Vale Arthur Robertson
On Monday, Racing Victoria (RV) and the Victorian Jockeys Association (VJA) acknowledged the passing of 63-year-old former jockey Arthur ‘Scrooge’ Robertson after a battle with illness. Robertson rode over 220 winners and he holds the unique achievement of riding on the flat and over jumps at Victoria’s four metropolitan tracks – Flemington, Caulfield, The Valley and Sandown – a feat no longer possible. His final victory came in the 2020 King Island Cup aboard Frites (Sizzling).
Arthur Robertson | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“On behalf of the entire industry, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Arthur Robertson’s family and friends on the sad news of his passing. Scrooge, as he was known to many, was a popular member of the south-east racing community who dedicated his life to thoroughbred racing on both sides of the Tasman,” said Racing Victoria’s Chief Executive, Aaron Morrison.
Kheir buys share in Leica Lucy
Ozzie Kheir has purchased a share in exciting 3-year-old filly Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) ahead of Saturday’s G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic at Te Rapa. “Ozzie Kheir has joined up with the Crofskeys. I have got her for her next three runs, and she will be transferred to Chris Waller,” trainer Robbie Patterson told Loveracing.nz.
“It is good that Ozzie has got the confidence in me to train her. She is a fantastic filly, and she will be good wherever she ends up. She is only going to get better too. The further she steps up, the better she should get. I am really excited about Saturday at Te Rapa and then the Lowland and Oaks. We will just take one race at a time, but there is a lot to look forward to.”
Leica Lucy (NZ) | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
Leica Lucy has won three of her four starts, with her last two wins both being in Group 3 races. “It (Oaks prizemoney) is a great carrot, that is obviously why she stayed here instead of going straight to Aussie,” Patterson said. “New Zealand racing is on the up and the Australians are noticing and are starting to take advantage of it.”
Queensland floods affect race clubs
As many as 10 race tracks in North Queensland could be affected by recent flooding. “Everything that's happening is obviously very fluid but as of right now we haven't been advised of any loss of horses,” Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott told racenet.com.au.
“I spoke to Townsville Turf Club chairman Geoff Weeks this morning and as you can appreciate everyone's focus is on the preservation of the animals and their homes. Getting information is difficult, which we completely understand. We are continuing to collate information but it looks like between eight to 10 clubs have been affected in some way.
Jason Stott | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
“Our team is ready to get into the area and help where we can but at the moment access is difficult. We are hopeful that by the end of this week that might change and we can get in and assist.”
The meeting at Townsville scheduled for Thursday, February 6 has been abandoned.
Payne to face tribunal over positive test
Trainer Patrick Payne has been charged by Racing Victoria stewards over a positive test for banned substances for Hard To Cross (All Too Hard) when he won in May 2024. “It's a bit of a shock. We are anti-drugs in racing,” Payne told racing.com at the time.
Patrick Payne | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“At the start you are very suspicious of your staff members, feed and all that sort of stuff. But after that you settle down. RV have been very good about it. We will work very closely with them to try and work out where the contamination has come from. I have no idea whatsoever (where it has come from).” A date has yet to be set for the Tribunal.
Right To Party retired
An injury setback has meant Pinecliff Racing’s Right To Party (Zoustar) has been retired. She was being set for Royal Ascot by trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman. The homebred mare was a winner at two, and recently charged into form winning the G3 Aurie’s Star and the G2 Gilgai Stakes this spring before running second in the G1 VRC Sprint Classic.
Rey unlikely to be fully fit when resuming
Trainer Robbie Griffiths has issued a warning that Rey Magnerio (Magnus) won’t be fully fit when resuming in the G2 Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. “He's not 100 per cent, you want to be 100 per cent Newmarket Day, that's his key goal and what he wins on the way through is a bonus,” Griffiths told racing.com.
Robbie Griffiths | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We think he's well and truly forward enough to give us a good run.”
Brilliant start for Newman
Jett Newman, a daughter of former jockey Mitch Newman, had her first race rides - both for trainer Matt Dunn - at Murwillumbah on Sunday, finishing second on Torque Of Dreams (Star Turn) before winning on Without Parallel (Time Test {GB}) at just her second ride. “It was a great way to start. I’ve only been with Matt Dunn at Murwillumbah for a couple of weeks, but it’s been great so far. He’s giving me opportunities and it’s up to me to take advantage of them now,” Newman told racingnsw.com.au.
Newman will ride Guru Class (Spill The Beans) and Foo Fighter (Heroic Valour) at Grafton on Tuesday.
Parnham’s juvenile potential in Perth
Trainer Neville Parnham has yet to win the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic but thinks he has a solid chance with Strideaway (Alabama Express). “She’s quite a nice filly and tall for a baby,” Parnham told racingwa.com.au.
