Daily News Wrap

Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale catalogue released

Magic Millions released the catalogue of 455 lots for the 2025 Adelaide Yearling Sale which will be held on Monday 17 and Tuesday March 18 at Morphettville. “Magic Millions is extremely proud of the record of graduates of the Adelaide Yearling Sale,” Managing Director Barry Bowditch said in a press release.

“It is one of the most loved auctions in the country - our vendors and buyers love getting to Morphettville. From graduate success to the famous Adelaide visitor experience - South Australia has a lot to crow about. This is the state's most significant thoroughbred event and economy booster.” Recent graduates include Australia's Royal Ascot heroine Asfoora (Flying Artie), Hong Kong's crack miler Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) and $11.9 million earner Private Eye (Al Maher). The 2024 sale has already seen 2-year-old winners Dushenka (Doubtland), Strideaway (Alabama Express) and Bliss Bomb (Tassort).

Preusker pair for G2 Australia S.

Trainer Paul Preusker will run with Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) and Poison Chalice (NZ) (Savabeel) in Friday night’s G2 Australia S. “I thought it would be a good kick-off, I haven't jumped them out so they will be fresh. They are hardened horses and ready to go around,” Preusker told racing.com.

“I suppose it depends how well (Steparty) goes if we go to an Orr Stakes. His job is to get into a Doncaster but there is a couple of races there like an All-Star Mile he could qualify for.”

Maher’s Blue Diamond pair on track

Ciaron Maher has two horses headed towards the G1 Blue Diamond, being the two fillies Cherish Me (Brazen Beau) and Wiltshire Square (Wootton Bassett {GB}). “Wiltshire Square runs this week, Cherish Me has a jumpout the following Monday and then she heads to the Prelude over 1100m, which will be two weeks before the Blue Diamond,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull told racing.com.

“They're both going really well, they're coming up at the right time and have the runs on the board, so that's all you can ask.”

Derby winner to resume on Saturday

G1 Victoria Derby winner Goldrush Guru (American Pharoah {USA}) will resume in Saturday’s Listed Durbridge S. at Morphettville. “He's ready to go, we're happy with the way he's come up, his little hit-out today was enough to have us happy for Saturday,” trainer Andrew Gluyas told racing.com.

“It just worked out well that the Durbridge was the right option here, it just sets the foundations moving into the C.S. Hayes and then we'll get him to the Australian Guineas - that will be the plan. The Guineas will be the fork in the road, we'll work out a plan from there.”

Randwick Guineas for Public Attention

Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr is keen to see 3-year-old colt Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) resume at the trials on Thursday ahead of his G1 Randwick Guineas aim for the autumn. “He did a wonderful job in his first and only preparation to get right the way through to the Group 1 (Caulfield Guineas),” Kent Jnr told racing.com.

“He was the least experienced horse in that field and I left that day thinking that he would have the most improvement of any horse from that race. He then headed north to spell up at Coolmore's Mt White Farm and he did really well. He's had an exclusive prep at our Rosehill stable and his campaign will be based around the Randwick Guineas.”

Growing Empire has sprint Group 1 aims

Trainer Ciaron Maher sent 3-year-old colt Growing Empire (Zoustar) for a quiet jumpout on Monday and he will be set for Group 1 sprint targets over the autumn. “His straight form is great,” Maher's assistant trainer Jack Turnbull told racenet.com.au.

“He won a Listed race and was very dominant then after a pretty long prep and travelling on the back of The Everest, he ran an admirable race in the Coolmore. We know he's proven at headquarters down the straight so it (the Lightning Stakes) looks a really nice option.” The G1 Lightning S. is on February 15.

Group 1 targets for Traffic Warden

Godolphin’s 3-year-old colt Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}) hasn’t raced since he ran in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. only a few weeks after being scratched at the barrier from The Everest. “He’s a Run To the Rose winner, the quality of horses that have won that race speaks volumes about what class of horse he is,” trainer James Cummings told racingnsw.com.au.

“A narrow second in the Golden Rose is not to be sneezed at either so I wouldn’t underestimate the horse going into the autumn. We can aim high with him and the team remains extremely hopeful he has that big race performance on the right day in him.” He will be aimed at the G1 Galaxy Handicap and G1 TJ Smith S.

Bella Nipotina to miss autumn

The Everest winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) will miss the autumn as she is given more time to recuperate from her big spring. “I had her ticking over but she had a fairly busy year and only had a couple of two week breaks with a fair bit of travelling so we will give her more time,” trainer Ciaron Maher told racenet.com.au.

