Daily News Wrap

Vale Dennis Marks

Enjoying the biggest highs racing can offer by racing the champion Let’s Elope (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}), successful owner/breeder and businessman Dennis Marks passed away on Tuesday morning aged 89.

Bursting onto the racing scene having purchased one of the best three horse packages of all time, Marks cheered on Let’s Elope to four Group 1 successes including her memorable Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double in 1991.

Richfield Lady (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}), the G1 VRC Oaks and G1 1000 Guineas winner that same year, was also part of that package as was the high class broodmare Saving (NZ) (Pevero {Ire}), dam of four stakes winners including the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Shindig (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}).

Setting up the vast Seven Creeks Estate at Euroa as a world class breeding property, Marks enjoyed spending time with his horses, having particular soft spots for Let’s Elope’s G2 Moonee Valley Vase winning son Ustinov and her talented granddaughter Let’s Make Adeal (Red Ransom {USA}).

It was a great thrill for Dennis when Let’s Make Adeal won her way into a Melbourne Cup position by taking out the G3 Bart Cummings and it was after injury curtailed her career that he decided to cut back on his horse interests.

Friend Richard Anderson of Quilly Park looks back fondly on many great days spent with Dennis roaming paddocks and patting horses before a nice lunch at the local pub. Richard - who described Dennis as “my mentor, a great man who was like a dad to me,” enticed his friend back into racehorse ownership and the pair enjoyed the career of Rue Lepic (De Gaulle) who earned the title of Victorian Picnic Horse Of The Year.

“It was a different level of success for Dennis,” Richard laughed, “but he really enjoyed winning another sort of trophy!”

ATC Expressions of Interest for Leilani Lodge

Racing NSW have reported that the Australian Turf Club have opened an expression of interest for qualified trainers to apply for “A facility available includes 55 boxes, offices and accommodation at 8 High Street, Randwick.”

Leilani Lodge has been leased to the Cummings family and is named after Bart Cummings’ trained multiple Group 1-winning mare Leilani (NZ) (Oncidium {GB}).

Ciaron Maher’s brother moves to Queensland

Declan Maher, brother of trainer Ciaron Maher and assistant trainer in the Ballarat yard, is moving to the Gold Coast to train under his own name.

“I was up there (Gold Coast) on the weekend and I'll probably get up there over the next week or so to get some minor details sorted out,” Declan Maher told racing.com.

“I think I'll have 20 boxes. The timing looks right as having Ciaron sending horses up for the carnival, it's a good opportunity to be up there for Queensland racing's biggest time of the year. Taylah (partner) and I have a young boy Caolan now, so before he goes to kindergarten and schools, it just seemed the right time to make the move.

“I will still work in with my brother from time to time. We will still be on the phone to each other, so it's not so much a closing of a chapter, more a starting of a new one. I've made a lot of connections with owners that are Ciaron's owners and there will be horses that aren't up to metro racing in Sydney or Melbourne that might be better suited up there.”

Ciaron Maher said in a statement, “Declan has been an integral part of Ciaron Maher Racing for many years. Over that time, he has experienced all the highs and challenges that come with life in racing and he has grown into an exceptional horseman with a deep understanding of the game. His passion, dedication and natural talent have shone through in every aspect of his work.”

Rousham Park a challenger in Queen Elizabeth

Jockey Christophe Lemaire believes Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) can overcome a wide draw in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday at Randwick and take on Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock). “He’s a very consistent and genuine horse, he’s got a long acceleration,” Lemaire told racingnsw.com.au.

“He’s more comfortable over a mile and a quarter than a mile and a half. He travels very well. He’s not very quick out of the gates so he’ll usually race from middle of the pack or the back of the field. He grabs the bit and travels very easily and has that long acceleration. I think he can adapt himself anywhere. We have to be very confident with him.”

Schwarz to run in Doomben 10,000

Co-trainer John O'Shea confirmed that Schwarz (Zoustar) will run in the G1 Doomben 10,000 before retiring to stud. “It was a strong performance at The Valley and it rated through the roof,” O'Shea, who trains in partnership with Tom Charlton, told racing.com about the 4-year-old entire’s G1 William Reid Stakes victory.

“We're really looking forward to getting him to Queensland and then get him off to stud as he's come out of it in great shape. It was a quality run from a quality colt and hopefully we can see it one more time in Queensland.” Schwarz is part-owned by Rosemont Stud.