“She has some filling out to do and the best is yet to come. Natural ability wise she’s looking on track for the Magic Millions in a couple of weeks’ time. She’s still learning her trade like all young horses, but I think there is just a lot of natural talent in the horse.”
Neville Parnham | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Strideaway won easily on Saturday to take her record to two wins from four starts. She was a $25,000 purchase by Sunset Reef from Yulong’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale draft.
Around the Nation: Monday’s highlights
Monday enjoyed three meetings with Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich trained 3-year-old gelding Dale (Castelvecchio) making it two wins in succession at Muswellbrook.
James finds another Derby horse
Trainer Roger James has won the G1 NZ Derby six times, most recently with co-trainer Robert Wellwood last year with Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel), and 3-year-old gelding Oceana Dream (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) will head there after keeping his unbeaten record on Saturday. “I thought it was excellent, he was stuck three-wide, he worked everywhere, and he showed tenacity to get to the line,” James told Loveracing.nz on Monday.
Roger James | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“I thought it was a very good run and he’s still learning, there’s a lot of areas for improvement. The Derby is absolutely the main aim for him, probably through the Avondale Guineas.” Bred and raced by Judi and Ron Wanless, Oceana Dream is now two from two.
Lindsay Park’s Here To Shock takes on NZ Group 1
Lindsay Park’s Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) has arrived in New Zealand ahead of Saturday’s G1 BCD Sprint. “He’s all good to go and flew over on Thursday night and arrived safely on Friday morning and is staying with Stephen Marsh,” Ben Hayes, who trains with brothers Will and JD, told Loveracing.nz.
“We were talking with Rob Slade about our options and maybe running him in the Orr or taking him to Sydney and then we looked at New Zealand out of interest. We saw this race and think it’s a very good opportunity for him to add a Group 1 to his CV. He’s in great form and had a lot of success travelling for us already, so we know he travels well.
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I think 1400 metres is really his pet distance, so we’ve worked him out and hopefully he’s in good enough form to be very competitive in the Group 1 in New Zealand. He has been stretched out to a mile a couple of times and run well, but we feel with his racing style and high cruising speed it (the BCD) is the ideal race. It will be quite competitive with Annabel (Neasham) sending one (Bosustow) over and with the New Zealand horses with form it will be a really good race to watch.”
Mr Brightside resumes in G1 CF Orr Stakes
Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will resume in Saturday’s G1 CF Orr Stakes for Lindsay Park. “We are very happy with him and all his work into the race has been great,” Ben Hayes told Loveracing.nz.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“His last trial, just like Here To Shock, was perfect and exactly what we wanted to see so both of them have great chances.”
Tajana set for Group 1 targets
After running second to Return To Conquer (Snitzel) on debut in the G3 Colin Jillings Stakes on Saturday, trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray will set 2-year-old filly Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) for some Group 1 targets. “It was notable in the birdcage that she was clearly the most relaxed and probably looked the least like a 2-year-old. She is our first 2-year-old runner of the season. There were some beautiful, strong animals there and she just looks like she is going to be a better spring 3-year-old,” Ritchie told Loveracing.nz.
“We won’t give her too busy of a campaign this time around, we will probably look for a maiden 2-year-old somewhere, and if she performs in that we might roll the dice at a race like the Sires’ Produce Stakes because she appears like she is looking for 1400 metres already. But she certainly won’t have any more than two races. We see her as a potential 1000 Guineas filly.”
Helene Feeling hopes to add another at Happy Valley
Jockey Harry Bentley will ride last start G3 January Cup winner Helene Feeling (Ire) (Sioux Nation {USA}) at Happy Valley on Wednesday. “I thought he did it well last time considering a horse came out on the bend and made life a little bit difficult for him,” Bentley told scmp.com.
Helene Feeling (Ire) | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“But he really stuck his head out with a light weight [115 pounds] and got the job done. It looks like there’s a bit of pace drawn inside of me, so I’m hoping the race maps pretty nicely and I can slot in just behind the pace and keep it simple. A mile shouldn’t be an issue. I’ve sat on him a few times since and he feels really good, so hopefully he can put in another big performance.”
Tenma gains Kentucky Oaks points
There were no secrets heading into the G3 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita Sunday afternoon. Carded early in the program, the short three-horse field was a headed by a pair of pricey Bob Baffert runners - G1 Del Mar Debutante winner Tenma (USA) (Nyquist {USA}), campaigned by Boama Corp. and Speedway Stables' Cipriani (USA) (Bernardini {USA}), who enjoyed an 8.25l victory in Arcadia last October. When the dust had settled, it was the hotly-backed 2-5 choice Tenma that proved best on the day.
The win earned Tenma 20 additional qualifying points for this year's G1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
