King Kirk dies in freak accident
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained star juvenile colt King Kirk (Ole Kirk) died on Tuesday in a freak accident. “Unfortunately, King Kirk has passed away this afternoon following an incident that occurred during his recovery,” a release from the Waterhouse and Bott stable told owners of MyRacehorse.
King Kirk | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“King Kirk was routinely swimming at the Randwick racecourse horse pool under the supervision of his regular handler and foreman, when he panicked causing him to swallow a significant amount of water in the process. Despite the efforts by his handlers, ATC (Australian Turf Club), staff and veterinarians, he sadly could not be saved.”
King Kirk won the G3 Breeders' Plate on debut.
Jockeys look to get paid for jump-outs
The Victorian Jockeys Association has asked jockeys to stop riding in jump-outs for free, calling for a strike from December 1. Jockeys have been asked to response to requests for rides with the statement, “It is no longer feasible for me to provide unpaid services at a high risk with no guarantee of a return. Should these services be renumerated in line with official trials, then I would be happy to accommodate that service.”
Hefel dislocates shoulder at jump-outs
The Victorian Jockeys' Association reported Carleen Hefel sustained a suspected dislocated shoulder in a fall at the Pakenham jump-outs on Tuesday.
Carleen Hefel | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Overpass set for another western success
Bjorn Baker has Overpass (Vancouver) ready for more WA success. “It's funny because he was coming into this race last year off a bad run in The Everest and we weren't quite 100 per cent happy with him,” Baker told racenet.com.au.
“This time is probably a little bit the same. We went down to Melbourne and I don't necessarily think he was at his best. But of course we are getting him back to Ascot where he has won three from three.
“He looks to have travelled over well and he looks absolutely magnificent. From that point of view, he really mimics last year. He looked great last year, he looks great this year.”
Vale Len Rhodes
The Rhodes family are sad to announce the death of their much loved patriarch, the racing legend Len Rhodes. Passing away on Monday just a couple of days after his 96th birthday, Len ran with passion and success Riverside Stud, Corowa - making a fine contribution to the sport by standing Loosen Up (USA), sire of the G1 Japan Cup and G1 W.S Cox Plate hero Better Loosen Up.
Len bred many classy racehorses including such speedsters as Magic Music (Loosen Up {USA}), Blaze the Turf (Blazing Sword), Intelligent Star (Al Maher) and the Group 1 winning globetrotter Ortensia (Testa Rossa).
A Life Member of the Corowa Racing Club where a race is run in his honour, Len was known not only for his horsemanship but also for his willingness to help anyone who came to him for advice.
Freedman duo join Sydney ranks
Co-trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman have become the latest Victorian operation to join the Sydney training ranks. Thirty boxes at Randwick became available after Peter Snowden decided to downsize, and the Freedman father/son duo took the opportunity.
“I'm delighted to be able to base in Sydney for our owners but especially for the future of my son's career. The opportunity to have a stable at Royal Randwick doesn't come along very often so for an emerging trainer such as Sam it is a great honour,” Anthony Freedman told racenet.com.au.
“This is a strong endorsement of Sydney racing to have such a successful family training partnership based at Royal Randwick,” ATC Chair Peter McGauran said.
“Anthony Freedman now in partnership with his son continues the recent trend of Australia's biggest and most successful stables wanting to make Sydney home. The Freedman stable brings the might of some of Australia's most prominent owners and breeders.”
Bang Stick wins at Mackay
Tom Button trained 2-year-old colt Bang Stick (Pierata) won at Mackay at his second start. Ridden by apprentice Gabrielle Semmens, he won by 0.24l from gelding Nosey Neo (Neorealism {Jpn}) with filly Bolla Bolla Babe (Sensei) in third.
A $10,000 purchase from Amarina Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Bang Stick is the second foal and first winner for city winner Cabin Fever (Sidereus).
