Racing Australia announce new Black Type guidelines
Racing Australia announced on Friday that the Australian Pattern has been reviewed to form the new ‘Australian Black Type Guidelines’.
“The introduction of the Australian Black Type Guidelines represents an important step by Racing Australia and the state and territory-based Principal Racing Authorities (PRAs) in the restoration of an active, contemporary and fit for purpose framework to appropriately recognise and monitor premier races within Australia,” said the press release.
“The adoption of the new Australian Black Type Guidelines follows lengthy engagement between all PRAs and unanimous approval by the Racing Australia Board. The guidelines form the foundation to assess and protect the consistent quality of national black type races both now and in the future. Endorsed by all PRAs, the Australian Black Type Guidelines are built on largely objective criteria for assessing the status of a race.
“This seeks to provide a modern approach that will cater to Australia’s unique racing environment, whilst also recognising Australia’s federated model for the regulation and administration of racing, and any potential implications from an Australian competition law perspective.
“All PRAs operate within a national market and compete to secure the best racing product possible. Racing Australia has considered the competition issues to ensure the Black Type Guidelines overcome concerns regarding anti-competitive elements that were identified in the prior Pattern guidelines.”
Private Life ready for Guineas
Chris Waller-trained Private Life (Written Tycoon) finished a close fourth in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude, with Joao Moreira aboard, and will tackle the G1 Caulfield Guineas on Saturday. “Joao Moreira just said that he just took a little bit too long to balance up around the home turn, which probably cost him winning the Prelude, which is why we took him there for Damian Lane to have a feel of him (on Tuesday morning),” Charlie Duckworth, Waller's racing manager and assistant trainer, told racing.com.
Private Life | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He switched leads at the right time and he accelerated better around the turn than he did previously, so there's going to be improvement there from that point of view and the extra 200 metres I think will be to his strengths. He's got a perfect barrier (five). Obviously, the favourite (Broadsiding) is going to be tough to beat but he's tracking right in the right direction.”
“And having the likes of Damian Lane on, who obviously is one of the best riders in the country, if not the world, adds to that. He should settle and get the perfect run throughout. Broadsiding is going to have to do more work than he is from his awkward draw, so that sort of levels the playing field a little bit. It's going to be a big task, but we do have faith in him.”
Can James McDonald crack the ton on Saturday?
Jockey James McDonald is only one Group 1 win away from 100. His Group 1 rides on Saturday are on Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G1 Might And Power S., Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the G1 Caulfield Guineas and as at Friday, he has no ride in the G1 Toorak H. after Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) was scratched.
“She backs up really well,” Charlie Duckworth, Waller's racing manager and assistant trainer, told racing.com about Atishu. “She obviously won the Group 1 Champions Stakes on the seven-day back-up (last spring) and was brilliant on that day. She ran well last Saturday, so there's a lot to like.”
Winx’s sister ready for stakes class
Trainer Joe Pride believes Winx (Street Cry {Ire})'s half-sister City Of Lights (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is capable of chasing her first stakes victory at Caulfield on Saturday in G3 Ladies Day Vase. “I thought her closing section was really good,” Pride told racing.com about her last start in the G3 JC Tibbie S.
“She's a very talented mare. She's lightly raced. She's obviously Winx's sister, which everybody knows, but judging her by herself, she's a horse who's building a really good record and I think it looks like a really nice race for her on Saturday.
City Of Lights | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“She's a mare who last preparation won at 1550 metres and then at 1800 metres, so a mile for her second-up is absolutely perfect.” Winner of four of her nine starts, City Of Lights is out of Listed winner Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar) and is a half-sister to Champion mare Winx, Group 3 winner El Divino (Snitzel) and exciting 3-year-old filly Wings Of Desire (Pride Of Dubai).
Spirit Of Wealth ready for G2 Roman Consul challenge
Trainer Michael Freedman is quietly confident unbeaten filly Spirit Of Wealth (Capitalist) can cope with the step into the G2 Roman Consul S. “Obviously it’s a big step up in grade but she’s done nothing wrong thus far,” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au.
