Daily News Wrap

Hoad joins Racing Victoria

Racing Victoria announced on Thursday the appointment of Andy Hoad to the revamped position of Executive General Manager (EGM) – Media, Content and Marketing. “We’re delighted to welcome Andy Hoad to RV. He boasts a rich sports media background and has earned high praise for his work with Entain in delivering elite original racing content,” said CEO Aaron Morrison in a press release.

“His experience relaunching Trackside and Sport Nation also aligns well with our current media portfolio and partnerships. We want to elevate the promotion of Victorian racing and Andy will lead us towards contemporary audiences, platforms, channels, and the creation of new content that engages existing and new audiences.

“Andy will bring a creative edge to our business, helping us to build on the critical role and tremendous efforts of our media businesses in showcasing Victorian racing.”

McKenna and others honoured by Warrnambool

Three life members will get race name privileges thanks to changes made by the Warrnambool Racing Club. The races are the Margaret Lucas Galleywood Hurdle, the Colin McKenna Midfield Group Wangoom Handicap, and the John Rule Champion Novice Hurdle. “Margaret, Colin and John each made outstanding contributions to the Warrnambool Racing Club over many years, and it is wonderful to see their names adorn some of the special races at our carnival,” WRC chairman Mark McNamara told country.racing.com.

Tabcorp are sponsoring a $50,000 bonus to the connections of any horse that wins the Brierly Steeplechase-Grand Annual Steeplechase double. “We thank Tabcorp for their continuing generous support of the club and of our iconic jumping races. This bonus will further enhance the status of the Brierly and Grand Annual steeplechases.”

NZB opens entries for National Online Yearling Sale

Entries are now open for the fourth annual New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale, and will close March 5. “Hitabell is the latest graduate to come out of this sale. She was just a $9500 purchase and now a Group 2 winner which makes her a very valuable prospect going forward,” NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones said in a press release.

“Daylight Robbery running in the $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO race last month is another example of the genuine racehorses that are sourced from this session for some bargain prices. In just its fourth year, the Sale offers breeders and vendors a cost-effective and straight-forward opportunity to sell their yearlings to a wide audience, and the attraction for buyers is only strengthened by the Karaka Millions Series eligibility.” The sale will be held via the Gavelhouse Plus website from March 28 to April 1.

Daylight Robbery heads to Matamata Slipper

Stratford trainer Gavin Sharrock will run 2-year-old colt Daylight Robbery (NZ) (Super Seth) in Saturday’s G3 Matamata Slipper. “I gave him a week in the paddock after (Karaka Millions 2YO) and he had a jump-out at Stratford on Monday and ran second to an open handicapper under a hold, I’m rapt with him,” Sharrock told Loveracing.nz.

Skybird options uncertain

Trainer Mitch Freedman is undecided on whether to run Skybird (Exosphere) in the G1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes or G1 Oakleigh Plate. “Do I go two weeks or three weeks between runs? At this stage we are leaning towards the Black Caviar, but we still haven't ruled out the Oakleigh Plate,” Freedman told racing.com.

“I think her run in the Bobbie Lewis in the spring was good enough to warrant her running in the race. She was very good running with exceptional splits at the end of the race and few horses produce those sectionals on a wet track. Then there's the quality of horses which were in that race. Skybird beat home Right To Party, who then finished second in the VRC Sprint Championship. She warrants being in these big sprint races.”

Ardalio preps for NZB Kiwi on Saturday

NZB Kiwi slot runner 3-year-old filly Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan) won the G3 Almanzor Trophy last start and runs in Saturday’s Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes at Matamata. “It’s more of a race for timing and will give us three weeks into the Kiwi. It will top her off nicely,” trainer Stephen Marsh told Loveracing.nz.

Marsh also runs exciting juveniles To Cap It All (Capitalist) and Tale Of The Gypsy (NZ) (Written By) in Saturday’s G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes. “They are both racing very well and we took them to Tauranga last week for a gallop and they haven’t missed a beat since. They are in great order and it will probably come down to luck in the running,” Marsh said.

