Magic Millions do free-to-air deal with Channel 7
The Gold Coast meeting on January 4, 2025, under lights will be broadcast free to air on Channel 7 in a deal done by Magic Millions. “We will be having The Sunlight and The Wave on prime-time Channel 7, under lights at the Gold Coast,” Barry Bowditch told racenet.com.au.
“The idea behind it is that the Sydney Test match is on that day, a normal day of racing in Sydney and Melbourne on Seven Two, once Sydney comes out of the news, they will go live into the racing at the Gold Coast on Channel 7. We are really excited with the new format. To drive that into something even more special, under lights, will really kick off the carnival in style from a racing perspective to make it bigger and better than before.”
Racing Victoria annual report includes deficit
Racing Victoria released their annual report on Wednesday with a $11.8 million deficit for the last financial year. One-off costs such as those relating to the Southside Racing merger between the Pakenham and Cranbourne clubs comprised most of the deficit.
“After 11 consecutive surpluses, we budgeted for a deficit in FY24 given changing dynamics around the industry funding framework and Australia's wagering market. The net underlying result has been better than forecast,” CEO Aaron Morrison told racenet.com.au.
“Through sound management over an extended period our net asset position is $185.4 million which means that the business is well placed to absorb this planned deficit in the short-term.”
Vauban purchased by Australian Bloodstock with Waterhouse & Bott
Australian Bloodstock, in partnership with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, have purchased 7-year-old gelding Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) for a sum reported by racing.com to be around $2 million. He will spell before joining the Waterhouse and Bott stable for an autumn campaign.
Vauban (Fr) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Winner of eight of his 21 starts, he was second in the G1 Irish St. Leger prior to arriving in Australia for his second tilt at the G1 Melbourne Cup, where he finished 11th.
Waterhouse-Bott pair hard to separate for Guineas
Co-trainer Adrian Bott thinks there isn’t much between his G1 Thousand Guineas contenders Dominetta (Zoustar) and Too Darn Lizzie (Too Darn Hot {GB}). “Too Darn Lizzie has that advantage of racing here and the important win for her. I think Dominetta has a lot more upside going forward off what we've seen but she's still putting it all together and a little bit new, a bit raw and doing things wrong in her races,” Bott told racing.com.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“She is one that still has good improvement to come. Every time we see her step out she's improving, learning and strengthening and looking forward to getting her out in trip.” Dominetta was a winner when first-up at three, and has since placed twice in stakes company.
de Kock returning to South Africa
Cranbourne-based training partnership Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock will end as de Kock has decided to return to South Africa with his young family. “The extension of Mathew and Monique's family has contributed to their decision to return to South Africa and raise their young family, uniting with their parents and siblings,” a Griffiths Racing statement read.
“While we are sad to see Mat, Monique, Liam and Olivia return to South Africa, they have our understanding and support in their decision.”
Godolphin join forces with Busuttin Racing for Meteorite
Saturday will see Godolphin’s Spacewalk (Exosphere) run in Busuttin Racing’s slot in The Meteorite, the first leg of the new Southside Slot Series.
Spacewalk | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Godolphin is excited to partner with Busuttin Racing through having Spacewalk compete in the Busuttin Racing slot for the first race of the inaugural Southside Slot Series,” said Andy Makiv, Managing Director of Godolphin Australia.
The Supernova at Pakenham on December 21 is the second leg of the series.
Around The Nation: Wednesday’s highlights
Racing at Bendigo opened with 2-year-old colt Hello Romeo (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) provide his sire with his first Southern Hemisphere winner. Well-bred 3-year-old gelding Bancory Boy (Fastnet Rock) won his maiden, and he is a son of Group 1 winner Oohood (I Am Invincible), while Ciaron Maher trained 3-year-old filly Sounds Fun (Grunt {NZ}) won on debut.
Friday night racing begins at Canterbury this week
Night racing for the summer in Sydney opens on Friday at Canterbury. “The stars of our sport will again engage with the local community and with Quayclean again raise funds for a variety of great causes across the Kia Friday Night Racing Season,” Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering, Nevesh Ramdhani told racingnsw.com.au.
“Jockeys will hold meet and greet moments with the fans each week where everyone gets up close to the action. Free entry, entertainment and the ever-popular selection of food stalls in a market atmosphere make the Kia Friday Night Racing season a Sydney racing experience like no other.”
Sandown Guineas options for South Aussie pair
Murray Bridge horseman Matthew Seyers is contemplating taking his 3-year-olds Dunreal (Dundeel {NZ}) and Colmar (Strasbourg) to the Sandown Guineas at the end of the month. Colmar was previously trained by Ron Daniel and Trish Stanbury. “Ronny has gone on holidays. He’s away for six or eight weeks, so the horse came here last Thursday,” Seyers told racingsa.com.au. Both are due to run in South Australia on Saturday.
Matthew Seyers | Image courtesy of Seyers Racing
“If (Colmar) can run well, then we’ll potentially go to Melbourne the following week for the Sandown Guineas. … If (Dunreal) runs well, we might look to take him over to Melbourne for that race as well.”
