Australian Turf Club members to vote on Rosehill sale
Australian Turf Club Chair Peter McGauran wrote to members this week and advised an extraordinary general meeting would be held on April 3, 2025 – two days before Derby-Doncaster Day – where members will vote on the sale of Rosehill.
“As you know we are currently pursuing due diligence as part of Stage 2 of an Unsolicited Proposal (USP) with the NSW Government,” wrote McGauran in a letter obtained by racenet.com.au.
Peter McGauren | Image courtesy of the Australian Turf Club
“As part of the USP, we have received a preliminary report from Moelis Australia Advisory which has been engaged by Racing NSW to conduct the financial due diligence in relation to the proposal. We are obtaining a number of reports from other experts, including in relation to planning, environmental, and engineering advice for Rosehill Gardens and other proposed sites.
“Unfortunately, due diligence will not be completed in time for a vote to be held at the ATC's AGM on November 28. The Board has determined we cannot proceed to a vote without members having all the relevant information to make a fully informed decision.”
Newcastle announce 30 per cent lift in ticket sales for Hunter Day
Newcastle Jockey Club announced that ticket sales for their biggest race day of the year, The Hunter Race Day on November 16, are already 30 per cent higher than the same number of attendees last year. “Newcastle and the people of the Hunter continue to get behind this race day and it’s great to see the continued growth in the event with ticket sales well in front of the same time last year,” Newcastle Racecourse CEO, Duane Dowell said in a press release.
“The Hunter Race Day puts us in the national spotlight for racing events with our own $1 million race headlining a great day of racing, fashion and fun!”
Fangirl ready to take on Pride Of Jenni again
Trainer Chris Waller expects Fangirl (Sebring) to bounce back in Saturday’s G1 Champions Mile. “I think we rode her just a little bit too positively and we forgot about her normal racing pattern and rhythm and think we had her too close,” Waller said of her last start sixth in the G1 King Charles III S.
“There was a solid pace and she is a horse with a devastating turn of foot and she likes to be ridden quiet and if you take a horse out of its comfort zone, often it can come back and haunt you over the last part of the race.
Fangirl | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Fangirl is coming off a defeat in Sydney that we didn't really expect but there's been no signs to suggest she can't bounce back, she has been through proper veterinary checks and she is well. She is a talented horse and she has beaten the best of them, so we just need to see her get back to that form and I am confident she can.”
Overpass second-up challenge for G1 Champions Sprint
Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass (Vancouver) has a sensational record when fresh, and he goes into Saturday’s G1 Champions Sprint second-up having won the Sydney S. on October 19. “This is where it gets a little bit interesting,” jockey Josh Parr told racing.com.
Overpass | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“It’s very well-known now how he needs to be on raceday. He needs to be really fresh. Bjorn gets him very fit, but jumping out of his skin fresh. I guess the three weeks between the runs gives Bjorn the chance to get him into that shape. And what I felt at the track last week, he definitely seems vibrant enough to perform at his best.”
Without A Fight to resume on Champions Day
Last year’s G1 Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) injured a tendon in that win, and will resume on Saturday after over a year off the scene. “To get him ready for a 2000-metre race, he's done a lot of work, but he's got improvement to come. He's fit enough to acquit himself well,” co-trainer Sam Freedman told racing.com.
Without A Fight (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“If he closes off nicely and pulls up well, then we will look at the 2400 metre race in Hong Kong. We'll get through Saturday and see how he goes.” The Freedman training partnership will also have Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) and Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) in the G1 Champions S.
Inglis Bracelet won by Maher’s Running By
Thursday’s Inglis Bracelet was won by Ciaron Maher trained 5-year-old mare Running By (Impending). Ridden by John Allen, she won by 1.75l from 4-year-old mare So Glamorous (So You Think {NZ}) with 4-year-old mare Waimarie (Snitzel) in third.
Running By took her earnings above $590,000 and she has won five of her 14 starts. Twice Group 3-placed last autumn, Running By was a $210,000 purchase by her trainer from Newhaven Park at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
“We're stakes placed – we’re knocking on the door… I' m not sure where we're going to get it but she will,” Maher said.
