Daily News Wrap

Anthony Cummings application for stay refused

Late on Friday night, the Racing Appeals Tribunal chairman Justice Geoff Bellew SC advised trainer Anthony Cummings that his stay of proceedings had been refused with the reasons for the decision expected on Monday.

This means that, as he is no longer a licenced trainer, he cannot keep the lease on Leilani Lodge. Edward Cummings is still awaiting the results of his application for a metropolitan licence, in the hopes he can take over the stables from his father.

Freedman’s Merricks North property for sale

Trainer Anthony Freedman and his wife Melissa have listed their rural property on the Mornington Peninsula for sale. “The house is, I think perfect, a Mornington Peninsula-style house (with) the right amount of accommodation, a beautiful pool, tennis court, it’s pretty much turnkey,” Kay & Burton Flinders executive director Tom Barr Smith told realestate.com.au.

“It ticks a lot of boxes for what people are looking for. You’d probably only have to pay land tax on the house portion, which is about 2ha, which is a small percentage of the overall property.” The five bedroom house sits on around 21ha (52 acres).

Smooth winner for Magic Millions 3YO Perth

Trainer Indianna Weinert won Saturday’s R-Listed Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy with unbeaten gelding Smooth Chino (Maschino). Now three from three, he won by 0.39l from Ryan Hill trained filly London’s Image (Headwater) with Pearce Brothers’ trained filly Perfect Chant (Toronado {Ire}) in third.

A $40,000 purchase by his trainer from Mogumber Park at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Smooth Chino has earned over $170,000 from his three wins. He becomes the eighth stakes winner for Maschino, and is the second live foal of unraced Amorei (Gingerbread Man) who is a daughter of G3 WA Oaks winner and Listed WA Guineas winner Moreish (More Than Ready {USA}). Amorei has no yearling this year, and her unnamed 2-year-old filly is by Rommel. She had a Bondi filly in 2024.

G3 Francis Tressady goes to Wrote To Arataki

Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams wasn’t at the races to see his good 6-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) return to form in the G3 Francis Tressady Stakes at Flemington. “Matthew’s having a family weekend in Port Fairy, celebrating his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, so there’s your present, everyone,” stable representative Sarah Woodhous said.

“This mare came through her last-start run really well. It was really hot that day, but she actually handled the hot conditions nicely. It’s very easy for us at home, because we can get her down to the beach for the next couple of days to recover. She presented really well here today.

“For whatever reason, she just didn’t come up to her best in that last preparation. Nothing went wrong. But just a good break and a bit of a change-around in her training, and it’s got her back on song today.” Wrote To Arataki has won six of her 23 starts with earnings over $700,000. She won the G2 Tristarc Stakes in the spring of 2023. One of four stakes winners for Wrote (Ire), she is the first foal of Galloping Gerte (NZ) (Align {NZ}) whose four foals are all by Wrote.

Rise At Dawn claims All-Star Mile spot in Elms win

This year’s Listed Elms Handicap was a ‘win and you’re in’ for the G1 All-Star Mile and now Lindsay Park will have 4-year-old gelding Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor {NZ}) to run alongside Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) in the big one. “He’s gone unbelievable today. He went through the grades terrifically last time in, I think he gained himself 24 ratings points in a single prep. To resume at open level, 1400 at Flemington, there’s a lot of credit to that victory today,” co-trainer Will Hayes said.

“What you saw there was a seasoned racehorse who’s got an exciting prep ahead. It’s pretty exciting, if everything goes to plan there’ll be two sets of (Lindsay Park) silks there.” The last start Listed Heatherlie Stakes winner now has four wins in succession and a total of eight wins from 13 starts and earnings over $590,000. He was a $90,000 purchase by his trainers from Monovale Farm’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft. His 3-year-old full sister Kay’s Ruebe (NZ) placed in the G3 Taranaki Breeders Stakes last season.

Hat trick of Listed wins for Pivotal Ten in Southland Guineas

Trainer-jockey Samantha Wynne’s 3-year-old filly Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) continues to dominate in the South Island of New Zealand, winning her fifth in succession and making it a hat-trick of Listed wins with an 8.75l demotion of the Listed Southland Guineas field.