He also has debutant 2-year-old colt Ammirati (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G3 Matamata Slipper. “He’s a Savabeel colt we really like, he’s done nothing wrong and his trials have been good. It’s only a small field and we thought he deserved a crack at a stakes race. He lacks ringcraft, but he has got plenty of ability.”

Lady Shenandoah resumes on Saturday

Group 1-winning 3-year-old filly Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) resumes in Saturday’s G2 Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick. “I don’t doubt her over 1200 metres first-up, her two trials have been run at sedate tempos and she’s been made to sprint which will help her on Saturday,” jockey Zac Lloyd told racingnsw.com.au.

“Winning a Group 1 at your fourth start is pretty impressive. It’s enabled her to go and have a spell and she’s come back a more mature and filled out horse.”

Too Darn Discreet resumes with Oaks aim

Trainer Dan O'Sullivan will run 3-year-old filly Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the Desirable Stakes at Flemington on Saturday as she heads towards the G1 Australian Oaks. “I was really happy with her trial at Geelong behind Here To Shock and he's subsequently won a Group 1 in New Zealand. She's there and ready to win. At this stage, her next run will be the Kewney, but we will see,” O’Sullivan told racing.com.

She won the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes and G3 Ethereal Stakes during the spring.

Storm Away ready for Perth Magic Millions

Jockey Holly Watson is thrilled to ride 2-year-old gelding Storm Away (Lucky Vega {Ire}) in Saturday’s R. Listed Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic at Pinjarra. “Obviously he stepped a bit slow and got quite fierce on me. The race was run awkwardly as well and he did a bit of work to pull me to the front. I thought it was a huge run and he got a little bit lost out in front,” Watson told racingwa.com.au of his debut second placing.

“I think there will be huge improvement. He’s such a cruisy horse and has done really well.”

Favourite tag surprises Clear Thinking trainer

Unbeaten mare Clear Thinking (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the favourite for Saturday’s G3 Triscay Stakes, surprising co-trainer Paul Messara. “It’s a bit of a task but the horse is fit and well. She’s not a horse you can be super confident about, so long as everything is right you put her in the deep end and she seems to swim,” Messara told racingnsw.com.au.

“I thought that was mad (that she is favourite), I was very surprised at that. It’s another step up in better company, against her own sex, and it's the right race to step into.”

Patience should reward Commemorative on Saturday

Trainer James Cummings has been patient with 4-year-old mare Commemorative (I Am Invincible) who lines up in Saturday’s G3 Triscay Stakes. “We tipped her out after an abbreviated campaign last time and this might be the preparation when she puts it all together,” Cummings told racingnsw.com.au.

“She’s drawn the right gate to get the perfect run. She’s been well prepared with two nice barrier trials. I can forecast a good starting point for Commemorative.”

Around the Nation: Thursday’s highlights

Thursday saw six race meetings across Australia. Trainer Joshua Manzelmann’s 2-year-old gelding Nosey Neo (Neorealism {Jpn}) won at Townsville to take his record to a win and three placings from six starts. Owned by Burgs Racing, he is the fifth winner for his dam Meddler (Elvstroem) who was a city winner of three races. At the same meeting 3-year-old filly Mimmy’s Secret (Encryption) made it three wins in succession and jockey Ashley Butler rode a treble on Prideofthebigfish (Under The Louvre), Mythbusta (Power {GB}), and Sweet Kisses (Better Than Ready).

At the Sapphire Coast, 3-year-old filly Helluva Teen (Hellbent) made it three wins in succession, while at Wyong 3-year-old gelding Written Gold (Written By) won on debut. Capitalist sired a treble at Wyong with three 3-year-olds; Search Warrant, Shirvington, and Mogul Monarch. At the same meeting, 3-year-old filly Verona Rose (Castelvecchio) stayed unbeaten with her second win.

Bunbury in WA saw 3-year-old filly Bosisto (Snippetson) win on debut and jockey Clint Johnston-Porter rode a treble on Lombadina (Ducimus), Playing Around (Playing God), and 3-year-old filly Mississippi Dawn (Pierro). In South Australia, jockey Todd Pannell rode a treble on Hot Wings (NZ) (Derryn), 3-year-old gelding Up The Den (Pride Of Dubai), and Riche D’Amour (Rich Enuff).