“The team at Ballarat have done a great job with her and the owners have been very patient. She's been drawing some horrid barriers… we've scratched her and scratched her again and finally we found the right race, and a beautiful ride by Johnny. The team have done a good job because it's been sort of six weeks between runs and it's hard to keep those mares on the edge. It's great to get another win. She's a beautiful mare.”
Sydney carnival ends with Five Diamonds this Saturday
The $85 million Sydney Everest Carnival concludes this Saturday at Rosehill Gardens on Five Diamonds Ladies Day with the third running of the $2 million Five Diamonds. “Sydney has hosted eight weeks of world class racing of Australia’s best horses, trainers and jockeys along with international visitors,” Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering, Nevesh Ramdhani told racingnsw.com.au
“The ($2 million) Five Diamonds has attracted a capacity field including five Group 1 winners. And the ($1 million) Inglis Golden Gift will see the winner and likely second placegetter earn enough prizemoney to be in the final field for the 2025 Golden Slipper.”
Extractor set for Golden Gift
Trainer Michael Freedman hopes his 2-year-old colt Extractor (Spirit Of Boom) can set up his future with a strong performance in Saturday’s Golden Gift. “From an autumn perspective it guarantees you a run in the Slipper if you run first and almost guarantees a run if you run second,” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au.
“He’s a Magic Millions graduate, if he could run well and come out of it well there’d be some thought of pressing on to that. His two trials have both been good, he tracked wide in the trial the other day and ran good time. He got a bit lost up the straight being only his second trial.”
Michael Freedman | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The fourth foal of city winner Assertory (Not A Single Doubt), Extractor was a $300,000 purchased by Gandharvi and Freedman from Eureka Stud.
Richardson’s juvenile ready for Friday’s assignment
Glenn Richardson will take 2-year-old filly Tinkerbella (Invader) to Rockhampton on Friday for the Breeders Mdn Plate over 1050 metres. “It was a good run when she led and got taken on in front at Doomben. Liam’s winner looks to be pretty good and my filly went into the race a little underdone after she had a couple of setbacks before the race which is one reason why we didn’t go to Townsville. She was only beaten two lengths,” Richardson told racingqueensland.com.au. Liam Birchley trained Betterlucknexttime (Zousain) has won both his starts.
Richardson is looking for his second win in the Breeders Mdn Plate after Tinkerbella’s half-sister Princess Marian (Better Than Ready) was successful three years ago. Her half-brother Sherwood Prince (Better Than Ready) was beaten in a bob of the head finish by the Les Ross-trained Mishani Trouble (Mahisara) the previous year. Tinkerbella, Princess Marian, and Sherwood Prince are out of Miss Bam (Red Dazzler).
Around The Nation: Thursday’s highlights
Away from Flemington, there were four other meetings around Australia on Thursday. Deep Field sired a treble at Hawkesbury with Listed Ladies Day Cup winner Rustic Steel, 3-year-old colt Superhero, and 3-year-old filly Diddle Dumpling.
Surprise Honey (Extreme Choice), the 3-year-old older sister to G3 Gimcrack S. winner Bel Merci, won at Ipswich at her first start as a 3-year-old, having been placed twice at two.
At Northam, 3-year-old filly Black Ora (Playing God) won on debut for trainer Adam Durrant, while the Pearce brothers trained 3-year-old filly Spirit Of Luna (NZ) (Tivaci) who also won on debut.
Teetan reaches milestone at Happy Valley
On Wednesday night at Happy Valley, Karis Teetan joined an elite group of jockeys to ride 700 winners in Hong Kong. Only five other jockeys have done this: Douglas Whyte, Zac Purton, Joao Moreira, Tony Cruz and Brett Prebble.
“It’s an amazing number – to reach 700 wins is pretty good,” Teetan told scmp.com. “I’m just thankful for all the opportunities and support I get here. I cannot do this without those opportunities I get. It’s taken a lot of hard work, too, but I appreciate everything. It’s been a long ride but I’ve been enjoying every single moment of it in Hong Kong. It’s my home. This is great.”