Purchased by Colin Wightman for NZ$10,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale, her five wins from seven starts have netted NZ$197,500.

Te Akau Racing stakes treble at Matamata

Te Akau Racing’s 4-year-old gelding What You Wish For (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) win in Saturday’s Listed Kaimai Stakes at Matamata completed a treble for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. “It’s been a great day,” Walker said.

“It’s our home-track meeting and it’s always special. Now everyone who comes down to clock their horses has to go past the tangerine on the statue! But the locals always come out in big numbers to support this day, and Graeme Styles and his team have presented an outstanding track today. It’s been fantastic.” They also won the G3 Matamata Slipper with Return To Conquer (Snitzel) and the G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes with La Dorado (NZ) (Super Seth).

It was the first stakes win for What You Wish For, who now has four wins from 17 starts. A NZ$60,000 purchase by David Ellis from Cambridge Stud at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, he becomes the fourth stakes winner for Embellish. He is the first foal of Grand Wish (Smart Missile) whose yearling colt by Sword Of State was withdrawn from the NZB sales this year.

Legarto returns in style in Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes

After nearly a year away from the races with injury, triple Group 1 winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) showed she’d lost none of her class in winning Saturday’s Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes at Matamata. “That was stunning, I’ve got no words to describe it,” said Ken Kelso, who trains in partnership with his wife Bev.

“She’s been away from the races for 12 months and has just that had one exhibition gallop. When she loomed on the outside at the bend, I thought, ‘We’ve got a chance here. Hopefully she doesn’t come to the end of it.’ But what a horse she is.

“I’ve got a lot of people to thank. The Treweeks had her on their water treadmill, then Danica Guy had her on her treadmill as well. The staff at home, our vet and farrier, they all play a big part in getting these horses to raceday. And of course, even though Bev can’t come to the races now, she’s still a big part of it. She’s my eyes and ears. We discuss everything that we do with all of our horses.” Legarto has won 10 of her 16 starts and over $1.8 million.

Frostfire wins on debut for Freedman

Michael Freedman trained 2-year-old colt Frostfire (Zoustar) won on debut at Newcastle on Saturday. Ridden by Keagan Latham, he won by 0.2l from Brad Widdup trained filly You’re The Choice (Farnan) with the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained colt Mednyi (Capitalist) in third.

Frostfire was sold by Widden Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $400,000 to Vinery Stud. He is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Tenley (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Group 3 winner Biscayne Bay (Sebring).

Godolphin’s Cloisters breaks through

After two second placings in his first two starts, Godolphin’s 2-year-old colt Cloisters (Frosted {USA}) won his maiden at Bendigo on Saturday. Ridden by Linda Meech, he just won by 0.06l from Tony and Calvin McEvoy trained filly Sunlit Serenade (The Autumn Sun) and the winner’s stablemate Ohope (I Am Invincible) was third.

He is the first foal of winning mare Badia (Snitzel) from the family of Group 2 winner Gregers (Commands) and Group 3 winner Girl Guide (Churchill Downs).

Satisfied Mugs wins Jewel Qualifier

Cairns was the destination for 2-year-old colt Satisfied Mugs (Invader) to take his record to three wins from four starts for trainer Georgie Holt as he won Saturday’s The Jewel Qualifier. A $23,000 purchase from Waylon J Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he is out of Smug Satisfaction (Sebring) who is out of a full sister to Group 1 winner Super Elegant (Mister C {USA}), Group 2 winner Elegancy, and Group 3 winner Mister Elegant.

Around the Nation: Saturday’s other highlights

It was a busy Saturday with 16 meetings around Australia. Trainer Andrew Dale dominated the Holbrook meeting winning five of the seven races led by 3-year-old filly Majestic Ines (Flying Artie). Zac Lloyd rode a treble at Randwick on Tapa Kick (Scissor Kick), 3-year-old filly More Territories (Territories {Ire}), and the G2 Light Fingers Stakes on 3-year-old filly Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel).

