David Ellis inducted into NZ Racing Hall Of Fame
More than four decades after his first experience as a winning owner, David Ellis has been recognised with induction to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. “I was in my early twenties when I won that race at Paeroa all those years ago, and I thought it was the biggest thrill you could have in life,” Ellis told Loveracing.nz.
“My trainer Bill Ford came with me into the winner’s room, but he had another horse in the next race that he had to saddle up and I ended up celebrating my first ever win by myself. That made me think there’s got to be a better way to do this, I realised that I’d rather celebrate together with other people, and that was the beginning of my idea to syndicate horses, bringing people together to enjoy the thrill of winning.”
“There are so many people who without them, I couldn’t have achieved all this. Karyn runs the business now, which frees me up to run the farm and buy the horses. Mark and have worked together over a long period of time, it’s been a fantastic relationship and he now heads a massive team, from his training partner Sam Bergerson, our assistant trainers Ben Gleeson, Nicole Shailer and Hunter Durrant and our racing manager Reece Trumper, right through to all our staff, our vets and farriers, everybody who works so hard to achieve our goals.
David Ellis | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“It’s quite incredible to think that when Captured By Love won the New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton last month, that was the 98th Group 1 winner by horses that I’ve either bought, bred or managed under the Te Akau umbrella.
“Any award, whether you’re recognised by your peers or by a higher body, is very humbling and this is certainly no different. It’s an absolute honour to think that I’m being acknowledged alongside people who I have admired massively over the years – people like my great late friend Colin Jillings, other hugely successful trainers like Dave O’Sullivan and Jim Gibbs, and industry icons such as Sir Patrick Hogan and Sir Peter Vela. I’ve also been very lucky to be able to seek the advice of people like Joe Walls and Marcus Corban as we do our inspections and sale selections. It’s always exciting, I love going round the farms then to the sales and bringing a new crop of young horses into our system.”
McDonald announced as finalist for NZ Sportsperson of the Year
Jockey James McDonald has been announced as a finalist for the New Zealand ISPS HANDA Halberg Sportsman of the Year. “It is a significant day for racing to be recognised alongside our country’s best athletes at our premier sporting awards,” New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Bruce Sharrock told Loveracing.nz.
James McDonald | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“James is a genuine World Champion, and we are all proud of what he has achieved on the track as an ambassador for both racing in New Zealand and across the globe.” The eight finalists are Olympic Gold medallists Hamish Kerr (athletics-field) and Finn Butcher (canoe slalom), Hayden Wilde (triathlon), Chris Wood (football), Ben Richards (snow sports), Fergus Eadie (surf lifesaving), Rocco Jamieson (snow sports), and James McDonald (horse racing), with the winner also eligible for the Supreme Halberg Award. The winners will be announced during a prestigious black-tie evening at Spark Arena, Auckland, on Tuesday February 18, 2025.
Vale Gavin Kelly
The South Australian racing community is mourning the loss of Group 1-winning trainer Gavin Kelly. “We were great mates, he was a gifted horseman and gifted trainer,” close friend, former top jockey and now leading Adelaide trainer Jon O’Connor told racingsa.com.au.
“He worked for Mick when Rain Lover won his two Melbourne Cups and then went across to Joe Hall. I was back in Melbourne and he called me and said Joe needed a 3kg kid in Adelaide and was behind my return.
“He had a lot of nice horses, had a great strike-rate. He also had a couple of overseas stints as a trainer.” His best winner was Redding (NZ) (Nassipour {USA} who won the 1992 G1 Victorian Derby.
Cuddles ineligibility might upset the apple cart
The training partnership of Kylie Geran and son Corey will run 2-year-old filly Cuddles For Kimmy (Spirit Of Boom) in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday and hope to collect the biggest share of the prizemoney. The filly was not paid up for the Magic Millions after being passed in as a yearling and is ineligible for next month’s R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast.
“It was a very heavy track that day for the Phelan Ready but she ran a great race,” Corey Geran told racingqueensland.com.au. “She’s got black-type now which we were chasing and she pulled up in great order after the Phelan Ready and had a few days out in the paddock.
Cuddles For Kimmy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“She should race well again and we’ll just continue chasing good QTIS prizemoney with her for the time being. It’s unfortunate she wasn’t paid up for the Magic Millions. It’s a very tricky race with a lot of southerners coming up but I feel the local Hi Barbie is the one to beat again. Hi Barbie was very impressive against us last time and looks our biggest threat again.”