“She has already done enough. We will give her some time and target the Brisbane winter with her again.” She has won 11 of her 57 starts and over $20 million.

Comedy to resume in Canonbury

Trainer James Cummings will resume spring debutant winning 2-year-old colt Comedy (Snitzel) in the G3 Canonbury S. on February 1, where he will likely run against boom colt Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}). “I think we’ll find out a bit about him because it will be a converging of talented males in a race like that,” Cummings told racingnsw.com.au.

“He’ll go in with improvement but he’s an athletic horse and he’s benefited from plenty of time since a smart debut win. He should be set up for a solid campaign to come.”

Wilkes suspended for kicking a horse

Apprentice jockey Shae Wilkes has been given a four week suspension by Racing NSW stewards for abusing a horse at trackwork. “The details of the charge being that at 6:32am on 20 January 2025 during trackwork at Taree Racecourse, Thoroughbred horse Sigsaly became fractious causing Shae Wilkes to dismount. Ms Wilkes then did engage in improper conduct by holding the reins in her left hand and forcibly kicking Sigsaly with her right foot impacting the near side abdominal area. As a result of the kick Sigsaly spun around and moved backwards.”

The charge relates to rule “AR 228 Conduct detrimental to the interests of racing.” Sigsaly (Churchill {Ire}) is trained by Wilkes’ father Wayne Wilkes.

Around the Nation: Tuesday’s highlights

Tuesday’s racing was restricted to two meetings. At Newcastle, 3-year-old gelding Soo Gold (Sooboog) won on debut, while at Yarra Valley, 3-year-old gelding Tadgh (Brazen Beau) won on debut.

NSW Trainers fundraising for Kavanagh family

The NSW Trainers Association will be holding a fundraising golf day at the Group One Concord Golf Club on Monday March 3 for the family of trainer Sam Kavanagh who sadly lost his life to cancer last month. They are being assisted by the NSW Racehorse Owners Association.

Injured jockey update

Racing NSW issued the following update on injured jockeys Beany Panya and Blake Spriggs who were dislodged from their mounts when they fell rounding the home turn in Race 6 at Moruya on Friday January 17.

“(Update at 10:35am on Tuesday 21th January): Beany Panya’s post spine fixation has been stable. She is experiencing some ongoing back pain however the neurosurgery team are happy with her progress.

Blake Spriggs has been settled overnight. He is still intubated in ICU however hoping to extubate today with pain management. His surgery went well with his clavicle and forearm yesterday.”

Panya’s sister Deanne provided further information. “Her partner Maddie and friends are with her and she took a few steps and walked about 15m on Monday,” Panya told racenet.com.au.

“She wants to go home already but is in good spirits. There were fractures to her T6 and T7 and she got a rods and four screws but no brace. They will monitor her and give her time to rest. She is going to be in there for another couple of days still.”

World Pool for Karaka Millions raceday

The World Pool will operate at Ellerslie on Saturday for three races; the G1 Sistema Railway, R-Listed Karaka Millions 2YO, and R-Listed Karaka Millions 3YO. “World Pool is a concept from the Hong Kong Jockey Club where they bring together various tote pools from 25 jurisdictions around the world into one single pool,” Cameron Rodger, managing director of Entain NZ told Loveracing.nz.

“Usually, punters here are betting into a pool that is New Zealand and maybe a bit of Australian money. On Karaka Millions night, for those World Pool races there is going to be the ability to bet into the same pool as 25 other jurisdictions around the world. That will increase the liquidity and amount of money in there and give better stability to punters.

“It’s massive, just not for the punter, who get access to the liquidity, but I think it is a vote of confidence for the state of New Zealand racing. World Pool doesn’t go anywhere unless there is quality racing.”

Abbakiss settled in for crack at Karaka Millions

Trainer Bryce Newman has 2-year-old filly Abbakiss (Microphone) ready for Saturday’s R-Listed Karaka Millions 2YO. “It’s always in the back of your mind, it’s pretty exciting to get to a race like that, but we’ve said all the way through that it wasn’t the be all and end all, she’s a lovely filly that we think will train on,” he said.

“After the run at Wellington, where she got caught three-wide no cover and had the tenacity to go down by such a short margin, it gave us the confidence that we should have a go in Auckland.

“It’s what you always hope to do, we race a lot of homebreds and only buy one or two a year, but as soon as Michelle and I saw this filly at the sales, we fell in love with her straight away. Our son Jack is big into pedigrees and he gave her the big tick in saying she’ll go pretty early, so it was nice that she fitted into our budget and we could afford a filly of her quality.