Launch of Kingmakers

Owner Leighton Howl has launched syndication company Kingmakers with the purchase of four yearlings at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. “I’m excited to be launching this new business which I envision will elevate the syndication game. Although 2025 will start small, we have some exciting young horses ready to buy shares into now,” Howl said in a press release.

“We have also brought across five other syndicated horses to the Kingmakers business, including Interplanetary who’s set for the New Zealand Derby in four weeks, a Turn Me Loose 2-year-old now with Joe Pride, and a Ready to Run Redwood gelding who will be set for next year’s Derby.” Howl has already raced three individual Group 1 winners, Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Gaultier (NZ) (Rios {NZ}), and Miss Keepsake (NZ) (Keeper {NZ}).

Legarto resumes on Saturday

Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso will run Group 1 winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) in Saturday’s Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes. “I would have preferred to have gone to a trial, but I didn’t think there were any suitable trials to go to, so she had a good exhibition gallop at Tauranga and Ryan (Elliot, jockey) came and rode her and he came over again on Wednesday morning and gave her the thumbs up,” Ken Kelso told Loveracing.nz.

“She hasn’t raced for a long time, she hasn’t raced since the Australian Cup this time last year, so she could be vulnerable first-up, but she is forward enough.”

Group 1 placed Lady Telena headlines Gavelhouse

The latest Gavelhouse auction is headlined by G1 Thorndon Mile placed Lady Telena (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}). “She’s just been a fantastic mare. She was a 30-start maiden when she came down to us, but she ended up with six wins and a Group One placing from a fantastic couple of years,” trainer Kennedy Moore told racingnews.co.nz.

“Her Thorndon Mile placing was the thrill of a lifetime really – right up there with when we placed in the Wellington Cup with Bluey’s Chance in 2021. She went so close to winning a South Island Breeders’ Stakes as well and was pretty unlucky not to win that day. So she’s done a great job and is going to make a wonderful mum for someone. If I was 20 years younger, I’d probably breed from her myself. But it’s quite a few years down the track that any of her foals will be reaching racing age.”

Nominations closing for Stud and Stable Awards

Nominations for the 2025 Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards close on February 17. “These awards are an amazing opportunity for the many unsung heroes of our industries to receive much deserved gratitude. It’s vital we continue to recognise and applaud all participants who devote their lives to thoroughbreds. Just being nominated is so fulfilling; show your staff how much you appreciate their efforts and take the time to nominate them,” said 2024 winner Hazel Fertier.

Each of the seven categories offers a cash prize of $10,000 for the winner and $3000 for the runner up, except the Newcomer category where the winner receives $5000 and the runner up $3000.

Extreme Choice filly tops Arqana Mixed Sale

Haras d'Etreham boss Nicolas de Chambure said that he jumped at the opportunity to snap up a weanling foal by Australian super sire Extreme Choice for €110,000 (AU$182,000) from JK Thoroughbreds at the Arqana February Mixed Sale on Wednesday.

“I thought she was a filly we really needed to see on paper and I liked her physically so I said we'd give it a go,” he said. “Extreme Choice is very well-managed at Newgate Stud and is getting roughly 50 or 60 mares in foal every year, which is pretty good for him. He is a very good stallion down there and I always like to buy different pedigrees and different bloodlines for the broodmare band later on. So she will be kept to race and hopefully she will be good enough to join the broodmare band down the road.

“It was nice to have a filly like her available in France without having to go all the way to Australia to secure bloodlines like this. I thought it was a good opportunity to buy a filly like her and to diversify our bloodlines a little bit.”

The Extreme Choice filly is out of a winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Grey Queen (USA), who is a half-sister to G1 Queensland Oaks performer Our Gold Hope (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Grey Queen is also a sister to a Group winner and from the family of Daylami (Ire), Dalakhani (Ire), and Dolniya (Fr).

Turnover for the sale reached €2,691,000 (AU$4.48 million), down €140,500 (AU$232,000) on last year's trade that saw 28 more horses offered. The clearance rate rested at 80 per cent while the average was €11,960 (AU$19,800) and the median was €5,000 (AU$8290).

