Racing NSW board unchanged
Racing Minister David Harris has extended the terms of directors Michael Crismale and Garry Charny on the Racing NSW board despite the Rosehill report. “I look forward to continuing working with both members and the Board of Racing NSW,” Harris said in a statement which was reported on thestraight.com.au.
David Harris
Charny and Tony Shepherd are up for renewal in December 2025, while Simon Tuxen’s four-year term ends in December 2026.
Victoria’s POCT income reduced
The Victorian government budget includes a downward revision of the Point Of Consumption Tax (POCT) for racing from a predicted $462 million for 2024/25, but is now set at $399 million, reported thestraight.com.au. Half of those proceeds are now passed onto the three codes of the racing industry as part of the funding agreement brokered as a result of the end of the Tabcorp joint venture.
Racing Victoria has since reported that Champions Day (Flemington), Caulfield Thousand, Cranbourne Cup Day and Caulfield Spring Finale (Zipping Classic) meetings all delivered increased turnover but turnover for the spring to date is down 8.2 per cent on last year.
Magic Millions announce unbeaten Gerringong for their Sunlight slot
Unbeaten filly Gerringong (Blue Point {Ire}) has been selected by Magic Millions for their slot in the inaugural $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, she has won both her starts. “Gerringong is an incredibly exciting prospect, Adrian (Bott) has filled us with confidence, she has so much upside,” Magic Millions Director Barry Bowditch said in a press release.
Gerringong | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“Her two wins have been effortless and she looks a filly destined for group races. We are excited to be teaming up with Singo and his part owners in the TAB Magic Millions Sunlight. Singo has been such an integral part of Magic Millions and it seems only fitting that we join forces for the inaugural running of the Sunlight.”
Bad draw for Isti Star in The Debut
Trainer Paul Shailer will run Isti Star (Better Than Ready) in Friday night's Magic Millions The Debut at the Gold Coast but isn’t pleased to have drawn the carpark. “I was in a good mood before the barriers came out but it is what it is,” Shailer told racenet.com.au.
“You can't really tell where she'll get from there in a race with all these horses lining up for their first start so we're just hoping for some luck. She was passed in at the sales and we ended up getting her on a lease deal and she's showed plenty of talent since … hopefully she can go on with it on Friday night.
“She'll get there in good order and hopefully she can run top two. If she did then we'd certainly look to push onto the Magic Millions with her.”
Friendship leads to The Debut
Trainer Scott Morrisey received a call out of the blue from family friend Scott Bailey asking him to take on Forgotten Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) for the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut at the Gold Coast on Friday. “Scott has been a family friend since Dad (former trainer John Morrisey) was training in Canberra,” Scott Morrisey told racingqueensland.com.au.
“Scott had obviously discussed it with his fellow owners about sending her up to me for one campaign for the Magic Millions as she’ll go back to Andrew (Dale) after this prep. Dad is retired now but he still helps out around the stables and is the last to leave every day.”
Forgotten Spirit as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Her trial win was very good and she wasn’t asked to do much but neither were some of her opponents. She’s fast and is not too bad for a Spirit Of Boom filly. She can be a handful but she can get a bit hot under the collar. That’s why I’ve booked Georgina (Cartwright) as she’s an exceptionally good horsewoman and is laid back and kind to them in the barriers. She used to ride a horse I trained called Tee Amici and he was feral in the gates but Georgina had no trouble dealing with him. Georgina is very patient and has a good way of handling hot horses.”
VRC to close The Club Stand to save money
The Victoria Racing Club will close the $128 million The Club Stand, heralded as a "game-changer" upon completion in 2018, for races on New Year's Day, January 11 and January 18, with members limited to the old Grandstand to save costs. “Thank you for your email regarding the Club Stand for Summer,” the VRC correspondence reads.
“Due to the attendance forecast for members and guests across the race days, it is not financially viable to open all spaces within both the Club Stand and Grandstand. After careful consideration, we have made the decision to open the Grandstand, as it offers the best vantage point for racing.
“Additionally, the Grandstand allows members to bring their own food (not permitted within the Club Stand), and enables us to provide members with an option of an exclusive event in the Committee Room – The Summer Soiree.”
Sedaka sets Tattersalls Online record, bought by Bruce Slade
The 5-year-old broodmare Sedaka (NZ) (Savabeel), offered in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB) on a Southern Hemisphere cover, has been sold for a record 210,000 guineas (AU$443,000) to Kestrel Thoroughbreds’ Bruce Slade on behalf of Nocab Racing, making her the top priced lot in the Tattersalls Online December Sale and the highest priced broodmare ever sold on the platform.
