MRC vote on new Chair
Late on Thursday night, it was announced that John Kanga has been appointed as chair of the Melbourne Racing Club. He replaces outgoing chair Matt Cain, and saw off a challenge from former deputy chair Nick Hassett. The MRC released a statement saying, “Mr Kanga takes over the role with immediate effect. In conjunction with this announcement, Nick Hassett, former Vice Chairman, has announced his resignation from the committee.”
John Kanga | Image courtesy of Melbourne Racing Club
“I am honoured to have been selected to this position. I am committed to taking all necessary actions to ensure there is a united board that focuses on the needs of members,” Kanga told racenet.com.au.
Giga Kick gets ATC The Everest slot, Joe Pride upset
Trainer Joseph Pride has shown his disappointment that the Australian Turf Club have done a deal to get Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) for their The Everest slot over last year’s winner Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) trained by Pride. “In terms of any criticism I have of the ATC, firstly, this horse needs to prove himself,” Pride told racingandsports.com.au.
“But when they are announcing the slot two days before a race. Can we just see who's better, Giga Kick of Think About It? How smart could the ATC have been? They could have said, 'we're going to line them up and whoever we think is the best run is going to get our slot'. I think Giga Kick should be in the race. I am not criticising Giga Kick or his connections one bit. They have done exactly what you should do to get yourself into the race.
Joe Pride | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“What I'm saying is, I would have liked the same opportunity, and I don't understand that process. I am really disappointed.” The pair will clash in Saturday’s G2 Premiere S.
Brisbane Racing Club announce new CEO
The Brisbane Racing Club has announced the appointment of Karl deKroo as its new CEO. “I am delighted to be joining the Brisbane Racing Club at a crucial juncture in its history,” Mr deKroo told racingqueensland.com.au.
“It is going to be an exciting period as Queensland rides a wave of momentum and growth in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics. "I am acutely aware of the need to continue to upgrade key facilities, particularly at Eagle Farm and I look forward to executing the Club’s strategic initiatives and Master Plan with the broader goals of enhancing racing’s profile, engaging new and existing members and ensuring its long-term prosperity.
"I am committed to preserving and enhancing the sport and ensuring that the BRC remains at the forefront of the industry both in Australia and internationally. I am a passionate horse racing fan, keen casual punter and a luckless but committed owner.”
Most recently, Mr deKroo served as the Executive Director – Stakeholder Engagement at Entain Australia and New Zealand. He had also served as the Chief Commercial Officer during his five years at the organisation. Previously, Mr deKroo’s 20-year career at News Corp saw him hold positions as Head of Sport, Editorial Commercial and Partnerships Manager, as well as National Marketing and Commercial Director – Wagering.
Fall at Ballarat; Lafferty hospitalised
Talented jockey Laura Lafferty has been airlifted to a Melbourne hospital following a fall at Ballarat on Thursday. “At this stage, she is conscious and has been transported off the course to the helicopter base near here, where she will be flown to Melbourne,” Chief steward Alex Streckbein said.
“She has injuries that are internal. They are looking to stabilise her and get her to Melbourne to make a full assessment on what type of injuries she has.” She was dislodged from The Praised One (Scintillo {GB}) who Racing Victoria stewards reported was uninjured in the incident.
Snow In May can beat unbeaten Autumn Glow in Flight S.
Co-trainer Tom Charlton thinks Snow In May (The Autumn Sun) can turn the tables on unbeaten Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the G1 Flight S. on Saturday. “It’s going to be a difficult ask, we’re under no illusions we’re taking on one of the most promising 3-year-olds in the country,” Charlton told racingnsw.com.au.
“She’s never let us down in any of her runs, she’s progressive and improving at a rate of knots so let’s hope she can run particularly well. At the moment she’s third in the market and it’s a Group 1 so she warrants her place and if she runs second or third she’s still coming out of the race with a bonus to her profile. And one we can expect her to progress off going forward.”
Cummings hopes to make it 51
Fresh from snaring his 50th Group 1 success, Godolphin trainer James Cummings is eyeing a first G1 Metropolitan H. at Randwick on Saturday with Zardozi (Kingman {GB}). “She’s been all right in at least two of her three runs this prep and I feel like she’s really warming to a big performance,” Cummings said on RSN.
James Cummings | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“We were not in a completely dissimilar boat in the lead up to the ATC Oaks in the autumn and I have that in mind when I have persevered toward the Metropolitan despite her unplaced run in the Kingston Town. She drops nicely in weight from the set weights and penalties to the handicap which she has been crying out for this preparation. Stepping out to a mile and a half is right in her wheelhouse so I can see a lot of parallels from the steps she took from the Vinery to the ATC Oaks last preparation.”
