Away Renee is the second winner for unraced mare Crystal Nights (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who is a half-sister to Group 1-placed winner Antonio Guiseppe (NZ) (Shocking).
Dubious | Standing at Kitchwin Hills
Two trainers win six of eight races at Warrnambool
Warrnambool’s Tuesday meeting was dominated by trainers Symon Wilde and Lindsey Smith who won three races each on the eight race card.
Wilde won with Little Sandy (NZ) (Time Test {GB}), Under The Palais (Under The Louvre) and Freddy The Eagle (Free Eagle {Ire}).
Smith won with Prince Of Byron (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Dustland Fairytale (All Too Hard) and 3-year-old filly Cheerstothat (All Too Hard) who took her record to two wins from three starts.
Vale Barry Charman
Racing NSW has been informed of the passing of former jockey and trainer Barry Charman, a Life Member of Tweed River Jockey Club (TRJC) in Murwillumbah. He was 75.
In 2022, TRJC announced the inaugural Barry Charman Medal to be contested during the Tweed Coast Summer Racing Series in December of that year for the best jockey across the four days of the series.
“You wish in all facets of life you will cross paths with a guy like Barry. Very humble, hard-working and would give his time to anyone - just a great guy,” TRJC Director, Glenn Weaver told racingnsw.com.au.
“Our thoughts go out to Barry's wife Mary, son Brian and family at this difficult time.”
Falvelon’s trainer looking to break drought
Trainer Danny Bougoure is hopeful of ending a near 12-month metropolitan drought with two starters at Ipswich on Wednesday. “I haven’t had that many opportunities in town after I cleaned out the stable, but I’ve still got 21 horses in work,” Bougoure told Racingqueensland.com.au.
“I’ve got two good chances at Ipswich, and I think both will be very competitive.” His runners are Mouette (Better Than Ready) and Jungle Law (Jungle Cat {Ire}). Bougoure is best known for dual Group 1 winner Falvelon (Alannon).
Fab’s Cowboy will have final run on Saturday
Winner of 54 races, 12-year-old gelding Fab’s Cowboy (Greenwood Lake {USA}) will have his final start on the Longreach dirt track on Saturday before he’s forced into compulsory retirement due to his age. “You always hear about the rags to riches stories … this is a rags to rags story,” part-owner Paul Currin told racenet.com.au.
Fab’s Cowboy with Paul Currin
“We were poor when he started racing and we are poor when he finishes racing. But we have had a bloody good time in between. There are so many stories that you hear of people who are broke and then they get a star racehorse and they get wealthy. We have a good racehorse, but we certainly haven't got rich. It's been rich in memories, but maybe not in the bank account.
“Fab's Cowboy is going to retire to Living Legends in Melbourne and I'm very confident that Liz (Currin's cousin and Fab's Cowboy part-owner) and I will be the poorest people to have a horse there.” Currin owns a sheep and cattle farm at Drillham, near Miles in Queensland's western downs region.
Mugen set for Japan
Hong Kong’s smart galloper Mugen (Deep Field) will be set for the G1 Sprinters S. at Nakayama racecourse on September 29. “The owners really wanted to bring a horse to Hong Kong that can travel, and this horse might be the one for them,” trainer Pierre Ng told scmp.com.
“We might think of Japan - the Sprinters Stakes. Let’s see over summer. If there’s not many options, we’ll have a crack and if there’s options here, we’ll stay here.” Mugen won the G3 Premier Cup at his most recent start.
City Of Troy out of King George, but stablemate remains
Aidan O'Brien is responsible for five of the 11 possible runners in Saturday's G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. following Monday's confirmation stage, with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) set to lead the Ballydoyle team into battle at Ascot as he tries to atone for his disappointing effort in the corresponding race 12 months ago.
Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) is the only member of the Classic generation among the 11 contenders, with City Of Troy (USA) (Justify {USA}) likely to go to York for the G1 Juddmonte International instead.
Map Of Stars remains unbeaten with Listed Prix Pelleas win
Al Asayl's homebred 3-year-old colt Map Of Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) notched a one-length tally going nine furlongs at ParisLongchamp last October, his only prior start, and stepped forward to justify 11-10 favouritism with a career high on seasonal return in Monday's Listed Prix Pelleas at Compiegne.
Map Of Stars is the only winner produced by G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Bateel (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), herself a half-sister to Listed Prix Charles Laffitte victrix Basemah (Fr) (Lemon Drop Kid) out of G2 Pretty Polly S. runner-up Attractive Crown (Chief's Crown).
The Aga Khan’s Rouhiya retired
Rouhiya (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), winner of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, has been retired with a setback that would have ruled her out for the remainder of her three-year-old campaign.
Her owner-breeder the Aga Khan has been represented by two Classic winners this season but both have now been retired. Earlier this month, it was announced that the Oaks winner Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) had also been retired to the paddocks.
Racing unprofitable for bookies warns UK bookmaker
The parent company of Sky Bet and Paddy Power has warned British horse racing that a shrinking audience means racing is becoming unprofitable for bookies. “Our data shows how declining prize-money leads to declining field sizes, making the product for customers less compelling. This, in turn leads to lower betting revenues, and so less revenue for the sport. It is a clear and concerning spiral,” Ian Brown, the chief executive of Flutter Entertainment's UK and Ireland division told racingpost.com.
“We, as Flutter, simply cannot afford to keep investing in horseracing as an unprofitable product with a shrinking audience, where media costs are escalating at significant rates, and the underlying quality of the product is declining.”
