Genetic contribution to roaring discovered
New research has pinpointed genes associated with a disease seen as a major contributor to poor performance in Thoroughbred racehorses, University College Dublin (UCD) announced on Tuesday.
Hailed as a breakthrough in combatting the equine performance-limiting disorder Recurrent Laryngeal Neuropathy (RLN)–often referred to as laryngeal hemiplegia or 'roaring'–the discovery will enable the development of a genetic test to identify horses with a three-times higher risk of developing the disease. It currently affects up to 18 per cent of horses by acting on the muscles in their upper airways, resulting in reduced airflow and increased work of breathing during exercise.
Working with a world-leading Thoroughbred racehorse training yard, and with funding from Research Ireland, researchers at UCD and Equinome examined more than 200 horses-in-training. They utilised gold-standard methodologies for diagnosing RLN, including a combined approach of resting and overground exercising upper airway endoscopy, as well as laryngeal ultrasounds.
“Accurately diagnosing disease using gold-standard methodologies is one of the most important factors in a genetic study,” said project lead Lisa Katz, UCD Professor in Equine Internal Medicine. “Following years of intensive veterinary examination of the horses, it is extremely rewarding to see our research come to fruition.
“Understanding the genetic risk of your horse for roaring can help with early intervention and management. This might include monitoring highly predisposed horses more closely and considering surgical interventions at an earlier stage to improve treatment success.”
Juvenile winner for Farnan at Ipswich
Farnan scored his second winner when Impervious won at Ipswich on Wednesday. The 2-year-old filly was on debut for trainer Tony Gollan, and was an $80,000 weanling purchase by Wahha Thoroughbreds from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. She is the first foal of winning mare Northern River (Ad Valorem {USA}), a half-sister to Listed winner Vinco (I Am Invincible) and stakes-placed winner Berimbau (Shamardal {USA}) who is the dam of Champion Sprinter Imperatriz (I Am Invincible).
It’s all for the Vein Girls
Jockey Cejay Graham rides exciting filly Vein Girl (Blue Point {Ire}) in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic for her all-female contingent of owners on Friday night. “If we happened to win I'm not the biggest of celebrators anyway and I've got a full book at Eagle Farm the next day – I'm more someone that moves pretty quickly on to the next challenge,” Graham told racenet.com.au.
Vein Girl | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“This is my first ride in the race and I'm really confident in my filly, she's given me a great feel this week and if anything I think the extra break has done her good. She's a very push-button filly and from barrier six we've got a number of options. The plan last week was to be in and around the top four and I can't see anything changing for Friday.
“The filly is so well-educated and has a real toughness about her. I'm really looking forward to the occasion.”
Luva Flutta hopes for hat-trick in 2YO Classic
Stuart Kendrick’s 2-year-old colt Luva Flutta (Spirit Of Boom) is aiming for a hat-trick of wins in Friday night’s rescheduled R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic. “It wasn’t ideal to have the race postponed as a few of the horses had to travel down and back,” Kendrick told racingqueensland.com.au.
Luva Flutta | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“But it’s an even bunch this year and I expect him to run well. He’s done everything right and has won his last two and has won on a wet track. His work has been very good and he’s very tough. I can’t fault him.”
Extra week to suit Snitzanova
Sandown Guineas winner Snitzanova (Snitzel) hasn't raced since November 30, but trainer Ciaron Maher believes an extra six-day lead up into R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on the Gold Coast on Friday will be an advantage. “I think it will be a benefit to her, she got up to Queensland and it just took her a few days to acclimatise so I think the extra week will do her really well – I think she's thrived actually,” Maher told racenet.com.au.
Snitzanova | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Some (horses) like Snitzanova, I think it will be a benefit, others require regular sort of racing, training and the extra week might be a negative to them because there's nowhere really to work them up there. There's only so much you can do on an artificial track and it's too wet for the grasses. Some it's a benefit, others will be a gallop short.”
Caulfield aims for CF Orr day
Melbourne Racing Club Chairman John Kanga has vowed to have racing back at Caulfield for CF Orr S. Day on February 8. “At the moment we are still under emergency orders from the local council, so we haven't been able to get access to the building other than for restoration works,” Kanga told racing.com.
“As soon as that is handed over and we anticipated that should take about seven days, therefore it wasn't a difficult decision to move the two meetings. The two bars will definitely be out until spring at this stage from what we can tell and that's the safest way to do it to and allow us to rebuild them to get them as good as they were, if not better.
“We will improvise and have some beautiful marquees out the front and temporary installations for our Medallion Bar. What that will mean is getting our members closer to the track, as we anticipate having marquees right up to the fence.”
Wodeton to debut on Saturday
Chris Waller-trained 2-year-old colt Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was secured for $1.6 million by Tom Magnier from Segenhoe Stud’s draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and will make his debut at Randwick on Saturday. “We’ve been in this situation before, with these syndicate horses, he’s no different to any others,” James McDonald told racingnsw.com.au.