He won on David Hall trained Speedstar (NZ) (Sweynesse), later adding number 701 on Pierre Ng trained Winning Steps (Pierro).
Sea The Stars to stand for career high €250,000
Sea The Stars (Ire) will stand at his highest-ever fee of €250,000 (AU$405,000) at Gilltown Stud in 2025 after a season in which his 28 stakes winners included the G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Sosie (Ire) and promising juvenile The Lion In Winter (Ire), who is currently favourite for next year's 2000 Guineas.
Sea The Stars (Ire) | Standing at Gilltown Stud, Ireland
His fellow Aga Khan Studs stallion Siyouni (Fr) headlines the roster at Haras de Bonneval in Normandy where his stud fee for next year will remain unchanged at €200,000 (AU$324,000).
Zarak (Fr), currently the second-leading sire in Europe with 11.8 per cent stakes winners to runners this year, was represented by his first Classic winner this season in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains victor Metropolitan (Fr). He too has had his fee increased, to €80,000 (AU$130,000).
Kameko fee increased after Group 1 success
Kameko (USA) has had his fee raised to £20,000 (AU$39,000) for the 2025 season following a promising season for his first 2-year-old runners. The Qipco 2000 Guineas winner stands alone among this year's first-season sires in being the only member of that class to date to have sired a Group/Grade 1 winner.
Kameko (USA) | Standing at Tweenhills, UK
Kameko's breakthrough came with the win of New Century (GB) in the G1 Summer S. at Woodbine. The Qatar Racing colt went on to finish fourth in Friday's G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf for Andrew Balding.
National Treasure's fee set at US$40,000
National Treasure (USA), the three-time Grade 1-winning son of Quality Road (USA), has been retired from racing and will take up residence at Eric and Tamara Gustavson's Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where he will stand stud in 2025 for an introductory fee of US$40,000 (AU$60,300) S&N, according to a post on the farm's website.
“National Treasure comes to Spendthrift with the credentials to become an important sire, and we are very excited for him to enter the next chapter in his already tremendous career,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager.
“This horse was precocious enough to place in a very competitive Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he's an American classic winner at three, and he was one of the top older horses this year with wins in premier races like the Pegasus World Cup and the Met Mile. National Treasure was fast, possessed tremendous grit, and is an exceptionally good-looking colt with outstanding sire power and pedigree - a truly special package.”
Starman filly tops Goffs Autumn Yearlings
A filly by young sire Starman (GB) (Lot 325) topped the second session of the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale at €50,000 (AU$81,000) on Wednesday. Secured by Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock from The Castlebridge Consignment, the chestnut is out of the placed Frankel (GB) mare Beloved (Ire), who is a half-sister to G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner and sire Deep Brillante (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
Overall, 190 yearlings sold from 243 offered (78 per cent). The gross was €1,491,400 (AU$2.4 million), while the average was €7,850 (AU$12,740) and the median was €5,500 (AU$8926).
Breeder of Fast Anna dies
Breeders' Cup-winning owner Frank Calabrese, who took home 10 consecutive leading owner titles at Arlington Park starting in 2000 and bred late sire Fast Anna (USA), passed away on his 96th birthday, Monday, November 4 at his home in Park Ridge, Illinois.
A pioneer in the printing, Calabrese founded FCL Graphics in 1973 and sold the business in 2004. The avid horseplayer ran under FCC stables and paired primarily with trainer Wayne Catalano. With homebred Dreaming of Anna (USA) (Rahy {USA}), the duo won the 2006 G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Woodbine, which earned her an Eclipse Award.
The champion 2-year-old would go to the breeding shed for Calabrese where she was responsible for Fast Anna, the sire of this season’s top 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna (USA).
HISA's $80 million budget approved
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Nov. 6 issued an order approving the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's $80 million budget for 2025.
The Authority's proposed 2025 budget garnered only three public comments after it was first submitted to the FTC on July 31 and subsequently published in the Federal Register. The public commentary period closed September 12. The Commission vote to approve the proposed budget was 5-0.
