Three in a row for Scintilla
Promising Hellbent filly Scintilla made it three in a row at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, stepping up to 1400m and controlling the race from the front under Braith Nock, scoring by 1.9l over Flying Thinker (So You Think), with Good Sort (Tassort) in third. Her winning streak began with a 1250m maiden at Canterbury, followed by another effortless win over the same trip.
Trained by Les Bridge, a master at developing talent, Scintilla was a $15,000 buy for Kim Harding from Middlebrook Valley Lodge at the Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale. She holds a G1 Surround Stakes nomination, with a potential Melbourne campaign also on the table.
Cummings to meet Racing NSW on Thursday
Ed Cummings will meet with Racing NSW on Thursday to discuss upgrading his licence from provincial to metro, according to a letter sent to owners.
Silver Slipper to provide guide for the big one
The Australian Turf Club host the G2 Silver Slipper on Saturday and it will provide a good guide to the G1 Golden Slipper. “Since 2012 four horses have completed the Silver Slipper and Golden Slipper double and this year’s field again features several horses high up in TAB markets for the ultimate prize, the TAB Golden Slipper,” Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani told racingnsw.com.au.
“The support card also features some of Australia’s best horses as we build towards major Group 1 features in the coming weeks and months across Autumn.”
Unbeaten Bel Merci thriving with more work
Trainer John Thompson’s unbeaten 2-year-old filly Bel Merci (Extreme Choice) heads to Saturday’s G2 Silver Slipper with three trials under her belt. “I’ve found the more I do with her the better she does,” Thompson told racingnsw.com.au.
Bel Merci | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“She had a pretty solid trial at Kembla and it was like it woke her up, the next day she was bouncing around the place. It was quite surreal. I don’t know what happened at Rosehill.
“We’re going to get a clearer picture after this Saturday that’s for sure. They’re still 2-year-olds early in their career and from here on in they get a bit of pressure put on them. Some horses handle it and some horses don’t. It’s a good sign that the more she does the better she seems to get. She’ll be thereabouts, she’s going well and good horses they just run well.”
Switzerland switch on the cards
Trainer Chris Waller might take Group 1 winning 3-year-old colt Switzerland (Snitzel) to the G1 Canterbury Stakes rather than the G1 Newmarket. “I don't think the weights are that suitable for a 3-year-old colt that's already a Group 1 winner and multiple Group winner,” Waller told racing.com.
Switzerland | Image courtesy of The Image is Everything
“It's a handicap and that gives lesser-performed horses a chance, so we've got to build his value, not take it away, as he's a very good horse. We might be enticed to come back to Sydney and run in the Canterbury Stakes.
“I was honestly happy with the run (in the G1 Lightning). The 1000 metres is always a tricky set-up - I've found that firsthand previously with some good sprinters we've had. It's a specialist's distance. He did everything right. He didn't have much galloping room for most of the race and I think he did a pretty good job.”
I Am Me saved for better ground
Ciaron Maher trained I Am Me (I Am Invincible) will run in Saturday’s G1 Oakleigh Plate. “She's a mare that doesn't like Soft ground, her wheels do spin and once it got worse than a (Soft) 5, it went to a 6 and then it continued to rain, we were pretty happy to take her out,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull told racing.com of the decision to scratch from the G1 Lightning.
I Am Me | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It does make it easier when you've got an Oakleigh Plate a week later, even though she's got a little bit more weight, it's all relative to weight-for-age, which was last week. Eleven hundred metres is no different, hopefully we can draw a gate and we should get Good ground this week.”
Crowther looking for first Group 1
Jockey Kayla Crowther hopes Saturday's G1 Oakleigh Plate can be her first Group 1 win when she rides Prairie Flower (Star Turn). “I'm pretty excited. The only other Victorian Group 1 race I've ridden in was the Oakleigh Plate on Shamino and it was at Sandown that year. Obviously these opportunities don't come up very often, so to be granted the ride, I'm super grateful,” Crowther told racing.com.
“I'm lucky in this one because the weight limits a few of the options of interstate riders. Winning on the horse helped as well. Will (Clarken) has been super loyal and he's given me some really good chances in nice races before - I rode Bella Vella for him in the Sangster a couple of years ago.”
Belclare set for Group 1 at Ellerslie
Saturday’s Ellerslie meeting will host the G1 Otaki-Maori Classic and dual Group 1 winner Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is ready. “Ellerslie suits her when it’s really firm, which it wasn’t on Karaka Millions Night, but the forecast looks good for this weekend,” trainer Lisa Latta told Loveracing.nz.
“She had a few days in the paddock and come back, she’s been for a trip to Otaki for a gallop and I’m really happy with her. She looks great.” She was unplaced last start in the G2 Westbury Classic.
Time for bridesmaid’s tag to go
Group 1 performer Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) will be out to shed her bridesmaid tag when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday in the G1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic. “We earmarked this race because we thought we would skip the big guns but unfortunately there is Orchestral and El Vencedor, it is a quality field,” co-trainer Sam Bergerson told Loveracing.nz.
Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright Race Images
“She is probably going to have to lift to win it off her previous runs, but she deserves the opportunity. She was really good in the Group 1 and just missed last time against Provence down in Wellington. She has freshened well, had a really nice exhibition gallop between races at Te Aroha a week ago and her work was good on Tuesday morning.”
Lofty Arch on trial for Group 1 sprints
Trainer Alex Rae will use Saturday's G3 Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield to see if 3-year-old colt Lofty Arch (Snitzel) is up to tougher company. “He's wound up and ready to run a forward race. If he was to win and win well, then he could run in the Newmarket Handicap. That's a real option for us,” Rae told racing.com.
“They don't hand out Group 3 races, but we think he's one of the more progressive colts around. The spring was his first racing campaign. We were hoping he would take a big step forward and we think he has. He was pretty impressive in his jumpout and we gave him a bit of work on Monday to blow the cobwebs out.”
Wilson states that VRC will return to profitabilty
VRC Chairman Neil Wilson spoke to smh.com.au in an exclusive interview on Tuesday and stated that the club would return to profitability by 2026 on the back of a lucrative new media deal with Tabcorp and Nine, a return to bumper Melbourne Cup week crowds and new sponsorship agreements.
“Entering into COVID, we were well on our way for continued profitability, reducing debt, and then ‘bang’, we were having to manage a very serious cost profile, with no carnival,” Wilson said.
Neil Wilson | Image courtesy of Victoria Racing Club
“But if you’re going to do it – if you’re going to entertain international guests and international media people and international owners, trainers – if you’re going to do it, you want to do it well. So that the experience is something that they go back and tell people that they had a wonderful experience. That’s the feedback we’ve consistently got.
“Are there more economic ways to do that? I think so, and we’ll continue to look at those. (But) it’s not just a party, and there’s no result. There’s a result out of this, and we’re very conscious of the result.”
On the issue of Flemington’s land, Wilson said, “We’re looking at the Flemington precinct (127 hectares) and we’re saying, ‘what will that look like in 2040-2050?’. We’re looking at it through a lens of working with our partners and delivering assets that have a commercial return. So this will be the future of the club, where there’ll be residential development there, there’ll be mixed-use development. This plan is having this whole precinct activated 365 days a year.”
Ciaron Maher Racing restructure
Ciaron Maher Racing CEO, Ben Sellenger, confirmed that they are restructuring the business, telling thestraight.com.au that “reasonably small” number of staff will be made redundant in a “realignment across the business”.
Stud and Stable award nominations extended
Nominations for the Stud And Stable Awards have been extended until midnight Wednesday 19th February. Individuals can be nominated for an award in any of the following seven categories: Leadership, Horsemanship, Dedication to Breeding, Dedication to Racing, Administration and Ancillary, Thoroughbred Care and Welfare, and Newcomer.
Knight’s Order to resume in All-Star Mile
G1 Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Order (Extreme Choice) will resume in the G1 All-Star Mile. “We don't want to flatten him, we want to keep him fresh for the All-Star Mile” co-trainer John Symons told racenet.com.au.
Knight’s Order | Image courtesy of The Image of Everything
“You've got to remember he's not a Winx but he's a very good little horse and obviously he's very good at 3200 metres. I think he'll really be competitive in those two races (All-Star Mile and Australian Cup) we've got picked out for him. Obviously it's a bit short of the distances where we know he can really excel at. But he's that bright and he's happy that we're bringing him to Melbourne and back to the races, that's what it's all about. At this stage everything's going lovely.”
Jewel target for I’lltellyouso
Cairns trainer Stephen Massingham will take 3-year-old filly I’lltellyouso (Better Than Ready) to the QTIS Jewel qualifier at Townsville’s Cluden Park on Thursday. “She’s a real little trier and races on the speed,” Massingham told racingqueensland.com.au.
“So long as she backs up, I think she’ll be hard to beat again. She handled the heavy track well on Saturday and she pulled up well so I can’t see why she won’t back up. Her main owner, Craig Duffy, lives in Brisbane and has been very loyal and I think the only time he's missed seeing her race was on the weekend. If she qualifies for the Final, I’ll let him have the last say whether she goes down for it.”
Around the Nation: Wednesday’s regional highlights
At Ipswich, 3-year-old gelding Commend (I Am Immortal) won on debut. Over at Belmont, 3-year-old filly Nicely Played (Nicconi) made it two in succession with a nice win.
Jockey Jake Toeroek rode a treble at Strathalbyn on 3-year-old gelding Mystical Wisdom (Toronado {Ire}), Flyin’ For Us (America), and Tupoleu (Air Force Blue {USA}).
Vegas Queen seeking NZB Kiwi slot
Vegas Queen (NZ) (Proisir) will be seeking a slot in the NZB Kiwi when she runs at Ellerslie on Saturday in the Listed Trevor & Coralie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes. “It is a big step up for her, but I think she is up to it. She is the best horse in Ruakaka, if that means anything,” trainer Kenny Rae told Loveracing.nz.
