Warwick Farm trials postponed
The highly anticipated public return of the likes of Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), Fangirl (Sebring), Switzerland (Snitzel) and many other of the autumns Group 1 prospects has been delayed until Monday with the trials at Warwick Farm on Thursday postponed until Monday after the track received 44ml of rain in a storm overnight.
Tabcorp make key appointment
Tabcorp have appointed prominent Hong Kong Racing Club executive Michael Fitzsimons as the organisation's new chief wagering officer. “Michael Fitzsimons brings extensive global sports betting experience to Tabcorp,” Tabcorp chief executive Gillon McLachlan told racenet.com.au.
Michael Fitzsimons | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He has a deep knowledge of international sports betting, trading and tote. Michael is a rare find – he knows digital and retail wagering and is one of the few people in the world who can connect both to grow a wagering product.”
Sanctified under test for Inglis Millennium
Co-trainer Gerald Ryan will set debutant 2-year-old colt Sanctified (NZ) (Super Seth) for the R. Listed Inglis Millennium after he runs on Saturday at Rosehill. “You never know until you race them, but he has shown nice ability, and he is probably not a natural running 2-year-old,” Ryan told racenet.com.au.
“He will get better as he gets a bit older but that's an old cliche. I think he should be competitive. If he runs well on Saturday, he gets in the Inglis Millennium and that will be his next start.”
The stable scratched Blitzburg (Snitzel) from the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic after he was the second emergency, and he will go to the G3 Canonbury S. on February 1 instead.
Blue Diamond target for The Autumn Sun colt
Young Mornington-based trainer Rory Hunter worked as a foreman for Mick Price at Caulfield when star gallopers Samaready (More Than Ready {USA}), Extreme Choice, and Flying Artie were in the stable and now he has an emerging G1 Blue Diamond S. prospect in 2-year-old colt Autumn Mystery (The Autumn Sun) who will have his second start on Saturday at Flemington. “He was great at Mornington,” Hunter told racing.com about his debut third placing.
Autumn Mystery as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
“His last 200 and 400 metres ended up being the quickest of the day, so it was a really impressive effort at his first start, and we think there is a lot more to come. For now, he's handling everything like a dream and always putting his hand up for the next challenge.
“We've paid up for the second acceptances into the Blue Diamond, so that's still there if he was to run well on Saturday. If not, I still think we've got a nice horse heading into the late autumn and then spring.”
Cheap Douglas filly debuts at Flemington
Trainer Clayton Douglas will head to Flemington on Saturday with debutant 2-year-old filly No Limitation (Exceedance). “I trialled her last time and she trialled quite good, she's shown me quite a lot of ability at home. I just kept hold of her the other day and thought she had heaps left underneath her,” Douglas told racing.com.
“She's not an overly big filly, she's only a little thing but she's quite a natural. We're going to the races with a bit of confidence she can run really well. First time up the straight you never know, but she's got a good brain, so I think she'll cope fine, she'll run really well, she's in it right to her ears for sure.”
B Griffiths purchased the filly from Vinery Stud’s Inglis Scone Yearling Sale draft for $34,000.
Unbeaten Gilded Water set for Rosehill
Unbeaten in two starts in Australia, import Gilded Water (GB) (Fastnet Rock) will run on Saturday at Rosehill as he heads towards the G1 Sydney Cup. “My first impression was it’s a lot of weight, but this is his third time in (BM)78 grade and I liked the way he improved last start,” jockey Jason Collett told racingnsw.com.au.
Gilded Water (GB) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“There’s the possibility that he’s improved again. I don’t think 78 grade will be his ceiling. And the prospect of a wet track unfolding will be good. He felt like a stayer and didn’t feel that sharp. He got his head in front that day. I was pleased to see there was a turn of foot over 2400 metres last start, that was good to see, he put them away so easily.”
Stakes class Shohisha looking for second win
Trainer David Payne thought enough of 3-year-old filly Shohisha (Supido) to run her in the G2 Furious S. at only her second start. At her most recent outing, she ran second in the Listed Gosford Guineas and returns to slightly easier class on Saturday at Rosehill. “She hasn’t furnished out yet and once she really gets strong, she’s going to get smart because she’s shown the ability already,” Payne told racingnsw.com.au.
“If I’m right about how good she is I think she will be a good filly later on. We’ve got to look after her, if you do that, they reward you later. I just want to give her another run after this and put her in the paddock again, she’s still immature. We’ll look at a black type race in February and put her in the paddock after that.” She is a winner and stakes-placed from three starts.
Around the Nation: Thursday’s highlights
With Kembla Grange called off due to wet weather, there were four remaining meetings across Australia on Thursday. At Seymour, 2-year-old filly Bliss Bomb (Tassort) won at her second start for trainers Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans, who have Invincible Woman (I Am Invincible) in Friday night’s R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Under a ride from Zac Spain, she won by 1.5l from gelding Prince Marionette (Royal Meeting {Ire}) and gelding Tom (Doubtland).
Seymour also saw 3-year-old filly Scillato (American Pharoah {USA}) win on debut, while 3-year-old filly Becca (Better Than Ready) made it two from two at Beaudesert. At Bunbury, jockey Clint Johnston-Porter rode a treble on 3-year-old filly Shoot To Fame (Shooting To Win), Manzor Magic (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), and Essentric Nature (NZ) (Savabeel).
