Daily News Wrap

12 min read

Tabcorp cuts 200 jobs

Tabcorp confirmed on Wednesday that it will cut 200 jobs and stop using external consultants in a bid to improve the bottom line. The number equates to around 10 per cent of all jobs at Tabcorp. “Tabcorp is creating a fitter organisation and a new cadence to move more quickly in a changing market,” Tabcorp said in a statement.

“As outlined at the company’s AGM, Tabcorp has an ongoing cost-reduction program. We have reduced the number of roles and external consultants to create a simpler and more efficient way of working that can deliver an even better customer experience.”

“Tabcorp acknowledges the significant contribution and service of staff who played a key role in building the foundations of Tabcorp during the first phase of our transformation.”

Victoria Racing Club cuts up to 40 jobs

The Victoria Racing Club have announced they will cut up to 40 jobs (around 15 per cent of their workforce) as they restructure in response to posting a $24.2 million loss for the 2023/24 financial year.

“The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has not been immune to rising costs across the supply chain required to deliver more than 20 Flemington race days including the four days of the Melbourne Cup carnival,” the VRC told thestraight.com.au.

“While the 2024 Melbourne Cup carnival saw increased crowds and viewing audiences, the VRC conducts regular reviews of its cost base to ensure we have the right long-term strategy and operating plan in place to deliver future growth.”

Last start winner La Crique heads to Group 1

Last start Group 2 winner La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) will run in Saturday’s G1 Mufasa S. at Trentham. “This is a shorter turnaround than what we like to do with her, we’re most comfortable giving her three weeks’ between runs which means I don’t have to do a hell of a lot with her in that first week post-race,” co-trainer Katrina Alexander told Loveracing.nz.

La Crique (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunnell

“I still haven’t had to do a lot with her, she’s trained on really well and she had a nice hit-out yesterday (Tuesday). Other than that, she gets a huge amount of improvement through each run she has, so the need to be too busy with her between runs isn’t there. It’s just a matter of keeping her well and happy, and she certainly lets us know when she is. I’m really happy with her.”

Parnham duo to bounce back in G1 Northerly

Trainer Neville Parnham was disappointed in the unplaced runs by stablemates Zipaway (Playing God) and Bustler (Playing God) in the G1 Railway S. but thinks they’ll both improve for Saturday’s G1 Northerly S. “They got through the run pretty comfortably and they weren’t hurt at all. They probably weren’t afforded the most suitable runs for them; that’s the best way to put it,” Parnham told racingwa.com.au.

“Bustler had cover for a while, but then got exposed doing a bit of work and weakened out of it. I just didn’t read a lot into it; it was the tempo that was his drawback. As they settled and got their positions down the back the brakes went on out in front.

Gallery : Stablemates set to compete in Saturday’s G1 Northerly S., images courtesy of Western Racepix

“That’s the way it goes sometimes in racing and Zipaway probably did too much work around the corner. I walked away disappointed, but not disappointed enough not to keep pressing on. Both horses have continued to work in their usual style and were never hurt in the race.

“I’ve no reason perhaps seeing a race with a bit more even tempo that they can't come back and perform very well. Weight for age conditions probably suits Bustler more than Zipaway, but they both performed very well in the Lee Steere which was weight for age. That’s not particularly bothering me.”

Berry misses Warwick Farm due to scans

Jockey Tommy Berry fell at home and injured his face, and he missed Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting to go and get scans done. “I feel like I am fine but visibly it doesn't look good,” Berry told racenet.com.au.

Tommy Berry | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

“I had X-rays done on the night it happened which came up clear but the Stewards were of the opinion that because it was so swollen and they can sometimes miss stuff because of the swelling, that I should get a second opinion so I had some more tests done on Wednesday. It's been sent off and I am waiting to see the results.”