“We figured it’s probably worth finding out where she sits at the moment. She seems to have trained on well from Warwick Farm and she’s drawn a nice gate there on Saturday. The fact she went from a maiden to a 68 race and was able to win comfortably it’s usually a good indication they’ve got above average ability.”
Injured rider updates for NSW/ACT
Two jockeys sustained injuries on Friday with Dylan Gibbons was dislodged from his mount prior to the running of Race 1 at Port Macquarie. He has a shoulder injury and was stood down for the day. At the Canberra trials, Quayde Krogh was attempting to mount his horse when he was cow-kicked to his right hip before the first trial. He went to hospital for a check up.
Cheap purchase heads for Listed racing
Battlefield (Deep Field) will step up into stakes class for the first time in the Listed Members Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday. “We decided to have a go at the Listed race after he drew so poorly in the Class 6 and there was a big weight difference between the two races,” trainer Barry Lockwood told racingqueensland.com.au.
Battlefield | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“He’ll go well and we’ve just got to see if he can take the next step. If he doesn’t, he’ll go back to a Class 6 and if he does go well there’s better things ahead including the summer carnival. It’s a big step up but we thought we’d give it a go.”
Purchased for $42,500 at an Inglis Digital sale, Battlefield was originally a $520,000 yearling purchase from Gilgai Farm at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Originally trained by Chris Waller, the 4-year-old gelding had two starts at Canterbury before being sent to Matthew Vella where he was a winner at Kembla Grange from five starts before being sold to Lockwood and partners. He has won four of his six starts for Lockwood.
King’s Legacy colt wins Flemington jump-out
Another smart juvenile for Coolmore Stud’s King’s Legacy identified himself on Friday, winning his 800-metre Flemington jump-out, against the older horses, in the second fastest time of the morning. The son of Laugh A Little (Lonhro), dam of Listed Chautauqua S. winner A Little Deep (Deep Field), was fast out of the gates and quickly found the front, putting daylight between himself and the pack on the home straight.
“He’s a highly impressive colt,” co-trainer Troy Corstens said. “He was super natural, very tractable and his time was solid. His data was quite astronomical, posting a stride length of 8.1m. He is an exciting horse.” He was a $100,000 purchase from the Holbrook Thoroughbreds draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for Yorker Lodge and is trained by Malua Racing.
Around The Nation: Friday’s highlights
Racing was busy on Friday with seven meetings, including night meetings at Cranborne, Sunshine Coast, and Launceston. Port Macquarie’s meeting was dominated by 3-year-olds who won four of the nine races, with the highlight being Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly Phenom (Zoustar) who won her first start at three by 2l for Rachel King.
At Morphettville, 3-year-old gelding Taino Rocket (Alabama Express) won on debut for trainer David Jolly to become his sire’s 16th winner. Meanwhile at Cloncurry, 3-year-old filly Grey Power (Power {GB}) won her first outing for new trainer John Manzelmann.
Tjaka (Highland Reel {Ire}) won on debut at Canberra for trainer Danny Williams and jockey Nick Heywood, who later made it a treble adding wins on Announcing (Press Statement) and Group 1 placed Tulsi (The Autumn Sun).
Early at the Sunshine Coast, Blind Desire (Dubious) became her sire’s 10th winner.
Trip to NZ for Aussie sprinter
Group 1-winning Australian sprinter Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}) could be in line for a trip across the Tasman to contest the G1 Telegraph and G1 Sistema Railway in January. “Taking him across to New Zealand is actually an idea that I’ve had in the back of my mind for quite a lot of his career,” trainer Matt Hoysted told Loveracing.nz.
Uncommon James | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“That new bonus series in New Zealand makes it a more attractive option as well. I train a few horses for Ladbrokes here in Australia, and they’ve been telling me about some of the exciting new initiatives that Entain has introduced in New Zealand. It’s definitely given us something to think about.”
Big weekend for Barnswood Farm
Barnswood Farm’s Sarah and Chris Green and business partner Ger Beemsterboer will have G1 Toorak H. runner Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) up against farm graduate Orchestral (NZ) (Orchestral), while in NZ, the Group 3 race they sponsor also runs.
“To have both of them in the race is pretty special. For me that (Australia) is the pinnacle of racing, so I am very excited about it,” Sarah Green told Loveracing.nz.