Sedaka (NZ) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“Nocab Racing are building up a very select broodmare band with high-end profiles and Sedaka fit that as a Group performer by a Champion Sire in Savabeel. I have a really healthy respect for Too Darn Hot who’s doing the job in both hemispheres. The mare will stay in Europe with the view to being bred to Too Darn Hot or another Australian compatible UK based sire in 2025 then we’ll look to bring her home from there,” said Slade.
Grand Pierro on track for Bagot
Trainer Jason Warren is hopeful last season's Bagot Handicap placegetter Grand Pierro (Pierro) can go a couple of places better on New Year's Day at Flemington. He runs in the Pakenham Cup on Saturday. “The horse is in great order. He's out to a trip that suits him now and disappointingly he struck a wet track last start and he doesn't appreciate the wet, so he did a really good job to run third. He hit the front and just got nabbed on the line, but it was a great effort,” Warren told racing.com.
Grand Pierro | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He's going well and he's on his way to the Bagot. That's his next target after the Pakenham Cup.”
Another Lofty for Sandhu
Trainer Julius Sandhu is hoping that his 2-year-old colt Lofty Thoughts (Snitzel) can follow in the footsteps of his Group 1 placegetter Lofty Strike, who now stands at Swettenham. “He's one of those horses that I'm optimistically wanting to take him down the path of Lofty Strike and we might kick him off at Headquarters (Flemington), or there's a race about eight or so days before that at Geelong, the Geelong Diamond, there are a couple of races coming up that we've got our eye on,” Sandhu told racing.com.
Julius Sandhu with Lofty Strike | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I often said that Lofty Strike went to Flemington first-up because he was such a mentally strong horse, I'd like to see some progression in this horse from his second jumpout to his third before I can make that call.” Lofty Thoughts was a $200,000 Inglis Classic purchase by Matt Vella Bloodstock from Arrowfield Stud.
OTI buys Derby prospect Golden Century
Trainer Tony Pike will aim 3-year-old gelding Golden Century (NZ) (Pierro) at the G1 NZ Derby for his new owners, and had been due to run on Friday but he drew poorly. “OTI bought the horse in the last 10 days or so and he’s probably unlikely to run from that draw. There’s a lot of racing to come and it’s an awkward gate around Matamata so we’re likely to wait a week or 10 days and run in a nice mile race somewhere and see where we can get to this preparation,” Pike told Loveracing.nz.
Golden Century (NZ) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“They are going to leave him here to see if he is mature enough to get to the Derby and he will head to Australia before or after that, depending how he goes in his next couple of runs. He’s a lovely big, scopey type of horse and is still learning his trade, he’s one of those types that’s given us the feeling that once he gets to 2000m and possibly further, will come right into his own.”
Sharp ‘N’ Smart to kick off summer at Trentham
Group 1 winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) will kick off his summer campaign at Trentham on Saturday. “The first run he struck a real bog track in the Turnbull. He went super in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup where he had 59kg, he had to give a lot of weight away, and he came from last to run third. And things didn’t quite go right in the Cup for him,” co-trainer Graeme Rogerson told Loveracing.nz.
Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“He looks good, and he is back on track. He had a gallop between races at Te Rapa. He is getting ready to go back down on January 11th for the Thorndon Mile and then he will go back to the Herbie Dyke.”
Nice result for Mynott on Wednesday
Trainer Sam Mynott woke from surgery on Wednesday to find her 4-year-old mare Electron (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) had won at Ruakaka. “I missed the race as I was having thumb surgery, so I woke up to the result. It’s the same thumb I’ve had a couple of surgeries on, they’ve fused it this time so hopefully that’s the end of it,” Mynott told Loveracing.nz.
Electron (NZ) winning the Stella Artois | Image courtesy of Therese Davis (Race Images)
“I’ve just watched the race back and Joe got away with it cheaply in front and she looked like she still had a bit left at the line. … When I bought her, I loved her type, I had a horse that I pre-trained for another trainer that ended up winning a few races and I thought they were quite similar. She was quite tricky at the start, but she’s a really sweet and kind mare and she tries very hard, which I think goes a long way.” Electron now has two wins from eight starts and was a NZ$1000 buy on Gavelhouse.
Tassie apprentice out for up to six weeks
Apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone expects to miss 4-6 weeks with a fractured wrist. He fell from I’ve Been Dreaming (Sepoy) on route to the barriers for the third race at Hobart on Sunday, but remounted and rode the horse into third. “I’m waiting on an MRI to see what the extent of the ligament damage is, but there is definitely a fracture to the wrist,” Johnstone told tasracing.com.
