Australian Turf Club members elect two Directors
Members of the Australian Turf Club today elected two Directors to join the ATC’s Board at the Club’s Annual General Meeting at Rosehill Gardens. Annette English joins the Board on a four-year term as a new Director, while Tim Hale SC was re-elected to a second four-year term.
“We welcome Annette English as a new Director and as someone with a great passion for racing along with excellent business and legal experience,” Chair Peter McGauran told racingnsw.com.au.
Annette English
“We also congratulate Tim Hale on his re-election, who with fellow current Directors collectively provide a diverse range of skills and a strong commitment to the ATC. I also take the opportunity to warmly thank Angela Belle McSweeney as she serves her final weeks and months as a Director.”
Edinburgh Park sold
Edinburgh Park has sold for $6.6 million to a young couple who own 40 butchery shops. “They're going to feed and fatten some cattle there and it'll also allow an extension of their butchery business, so they'll be able to do some farm-to-plate type stuff where people can buy wholesale meat from them that's been reared on the farm,” sales agent Donovan & Co’s Clint Donovan told The Straight.
“Apart from it being a brand new horse investor, it's the next best thing. They're a good young couple.” The 86-hectare New South Wales Mid North Coast property was sold by thoroughbred breeder Ian Smith.
Fernie’s trio for Winterbottom
Fourth generation trainer Luke Fernie will have three runners in Saturday’s G1 Winterbottom S. with Bravo Centurion (National Defense {GB}), Man Crush (Manhattan Rain), and Laced Up Heels (Toronado {Ire}).
“That’s crazy when you think about it,” former Kalgoorlie Racing Club Chairman and prominent owner Andrew Inglis told racingwa.com.au. “It’s a great achievement for a young bloke. To have horses going well enough to go in those races is a big effort. He’s got a belief in them that they’ll go alright.”
Tabcorp to remove cash on-track
Tabcorp has confirmed it will remove on-course cash facilities at non-major race meetings from Sunday. “As part of evolution, we will be reducing the number of cash terminals at Victorian racetracks because a majority of customers have told us they want to bet digitally,” a Tabcorp spokesperson told racing.com.
“As the partner of industry, TAB will continue to offer full cash services at race meetings that are the most important to the Victorian Racing Industry. This includes metropolitan meetings and feature-race days on the provincial and country circuit. These changes better reflect the evolving betting patterns and feedback of our customers.”
All American dies at Geisel Park Stud
Geisel Park Stud announced that their resident sire All American had died. “All American leaves behind a legacy and has touched the hearts of many along the way. Everyone associated with Geisel Park will forever appreciate the impact All American had as our first stallion to stand commercially.”
All American | Image courtesy of Geisel Park
All American was a son of Red Ransom (USA) who won the G1 Emirates S. in 2009. He sired six stakes winners including Group 1 winners Yankee Rose and Dark Dream. Yankee Rose is the dam of Champion 2YO Filly & 3YO Filly in Japan in 2022 & 2023 and four-time Group 1 winner Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}).
Safety report needs action
Outgoing Racing Integrity Commissioner Sean Carroll has commented that Victoria needs to ensure a safe working environment for all participants. “In September 2023, I released my report of the independent review into the Victorian racing industry victim support and complaint processes,” Carroll told racenet.com.au.
“It represents a unique opportunity for racing to confront troubling issues that have existed and persist for some of the industry's most vulnerable and at-risk workers. The time for action is now and it is up to all of us to champion change by calling out inappropriate behaviour to ensure a safe environment for everyone in racing.” Carroll takes up a new role in Tasmania next month.
Sean Carroll | Image courtesy of Racing Integrity Victoria
Pisces heads to Sandown as a gelding
Godolphin have gelded their 3-year-old Pisces (Frosted {USA}) who runs in Saturday’s G2 Sandown Guineas. “He's a much better horse now he's gelded; his demeanour, his attitude and last time, he was a bit of a thinker still, he was still doing a lot wrong at home and also in his races,” Godolphin's Melbourne foreman Nacim Dilmi told racing.com.