Weather watch for kiwi pair
Matamata trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall are on weather watch for Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in the G1 Livamol Classic at Te Rapa on Saturday, followed by proven star Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) in Sunday’s G3 Sweynesse S. at Rotorua.
“Track conditions and weather patterns are a bit of an issue for a few runners this weekend, ourselves included,” Richardson told Loveracing.nz. “It’s hard to know what the weather’s going to do. If those showers stay away and the tracks come back a little bit, that will be a big help for both of our mares.”
Hong Kong concerned about jockey shortage
With at least five jockeys heading to Australia next weekend, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has expressed concern about a shortage. “I’ve been here 12 years, and I’ve never encountered it. I’ve never had more than three who want to go,” Jockey Club executive director of racing Andrew Harding told scmp.com. Five might not seem many, but it’s nearly a quarter of the jockeys in Hong Kong.
Andrew Harding | Image courtesy of Japan Racing Association
Zac Purton, Andrea Atzeni, Ben Thompson and Karis Teetan will head to Melbourne for the G1 Caulfield Cup, while Brenton Avdulla may land in Sydney for Australia’s richest race, The Everest, for the ride on Storm Boy (Justify {USA}). “We want to give them as much opportunity as possible but being licensed here – given we have a defined roster of jockeys – they have an obligation to owners and trainers,” Harding said.
Racing SA announce country series
Racing SA announced a new collaboration with Country Racing SA on Friday, designed to ensure that Country Clubs across South Australia are celebrated for the crucial role they play in our industry. Jeff Tansell, Chair Country Racing SA said, “Country Racing South Australia in conjunction with Racing SA welcomes the introduction of a Provincial Mile Series for the 2024 Spring.”
“The Provincial Mile Series will compliment a group of several new race series and the rejuvenation of some existing series to highlight the Country Cups scene for the benefit of all industry participants. These are designed to involve every SA country racing club and I urge everyone to become involved in these series, further promoting the regions of South Australia.”
Nine top broodmares added to Keeneland November Sale
Keeneland has supplemented nine horses–including Diva Delite (USA) (Repent {USA}), dam of champion and $13.9 million earner Midnight Bisou (USA) and Expo Gold (USA) (Johannesburg {USA}), dam of champion and $2 million earner Swiss Skydiver–to Book 1 of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale on November 5.
The November Breeding Stock Sale, which has catalogued 3382 horses, covers a total of nine sessions through to November 13.
Jockey conference results in HISA welfare announcement
At the conclusion of the first day of the International Jockey Concussion, Safety and Wellness Conference, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), in collaboration with Jockeys' Guild, announced that they are launching a major initiative to support jockey well-being.
“Jockeys face immense physical and mental demands—and their mental health is critical to their long-term success and well-being,” said Lisa Lazarus, CEO of HISA. “Jockeys are highly skilled professional athletes who confront unique stressors. By partnering with Onrise, we are providing jockeys with a safe space to connect with professional athlete peers who understand their experiences, offering them valuable support as they navigate the pressures of this demanding career.”
“We are proud to partner with HISA and Onrise to provide jockeys with a crucial resource for mental wellness. For decades, Jockeys' Guild has worked tirelessly to advocate for the safety, health, and well-being of our athletes, and this partnership marks another important step in that mission,” said Terry Meyocks, President and CEO of Jockeys' Guild. “Through this collaboration, we are offering our qualifying members the opportunity to connect with athletic peers who truly recognize what they're going through, helping them take care of their health in a way that has never been done before in our sport. The Guild greatly appreciates HISA's commitment to the mental wellness of jockeys.”
Tampa Bay survives hurricane with minor damage
Tampa Bay Downs survived Hurricane Milton relatively unscathed. According to Margo Flynn, the track's vice president of marketing, the grandstand suffered only minimal damage.
“There is flooding on the backside to the point we can't get in to assess the damage,” Flynn said Thursday. “We're hoping later today or tomorrow that we can get back here. We just had Helene which produced a considerable storm surge and lots of flooding. And we had a very wet summer on top of that. It hasn't had a chance to dry out. The ground is absolutely saturated. Fortunately, water does drain pretty rapidly around here.”
