Mare targets NZ G1s

Toby Edmonds has confirmed multiple stakes winner Winter Bride (Not A Single Doubt) for New Zealand’s major sprints and his Gold Coast stable could also have contenders in both Karaka Million events.

It will be the first foray onto the New Zealand racing scene for Edmonds, who has taken his son, Trent, into a training partnership this season. The Segenhoe-owned mare will be aimed at the G1 Sistema Railway at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day and the G1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph at Trentham on January 18.

“Winter Bride is definitely going over and there’s a chance we could have a couple (Disco Lights and Champagne Toots) for the Karaka Millions,” Toby Edmonds said.

“I’ve never taken a horse to New Zealand before and the New Zealand sprints have been on the radar for the last 12 months for Winter Bride. She will fly over on December 21.”

Edmonds also plans to tie the Karaka Million race day in with his first experience of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales at Karaka, buoyed by the success of Kiwi-breds in his stable.

Maloney making the effort

Ryan Maloney will make the four-hour round trip from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast to partner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) in a trial.

"Ryan is riding very well and I am obviously keen to have him on Alligator Blood in Tuesday's trial," Vandyke said.

"From there Alligator Blood will tackle the Gold Edition Plate and Vo Rogue Plate next month on his way to the Millions."

Alligator Blood suffered the first defeat of his career at his last appearance when runner-up in the G1 Caulfield Guineas.

Protocols eased

Quarantine protocols for horse travel between Hong Kong and Australia have been eased.

Australia's Department of Agriculture on Monday reinstated Hong Kong as an approved jurisdiction for immediate importation of horses.

The department has spent months assessing the equine health status of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the biosecurity controls in place for racehorses under the control of the Hong Kong Jockey Club that travel to and from the Conghua Training Centre on mainland China.

Because of the movement of horses between Hong Kong and China which may have come into contact with those coming to Australia, stricter rules had applied with horses having to spend 180 days in a third country.

The Australian government's assessment concluded that the suite of biosecurity controls in place meet Australia's import standards and, accordingly, Hong Kong should regain its status as an approved jurisdiction for the export of horses to Australia.

Noblet on move

The closure of Caulfield as a training centre is four years away, but trainer Andrew Noblet has decided to leave early and move to Ballarat.

Stables are being built on-course with Noblet hoping to be in the new Ballarat complex in March.

"I love Caulfield, always will, and none of us want to move from there, but we have to,” he said. "At first they were giving us the choice of Cranbourne and Pakenham, which didn't appeal to me at all.

"Everyone's got to do it, so there's not much point hanging around."

Noblet had several factors to consider, not only the horses, but also a young family. He said his wife was from Ballarat which helped sway the decision.

Another O’Brien to train

Multiple Group 1 winning jockey Donnacha O'Brien has announced his retirement from riding and will become the latest member of his family in the training ranks.

The 21-year-old son of Aidan and brother of Joseph has been champion jockey in Ireland for the past two years and he bows out with 10 top-level wins to his name.

"After thinking about things for a while, I have decided to concentrate on training next year," O'Brien said. "Riding has been very good to me and I owe everything to the people around me.

"I want to give special thanks to the Magnier, Smith and Tabor families, along with my own family, for all their support.

"I look forward to training a small group of horses next year and will hopefully build from there."

Singapore return

Patrick Moloney has been the beneficiary of Ben Thompson's decision to return to Melbourne after a year riding in Singapore.

Moloney has been granted a 12-month licence to ride in the new season beginning on January 1.

Thompson, who has ridden throughout 2019 in Singapore, was granted a licence for next year, but days later decided to return home to Melbourne.

Moloney, who turns 26 in two weeks, admits he was a little surprised to be granted the year-long licence.

The jockey made his presence felt in Singapore in August during a month-long stint, riding four winners and numerous placings.

"I made some good contacts when I was over there and had a bit of luck for a couple of good owners," Moloney said.

"I've already been in contact with a couple of the owners and trainers that I rode for over there before and they've said when I get there they'd be happy to support me."

First for Gollan

Leading trainer Tony Gollan will have his first runner in Saturday's Cannonball series final at Kilcoy, a race designed to find the fastest horse in Queensland over 800 metres.

Godfather's Girl (Bel Esprit) won a heat of the Cannoball series at Gatton last week to give Gollan his first runner in the final.

"At this stage she will run and be hard to beat," Gollan said. "You have to place horses where they can win and this race looks ideal for her.

"I will obviously be at Doomben for the George Moore S., but it should be a big day at Kilcoy."

Bar raised

Danny Williams will raise the stakes with Don't Give A Damn (Bon Hoffa) following the gelding's return to form in the Snake Gully Cup at Gundagai.

The chestnut will run in Saturday's G3 Festival S. at Rosehill ahead of a possible tilt at the G2 Villiers S. at Randwick two weeks later.

The Snake Gully Cup was Don't Give A Damn's first win for 12 months and one Williams enjoyed.

"I've had very few runners at Gundagai and never had a runner in the Cup before," he said. "It was great fun and it was a great day of country racing."

Bookmaker suspended, fined

Bookmaker Simon Beasley has been suspended and fined for misconduct regarding the recording of bets outside the terms of his licence.

A former AFL footballer, Beasley faced charges of misconduct, improper conduct or unseemly behaviour laid by Racing Victoria stewards over the recording of bets in his ledger which were not taken via his official phone.

Beasley pleaded guilty to misconduct but not guilty to charges of improper conduct or unseemly behaviour and those charges were not pursued.

Between September 8, 2018 and January 26 this year, Beasley recorded 71 bets in his ledger with no corresponding phone call on his approved phone. He also impersonated, or facilitated the impersonation, of 24 bets placed on his approved phone.

The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board suspended Beasley from Thursday until New Year's Day and fined him $17,500. He was disqualified in 2009 for four years and fined $50,000 on charges relating to nearly 1600 fictitious bets with a turnover of almost $3.8 million.