Waterhouse has double chance at record
Gai Waterhouse has two runners giving her a chance to beat the G1 Epsom H. record she holds with her legendary father Tommy Smith at Randwick on Saturday with Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel). “We’ve been really encouraged by what we’ve seen from him in two runs this campaign,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said of Major Beel.
Gai Waterhouse | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s obviously got plenty of tactical speed and will be really effective in that mile to 2000-metre range. He’s been so sharp in his two mile runs, it’s the right race to be running in when he’s still well in at the handicaps.”
James McDonald set to break a record soon
James McDonald has two Group 1 rides on Saturday as he looks to become the youngest jockey to reach 100 Group 1 wins. He’s currently sitting on 99 and rides Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the G1 Flight S. and Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) in the G1 Epsom Handicap.
James McDonald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I'm aware of the 100 Group 1 wins but it is not something that is at the forefront of my mind to be honest,” McDonald told racenet.com.au. “I understand it means something but 129 Group 1 wins is more important to me than 100 Group 1 wins.” He is referring to the Australian record held by Damien Oliver on 129. George Moore has 126, while Hugh Bowman has 106 and Jim Cassidy with 104 round out the 100 club.
Rain the only concern for Eneeza
Million-dollar filly Eneeza (Exceed And Excel) will resume in Saturday’s G2 Danehill S. and co-trainer Peter Moody is only concerned about the rain. “It looks a nice race to kick her off in,” Moody told racenet.com.au.
Eneeza | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She's never been a big filly, so she's probably only got to hold her form to go there and be competitive. The only concern with her is if the rain arrives, because she's not suited to the ground. She's a Group 2 winner so obviously you'd like to put a Group 1 on her resume. She's won a Listed race, a Group 3 and a Group 2, that would be a dream if she could get there.”
Jennings gets Group 1 opportunity
Koby Jennings gets a Group 1 opportunity on Saturday when he rides Peter Snowden trained Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}) in the G1 Turnbull S. “I'm very excited,” Jennings told racing.com. “We're going to take the chance, grab it with both hands and see what we can make of it.”
Koby Jennings | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It means everything to a jockey and to trainers. The group 1s are why we do it.” Jennings biggest win to date was the 2020 Golden Eagle on Colette (Hallowed Crown) for Godolphin.
Around The Nation: 3-year-olds
Kembla Grange saw a pile of scratchings after the track was downgraded but those left in included 3-year-old winners Rock Revolution (Russian Revolution), Obscure (Exceed And Excel), Island Dec (Kermadec {NZ}) and West Indies (NZ) (Fastnet Rock).
Ballarat saw the win of Tessa’s Choice (Extreme Choice) at her first run as a 3-year-old, having had only one start at two for third behind Eneeza (Exceed And Excel) in the G3 Ottawa S. Politely Dun (Dundeel {NZ}), the son of Group 1 winner Politeness (Street Sense {USA}), won again, while Double Market (Castelvecchio) became the seventh winner for her sire.
At Ipswich, Chamierro (Pierro) was the only 3-year-old winner on the card, while in WA at Geraldton Queen Of Hawks (Sessions) won.
First runner for Glencross at Doomben
Gold Coast trainer Ashley Glencross will have her first runner at Doomben on Saturday in the QTIS 2YO Plate with Rapid Ready (Better Than Ready). “I thought it would be good for me in general to have a runner in my own name or even a horse trial in my name,” she told racingqueensland.com.au.
“I thought he would trial well and I asked if I could hang onto him, really. I just love the horse so much and he has so much ability. We have got a lot of 2-year-olds at home and he is just one of the better ones. He is ready to go and the 2-year-old race is there so I thought it might be the time. He is very capable and if there is a 2-year-old who can get out of those gates and come around, it is him.”
Ashley Glencross | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
Glencross has had her trainer’s licence for five years but specialises in sales prep. “I have been specialising in the ready to runs and prepping babies to be exported to Singapore, China and Malaysia and just for local trainers, as well. Just doing all the early work for them. I have got a few nice 2-year-olds, I buy horses myself and put them through the sales but I have got connections overseas now and I might hang on to those ones and trial them myself now and sell them that way.”
Racing SA calling for more track staff
Racing South Australia have many opportunities for people looking to get into turf management. “I talk to people in all fields, and everyone is screaming out for more people in this industry and it’s not just a state thing it’s national as well,” Racing SA industry Track Manager Ian Ricardo told racingsa.com.au.
“There’s a bit of diversity as far as the horticulture side of things and the turf management side of things and learning those trades. Along with that there’s machinery use and herbicide applications and fertilising and we pretty much use state of the art machinery these days. I enjoy working outdoors and working in the field of sport. And that can be racecourses, football grounds, golf courses you name it. But if you’ve got leniency to sport it’s a great career because it gives you exposure to sport.”