Eagle Farm’s meeting saw Group 1 winner Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse)’s 3-year-old half-brother Our Benefactor (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) win his third in succession. Jockey Andrew Mallyon rode a treble at Eagle Farm on Barazin (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Valetudo (GB) (Zoustar), and Age Of Sail (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

At Bendigo, 3-year-old gelding Jugiong (Foxwedge) won on debut, as did 3-year-old colt Deep Focus (NZ) (Deep Field) at the Gold Coast and 3-year-old gelding Shady Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) at Morphettville.

Mid Winter Wind has Classic Cup potential

Trainer Mark Newnham’s 4-year-old gelding Mid Winter Wind (Saf) (What A Winter {Saf}) came to Hong Kong as a Group 3 winner in South Africa, but it was his debut win in the region that had everyone talking. He runs at Sha Tin on Sunday. “I did expect him to run very well, but I wasn’t sure he had that in him first time out. We just need him to produce that again,” Newnham told scmp.com.

“What I would say is the risk with that is sometimes horses that put in a peak performance first up can be a little flat second up. Everything he’s done since that, there’s no indication that he would, but it’s one of those things you don’t find out until you run them.” If he wins again, he might head to the Classic Cup next.

Boudot granted temporary licence in Doha

French jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, who had not ridden in public since May 2021 due to legal proceedings relating to allegations of rape, made an unexpected winning return to the saddle in Doha on day two of the Amir Sword meeting on Friday.

He rode in the second race on the card, the Purebred Arabian Cup, aboard the Al Shaqab-owned Al Jori. The pair finished fourth. Boudot was granted an emergency licence at the eleventh hour after a number of riders stood down from riding at the meeting over safety concerns following an incident in the opener.

His return winner came in the sixth race, the Thoroughbred Filly And Mares Oryx Cup, aboard the Zuhair Mohsen-trained Kerindia (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}). The Arc-winning jockey had his licence “withdrawn indefinitely” by France Galop in November 2022 and, while he is not banned in his home country, he is also not licenced there. Boudot has been based in Qatar for the past three months after taking a work-riding role for Al Shaqab and the 32-year-old was only issued with a licence earlier on Friday.

Coolmore extends sponsorship of German Classic

Coolmore are to continue its sponsorship of the first German Classic of the year, the G2 Coolmore City of Troy German 2,000 Guineas, which will be run at Cologne on Sunday May 18.

“German breeders have been terrific supporters of Coolmore over the years and we have been long-time race sponsors in the country. We are thrilled to be sponsoring the Group 2 Coolmore City Of Troy German 2000 Guineas again.” said Coolmore's Joe Hernon.

Moore is World Pool ambassador

Ryan Moore has partnered with World Pool, the globe's largest horse racing pool, for the 2025 season. Stable jockey to Aidan O'Brien, the 41-year-old has ridden Group 1 winners all over the world and will be riding at many of the major World Pool meetings this year.

In his role as an ambassador, Moore will provide regular blogs and insight ahead of key World Pool race days, as well as being featured in advertising and marketing campaigns. “World Pool has been such an important addition to the entire racing industry over the past few years and I'm delighted to be an ambassador for the brand,” Moore said.

“The Hong Kong Jockey Club should be congratulated for all the effort and investment they've put into it. I've always said that Hong Kong is the blueprint for the way horseracing should be run, and World Pool is helping to amplify the very best racing on a global stage. It's great that racing fans from around the world get the chance to bet into these large pools.

“It's important that the racing world starts to work together, and to have everyone pulling in the same direction. If we're speaking with one voice and trying to achieve the same goals it will really help the whole sport to prosper. World Pool plays a big part in that, and I look forward to being part of that journey.”

Record sum paid to Kentucky breeders in 2024

On the back of a year which saw Kentucky-breds thriving at the pinnacle of domestic and international competition, the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation has paid out a record US$20-million (AU$31.5 million) through its Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund (KTBIF) to participating breeders for races won in 2024, it was announced via press release Friday afternoon.

The KTBIF was established to ensure the strength of the Kentucky Thoroughbred industry by awarding breeders funds to the winners of qualifying races. For a foal to be designated a Kentucky-bred, the mare must be bred to a registered Kentucky stallion, remain in the Commonwealth during her full gestation period, and foal in Kentucky. It is funded through a percentage of the sales tax paid when a stallion is bred to a mare in Kentucky.