Treble for McDonald at Randwick
Jockey James McDonald had another strong day out at Randwick on Saturday, riding a treble of winners aboard Our Kobison (Kobayashi), the G2 Missile S on Schwarz (Zoustar) and the last of the day on Willaidow (Shamus Award).
James McDonald | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Treble for Zahra at Valley
Jockey Mark Zahra enjoyed a treble at Moonee Valley on Saturday. He won on Busuttin/Young trained Waimarie (Snitzel), Neasham/Archibald trained Lincoln Rocks (NZ) (Road To Rock), and Symon Wilde trained Dashing Duchess (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Keep Ita Mystery begins Parnham treble
Trainer Luke Fernie combined with jockey Chris Parnham to win at Belmont on Saturday with 3-year-old gelding Keep Ita Mystery (War Chant). Previously unplaced in two starts as a juvenile, Keep Ita Mystery is the first foal of winning mare Mystery Affair (Gingerbread Man) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Flying Affair (Heritage).
The win was the first in a treble for Parnham who also won on Under Influence (Caravaggio {USA}) and Deferred (Epaulette).
Treble for apprentice Wheeler at Sunshine Coast
Apprentice jockey Bailey Wheeler rode a treble on Saturday at the Sunshine Coast meeting aboard Cosmo Centaurus (Cosmic Force), Essonne (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), and Cunnamulla Fella (Better Than Ready).
Bailey Wheeler | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
Sir Freddie has interesting pedigree
Randwick winner Sir Freddie (Counterattack), trained by Jeremy Sylvester, is a rare winner in Australia for his sire who is a son of Redoute’s Choice. Counterattack was trained by Chris Waller to win three stakes races and he placed in the 2017 G1 Doomben Ten Thousand behind Redzel (Snitzel).
Retired to stud in 2017, Counterattack had only 38 foals in his only Australian crop before he was sold to Germany where he’s been quite successful. Counterattack has four stakes winners from his first three crops in Germany, led by Group 3 winning 3-year-old Maigret (Ger). The others are Group 3 winner See Hector (Ger), and Listed winners Peshmerga (Ger) and Pirouz (Ger).
Hype wins Mackay Cup
Hype (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) added the Mackay Cup to his last start win in the Rockhampton Cup on Saturday. Ridden by Teagan Voorham for trainer Aiden Nunn, Hype now has won seven of his 22 starts, including his last two in succession, with earnings over $326,000.
Fog causes havoc in NZ
Fog in Christchurch caused havoc with the Riccarton races with several jockeys unable to arrive after their planes were turned back.
“Neither (Jim) Chung nor (Amber) Riddell are riding at Riccarton now, joining Chris Dell, Lemmy Douglas, Kylan Wiles as defectors through fog affecting flights into Christchurch,” tweeted journalist Aidan Rodley.
West Coast makes history with third NZ Grand National
Sensational steeplechaser West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu {NZ}) etched his name amongst the greats of the New Zealand jumping scene when he collected his third win in a row in Saturday’s Grand National Steeplechase. “I think to win three in a row, something that hasn’t been done for around 130 years, is pretty special,” trainer Mark Oulaghan told Loveracing.nz.
“It’s great and he is a great horse. Really good fencer, clean winded and stays, he just seems to have it all. The owners are great people and strong supporters of South Island racing so deserve to end up with a horse like this. You never know, but it is on the cards we could be back again next year.” The 9-year-old gelding has won 11 of his 37 starts with earnings just short of NZ$500,000.
Mornington Glory bounces back and will head to Carylon
Mornington Glory (Shalaa {Ire}) bounced back from his disappointing G3 Monash S. result, running riot to score by nearly four lengths under Jamie Kah at The Valley on Saturday. “I was hoping that it was just down to the wet track, and today’s probably shown that was the case,” trainer Gavin Bedggood told racing.com.