“She’s moved up north this week, she’s happily settled in Cambridge at Chad Ormsby’s place. We’re just happy to be at Karaka and to have a horse good enough to represent us in a race like that.” Abbakiss has won one of her four starts, and was second last start in the Listed Wellesley S. She was purchased by Newman’s Raumai Bloodstock for NZ$60,000 from Carlaw Park’s draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Kiwi jockey Myers to compete in Saudi Arabia

New Zealand jockey Kelly Myers has been invited to compete among the world’s best in the International Jockey’s Challenge (IJC) in Saudi Arabia on February 21 at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. “You look at some of the names that are competing, there are some very good jockeys and big international names, so I’m honoured to be chosen to ride against them,” Myers told Loveracing.nz.

“I remember Spratty (Sam Spratt) talking about it a couple of years ago when she went, that was long before I even thought about coming back riding. I thought it was awesome back then, so now fast forward to two years later and it’s me going, I wouldn’t ever have thought that would happen.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting the likes of Hollie Doyle, and it’ll be good to see James (McDonald) there.”

With minutes to spare, McDonald’s tight weekend

If jockey James McDonald plans to ride Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Saudi Cup, then Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) in the G1 Gold Cup in Hong Kong the following day, his transport will have to be perfect. One option, reported scmp.com, is a private plan at a cost of about HK$1 million (AU$200,000), while the other is much tricker.

The G1 Saudi Cup is on February 22 at 8.40pm local time, and there is a direct flight from Riyadh leaving just after midnight. It arrives in Hong Kong in the early afternoon (1.40pm Hong Kong time), meaning McDonald would need permission from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to arrive mid-meeting. And he’d need to hope that Voyage Bubble’s G1 Gold Cup is run late enough in the program that he has time to disembark and get from the airport to Sha Tin.

Ramadan not ready for Classic Mile

Trainer Mark Newnham won’t be taking last start Group 1 runner Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) to next week’s Classic Mile, but he does have two other options. “Ramadan is just not ready. We’ve only had restricted access to him up until the last couple of weeks because he had to quarantine after the internationals, so I haven’t rushed him. He’s still acclimatising,” Newnham told scmp.com. Ramadan is a Group 2 winner in France, and was 14th in his only Hong Kong start to date, the G1 Hong Kong Mile. He was a €1.5 million (AU$2.5 million) purchase at the 2024 Arqana Saint Cloud Vente d’Arc sale by Lion Rock Bloodstock.

Both My Wish (Flying Artie) and Talents Ambition (Into Mischief {USA}) look like making the field. “My Wish has never run poorly. Every race he’s run in he’s been very competitive – if he hasn’t won he’s been thereabouts. He was a little bit unlucky at his last start but that was his first attempt at a mile and he was strong at the line and strong through the line. He trialled to his usual standard this morning.

“In his last run on the turf [in May last year], Talents Ambition ran second over a mile in Class Four and he was a bit immature. He’s had a suitable programme on the dirt so far this season, including this coming Sunday, but every indication is that he will still run well on the turf.”

Qatar Trophy entries led by Rebel Romance

Godolphin's seven-time Group 1 winner and defending champion Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) heads a stellar international entry for Qatar's H.H. Amir Trophy, which is scheduled to be run over 2400 metres at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Doha on Saturday, February 15.

The William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai), last seen filling the runner-up spot in the G1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December, is another previous Group 1 winner in contention, along with Alban de Mieulle's local contender Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), who won the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin when trained in France by Stephane Wattel. The G1 Hopeful Stakes winner Killer Ability (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) leads the potential Japanese challenge, while his compatriot, Satono Glanz (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}), could attempt to improve on his third-place finish in last year's renewal.

Kentucky against Florida decoupling

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) is the latest organisation to come out in opposition to the recent decoupling proposal in the state of Florida that could result in the cessation of racing at Gulfstream Park.

At one point in time, Florida mandated that its racetrack conduct live racing operations in order to run a casino. Since those original regulations were eased, many tracks have suspended racing while continuing to run a casino.

“Tracks and horsemen can forge a common and successful business strategy that need not be adversarial. Such collaboration brings dividends in Washington, Frankfort, Albany, or Tallahassee. Racing in the twenty-first century has shown it is a responsible custodian of alternative forms of gaming and attract billions of dollars of investment equally, to the betterment of our constituents, corporate profit, and tax revenue. We in Kentucky know what it looks like. 'Decoupling' is not it,” said the statement.