Johnstone won on Fast Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) on the last on the card on Sunday with the injury. He had his first ride on Melbourne Cup day this year and has three winners from 28 rides, along with six minor placings.
Griffiths continues without de Kock
Trainer Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock's four-year training partnership ended successfully when Zourain (Zousain) triumphed at The Valley last Friday night and only two runners later, he was a winner as a solo trainer with Divino Cavallo (Pierro) and Harry Coffey scoring at Bendigo on Sunday. “To get a winner on the last day of the partnership and then one on the first day, it was fantastic,” racing manager Corey Smith told racing.com on Wednesday.
Robbie Griffiths, Corey Smith and Mathew de Kock | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We actually thought we were a big chance of two winners - Peace Baby was a little disappointing earlier in the day - but it was still great to grab one straight away. If you look at our recent record, we've got a lot of our horses running really well and finishing seconds and thirds. We've had 14 runners-up in the city this season - it'd be great if a few of them started converting and that's the goal for us going forward.”
Fatalities fall in USA but only at HISA tracks
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) released a third quarter metrics report that shows that the rate of breakdowns at HISA tracks continues to decline. The report covers the period of July 1 to Sept. 30 and marks the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year declines in the equine fatality rate.
The third quarter fatality rate decreased approximately 21% year-over-year, with racetracks operating under HISA's rules reporting 0.93 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts as compared to a rate of 1.18 in the third quarter of 2023.
“The consistent year-over-year declines in the racing-related equine fatality rate are a testament to the dedication and collaboration of all stakeholders in our industry,” said Lazarus in a statement released Tuesday. “As safety and integrity continue to improve, we're reminded that our mission to protect the well-being of horses and riders will preserve the sport for generations to come. There's still more to achieve, but the progress so far is inspiring.”
HISA does not have jurisdiction over racing in a handful of states, including Texas, West Virginia and Louisiana. HISA submitted public disclosure requests for racing-related fatalities in those states and received responses after releasing its own second-quarter results. During the second quarter of 2024, fatalities at racetracks in these non-HISA states amounted to 2.38 racing-related fatalities per 1,000 starts, more than triple the fatality rate at racetracks operating under HISA's rules during the same period, which was 0.76 racing-related fatalities per 1,000 starts.
Zarak share tops Arqana online sale at €800,000
A 1/50th share in the Aga Khan Studs stallion Zarak (Fr) took top billing in the Arqana December Online Sale when going the way of Alex Elliott for €800,000 (AU$1.33 million). Of the 13 stallion shares and breeding rights offered, nine sold for a total of €1,323,000 (AU$2.2 million). A 1/50th share in Haras d'Etreham resident Hello Youmzain (Fr) was the most expensive of the other lots offered at €250,000 (AU$416,000). The Broadhurst Agency's Laurent Benoit was the successful bidder.
Zarak (Fr) | Standing at Aga Khan Studs
Group 1 trainer Rae Guest retires
Rae Guest has announced that he is to cease training in January after 36 years with a licence. The Newmarket trainer told David Milnes of the Racing Post that he has sold his Chestnut Tree Stables to Jack Jones, who has rented some boxes there since he started training in 2022.
Rae Guest | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Now 74, Guest, who is also a former jockey with notable success in Scandinavia, India and Britain, is renowned as a trainer of fillies in particular. He notched his first Group 1 win in the Yorkshire Oaks with My Emma (GB) (Marju {Ire}), who later followed up in the Prix Vermeille. He also trained the Cheveley Park Stakes winner Serious Attitude (Ire) (Mtoto {GB}), while his latest black-type success came with Divina Grace (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), winner of the Listed Chalice Stakes at Newmarket in August.
Advertise moves to Ireland
The treble Group 1-winning sprinter Advertise (Ire) is on the move to Ireland and will stand at Gordon Doyle's Knockmullen House Stud in Co Wexford at a fee of €5,000 (AU$8300) for 2025. The son of Showcasing (GB) remains in the ownership of his former trainer Martyn Meade. He stood initially at the National Stud from 2020 and, for the last two seasons, at Manton Park Stud.
Advertise (Ire) | Standing at Manton Park Stud
“It's a pretty big departure for us to be standing a Flat sire but when a horse like Advertise pops up you can't really say no,” said Doyle. “He is a top-class racehorse with great looks who produces good lookers and has made a great start to his stud career with three group winners in 2024. I am very grateful to Martyn Meade and the team at Manton for the opportunity.”