Jockey Duric to be based in Queensland
Jockey Vlad Duric will base himself in Queensland for the early part of 2025. “Obviously with the carnival coming up, I am hoping to pick up some nice rides and see if we can make an impact. I am looking forward to dipping my toe into it and hopefully I can get a winner,” Duric told racingqueensland.com.au.
Duric has returned from Singapore where he won over 700 races. “The Singapore climate is very similar to the Brisbane climate, so the warm weather helps. Also, the fact that we only ride two or three days a week in Brisbane – that suits me. Sydney and Melbourne are quite gruelling riding sometimes seven days a week.
Vlad Duric | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“With my body the way it is as I get a bit older, that workload was probably not going to suit me. I sort of always had Brisbane in the back of my mind for quite a few years, post Singapore, and I am quite enjoying it so far.
“Singapore was life changing for me and my family as my girls did a lot of their schooling there. My wife and I loved living in the city, we were there for over a decade. I went there with the thoughts of hoping to pay my farm off in Victoria, I thought we would stay for two or three years and knock the mortgage off – that was the goal. It ended up being over 10 years in the end and it was amazing being able to win championships and most of their feature races. It was amazing period of my riding career and something I really do cherish.”
Half to Bodyguard wins trial at first outing
Derivative (Capitalist), half-brother to G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g) winner Bodyguard (I Am Invincible), will have delighted his trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young on Thursday morning with a debut trial win at Warwick Farm. The 2-year-old colt shot home ahead of Aligned (Russian Revolution) for a 0.96l win in the second juvenile heat of the morning.
Busuttin Racing acquired Derivative at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale this year for $300,000, where he was offered by breeder Emirates Park. His $1 million yearling purchase brother and himself are grandsons of G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Mossfun (Mossman), dam of G3 Festival S. victor Dajraan (GB) (Frankel {Ire}). Dam Tumooh (Fastnet Rock) has missed both seasons since, having visited Tassort, I Am Invincible, and Justify (USA). She visited Tassort again last month.
Tricolours look to repeat McLachlan win
Tricolours Racing and Tulloch Lodge will be looking for their G3 BJ McLachlan S. win at Eagle Farm on Saturday. They won in 2022 with The Novelist (Written By) and this year have The Playwright (Written By). “The Novelist won it at his second career start and was well on his way to the Magic Millions, he was about $7 in the market for the big race, but unfortunately got injured not long after the BJ McLachlan and he's had a chequered history with injury since,” Tricolours director James Moss told racingqueensland.com.au.
The Playwright as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Hopefully, this year, we can go one better with The Playwright for another full-female syndicate. Hopefully on Saturday she's not only winning, but she comes through it well, and the ladies get there on the big day.”
Arabian Summer to resume on Friday
Jockey Harry Coffey is making a hit-and-run trip to the Gold Coast to ride Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in Friday night’s 3-Year-Old Plate which will be her lead up to the Magic Millions Sunlight. “She's been good to me, a good filly,” Coffey told racingqueensland.com.au.
“We've had a bit of fun and because of her placement, with what the team have done, she's been very rewarding as well. I was down to ride her in the Quezette, and not that I came back quick, but I got really stuck into my physio with my wrist to come back and get back on her.
Arabian Summer | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I trialled her before the Quezette and she trialled up like a rocket but then got scratched with a foot problem that just persisted, and it got to the stage where there was more reward to stop, wait, freshen and then prepare her for the Gold Coast.” Arabian Summer won three of her six starts at two but hasn’t raced since winning the inaugural Magic Millions National 2YO Classic.
Homebred The Bear for McLachlan
Trainer Sharryn Livingstone nearly won the G3 BJ McLachlan S. two years ago with Thelwell (Bel Esprit), and this year has 2-year-old gelding The Bear (Vancouver) as a contender. “It was one of the best days of my life when we ran second in this race. I have had good times with all of my horses but Thelwell running second that day was pretty exciting,” Livingstone told racenet.com.au.
“We were very surprised when (The Bear) won (at the Sunshine Coast) because he flies under the radar and doesn't really do any more than he has to. He has so much to improve on, he is so dopey. The guys have big plans for him outside of Magics, but at the end of the day, he is going to do whatever he is going to do.