Liberty Island to spoil Romantic Warrior’s party

Japanese superstar Yuga Kawada and trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida think their 4-year-old mare Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) will prevent Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {Ire}) from winning his third G1 Hong Kong Cup. “After such an absence Liberty Island might have lacked slightly for fitness but she came out of the race in good shape,” Nakauchida told hkjc.com.

Liberty Island (Jpn) | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club

“We had originally planned to go on to the Japan Cup but the gap is four weeks, and we wanted to make sure she had enough time to recover and then be fully prepared. That's why we decided to come to Hong Kong.” The daughter of Group 1 winner Yankee Rose (All American) has won four Group 1 races.

Second To Nun dies while spelling

Part-owner John Kelton announced that 5-year-old mare Second To Nun (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) had died while spelling. “Sadly, Second To Nun passed away while spelling on Monday,” Kelton tweeted. “She provided so much enjoyment for her passionate group of owners. Thanks to Will, Niki & staff for giving her an outstanding racing career and thanks to winning riders Ben (Price), Todd (Pannell), Rochelle (Milnes) and Kayla (Crowther).”

Second To Nun

Second To Nun won nine races including the 2024 Listed Leon Macdonald S. and had earnings over $450,000. A $45,000 purchase by Suman Hedge Bloodstock and Will Clarken Racing from Rushton Park at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, she was one of five stakes winners for her sire.

Saturday’s The Gateway has Stradbroke hook

The winner of Saturday’s The Gateway will win a run in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap, and is unique as the winner has the option of running in the Stradbroke with a ballot exemption or selling the place to a more accomplished performer.

Berkeley Square to back up into Ballarat Cup

Trainer Dan O'Sullivan has confirmed stayer Berkeley Square (Territories {Ire}) will back up into Saturday’s Ballarat Cup. “He's bounced through his last start on Saturday fantastic. From the next day he'd eaten up well and he was nice and bright,” O’Sullivan told racing.com.

Berkeley Square | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

“Given that, it would be pretty hard to not go to a $500,000, 2000-metre race in your own backyard, so it ended up a pretty easy decision to make. He's such a big horse and his pattern of getting back means he needs things to go right with certain tactics and certain tempo and the big Ballarat track should suit.”

Tribunal asks for 15 year ban for punter

The Victorian Racing Tribunal has asked for professional punter Noah Brash to be warned off for 15 years for placing bets for, or on behalf of jockey Michael Poy. Brash pleaded guilty to all charges. “It's an important rule to protect the integrity of racing and the protection of the image of racing as well,” Adrian Anderson, acting for the stewards, told the Tribunal.

“This sort of offending is very difficult to detect and it makes this case even more important ... in terms of setting the standard and making it a very clear message of the seriousness of this sort of offending.”

Brash represented himself and told the Tribunal, “I want to take this opportunity to apologise to the tribunal, the Victorian racing stewards and the general racing community. It is incredibly important that racing is to be seen as a fair and equitable sport.”

Around The Nation: Wednesday’s highlights

There were six meetings around the nation on Wednesday, including one night meeting at Launceston. At Ipswich, 3-year-old gelding Air We Go (Capitalist) won on debut and jockey Ryan Maloney rode a treble on Grand Meteor (Deep Field), Sunlord (The Autumn Sun) and Thankyou Henry (Kobayashi).

Babe looking for second Concorde

Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) will bid to add to her impressive black-type sprinting record when she steps out in the G3 Concorde S., a race she won in 2022. “It suits her a lot better than Pukekohe, it seems to be such a long way down that straight, and she loves Ellerslie,” co-trainer Ben Foote told Loveracing.nz.

Babylon Berlin | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery

She will head to the G1 Railway S. at Ellerslie this campaign. “That’s definitely the Group 1 that we’re targeting, whether she goes to the Telegraph before than I don’t know at this stage. She thrives in the summer months, maybe she likes the hotter weather like her trainer.”

Racing Queensland partnership with SAHA

The Queensland Off-The-Track Program’s partnership with Save A Horse Australia is one year into a three year $900,000 deal and is proving successful. “This partnership has really opened things up for our thoroughbreds and standardbreds here, and has allowed us to go through a really thorough process before they can move on to their next home,” former jockey and SAHA president Laura Cheshire told racingqueensland.com.au.