Wodeton | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“We want him going there and executing well and running to the best of his ability. And I’m sure he’ll do that. He’s a nice horse, he trialled nicely the other day and in hand. He’s only had one (recent) trial, he’s a lovely horse at the moment and hopefully he can do the job on Saturday. He’s got off to a flying start, Wootton Bassett, and as a sire it can’t be any better to be fair.”
Keeneland dies of colic
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trained 3-year-old Keeneland (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) has died of colic. “He was out in the paddock and showed signs of colic, so we got him in straight away and they did surgery, and they thought it went well initially,” Young told racing.com.
“But he then started to deteriorate so unfortunately, we lost him. He stayed in the clinic, and we thought it was going okay but then had complications and was in too much pain.” Keeneland won two of his six starts including the Listed Super Impose S.
Isthmus set for Royal Ascot
Isthmus (Snitzel) is back in work and will be set for Royal Ascot. “She did really well in her break and she strengthened right up and seemed to move well this morning,” co-trainer Sam Freedman, who trains the mare in partnership with his father Anthony, told racing.com.
Isthmus | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It's form-based, so she obviously needs to measure up the top level over the course of this carnival and if she does, (part-owner) Jonathan Munz is very keen to get her over there (Royal Ascot). We had a chat with Arrowfield (part-owners) in Queensland as well and they are on the same page that if her form warrants it, that certainly she could get a trip over.”
Isthmus won the G3 Begonia Belle S. at her last start in the spring.
Around the Nation: Wednesday’s highlights
Wednesday saw six meetings around Australia. At Geelong 3-year-old gelding Arezzo (Zoustar) won on debut. Trainer Tony Gollan had a treble at Ipswich with 2-year-old filly Impervious (Farnan), 3-year-old filly Love ‘n’ Rockets (Spirit Of Boom), and Able Seaman (Merchant Navy). At Ascot, 3-year-old gelding Snow God (Playing God) won on debut to give his sire a double after 3-year-old filly Precious God won the first on the card.
Super Smink heads east
Dan Morton is preparing 4-year-old mare Super Smink (Super One) for an eastern coast campaign. “Plan A is to target three Group 1 races in Melbourne,” Morton’s racing manager, BJ Ryan, told racingwa.com.au.
“She will kick off in the C.F. Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes at Caulfield and hopefully gain a start in the All-Star Mile at Flemington. If she can’t get to the All-Star Mile there is the G3 Matron S. on the same day.
Super Smink | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“She had a good gallop at Ascot on Saturday and the plan is to get her across a week before the Orr. Dan is well experienced in travelling horses and she goes across at the peak of her powers and in form.”
Wallace keen for another Oaks
Trainer Jim Wallace won the G1 NZ Oaks with Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) two years ago and will run 3-year-old filly Wooing Tree (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) in Saturday’s G3 Desert Gold S. at only her second start. “She is a filly I have got an opinion of,” Wallace told Loveracing.nz.
“Long-term, with her pedigree and the way she is behaving, I would like to get her to the Oaks. She did a few things wrong at the start and over-raced (on debut when fifth). She ran to the line quite well in the last 300 metres, I was quite happy with the way she finished off. Hopefully we can iron out a few of the issues and she will pick it up.
Jim Wallace | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“She has shown us enough to indicate that she is a little bit above average ability, but what is between her ears might not quite measure up to it at this stage. I am just feeling my way as to where we go. I have got her in the race at Wellington, which is well out of her comfort zone, and I have also put her in a mile at Wanganui on Monday. At this stage, I am thinking about going to Wellington."
OTI buy young stayer
OTI Racing have purchased 3-year-old gelding Skippers Canyon (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) who runs in Saturday’s Remutaka Classic over 2100 metres at Trentham. “I have always had a decent opinion of him,” trainer Jim Wallace told Loveracing.nz of the last start winner.
“It has taken a long time for the pennies to drop in the right slots in his head, but he got it all together pretty well last time. He runs for my barn on Saturday and then it will depend what he does as to what happens after that. There is a chance he will stay with me, but that is a decision OTI will make after Saturday.
Skippers Canyon (NZ) | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
“I am absolutely rapt to be taking him down on Saturday because it is a race I have set him for for quite a while and everything has fallen into place so far. It is a good deal for us and hopefully it is a good deal for them (OTI).”
US$700k mare tops Keeneland January Day 2
The Keeneland January of All Ages Sale produced its third US$700,000 (AU$1.3 million) mare when Love to Shop (USA) (Violence {USA}), consigned by Claiborne Farm, brought that co-sale topping bid from Pin Oak Stud on Tuesday.
During the second session of the three-day auction, 242 horses sold for US$10,854,300 (AU$17.4 million). The average was US$44,852 (AU$72,000) and the median was US$20,000 (AU$32,000). With 89 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 26.89 per cent. Through two sessions, 442 head have grossed US$28,941,300 (AU$46.5 million), for an average of US$65,478 (AU$104,000) and a median of US$35,000 (AU$56,400). The two-day buy-back rate stands at 29.39 per cent.