Australian mares covered by Equinox
Idol Horse reported that several Australian mares were covered by Equinox (Jpn) in his first season at stud, including Mystic Journey (Needs Further), Mosheen (Fastnet Rock), Yankee Rose (All American) and Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Baraqiel injured again
Injury prone 6-year-old gelding Baraqiel (Snitzel) won’t be seen until next spring after sustaining a ligament injury in The Meteorite last Saturday. “It's a bit painful for all of us,” managing owner Nathan Bennett told racing.com.
“I'd say it's happened about 100 metres out, I didn't have a great feeling after the race to be honest when he sort of looked to have the race in his keeping. It's a suspensory again, times before he's chipped the bone as well, but he hasn't done that this time. It's not career-ending or anything so that's the positive, we should be fine getting him back again.
“On the positive side, we've still got a very good horse on our hands. Now we can just target the Manikato rather than the William Reid.”
Fallon fine halved
English jockey Cieren Fallon has had his $100,000 fine for his winning ride in the Golden Eagle halved on appeal to $50,000. He won on William Haggas-trained Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never {USA}) and was fined for careless riding.
Liberty Park under offer to Australia
Otaki trainer Jim Wallace will have only one runner in Thursday’s G3 Wellington S. at Otaki, after Liberty Park (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) was scratched due to being under offer from Australia. “Liberty Park is under offer, so we are just completing the formalities with him. He is going to a very good stable and it will be interesting to see him follow on,” Wallace told Loveracing.nz.
Wallace will run Skippers Canyon (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}). “He has consistently found one a little bit good for him but sooner or later he will take a trick. He is a nice horse going forward. He is in great shape, he is working terrific, I am very happy with him.”
Island Life on song for Wellington
Trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie are enjoying a run of success from their new property and will run 3-year-old filly Island Life (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) in Thursday’s G3 Wellington S. We moved to a new property at the start of the month and since the move we’ve had five winners,” Ramsay told Loveracing.nz.
Island Life (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“It used to be Jim Marks’ old property, Hinuera Lodge, and Wayne Hillis was there for a while and some really nice horses have come off the place. We’ve got our own little track there and can mix it up and take them to Matamata or work them at home and the horses seem to be really enjoying it.”
TAB Racing Club fillies to debut on Saturday
The newly-established TAB Racing Club will have their first juvenile runners to the races at Ellerslie on Saturday. “The TAB are very generous in getting horses out there for the public to race and this was the one we chose,” trainer Pam Gerard said of her runner Dorothea (NZ) (Proisir).
“I’m really happy with the choice we made. She’s got a great nature on her, she’s cute, she’s pretty and I’ve gotten a lot of comments from the TAB that she’s got a lot of followers as such a nice type. Hopefully she can go and do the job.”
She will be joined by Te Akau Racing filly In Haste (Snitzel), who is owned by the TAB Racing Club, alongside Newgate Operations and breeders SF Bloodstock.
Carr ready for Tasmanian double
Trainer Siggy Carr will have hot favourite Ms Tasmania (Magnus) in Wednesday night’s 3YO Cup, and Thespian Waters (Headwater) in the Listed Newmarket Handicap. “Both horses have come through their last runs really well,” Carr told tasracing.com.au.
“Ms Tasmania has enjoyed a couple of trips to the beach since her win. We couldn’t be happier with her.” Ms Tasmania won two of her three starts at two and resumed with a win recently, while Thespian Waters has won five in succession.
Around The Nation: Tuesday’s highlights
Tuesday saw three meetings across Australia. At Tamworth, Scott Singleton trained 3-year-old gelding Corporate Lad (Capitalist) won on debut, as did Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich trained 3-year-old gelding Triti (Castelvecchio). Triti formed the middle leg of a treble for jockey Aaron Bullock, whose other winners were Stylebender (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Tavros (Bull Point).
Aaron Bullock | Image courtesy of NSW Country and Picnic Racing
In Victoria at Ararat, Patrick and Michelle Payne trained 3-year-old filly Sheeza Smokey (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) won on debut.
