Magic Millions 2YO Classic order of entry released
The order of entry for the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic has been released by racingqueensland.com.au. Lindsay Park trained Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) leads with $131,000 in earnings.
NZTR responds to betting legislation news
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) is thrilled by the government announcement to introduce a “legislative net” granting TAB NZ the exclusive rights for online wagering in New Zealand. “This announcement is yet another significant milestone for New Zealand racing that has been facilitated by the Minister for Racing and is a major piece of the puzzle to ensure racing is sustainable long-term,” NZTR Chairman Russell Warwick told Loveracing.nz on Monday.
“The NZTR Board and management would like to thank the Rt Hon Winston Peters, his coalition government, and all parties involved for delivering a critical outcome that will have an immensely positive impact on racing. The Minister for racing has been the architect and visionary behind the resurgence of racing in New Zealand and his relentless support is greatly appreciated by the entire industry.”
Steparty heads north to Ingham
Trainer Paul Preusker will take Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) to Sydney for Saturday’s The Ingham. He finished third in The Gong last start. “I think he's right there now. It's been a bit of a tricky map with his programming early. I just needed to get him to the races to bring him up. He's right there now,” Preusker told racing.com.
Steparty | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“A few of the colt traits have stuck with him and they're slowly starting to settle and he's giving the jockeys a better ride. The effort (in The Gong) was 10 out of 10 from the horse and he was given a great ride by Blaike McDougall.”
The Meteorite saw wagering increases
Southside Racing data has shown that both wagering and turnover saw significant increases for the Cranbourne Cup meeting compared to 2023, with the addition of the $1 million Meteorite slot race playing a part. “The Meteorite was the highest-wagered race on the day so that was great, we were eight per cent up on turnover from the previous year and we were five per cent up on budget, so it's a great result for everyone,” CEO Neil Bainbridge told racing.com.
“I think the results have really franked the decision to move down the path of creating some Spring Carnival feature races. For Cranbourne Cup Day to deliver a positive outcome for the industry is a real positive.” The super club will host The Supernova on Saturday.
Around The Nation: Monday’s highlights
NSW held the only two meetings in Australia on Monday. Nicely bred 3-year-old gelding Speedy Henry (Hellbent) won on debut at Dubbo for trainer Rodney Northam. A half-brother to Group 3 winner Sweet And Speedy (Street Cry {Ire}), he is out of Group 3 winner Speedy Natalie (Al Maher).
Hefel to return in new year
Jockey Carleen Hefel dislocated her shoulder suffered in a jump-out accident two weeks ago at Pakenham and hopes to return in the new year. “I landed right on the point of my shoulder, and I am not sure if it came out then or not, but originally I got back on the horse as it felt ok,” Hefel told racing.com.
“But (the horse)’s head then came back and hit me in the shoulder and that's when I think it popped out. The physio is about tightening the joint back up after the ligaments and muscles have been stretched.”
Villiers weight record set in 1918
The Ingham was previously the Villiers S. and the weight carrying record of 9st 10lbs (61.5kg) was set by 4-year-old entire Rebus (GB) (Radium {GB}) in 1918. Racing NSW handicappers have allocated Private Eye (Al Maher) topweight with 61kg and Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is next on 60.5kg.
Since the move to kg in 1972, the modern weight carrying record of 58kg was set by Monton (Catbird) in 2011.
Trainer’s first win fitting timing
Dominique Lahiff trained her first winner with 4-year-old mare Hit (Lean Mean Machine) on Saturday at the Gold Coast only a few weeks after her mentor Pat Duff died. Lahiff worked for Duff’s stable for more than 20 years. “Pat would keep you grounded and keep you very level,” Lahiff told racingqueensland.com.au on Monday.
“He was just there for you. He was very encouraging, Pat, and he never had a bad word to say about anyone. I think he enjoyed his life, Pat, and that’s the main thing. He touched a lot of people, Pat. I did think after the races on Saturday that it was ironic that Pat had just passed away and I trained my first winner, because we have had such a long association.”
Hit was having her second start for Lahiff, and took her record to two wins from nine starts.
Interplanetary aimed at Derby
Shaun and Emma Clotworthy will aim Saturday’s winner Interplanetary (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) at the G1 NZ Derby. “He’s an out and out stayer, his goal is to head towards the Derby, and he’ll eat up the 2400 metres no problem. He’s a good tough horse, and being a colt, he eats up and thrives on work. We’re happy with him staying as a colt at the moment,” co-trainer Shaun Clotworthy told Loveracing.nz.
Interplanetry (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright, Race Images
“He’ll probably go to the paddock and have a break for a couple of weeks and we’ll map a plan through some of the Guineas races and into the Derby.”
In foal Malt Time heads to Thornton Mile
Listed winner Malt Time (Adelaide {Ire}) has been served by Hello Youmzain (Fr) and will head to the G1 Thorndon Mile before retirement. “She’ll probably go to Ellerslie on Boxing Day first, then on to the Thorndon Mile or Westbury Classic, we’re not quite sure yet,” co-trainer Shaun Clotworthy told Loveracing.nz.
“It was always the plan (to get her in foal this year), Bill and Carrie (Borrie, owners) sent her to Hello Youmzain and she’s positive. I think she can race through to mid-March, so we’ll take it race-by-race and see how she goes in the next couple.” She ran fifth in Saturday’s G3 Concorde S.
Mike Repole buys top lot at Arqana
The aggregate on the second day at the Arqana December Sale climbed 20 per cent to €9,213,500 (AU$15.2 million) to bring the aggregate for the first two days to €51,212,500 (AU$84.2 million). The average for the day was up by 29 per cent to €47,249 (AU$77,600) and the median jumped by €5000 (AU$8260) to €35,000 (AU$57,800). The clearance rate dropped by 2 per cent to 81per cent.
Overall, the first two days of the four-day sale have seen 354 horses sold at a clearance rate of 82 per cent. The and the average over the first two days is €144,668 (AU$239,000) and the median €62,000 (AU$102,400). Sunday’s sale-topper Hoshiana (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) made €220,000 (AU$363,000) to leading American owner Mike Repole who bought six fillies and mares for just shy of €2 million (AU$3.3 million) on the first two days.
Another talented 2-year-old for Godolphin in America
The nine-furlong GII Remsen S. for 2-year-olds has only produced three G1 Kentucky Derby winners, but Remsen winners have captured two of the last three editions of the GI Belmont S. (Dornoch (USA) in 2024; Mo Donegal (USA) in 2022), plus the 2018 GI Travers S. winner Catholic Boy (USA).
Saturday's renewal was a “saved by the wire” squeaker of a score by the Godolphin homebred Poster (USA) (Munnings {USA}), who rallied from last and pounced four wide off Aqueduct's far turn to collar dueling pacemakers, only to disengage mentally mid-stretch once he thought his job was complete.
The colt responded to Flavien Prat's urgent, deep-stretch rousing to belatedly meet the challenge of the onrushing Aviator Gui (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}), who had dead aim and was closing the gap. Poster managed to win the nose-bob at the wire–but not beyond it.
Poster is a May 20 foal and only 12 May foals have won the Derby, notably including Northern Dancer (Can) in 1964 (May 27).