The Waco Kid heads Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale
Last week's G3 Tattersalls Stakes winner The Waco Kid (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is one of the highlights of the five-day Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, which takes place at Park Paddocks from Monday, October 28 to Friday, November 1.
Some of the other notable lots include last weekend's impressive Cambridgeshire winner Liberty Lane (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 753) from trainer Karl Burke's Spigot Lodge Stables; the Juddmonte-consigned Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 1068), runner-up in last year's G1 Middle Park Stakes; the Galileo (Ire) colt Klondike (GB) (lot 727), who won the G3 Prix de Reux at Deauville in August for William Haggas; and the Coolmore-consigned Mountain Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) (lot 672), who filled the runner-up spot in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and is due to contest Saturday's GI Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland.
Last year Balance Play (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) topped the sale when purchased by McKeever Bloodstock, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott for 575,000gns.
U.S. Jockey Club projects foal crop at 17,300
The Jockey Club projects a North American registered Thoroughbred foal crop of 17,300 in 2025, which is some 700 fewer foals than the 2024 foal crop estimate of 18,000, the organization said in a press release early on Wednesday.
Practical Joke had the highest number of mares bred in 2024 with 277 followed by Justify (263), Gunite (256), Golden Pal (209), Elite Power (203), Uncle Mo (202), Gun Runner (200), Pappacap (200), Taiba (200), Vekoma (200).
Forever Young wins Japan Dirt Classic
Making his first start in his home country since last December and racing for the first time since finishing a tough-luck third in the G1 Kentucky Derby, Susumu Fujita's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) cemented his status as one of the favourites for the November 2 G1 Breeders' Cup Classic with a tough victory in the Listed Japan Dirt Classic at Ohi Racecourse Wednesday evening.
“I'm relieved, I knew I couldn't lose,” said Ryusei Sakai, who rides Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) for the same connections in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp. “I didn't want to be caught inside. I was in second, but he was in a very good rhythm. We didn't let our guard down and we didn't know when they would come. We were really disappointed in the US in the spring, so we have a strong desire for revenge.”
Singapore Gold Cup runner aimed at Hong Kong
Lim’s Saltoro (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) could be the final Singapore-trained horse to tackle the Longines Hong Kong International Races, if he runs well in Saturday’s Singapore Gold Cup. “We’ve been in contact with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and if everything goes well he could probably go to the (G2 Jockey Club Mile) in November,” trainer Dan Meagher told scmp.com of his Singapore Derby winner.
“Then, if he does well there, (HKIR) could be the plan, but everything has got to go very well. When you think about it logistically, it’s perfect, but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge.”
Of the end to racing in Singapore, he said, “I’m an emotional bloke when it comes to this kind of stuff and it’s not easy. I’ve been here a total of 18 years and I’ve got a Singaporean wife and three young kids, so this place holds a very special place in my heart. To think after race 10 on Saturday, that’s it, we’re finished. It’s pretty bloody sad and a bit hard to wrap your head around.”
Bluestocking supplemented for Arc
Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) has been supplemented by owners Juddmonte for Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp at a cost of €120,000 (AU$192,000). Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon said, “It's exciting and she is in good form. Ralph has had a good look at her this morning. She cantered, had all her tests done, and he was very happy with her condition. We feel she is in good form and we're very much looking forward to Sunday. It's going to be a tough task, but she's a filly who runs her race every time and hopefully she will do so again on Sunday.”
Trained by Ralph Beckett, Bluestocking was last seen winning the Prix Vermeille over the Arc course and distance. That was her second Group 1 success of the campaign, having also won the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in June, with a couple of creditable efforts against the boys sandwiched in between as she finished runner-up in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and fourth in the Juddmonte International at York.
French mare Zarkava pensioned
His Highness The Aga Khan's undefeated G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine and Group 1 producer Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) will not be bred next year and has been pensioned, The Aga Khan Studs announced on Wednesday. The 19-year-old mare's final foal is a filly by Siyouni (Fr) born on February 2, 2024.
After winning the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac in her juvenile finale, Zarkava resumed with a 2 1/2-length tally in the G3 Prix de la Grotte in April and duly added the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in May. Her G1 Prix de Diane victory was Zarkava's largest winning margin, when she prevailed over Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) by three lengths, with subsequent GI Breeders' Cup Mile darling Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) third. Given a break during the summer, Zarkava resumed in September to win the G1 Prix Vermeille, and landed the Arc in her swansong that October. She was named the 2008 Cartier Horse of the Year.
At stud, Zarkava foaled a trio of stakes winners anchored by current Aga Khan stallion Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), a winner of the G1 Prix de Saint-Cloud who was second in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Prix Ganay. The other two were both fillies–listed winner and G1 Prix Vermeille third Zarkamiya (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) and Listed winner Zaykava (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}).