Ron’s Finalflutter takes on group company
Ron’s Finalflutter (Written Tycoon) is likely to step out as favourite in the G3 WA Champion Fillies S. on Saturday. “I’m sure everyone saw how well she hit the line. I’m looking forward to her being really strong at the end of 1600 metres,” trainer Dan Morton’s stable representative BJ Ryan told racingwa.com.au.
Owned by Yarradale Stud, the 3-year-old filly has a win and three placings from four starts, including a last start Listed second. Dan Morton also runs Cashel Palace (Street Boss {USA}) in the same race. “Both fillies have been inseparable for the past 12-months. They trialled against each other, raced against each other. I don’t think there is that much between them, but definitely give the edge to Ron’s Finalflutter.”
Europe’s Timeform shows lack of depth in 2024
The flat season in Europe showed a lack of depth according to the Timeform ratings with only City Of Troy (USA) (Justify {USA}) rated at 130. In 2023 and 2022, there were three horses rated 130 or higher, and in 2021, there were six. The lack of depth continued down the ranks with only 16 horses rated over 125, a fall from 2023 where 20 achieved that benchmark compared to 29 in 2022 and 23 in 2021.
City Of Troy (USA) | Image courtesy of Coolmore
Joorabchian aims to buy Stoute’s barn
Kia Joorabchian has submitted an offer to buy Freemason Lodge, the long-term base of retiring trainer Sir Michael Stoute, the Amo Racing founder told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast on Tuesday. “We have a training yard at the moment in Lambourn,” said Joorabchian. “It holds 37 boxes, it's a relatively small operation, and we've been operating there for two years. Now, we're actively looking for something that is a little bit more appropriate to the size that we're becoming.
“(Freemason Lodge) is definitely something that we are considering and looking at quite closely. It's something that would be an honour to be a part of. It has such a great history with Sir Michael Stoute and such a great reputation as a yard. I think any yard of that nature is very rare.
“These yards in Newmarket on the Bury Road don't come up very often and it's been under the same trainer for many years. It has had wonderful success, multiple Derby winners, and the location is in a perfect place. You come out and you're right there on the gallops. The yard is beautifully structured, and I think it would be of benefit to anyone who took it over–it would be an honour for anybody who takes it over from such an incredible man.”
He added, “We've made an offer and that offer needs to get accepted. I don't want to jump the gun. Being in sports, people always say to me 'the transfer for this player is done', but it's never done until the boy is wearing the shirt and playing on the pitch. That's the way I look at things.”
Record 2-year-old winners for Mehmas
In what must be the understatement of the year, Tally-Ho Stud boss Tony O'Callaghan has described himself as “quietly delighted” to see Mehmas (Ire) make history for the number of two-year-old winners recorded in a season when Naughty Eyes delivered winner number 62 for the stallion at Wolverhampton on Monday.
The previous record had been set by Tally-Ho's Kodiac (GB).
Group 1-placed Westminster Moon added as Arqana Wildcard
The Group 1-placed Westminster Moon (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and 10 other wildcards have been added to the catalogue for the Arqana Autumn Sale, which takes place from November 18-21.
Listed winner Kaneshya (Fr) (Hunter's Light {Ire}) (Lot 454) is another late addition to the Coulonces draft, while the G3 Silbernes Pferd runner-up Padre Palou (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (Lot 441) and the Listed-placed Pleaseman (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}) (Lot 425) will be offered by OH Consignment and trainer Conny Whitfield, respectively.
Woodbine to reopen this week
Woodbine, which cancelled both racing and training effective two races before the end of Saturday's card after three separate incidents on the Tapeta surface, will reopen to training Wednesday morning and is scheduled to resume live racing Thursday. The all-weather surface underwent “a thorough review and extensive maintenance conducted over the last couple of days,” said officials from Woodbine Entertainment in a Wednesday afternoon release.
“The safety of our horses and riders is our highest priority and we have been working diligently over the last couple of days to ensure the track is in optimal condition for safe training and racing,” said Woodbine's Executive Vice President of Racing Bill Ford. “We look forward to reopening the track for training tomorrow and for live racing on Thursday, November 14. We appreciate the patience of our horse racing community and the support of our Tapeta consultants, the HBPA, and the AGCO. We remain committed to maintaining one of the safest racing surfaces in North America.”
Keeneland November hits US$184.6 million
Extending the activity that has been building through earlier sessions, the eighth day of selling at the Keeneland November Sale offered more of the same as witnessed by gross receipts closing at over US$184.6 million (AU$282 million) (through the ring), well ahead of the US$173,925,300 (AU$267 million) sold through this point in 2023.
For the session, a total of 236 head through the ring drew US$3,184,100 (AU$4.8 million) (+3.88%) over US$3,065,300 (AU$4.6 million) generated one year ago. Tuesday's average rose to US$13,492 (AU$20,700), up 13.56 per cent from last year while median increased 8.11 [ to US$10,000 (AU$15,300). The day’s top lot was a weanling filly (Hip 2935) from the first crop of stakes winner Nashville (USA) for US$85,000 (AU$130,000) to record the highest purchase of the next-to-last session.