Laura Cheshire | Image courtesy of Laura Cheshire

“Thanks to the Queensland Off-The-Track Program, we have really raised awareness for the racing industry that the horses are incredibly well looked after. Unfortunately, it is post-racing that the horses can slip through the cracks.

“Going forward, we’re going to be able to keep bringing horses in from all walks of life. These horses still have so much to give in their post-racing lives, and we are really fortunate to be able to help them move into that next stage of life in collaboration with QOTT.”

Recommendation dumps rider during trackwork

Trainer Ciaron Maher isn’t worried that Recommendation (Shalaa {Ire}) dumped his rider during trackwork as he prepares for Hong Kong’s international meeting. “He popped the rider off before the work, but I don’t think it made much difference to him,” Maher told scmp.com.

Recommendation | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club

“He didn’t need to break any records – he was just out to stretch his legs. He’s had a lot of racing, he’s travelled over well and he seems to be nice and fresh. It’s fantastic here. The hospitality’s been unbelievable and the facilities are great. This is our first runner here, but we’d be keen to bring more horses to this meeting.”

Ardrossan juvenile to appreciate better track conditions

Improved track conditions will present 2-year-old filly Almakeitgood (NZ) (Ardrossan) as a strong winning chance on Thursday at New Plymouth. “I’d like to think she can win, she goes pretty well and doesn’t like wet ground,” trainer Allan Sharrock, who also shares in the ownership group, told Loveracing.nz.

Almakeitgood (NZ) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock

“Both of her runs were on heavy tracks and she’s a really nice filly who is getting better and better all the time.” She has placed in both her starts to date.

EHV outbreak in Paris

Arqana has moved to allay concerns ahead of its Breeding Stock Sale following a reported outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) in two sport horses near Paris.

A statement released by the sales company on Tuesday read, “With just a few days to go before the Vente d'Elevage, Arqana has sent all vendors a specific equine health protocol to follow as a result of a call for vigilance by the RESPE (equine infectious disease surveillance) after two cases of EHV-1 were reported in mid-November in sport horses located in the Paris region.

“To date, the crisis unit in place has not reported any significant change in the number of positive cases. Furthermore, no cases have been recorded among racehorses or bloodstock. However, Arqana has decided to be proactive and, in conjunction with France Galop, has put in place measures to ensure the health of the lots offered for sale. All horses will have been tested before arriving at the Deauville establishment and regular temperature readings will be taken (before and during the sale) to prevent any potential cases. The veterinary resources deployed by Arqana have been reinforced to ensure the best possible monitoring of the health of the horses at the Deauville sales.”

BHA CEO search on hold

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed on Tuesday that the appointment of a new chief executive officer will be announced in the new year to allow the newly appointed BHA chair, Lord Allen of Kensington, to play a role in the recruitment process.

Upon the completion of Julie Harrington's term on Tuesday, December 31, the BHA's current chief regulatory officer Brant Dunshea will take on the role of acting CEO while the recruitment process is finalised.

Industry funds biometric study

Ten Thoroughbred industry and charitable organizations have pledged funding for the American Association of Equine Practitioners' wearable biometric sensor research project. Six sensor manufacturers have been selected to participate in the year-long study.

Wearable biometric sensors, which have shown promise as an early warning system for identifying racehorses at increased risk of musculoskeletal injury, are designed to capture data on a horse's movement patterns during high-speed events.

The following organizations have contributed a total of US$785,000 (AU$1.2 million) to fund the research project, which will run Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025: Breeders' Cup Limited; Fasig-Tipton; The Foundation for the Horse (the charitable arm of the AAEP); Keeneland Association; Kentucky Thoroughbred Association; New York Racing Association; New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association; Oak Tree Racing Association; Ocala Breeders' Sales Company; and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

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