Pride Of Jenni leads Victorian Horse of the Year nominees
Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) is one of five finalists for the Victorian Racehorse of the Year Award, which will be presented as part of Racing Victoria's Scobie Breasley Medal night. The others are Caulfield/Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Imperatriz (I Am Invincible). Pride Of Jenni won a jump out on Monday morning.
Pride Of Jenni | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
TABTouch secures five year deal with WA
TABtouch announced the extension of its partnership with Perth Racing for another five years, continuing its long-standing commitment to support the Western Australian racing industry. “As the brand that funds racing in WA, it makes perfect sense for TABtouch to be front and centre at Perth’s premier racing venues,” Racing and Wagering Western Australia Chief Wagering Officer, Mike Saunders, told racingwa.com.au.
“This partnership builds on the $850 million we have contributed to supporting and investing in WA racing over the past five years. We’ve had some really innovative collaborations with Perth Racing over the last few years – particularly with The Quokka – and this renewal signifies our shared vision for an exciting future for racing in Perth.”
Update on injured jockey Pannell
Top jockey Todd Pannell will be sidelined for a couple of weeks following an incident in the starting gates at Murray Bridge on Saturday. “Todd will be out for 10 days,” manager Mel Shields told racingsa.com.au.
“Where the cut is, if he moves his knee, he could potentially split the stitches.” Pannell suffered a laceration to his knee after colliding with the barriers when the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea-trained Sixteen Reasons (Jukebox) began awkwardly and subsequently missed the start badly before running second behind Klabel (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}).
Prizemoney for Strapper of the Year
For the first time prizemoney is up for grabs for the winner of the Trackwork Rider of the Year award, and the Stablehand/Strapper of the Year award, at Racing South Australia's night of nights at the Wolf Blass Event Centre at Morphettville on September 7. “Racing SA wants to shine a light on those that give their heart and soul to our great industry and recognise the important contribution that they make,” Racing SA Chief Executive Officer Vaughn Lynch told racingsa.com.au.
Prizemoney up for grabs for Strapper of the Year | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We know there are so many great trackwork riders and stablehands in our state, and we encourage as many people as possible to nominate.” The winner of each award will get $1000.
Eagle Farm plan announced
The road map to return to Eagle Farm has been revealed, with official's hopeful of racing at the state's premier track by next month after jockeys walked off the job there in July over safety concerns caused by a new building being constructed. “The (Brisbane Racing) club think they can have all of the mitigation work completed for the meeting on Saturday, 14 September,” Racing Queensland Chief Executive Jason Scott told racenet.com.au.
“The mesh cover that is around the building now will come down this week. It will come down basically at one floor per week as the builders put the glass in. It won't be fully down by the 14th, but the jockeys are comfortable it will be far enough down to get to the hoardings. There will be a smaller, maybe four-metre high, covered scaffolding going up (to cover up the building), which the jockeys are comfortable with, from just past the 600 metres to where the building is.”
Without A Fight Cups repeat in doubt
Last season’s cups champion Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) has entered a “grey period” in his recuperation from a tendon injury with a decision still pending on his official spring target. “It’s still very early days, but he’s probably in that area now where it’s a bit of a grey area,” co-trainer Anthony Freedman told racing.com.
“In a month we will know exactly where we are at. One thing about that horse is he does keep himself pretty fit and you saw that last year. So, it wouldn’t worry us if we had to go into a long race first-up. He came back in last week and everything has gone as well as we’d hoped. I think he’ll do some treadmill work over the next couple of weeks, then we’ll have to assess him every week and see how he’s going.
“As long as we’re happy, we’ll step it (work) up.” Without A Fight hasn’t raced since winning the 2023 G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup double.
Quirindi meeting moved to Tamworth
Tuesday’s Quirindi race meeting has been transferred to Tamworth racecourse. “Following a track inspection by Racing NSW Stewards it was deemed the Quirindi track is unsuitable for racing following rainfall over the past seven days,” reported racingnsw.com.au.
Hadouken wins Darwin Cup
Trainer Peter Robl took his 6-year-old gelding Hadouken (Real Impact {Jpn}) from the Gold Coast to Darwin for the Cup and saluted by 0.38l from Wolfburn (Snitzel). The favourite Bear Story (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was third, 2l away.
“I’m a little bit lost for words,” said Robl. “Him doing that amount of work (in the race) too but look, it’s testament to the horse, how well he’s adapted to the dirt here, how well he’s acclimatised to the Darwin lifestyle. Thank you to Tyler (Schiller) for riding him, and thanks to the owners for entrusting me when I mentioned bringing the horse to Darwin. It’s not a cheap or easy exercise.”
Early 3-year-old winner for Yes Yes Yes
Fourth on debut at two, Lindsay Park trained 3-year-old gelding Si Si Milano (Yes Yes Yes) won at his second career start at Pakenham on Monday to become his sire’s fourth individual winner. Yes Yes Yes also has four stakes placed juveniles from last season.
Ace High success translating to his biggest book yet
New Zealand-based Ace High will serve his biggest book to date in 2024 thanks to the success of G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Molly Bloom (NZ) and two recent 3-year-old winners in NSW with Ace’s In Bloom (NZ) and Canny Queen (NZ). “Ace High has had an outstanding start to his stud career having already produced a Group 1 winner, Molly Bloom in his first season,” said John Cordina, who raced Ace High and remains a shareholder in the stallion's career at Rich Hill Stud.
Ace High | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
“He was the leading new season 3-year-old stakes performer in NZ in 2024. His stock has proven to be extremely popular with Australian trainers and in the coming season there will be representations from many leading stables, such as Chris Waller, Price/Kent, Joe Pride, Brad Widdup, Greg Hickman and Nathan Doyle.”