He has won three of his 10 starts and won the G3 Blue Sapphire S. last start.
Maher keen for Hong Kong trip
Trainer Ciaron Maher is looking forward to running Recommendation (Shalaa {Ire}) in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint. “(I’ve) got a heap of clients coming up and all the owners are pretty well up and about. The horse seems in good form, but the local (Ka Ying Rising) might be hard to beat,” Maher told racenet.com.au.
“He (Recommendation) is a gelding that has had a really good spring and has gone to another level and the owners were keen to travel with him. I will be catching up with Dave (Eustace) for sure and he has started very well.”
Pride’s son Brave heads to Lindsay Park
Jo Pride’s 18-year-old son Brave will work for Lindsay Park to gain valuable training experience. “My dad is a great mentor but it would also be great to know a few other things and travel around which he didn't get the chance to do,” Pride told racenet.com.au.
“This is my first trip away to learn a bit. I finished school last year and worked a full year in Sydney but thought summer would be the right time to get away and learn something.
Brave Pride and Jo Pride | Image courtesy of Justin Lloyd
“I want to bring something to improve the business again. We do a great job right now but I would like to think that I can add something to it again. That's the main aim for my career and learning from these experiences can only help with that.”
Port Lockroy to come back east
G1 Railway S. winner Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready) will come home to Sydney for The Ingham next, with the G1 Doncaster Mile as his long term target. “I think he is still improving, he's still lightly raced and physically he is really starting to mature,” co-trainer Rob Archibald told racenet.com.au.
Kalgoorlie racing season at risk
The Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club have announced via their Facebook page that their upcoming season may not go ahead, as they struggle to get enough recycled water to irrigate their track.
“This is a complex issue and water is a finite resource, but we will continue to work hard for a possible resolution.”
Rothfire on the comeback again
When Rothfire (Rothesay) reinjured a ligament in June, most people thought the Group 1 winner would be retired, but instead he’s on the comeback trail and will run in Saturday’s G3 George Moore S. “It was in the same leg but the ligament tears were in different places,” Heathcote told racingqueensland.com.au of the injury which was similar to the one he did in the G1 Golden Rose as a 3-year-old.
Rothfire
“He’s only had one trial and ran second and I feel he may be a little vulnerable first-up. But, he’ll be competitive as he’s such a unique animal and doesn’t know when to give in. Rothfire doesn’t get in too well at the weights and Tony (Gollan) has a great record in the George Moore and has a number of strong chances in it again.”
Bush sparkies sponsor the Cups
Daniel Bruce operates Bruce Air and Electrical across regional Queensland, while his mate Josh Sullivan is also an electrician in Charleville and they race horses together as Dan & Josh Racing. “We try and sponsor as many races as possible as we work between Charleville, Windorah and the Birdsville area – the Far West,” Bruce told racingqueensland.com.au.
“We like to sponsor the Cups. Anything racing, we are happy to help with.” They might get a little money back when they head to the city this Saturday with Country Cups Challenge hopeful Kazza's Jet (Jet Spur) who cost Dave & Josh Racing only $1000 in a private sale and now has earnings over $120,000 in her seven wins.
“She has only been out of the money a handful of times since we have had her out here. We are hoping she can be competitive as she has won at Doomben before. It depends on the rain but she has run well on heavy and soft surfaces before. I am not sure much of the field has heavy form so it could play into our favour. She would prefer a good track but she does not mind some sting taken out of it either. We are hopeful she will run well.”
Around The Nation: Thursday’s highlights
With six meetings around Australia on Thursday, the wins were spread widely between trainers, jockeys and stallions, with Deep Field the only stand out as he nabbed a double at Hawkesbury with 3-year-old gelding The Grey and Opal Fields.
Sunday’s Jericho Cup special for Jackson
Former jumps jockey turned trainer Shane Jackson wants to add a Jericho Cup to his collection of Warrnambool features on Sunday with Queen Takes King (NZ) (Charm Spirit ({Ire}). “I'm halfway there, I've won a Grand Annual with a Brierly, Warrnambool Cup, ran second in a Galleywood, third in a Jericho, so I need a Wangoom and a Jericho,” Jackson told racing.com.