Huxtable able to ride under conditions
Jockey Justin Huxtable has been allowed to ride by Racing Queensland, provided he does no media and stays south of Rockhampton. Huxtable initially had his riding license suspended by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission after he was arrested and charged by police in North Queensland in October after a complaint from a woman.
He was arrested in 2021 for a domestic violence matter and in 2022, he pleaded guilty to biting a stripper in 2020.
Arqana launches Sire Power+
Arqana today announced the launch of SirePower+, a tailored financing program which offers breeders the possibility of having 50 per cent of their 2025 covering fee financed by the Deauville auction house up until the offspring is sold.
The initiative is aimed at French breeders with or without a stud, as well as foreign breeders who have mares in France or are planning to have mares in France, who wish to cover their top Flat mares. The program will concentrate on the top international stallions that are in demand because of their progeny's results both on the racecourse and at the yearling sales.
“With this initiative, we want to enable breeders to make their mares' coverings more attractive,” read a statement attributed to Olivier Delloye, president of Arqana, and Freddy Powell, managing director.
“By concentrating on good mares and the elite stallions in the European stallion pool, this program is designed to help raise the level of our yearlings on offer and continue to broaden our customer base. We hope to create a virtuous dynamic, with positive impacts at various levels for future generations and sales.”
Fantastic Moon retired to stud
The connections of Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), 11th in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup, have declined an invitation to the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, December 8, and the 4-year-old has been officially retired, Liberty Racing's Lars-W. Baumgarten confirmed Monday on X. Fantastic Moon will enter stud in 2025 at Gestut Ebbesloh as previously announced.
Fantastic Moon (Ger) | Image courtesy of Scoop Dyga
“Finishing 11th in the Japan Cup, Fantastic Moon appeared a bit tired in the final furlong. It was a long season for him. We'll pass on the HK Vase and fly him home for the next leg of his career at Ebbesloh Stud. You gave us memories we'll treasure forever,” said Liberty Racing.
Goliath unlikely to Hong Kong
G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) is also unlikely to make the trip to Hong Kong for the Vase, scmp.com reported. Sixth and not beaten far behind Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) at the weekend, Goliath was also runner-up in this year's G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot and won the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris when prepping for his trip to Tokyo.
Kentucky Derby 2025 betting opens on Thursday
Fans will have their second of six opportunities to bet on the 150th running of the GI Kentucky Derby Thursday, November 28 through Sunday, December 1 with Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager where Group 1 winner Chancer McPatrick (USA) (McKinzie {USA}) and East Avenue (USA) (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) were made the 10-1 co-individual favourites with 'All Other Colts and Geldings Foaled in 2022' not listed within the 38 individual interests listed as the heavy 4-5 favourite.
The Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager allows fans to bet on 39 individual sires, as well as an option for “All Other Sires.” Horses sired by Into Mischief (USA) were made the 12-1 individual favourite, while “All Other Sires” was also tabbed as the 12-1 co-favourite.
Fasig-Tipton digital dates expanded
The dates of the upcoming Fasig-Tipton December Digital Sale have been adjusted to accommodate a record number of entries, over 650, in the online auction conducted by the company.
Bidding on the December Digital Sale, originally scheduled for December 5-10, will now take place from December 5-11. Bidding will now close over two days on December 10 and 11.
HISA lawsuit adds to caseload
Defending itself in a constitutionality lawsuit initiated by the trainer Jonathan Wong, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority on Friday told a federal judge in Louisiana that the court should either toss out Wong's case entirely or hold off on letting the litigation proceed while the Supreme Court of the United States decides whether it will take on one of three active requests stemming from different cases whose parties all want the nation's highest court to weigh in on similar constitutional issues Wong raises in his lower-court lawsuit.
“First, the Court should dismiss this case under [federal rule, because] venue is not proper in this district,” the Authority's filing stated. “No substantial part of the events giving rise to Plaintiff's claims occurred [in Louisiana], and neither Defendants nor Plaintiff resides here.
“Plaintiff's purported Louisiana address is an equestrian facility, which is not Plaintiff's permanent home,” which, the Authority added, “all known records indicate remains in California.”