Pride Of Jenni to skip Queen Elizabeth

Horse Of The Year Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) won’t be repeating her incredible victory in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and instead will have a short let up before a Brisbane campaign. “Nothing came to light after the run so maybe she needed more time between her runs,” Maher's racing manager Reece Murphy told racenet.com.au.

“She's always travelled well in the past so hopefully if we make to Brisbane that will again be the case this winter.”

Recuperato to Percy Sykes

Trainer Peter Gelagotis has asked connections of last start Group 3-winning 2-year-old filly Recuperato (Farnan) to pay the late fee for the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes on Saturday. “She came through the Flemington win so well that we had to keep going with her,” racing manager Manny Gelagotis told racenet.com.au.

“We were looking for a reason to send her to the paddock, which we always do with our 2-year-olds, but she has thrived since the Flemington win. Whether she's good enough, we don't know, but she's earned a chance for us to find out.”

Rivellino, Vinrock to spell

Racing NSW reported that Rivellino (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Vinrock (I Am Invincible) would spell rather than head to the G1 Champagne Stakes.

Asfoora resumes on Saturday

Royal Ascot heroine Asfoora (Flying Artie) will resume in Saturday’s G3 RN Irwin Stakes at Morphettville before a potential tilt at the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes. “We're really happy with her, she hasn't done heaps of work,” trainer Henry Dwyer told racenet.com.au.

“She's seven months between runs and had the one jumpout, so she's by no means screwed down. It's probably the beginning of a long preparation but we're happy with her and she gets in pretty well at the weight-for-age conditions against sprinters rated a little bit less than her.

“We're under no illusions that she's not at her best at 1200 metres, she's sensibly a 1000-1100 metre horse, but there's just no 1000-1100 metre option before we go overseas. If she's ever going to get 1200 metre it will be against her own sex at weight-for-age, I think that race (G1 Robert Sangster) presents a good opportunity with a nice lead up two weeks earlier.”

Agrifutures panel position open

Applications are now open for the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Advisory Panel Chair, and Agrifutures are seeking a suitably qualified industry representative to join them.

Established in 2017, the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program is supported by a statutory $10 levy paid per mare return by mare and per cover by stallion owners.

The advisory panel oversees the distribution of these funds to industry research projects.

Around the nation: Tuesday’s highlights

Tuesday saw four meetings around Australia, and it was at Dalby in Queensland that Tassort’s 2-year-old gelding King Of Geraldine won for Mishani Enterprises and trainer Donna Stanbridge. He was having his fourth start and was purchased by Mishani for $37,000 from KBL Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. King Of Geraldine is out of unraced Brisse (Denman) whose first foal is also a winner.

King Of Geraldine was ridden by apprentice Chloe Lowe who enjoyed a double with a win on Runaround Sue (Better Than Ready) later on the card. At Sale 3-year-old filly Babushka Miss (Russian Revolution) won on debut. At the same meeting, Proisir sired a double with 3-year-olds Heff (NZ) and Captain Hilfiger (NZ).

Awapuni holds up under trial pressure

In pouring rain, the renovated Awapuni track coped with 11 trials in it’s first serious test. “It was thumbs up from everybody, it was just great to get back there,” local trainer Roydon Bergerson told Loveracing.nz.

“It poured with rain before the first heat and if a horse were to slip it would have been today, but they got around that corner really well and all of the jockeys were happy. There wasn’t as much kick-back and that track held up really well. Everyone was happy in the end.”

Group 1 win for Street Sense filly

Tracy Farmer's homebred 3-year-old filly La Cara (USA) (Street Sense {USA}) closed out the Road to the Kentucky Oaks the same way she started it: with a win. Victorious in the first GI Kentucky Oaks points race of the season–the G3 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs last September–and the last, Monday's rescheduled GI Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, La Cara heads to the Oaks with 151.75 points.

The G1 Ashland was postponed from its traditional Friday slot due to heavy rain in Kentucky. “When she brings her A game, she's tough,” said trainer Mark Casse. “Dylan (Davis) said when he was coming down the backside, he thought, 'Oh, I have the filly I had in Tampa that day'. He said he could tell the difference. We knew the Davona Dale was just a prep. We brought her back a little quick (for that race) so I could have more time for this race, and it worked out. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but today was good.”

Street Sense (USA) won not only the GI Kentucky Derby there, but also the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. The Darley stallion, now age 21, has since sired 43 graded winners as well as 102 black-type winners.