Shane Jackson | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“She obviously came to me in cracking order from Ciaron Maher, she's been with him for a couple of seasons now. I was a little bit sceptical whether I'd be able to do any better with her than Ciaron Maher.”
Ms Tasmania wins 3YO Cup
Late on Wednesday night, boom 3-year-old filly Ms Tasmania (Magnus) won the Launceston 3YO Cup impressing trainer Siggy Carr. “She didn’t settle at all; Troy (Baker) has done an amazing job. She was fired up; he went with her, but that made her go too early and gee, I thought she was vulnerable late, but she was tough; she wanted it. Not much went right for her, she’s amazing,” Carr told tasracing.com.au.
She has now won four of her five starts including the Magic Millions Tasmania 2YO Classic last season.
Yulong buys Kiwi filly Movin Out
Yulong has purchased Movin Out (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) and she will join Chris Waller’s stable. “Chris got hold of me and the deal was done, the money was too good to turn down,” trainer Bill Thurlow told Loveracing.nz.
“I’d love to still have her, and it is a bit of a shame, but it’s commercial reality really. She travels out on Saturday morning and will fly to Australia on Sunday.” Movin Out ran third in the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas at just her third raceday start this month.
Ho makes it 600 at Happy Valley
Jockey Vincent Ho bagged his 600th winner at Happy Valley on Wednesday night aboard Healthy Healthy (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). “It’s a lot of hard work and I need to thank everyone for all their support for all these years,” Ho told scmp.com.
“Everyone has been patient and I’m grateful for that. I’ll keep on working and trying to keep improving. It’s great. Hopefully, there’s more to come. I’ll keep on doing my best and keep improving.”
Vincent Ho | Image courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club
Newnham gets to train Derby prospect Ramadan
After the G1 Hong Kong Mile, Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) will transfer into the stable of Mark Newnham for a Hong Kong Derby tilt. “It’s very exciting. I spoke to Mr Zhang at the sales in Sydney and he told me that the horse would stay here. He’s a very nice horse to pick up,” Newnham told scmp.com of the Group 2 winning 3-year-old colt who was purchased for €1.5 million (AU$2.4 million) by prominent owner Zhang Yuesheng of Yulong Investments at the Arqana Arc Sale.
Ramadan won five of his 10 starts for French trainer Christopher Head, and is being prepared for his Hong Kong trip by James Ferguson in England. “His form is really solid and it will be interesting to watch him work next week and then see how he lines up against the older horses,” Newnham said.
200k Mehmas foal on top at Tattersalls
On a bitterly cold day, the trade did at least warm up considerably with 16 six-figure lots. From a tardy start with a clearance rate of only 60 per cent on Tuesday, 82 per cent of the Wednesday foals changed hands, with figures up in every sector from this same day last year. The average price rose by 7 per cent to 44,098gns (AU$89,700) and the median by 10 per cent to 34,000gns (AU$69,700). The turnover of 8,996,000gns (AU$1.8 million), from 204 foals sold, was up 8 per cent from 12 months ago.
The sale-topper was Mehmas (Ire) filly out of Listed Rose Bowl S. winner Natalie's Joy (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was sold by Michael O'Leary's Plantation Stud to footballer Ryan Kent for 200,000gns (AU$409,000) through Daniel Creighton of Salcey Forest Stud.
Lot 668 - Mehmas(Ire) x Natalie's Joy (GB)(filly) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Zarak share sells post-auction for €600,000
A share in Group 1 winner and sire Zarak (Fr) has been sold privately for €600,000 (AU$975,000) to Chauvigny Global Equine, Arqana announced on Wednesday. Originally passed in at €650,000 (AU$1.06 million) during Tuesday's Arqana Online November Sale, the 1/50th share (Lot 1) has now been purchased by Sebastien Desmontils's operation.
Stewart pens open letter to racing
“As I reflect on my first year as a newcomer in the horse racing industry, I wish to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have welcomed me into this sport,” wrote Resolute Racing’s John Stewart on his twitter account.