Vegas Queen (NZ) | Image courtesy of Therese Davis Race Images
“I was rapt with her run (in the Almanzor Trophy). She missed the start a wee bit and Jasmine (Fawcett, jockey) used her up a bit to get up there, but she had a good draw. You can’t complain when you are getting $47,000 for second.” She was second last start in the G3 Almanzor Trophy. Her third dam is the second dam of Winx (Street Cry {Ire}).
Juvenile filly’s path to be decided
Trainer Andrew Carston will determine the future path for 2-year-old filly Miss Ziggy (NZ) (Brazen Beau) after Saturday’s run at Ellerslie. “She had 10 days off after the Karaka Million and we’ve brought her back up slowly again, we’ll take a close look at this race to give us a few clues,” Carston told Loveracing.nz.
“This is a nice race for her and will give us the line as to what we do, there are a couple of options. One is to bring her home and put her in the paddock. We will see how she goes on Saturday first, the (G1) Sistema is in two weeks and we would need to see another very good run to go there.”
California Spangle set for Al Quoz Sprint
If California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) can run well in Sunday’s Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, he might get a chance to defend his G1 Al Quoz Sprint title. “You saw the barrier trial, he's back in business. The trial was good and the jockey was very happy with him,” trainer Tony Cruz told hkjc.com.
California Spangle (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“His condition compared to last season is not as good, so we'll make a decision after the race on Sunday. Let's see the outcome before we decide on Dubai.”
New Group 1 at York, European Pattern Committee announces upgrades and downgrades
The European Pattern Committee (EPC) announced on Tuesday that it has approved the upgrade of four Group 2 races to Group 1 status, including the City Of York Stakes. Traditionally run at York's Ebor Festival in August, it will become the second all-aged seven-furlong Group 1 race in Europe, alongside the Prix de la Forèt at ParisLongchamp in October.
The remaining Group 1 upgrades were all related to the EPC's continued pan-European focus on the middle-distance and staying horse. In Britain, the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot was upgraded to join the four existing Group 1 races on British Champions Day, while France will see the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at ParisLongchamp upgraded, offering an earlier Group 1 opportunity for staying horses in the spring.
Finally, in Ireland, the Golden Fleece for two-year-olds at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend will be upgraded to Group 1 status for 2026, in tandem with an increase in race distance from eight furlongs to nine furlongs. The advanced notification of this upgrade is intended to allow time for participants to become aware of the change and to give the race the best chance of success from year one and thereafter.
The EPC ratified a total of 814 black-type races, down from 826 in 2024, comprising 411 Group races (416 in 2024) and 403 Listed races (410). Seventeen races have been downgraded across Europe.
Industry group launched to fight decoupling in Florida
Breeders and horsemen aiming to fight Florida's decoupling bills launched the Thoroughbred Racing Initiative (TRI) Tuesday, billed as “an industry collaboration created to fight for live horse racing in Florida and elsewhere in the United States,” according to a release from the new organization. Thayer Communications & Consulting's Damon Thayer, a 22-year veteran of the Kentucky State Senate and Majority Floor Leader for 12 years, has been picked as senior adviser of the group.
Damon Thayer | Image courtesy of Thayer Communications & Consulting's
Decoupling has been an issue at the forefront of the sport for the past month, when representatives of The Stronach Group (TSG) stunned the industry in a closed-door meeting, saying TSG could guarantee racing at Gulfstream Park only through 2028 if a proposed bill to decouple Thoroughbred horseracing from casino licenses passes the state legislature.
“Thoroughbred racing in Florida is under attack,” said TRI president and Ocala Stud general manager David O'Farrell. “The bills filed in the Florida legislature threaten the future of live racing, breeding, and our 33,500 jobs and $3.24 billion economic impact. This isn't just a Florida issue; the ripple effects will impact racing and breeding nationwide. For decades, Florida legislators have protected the Thoroughbred industry, but this bill prioritizes corporate interests over horsemen, breeders, and our industry's huge agri-business and tourism contributions. We must take a stand now to ensure Thoroughbred racing has a future.”
Improved vet records for Saudi Cup
Equine MediRecord's software platform will be used for all equine participants during the upcoming Saudi Cup weekend. The company offers a service which allows for the full veterinary history of every participant to be recorded securely, ensuring the best possible horse welfare and aiding with crucial anti-doping procedures.
It includes an Arabic version of the Equine MediRecord platform to assist local trainers and veterinarians, helping to clear the Saudi-based horses through the meeting's equine welfare protocols.
Pierce Dargan | Image courtesy of Equine MediRecord
Pierce Dargan, chief executive officer of Equine MediRecord, said, “We are thrilled about our partnership with the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia and doing all we can to help again ensure that the best horse welfare and transparency protocols are followed for this year's Saudi Cup.
“We are excited to have our Arabic version of our Equine MediRecord system, which was developed with Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia's support, used for the local Saudi racehorses. We hope this will drive adoption of our system by more equine events in the region who want to ensure the best equine welfare and bio-security protocols are being followed at their events.”