Temporary Hong Kong licences for European jockeys

Ryan Moore, Declan McDonogh, Richard Kingscote, Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand have been granted jockeys' licences to ride in Hong Kong over the next few months. Doyle and Marquand have both ridden winners in Hong Kong in recent seasons and will be available to ride at Sha Tin on Sunday 16 February and Happy Valley next Wednesday, 19 February.

Regular Hong Kong riders Zac Purton, Vincent Ho, Keith Yeung and Angus Chung were all injured in an incident at Sha Tin last Sunday and have been ruled out of riding at the upcoming meetings.

Fownes dedicates treble to Ho

Trainer Caspar Fownes enjoyed a treble with Daily Trophy (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}), Charming Steed (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and Capital Delight (Capitalist) at Sha Tin on Wednesday night and dedicated it to injured jockey Vincent Ho. “Obviously Vincent was supposed to ride (Charming Steed). Vincent if you’re watching, we love you buddy. Get well soon,” Fownes told scmp.com.

In another fall, jockeys Britney Wong and Alexis Badel fell at the start of Charming Steed’s race when Snowalot (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) and All Are Mine (Ger) (New Bay {GB}) jumped awkwardly. Both horses and riders were uninjured.

Laurel River to miss Saudi Cup

Juddmonte Farms's Laurel River (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) has been removed from consideration for the G1 Saudi Cup on February 22 after picking up a minor injury that will require 'two weeks' rest', according to a tweet from racing personality Nick Luck, who was first to report the news.

“Just a knock apparently, but it prevented him from getting in a critical workout before traveling,” Juddmonte USA's General Manager Garrett O'Rourke said in a text message. “Will wait for the Dubai World Cup.”

Judge says Sands Of Mali to remain at Ballyhane

Sands Of Mali (Fr) will remain at Ballyhane Stud after an injunction application by Steve Parkin to have the stallion removed from the care of his former advisor Joe Foley was turned down by the High Court in Ireland.

The injunction hearing, which took place in Dublin on January 23, outlined the disputed ownership of Sands Of Mali, with Parkin claiming to have bought the son of Panis outright while Foley, owner of Ballyhane, countered that Parkin had taken a 50 per cent share of the horse with him. Foley's claim to shared ownership of the stallion was backed up by affidavits from Sands Of Mali's former trainer Richard Fahey and bloodstock agent Federico Barberini, who was formerly employed by Parkin.

Sands Of Mali started covering mares at Ballyhane Stud in 2021 and was one of the leading first-season sires in Europe last year with 21 2-year-old winners.

Inglis Digital USA topped by 80k colt

Suga Steve (USA) (Goldencents {USA}), a 4-year-old colt catalogued for the Inglis Digital USA February Sale off a three-race winning streak by a combined 16.5l, topped the sale on Wednesday when purchased for US$80,000 (AU$127,000) by Starry Night Racing's California-based owners Rachel and Sean Gerson.

“We're pleased with our first sale of the year,” said Kyle Wilson, Inglis Digital USA's senior director of sales and recruiting. “A good group of clients supported us and the sale finished up with a healthy clearance rate. There was activity at all levels and we look forward to our next sale in March.”

Tattersalls Online Sale topped by Invincible Spirit mare

Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare Red Maids (GB) topped the Tattersalls Online February Sale on Wednesday. The 5-year-old, sold as Lot 134 from the draft of Mark Rimell Racing, went to JS Bloodstock/Moigne Combe Stud for 64,000gns (AU$133,000). A winner on turf and the all-weather, the bay is a half-sister to stakes winner and multiple Group-placed mare Duneflower (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

From 126 lots offered, 49 lots (39 per cent) sold for a gross of 343,800gns (AU$717,000). The average was 7,016gns (AU$14,590) and the median was 3,600gns (AU$7503).

Rare racing board games on exhibit

Horseplay, an exhibit showcasing over 50 rare and antique board games focused on horseracing, will be displayed at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket beginning on April 4. The games are on loan to the NHM from a private collection, and the exhibition is thought to be the largest display of horseracing-themed board games ever opened to the public.