“He will improve on his last start because he has always shown us that he improves on whatever he does. We can't expect miracles from him, but it will be good to sit and watch to see what he can do.” The Bear is not eligible for the Magic Millions race series as he didn’t go through a sale.
Friday night’s The Debut is a guessing game
Trainer Kris Lees will run 2-year-old filly Wollzeile (Tassort) in the Magic Millions The Debut at the Gold Coast on Friday night. “I can't line it up, I have gone and watched the trials and I haven't seen anything that has won by a big space,” Lees told racenet.com.au.
“It all comes down to who has taken the most improvement out of the trial really. It is hard to line up Queensland trial form with Sydney trial form and provincial trials. She (Wollzeile) probably has the inferior trial coming out of the provincial trials really.
Wollzeile as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Our filly drawing a soft gate is an advantage for 2-year-olds and this track is still new so there will probably be an advantage to get forward on the fence, so hopefully we can land there. Her trial would suggest that she would need to have improved, but I think she has done that.”
Wide gate no issue for Supernova favourite
Ciaron Maher’s team aren’t worried about drawing gate 12 for Supernova favourite Nadal (Xtravagant {NZ}). “He’s going to have to go back anyway from going up in trip and that draw; definitely he will have to take his time, which will probably suit him because there will be a bit of speed on, so we’ll ride for luck,” stable representative Adrian Joyce told racing.com.
Nadal | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
He won The Meteorite last start. “He was impressive, he pulled up out of the run really well and he’s all systems go for Saturday.”
Around The Nation: Thursday’s highlights
Jockey Beau Mertens rode a treble at Seymour on Thursday aboard 3-year-old filly Makamae (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), Mohnar (Grunt {NZ}), and 3-year-old gelding Mr Verse (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Chris Waller trained 3-year-old colt Lough Eske (I Am Invincible) won on debut at Newcastle and he was a $1.3 million purchase by Yulong from Widden Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Mali Ston aiming for more Group 1 runs
Darryn and Briar Weatherley-trained Mali Ston (NZ) (El Roca) will be aimed at Group 1 company if he performs in Friday’s Listed Matamata Cup. “If he goes a creditable race on Friday then we’ll put him on the float and go back to Wellington and try and win the Thorndon (Mile),” Darryn Weatherley told Loveracing.nz.
Briar and Darryn Weatherley | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
“He’s got topweight and the outside gate, but he has been running in some pretty decent races and stronger than what he strikes on Friday. He’s been racing well and it would be nice to kick a goal on our home track. He is very bright, his work has been super and it looks a nice race for him.”
Te Akau want home cup
Te Akau trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are keen to add their home cup, the Listed Matamata Cup on Friday, and will run Midnight Blue (So You Think {NZ}) and in-form mare My Lips are Sealed (NZ) (Ace High). “You would love to win your hometown Cup,” Bergerson told Loveracing.nz.
“Midnight Blue has travelled over from Australia in fantastic order. I thought his run at Ellerslie, his first time out in New Zealand, was very good. On the corner he looked the winner, he just wobbled a bit late. As an 8-year-old, it was his first race or trial right-handed. So back left-handed at Matamata, on his home track, we are confident he will give a really good sight.
Sam Bergerson | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“He has got a positive racing pattern, so he will be in the first three or four hopefully and from that barrier (10) we will look to be positive. He seems in really good form and is enjoying the New Zealand lifestyle. He is out in a paddock every day and he seems to be really thriving around the stable.
“My Lips Are Sealed had a really good spring. We tried to get her to the Wanganui Cup, but she had a bit of a foot niggle, so we had to back off and gave her a quiet trial in-between times. A mile on her home track with a very nice, light weight (53kg) with a soft draw (2) (is ideal), and she is in good form.”
Devonport Cup ballot free race
Trainer Glenn Stevenson will ramp up his attempt to win a second consecutive Devonport Cup with three runners chasing a “free pass” into the race by winning the $50,000 Kevin Sharkie Sheffield Cup on Friday. The three are led by last year’s winner Ashy Boy (Star Witness). “He’s actually bucking his brand off, and we’re really happy with where he is so hopefully this will finish him right off for the Cup,” Stevenson told tasracing.com.au.
His other two runners on Friday are First Accused (Turffontein) and Asva (NZ) (Capitalist). “Asva has got as bit of ability; he’s galloped good at the track so a throw at the stumps and if he happens to go well we will keep pushing on.”