La Cara’s dam Cara Caterina (USA) (Bernardini {USA}) is a full-sister to Grade 1 winners To Honor and Serve (USA) and Angela Renee (USA).

First stakes winner for Ghaiyyath

Keeping it simple on Mandanaba (Fr) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Mickael Barzalona allowed the exciting Francis-Henri Graffard-trained homebred to roll from the front and capture Sunday's G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Prix Vanteaux at ParisLongchamp.

“She is a lovely filly who loves to be in a good rhythm, so we wanted to let her do her own thing,” Graffard explained. “It was a good performance, but I'm not sure we will go further in trip with her and we might even revert to a mile. Let's wait and see how she comes out of this one, let's also see the results of the other trials for fillies before making a decision.”

The first stakes winner for shuttle sire Ghaiyyath (Ire), Mandanaba’s dam Mandesha (Fr) (Desert Style {Ire}) was the champion 3-year-old filly of 2006 courtesy of wins in the G1 Prix Vermeille, G1 Prix d'Astarte and G1 Prix de l'Opera and she was also second in the G1 Nassau Stakes.

Too Darn Hot Group 1 winner to French Guineas

Trainer Jessica Harrington revealed on Monday that she is leaning towards skipping the 2000 Guineas in favour of the French equivalent with last year's G1 Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), with Green Impact (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) reported to be the stable's most likely representative at Newmarket.

“We've got through the winter with them, so now it is deciding (where to go),” Harrington said of her two Classic prospects. “They're both in the English Guineas, they're both in the Irish Guineas and they're both in the French Guineas.

“We're still waiting to see but the vague plan is ground permitting, as they've had no rain in Newmarket for about six weeks. Ground permitting, Green Impact will go to the English Guineas and the plan at the moment is that Hotazhell will go to the French Guineas because the owners are coming over.”

First winner for A’Ali

Newsells Park Stud resident A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire} became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Karl Burke-trained daughter Ali Shuffle (GB) shed maiden status at the first attempt tackling five furlongs in Monday's Flat Is Back On Racing TV EBF Fillies' Restricted Novice Stakes at Redcar.

Pimlico rebuild under query

The Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA), which was created in 2023 by the state to oversee the rebuilding of the 'Home of the Preakness' at Pimlico, will be terminated as of June 30, according to an article published in the Maryland Daily Record.

The Stronach Group that owned Pimlico agreed to turn over the property to the state, which will soon embark on a massive, taxpayer-financed renovation once next month's Preakness is run. A state-created nonprofit that adopted the historic name Maryland Jockey Club took over the responsibility of running races in the state beginning in January, though no board was serving in an oversight capacity.

The Daily Record article goes on to state that the MTROA–a volunteer panel led by attorney Greg Cross from the Venable law firm–was expected to officiate racing until 2029. However, it will end operations this summer, which the piece says will remove nearly $3.5 million in annual salary and operating costs from the state budget.

The article relates that the change is not expected to have any impact on the state's renovation plans at Pimlico.

Maryland House Ways and Means Chair Vanessa Atterbeary was quoted in the Daily Record as saying, “We just wanted some more oversight to be able to understand and know what's going on in real time, which wasn't happening.”

Will tariffs affect Japan’s chances in the Kentucky Derby?

Few commercial sectors appear immune from the current administration's sweeping import tariffs, and that includes horse racing's biggest Saturday of the year, with Japan's participants in the GI Kentucky Derby potential targets of the trade war.

Stressing a general air of uncertainty surrounding the tariff specifics, Matt Haug, general manager of International Racehorse Transport (IRT), said that, as he and his customs broker understood the situation, the Japanese-trained Luxor Café (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) is exempt from any tariff being a USA-bred runner.

For foreign-bred horses–like the Japanese-trained Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong {USA})–they would be subject to a tariff, said Haug. However, these foreign-born runners would be eligible to import on a “Temporary Import Bond,” Haug added.

“Technically there is not a deposit required, but rather a guarantor who is USA based. The horse must be exported out of the USA within one year. Once proper documents have been submitted to U.S. Customs, the bond will be closed out,” wrote Haug.

If a Japanese runner hit the board, would their earnings also be subject to an additional tariff? According to Tom Rooney, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), he does not believe a horse shipping in from another country would have to pay an additional tariff on purse earnings.

“But there's a lot of uncertainty as to what qualifies as tariff and what doesn't. We've been having trouble getting answers from the administration itself. But once the tariffs go into effect, we'll have clarity at some point,” said Rooney.