Savabeel to be inducted into NZ Racing Hall Of Fame
Savabeel will join his sire Zabeel (NZ) and grandsire Sir Tristram (Ire) in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame when he is inducted there in May. Up until his 2022 crop comprising a total of 1752 foals, 1346 have raced and 988 are the winners to date of 3118 races. Of those 148 are stakes winners, 99 of them are Group winners and his 35 Group 1 winners have won a total of 58 races at that level.
Savabeel | Standing at Waikato Stud
“He’s ticking over at around a dozen stakes winners per season, so with decent numbers still coming through there’s a good chance he can break Zabeel’s record for individual stakes winners,” Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick told Loveracing.nz. “How ever you measure his achievements, Savabeel has done a phenomenal job for us and everyone who has supported him – for the whole breeding industry in fact, it would be fair to say.”
Designs On Rome dies
On Thursday evening, Living Legends announced the death of retired champion Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Winner of 11 of his 37 starts, he was the Hong Kong Horse Of The Year in 2013/14.
A winner at two in Ireland, Designs On Rome moved to Hong Kong at three. He won two of the three legs of the 4-year-old Classic series including the Listed Hong Kong Derby, and went on to add the G1 HKJC Queen Elizabeth II Cup, G1 Hong Kong Cup, and won the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup twice.
Purton double puts him only four away from record
Jockey Zac Purton rode another double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night to put him within three wins of equalling Douglas Whyte’s all-time Hong Kong win record of 1813. Purton won on Kasa Papa (NZ) (Savabeel) and Bottomuptogether (Shamus Award). “He’s a nice horse, he always gives his best,” Purton told scmp.com about Bottomuptogether who now has four wins from eight starts.
All eyes will be on Sha Tin on Sunday with an 11 race card including the G1 Stewards’ Cup and G1 Centenary Sprint Cup.
McDonald hits Hong Kong on Sunday
Jockey James McDonald will return to Hong Kong to ride Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) in the G1 Stewards’ Cup and Howdeepisyourlove (Deep Field) in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup on Sunday at Sha Tin. “He’s a ripping horse and he’s an absolute dude to ride,” McDonald told scmp.com about Voyage Bubble.
James McDonald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s trialled well after his great performance international week and he’ll be tough to beat again. Patch Of Theta is doing a good job and is rising through the ranks really quickly. Galaxy Patch is a really good horse in his own right and seems to be getting better and better. Beauty Eternal’s found a little bit more form than he had probably two months ago. It’s definitely no pushover, but my horse is very consistent and he’s very reliable. He never really runs a bad race.”
Saudi Arabia next for McDonald
Recently-crowned Longines World's Best Jockey James McDonald has been confirmed in the line-up for the 2025 International Jockeys' Challenge (IJC) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Friday, February 21. It will mark the first time the globetrotting New Zealander, who has ridden 106 Group 1 winners in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Britain and Japan, has competed in Saudi Arabia.
McDonald's participation in the IJC will also give him valuable experience of the Riyadh track, the day before bidding for glory aboard Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the world's richest race, the US$20 million (AU$32 million) G1 Saudi Cup.
Keeneland January sale concludes on par
The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale concluded its three-day run Wednesday in Lexington with figures largely in line with its four-day 2024 edition. Through three days, 685 head grossed US$33,444,900 (AU$54.7 million) for an average of US$48,825 (AU$78,500) and a median of US$22,000 (AU$35,000). The average increased 6 per cent and the median rose 47 per cent from last year's four-day sale when 831 horses grossed US$38,330,300 (AU$61 million) for an average of US$46,126 (AU$74,000) and a median of US$15,000 (AU$24,000). The buy-back rate was 26.34 per cent this year compared to 22.84 per cent a year ago.
The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale | Images courtesy of Keeneland
“I think it was a good sale,” said Keeneland's Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “I think we have to look at it in the context of the different format. So if you look at the through-the-ring numbers from last year's four days to this year's three days, we had a much higher median. It was just $22,000 from $15,000, but significant, showing the lower end of the market had some substance to it. The RNA rate was a tick up. The average was up a tick. We offered about 14% fewer horses and we are down 14% on gross. So really things were in step with last year.”
Racing in Florida at risk under new legislation
The Stronach Group (TSG) has told Florida industry stakeholders they can guarantee racing at Gulfstream Park only through 2028 if a proposed bill to decouple Thoroughbred horseracing from casino licenses passes the state legislature.
In a closed-door meeting with the Florida horsemen and women Wednesday morning—a recording of which was obtained by TDN—Keith Brackpool, a former TSG executive now reportedly working in an advisory capacity for the company, also warned that “if there's no decoupling, then there's no guarantee of when we will continue to race,” according to the recording.
“There are no racetracks in highly coveted developed urban areas,” Brackpool said at one point on the recording, discussing the long-term future for the racetrack.
“You're looking at land here worth several million dollars an acre. And the reality is, nobody can continue to race on land that is worth several million dollars an acre without appropriate redevelopment, at the very least, surrounding the horseracing property.”