“We were either going to do two weeks into the Carlyon or three weeks to The Heath, but going on the way he won there, we’ll probably be back in a fortnight.”
Grants awarded to improve USA horse safety
The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation has awarded US$61,500 (AU$93,570) in education grants to seven organizations. The following organizations received scholarships and education funding from TERF this year: $5,000 to Amplifying Horse Racing; $10,000 awarded to Belmont Child Care Association, Inc.; $10,000 to Maryland Horse Foundation; $5,000 to MidAtlantic Horse Rescue; $7,500 to Retired Racehorse Project; $9,000 to Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation; and $15,000 to Wilson College.
Founded by Herb and Ellen Moelis with the mission to support Thoroughbred health and welfare, TERF provides scholarships to students pursuing veterinary careers; educates racing stakeholders impacting the Thoroughbred industry and supports equine research with a priority to making racing safer.
USA Thoroughbred Breeders award finalists announced
Godolphin, Juddmonte, Klaravich Stables, Zedan Racing Stables, and George Krikorian have been named finalists for the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's National Owner of the Year award, while Godolphin, Juddmonte, and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings are finalists for TOBA's National Breeder of the Year award.
The National Awards Dinner will be held Sept. 7 at Fasig-Tipton, and the National Awards Luncheon, which honors breeders from 19 states and Canada, will be held Sept. 6 at the Thoroughbred Club of America.
Listed win for Kingman juvenile
Coming into Friday's Listed Coolmore Stud Churchill Stakes at Tipperary on the back of a third in The Curragh's G2 Airlie Stud Stakes, Ballydoyle's 2-year-old filly January (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) made her class tell with an impressive four-length success to further enhance the power of Aidan O'Brien's extraordinary swathe of 2-year-old fillies in 2024.
“She is a promising filly and we're very happy with her,” O'Brien said. “The step up in trip suited her well, they went a right good gallop and that suited her lovely. It was good that she got to relax and learn a bit. She is a [G2] Debutante kind and could be a [G1] Fillies' Mile type.”
The winner is the second foal and first runner for I Can Fly (GB) (Fastnet Rock), who proved a talented performer for the stable when winning the G2 Solonaway Stakes and placing in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, G1 Sussex Stakes and G1 Falmouth Stakes. A half to the listed-winning and dual group-placed Viscount Barfield (GB) (Raven's Pass {USA}) from the family of the operation's ill-fated G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and GI Keeneland Turf Mile hero Landseer (GB) (Danehill {USA}).
Tattersalls races for 2025 announced
The £150,000 (AU$290,000) Tattersalls Auction Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse's Rowley Mile will be run at seven furlongs beginning in 2025.
Previously conducted over six furlongs, the race is open to graduates of Book 3 and Book 4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale. The 2025 edition is scheduled for Oct. 4, 2025. Graduates of Books 3 and 4 of the 2024 October Yearling Sale will also be eligible for the first time for the £100,000 (AU$193,000) Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes, which will be held over six furlongs on Newmarket's July Course on Aug. 23, 2025.
Study finds gut bacterial diversity leads to higher performance
A study has found that the more diverse the gut bacteria in a month-old foal, the fewer health problems, particularly respiratory diseases, it would likely have in later life and would increase a horse’s racetrack performance. Researchers at the University of Surrey analysed 438 faecal samples from 52 foals, who eventually went into training at 27 different stables in Britain, and tracked veterinary issues and racecourse performance from birth to the age of three.
They identified a higher abundance of a specific bacteria – anaeroplasmataceae – was associated with a higher official rating, and increased levels of bacillaceae at 28 days old was linked to higher race placings.
“Minimising the risk of disease and injury is important for the welfare of racehorses, and maximising their athletic potential is important for their owners,” Professor Chris Proudman, professor of veterinary clinical science at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey told racingpost.com. “We have found that gut health, in particular the health of gut bacterial communities very early in life, exerts a profound and enduring impact on racehorse health and performance.”