Zoete’s Rock heads to Tasmanian 3-year-old features
Zoete’s Rock (Impending) showed he could be a major player in some of the major 3-year-old features later this season, opening his winning account at Devonport on Sunday. “It was great, it was well deserved, he acquitted himself (against good horses last campaign). He’s come back a furnished product, he’s a little bit bigger, he’s muscled up in all the right spots, and he wants to be a racehorse,” trainer Dean Wells told tasracing.com.au.
Twice Listed placed at two, he will be aimed at the Tasmanian Guineas over summer.
Future of jumps racing in NZ under consultation
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing released a consultation document on Monday to aid in deciding the future of jumps racing in New Zealand. “Jumps racing in New Zealand is at a crossroads and as an industry we now need to decide what path we should take. Unfortunately, the economic reality means doing nothing is not an option,” Bruce Sharrock, NZTR Chief Executive Officer, told Loveracing.nz.
Bruce Sharrock
“We are asking participants to carefully read the document, understand the situation we’re currently facing, and ultimately provide feedback on their preferred option.” Feedback needs to be submitted by September 6.
Glorious Goodwood attendance similar to last year
The 2019 figure of 100,104 people attending Glorious Goodwood had dropped to 95,359 by 2023 and this year’s total would be at or around the same level as last year. “We at Goodwood know a huge amount about the people that come here. We do all the postcode demographics, we have research coming out of our ears after the meeting in terms of whether they were on the database before, whether they were new, whether they were lapsed returners, demographics, how far they’ve travelled and all that stuff,” Adam Waterworth, Goodwood’s managing director, told theguardian.com.
“But what we don’t know, and what’s more difficult, is about the people that didn’t come. What about the type of person that used to come five or 10 years ago but doesn’t now? That’s the really interesting one for me. Betting turnover is down, general sports fans are not finding horse racing in the numbers they used to. There is something that doesn’t seem to be resonating with the wider public as strongly as it used to.”
Light Up Racing phase two announced
Following its launch phase in the U.S. in April, 2024, Light Up Racing will launch Phase 2 of its program, which includes further website development and new personnel, the organizers announced in a press release on Sunday.
“The initial phase highlighted the crucial need for transparency and effective communication within the racing industry, with millions turning to LUR for reliable updates and insights,” the company said in the release. “LUR is ready to build on this success, driving further innovation and progress in the months ahead. During Phase 1, Light Up Racing provided timely updates on high profile horses, catering to the public's appetite for transparency and information. The organization highlighted the journeys of both winners and losers alike from major races during their recovery days, offering simplified explanations of medical issues. Valuable resources were created to address common concerns within the industry. These efforts enabled participants to confidently disseminate accurate information, effectively sharing industry progress while addressing misinformation.”
Unbeaten Lazzat wins G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and aimed at Australia
Maintaining his unbeaten sequence in style, Nurlan Bizakov's Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) proved the slight drop in trip to be no problem as he dominated Sunday's G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. “The Golden Eagle in Australia is his target against local 4-year-olds with a weight allowance,” trainer Jerome Reynier said of the 3-year-old gelding who is unbeaten in six starts.
“It was won last year by a Japanese horse who had the same conditions. He has to have two weeks' quarantine in Newmarket and two more locally, so we will see but it looks like a race designed for him. He doesn't need much work, he's just a good horse and a pure champion, I think.”
Lazzat, who becomes the third Group 1 winner for his sire, is currently the only known foal out of Lastochka (Ire) (Australia {GB}), a granddaughter of the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Sleepytime (Ire) (Royal Academy {USA}). Her four black-type winners include the G3 Winter Derby winner Gentleman's Deal (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) and the G3 Superior Mile winner Hathal (USA) (Speightstown {USA}).
G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) winner for Reliable Man
Flying the flag for Germany on Sunday, Gestut Rottgen's G3 Diana-Trial winner Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) made the most of her favourable inside draw and her abundant ability to make all in Dusseldorf's G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana. Trainer Maxim Pecheur, who was also celebrating his first Classic and Group 1 victory as a trainer in his first year saddling the establishment's horses, had ridden Diamanta (Ger) (Maxios {GB}) to success in this five years earlier but could hardly express the magnitude of the moment.
Reliable Man (GB) | Standing at Westbury Stud
“I am lost for words to describe my feelings,” he said. “We already enjoyed a great season, but winning the German Oaks is absolutely awesome. A great thank you to all of the team who have made this possible.” Erle has won three of her four starts.
The fourth Group 1 winner in German for Reliable Man, Erle is the second foal out of Kizingo (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a half-sister to Reliable Man's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten-winning sire Erasmus (Ger). Their dam is the 2010 Diana heroine Enora (Ger) (Noverre), who along with the dual G2 Hansa Preis winner and dual group 1-placed Egerton (Ger) (Groom Dancer) was produced by the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio runner-up Enrica (GB) (Niniski).
US Turf Championships announced by Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Downs will play host to the inaugural FanDuel TV U.S. Open Turf Championships on September 7. The event will feature six graded stakes races offering over $2m apiece for Kentucky-breds (and $1m to non-Kentucky breds). In addition to the three Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In Races', Kentucky Downs will pay the pre-entry and entry fees towards the Breeders' Cup for the winners of three additional stakes should they make a Breeders' Cup field at Del Mar on November 1-2.
“We are pleased to again partner with Kentucky Downs to provide winning connections with fantastic incentives and awards via the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series,” said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President & Chief Racing Officer for Breeders' Cup Limited. “The commitment of Kentucky Downs and FanDuel to recruiting international contenders aligns perfectly with our approach as a global festival of racing, and we look forward to welcoming contenders who find success at this meeting to the Breeders' Cup World Championships in the fall at Del Mar.”