The blinkers will go on First Accused. “I’ve got to try and change things around. He looks like he presents and wants to win a race, he’s not really hitting the line so we’ve changed jockeys and tracks and I just thought going to the mile I just didn’t want him going too keen in front.”
Beaten favourite to improve on Sunday
Trainer Dennis Yip believes Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}), who was beaten into fourth last start as a $1.30 favourite, can improve at Sha Tin on Sunday. “Last week he was unlucky. As he jumped out the gate, he was squeezed by the other horses and had to go back,” Yip told scmp.com.
“I would have preferred if he could sit in fourth or fifth, but after that he had to go back. Although that happened, he ran on well and I was happy with him, so let’s see how Sunday goes. It’s his first time over 1200 metres so the draw is very important, but I don’t think the distance will be a problem at all.”
Ton for Ferraris in Hong Kong
Luke Ferraris secured his 100th win in Hong Kong on Wednesday evening thanks to a double, picking up win 99 on Benno Yung-trained Excellent Daddy (Toorak Toff) and his ton on Mark Newnham-trained Mojave Desert (I Am Invincible). “It feels good. Going back to being a kid, watching the racing here, to participating in it and riding a century here, it feels great,” Ferraris told scmp.com.
Luke Ferraris | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“Credit to Mark. He’s really supported me throughout the season so far and very pleased to ride the 100th on one of his horses. I’m delighted and hopefully things can just keep ticking over the way they are.”
John Dance charged with fraud
Racehorse owner John Dance has been charged with nine criminal offences in “one of the most serious and largest frauds ever investigated” by the UK's financial regulator. Dance is accused by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of transferring more than £64 million (AU$129 million) from client accounts of a wealth management firm to fund his “lavish lifestyle” and business interests between 2014 and 2023.
The 50-year-old was principal partner at WealthTek LLP, formerly known as Vertem Asset Management LLP, a prominent sponsor within racing. He also owned the multiple Group 1 winner Laurens (Fr) and previously co-owned Bravemansgame (Fr), the runner-up in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Therese Chambers, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said, “This is one of the most serious and largest frauds we have ever investigated. We allege that over a period of many years Mr Dance diverted millions of client funds for his own benefit, telling lies and forging documents to cover his tracks.
“We know this has been a worrying time for people who had their investments caught up in WealthTek and we have tried to keep everyone updated as best we can, given the criminal nature of the offences under investigation. We're pleased that clients are now seeing their assets returned.”
415 graded races in America in 2025
The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association presented its listing of U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes Races for calendar year 2025, the results of its annual grading session conducted on December 16 and 17.
The committee reviewed 957 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least US$75,000 (AU$120,000), and assigned graded status to 415 of them, 14 fewer than were graded in 2024, and listed status to 210 races.
Four graded races were upgraded; one new Grade 1 and three new Grade 2 races were named; nine new Grade 3 races were identified. Twelve new Listed races and one new Listed-Restricted race were upgraded from non-Listed Black Type (NLBT) status.
One race was upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status for 2025: the American Turf S. at Churchill Downs. Additionally, one race was downgraded from Grade 1 to Grade 2 status for 2025: the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. at Saratoga.
New 3-year-old filly series targets Kentucky Oaks
1/ST, the ownership group behind Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park, is partnering with auction company Fasig-Tipton, who will be their title sponsor for the new Fasig-Tipton 3-Year-Old Filly Series, the company said in a press release on Wednesday.
The collaboration will spotlight the G2 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks and the G2 Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks, which are the final preps at both tracks for the G1 Kentucky Oaks.
“We're excited to highlight the fillies on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and Black-Eyed Susan with the support of Fasig-Tipton, a longstanding partner of 1/ST, said 1/ST President Aidan Butler. “We look forward to launching this new initiative together.”
“Fasig-Tipton is proud to partner with 1/ST to sponsor the 3-Year-Old Filly Series at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park on the road to the Kentucky Oaks,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “Many of the sport's top female racehorses have made their first steps towards greatness during these prestigious races. Fasig-Tipton prides itself on having sold many of the great female champions in American racing–at both the beginning of their careers as yearlings and 2-year-olds–as well as at the conclusion of their racing days at our marquee November Sale. We are pleased to further our association with top racing females through the sponsorship of these important series coast-to-coast.”
