Meetings rescheduled
Due to the extreme heat forecast, Saturday’s Wyong meeting has been rescheduled to Sunday with all fields and jockey engagements remaining unchanged.
Friday's race meeting at Albury in southern New South Wales was also postponed by Racing New South Wales to Monday because of poor air quality and heavy smoke haze.
In Victoria, a meeting scheduled for Wangaratta has been transferred to Echuca following the declaration of a State of Disaster for Wangaratta Rural Shire.
The meeting was originally to be held on Saturday, but was put back to Monday before being moved with Wangaratta Racecourse now being used to house horses and other animals displaced by bushfires.
"With the racecourse at Wangaratta being made available for owners of horses and livestock to feed and water their animals, the decision to transfer the meeting was taken in the best interests of local residents and racing participants," Racing Victoria said.
Relief package
Racing New South Wales has announced a one-off emergency funding relief package for owners, trainers and jockeys affected by the bushfires on the NSW South Coast.
The funding relief is a response to the losses endured from the abandonment of race meetings and other damage caused by the bushfires.
Financial support will be provided to participants affected by the loss of the race meetings as well as support payments to participants directly impacted by the bushfires.
“There has been a substantial interruption to horses' programs as well as personal and business disruption and losses suffered by participants as a consequence of the bushfires,” said Racing NSW’s Chief Executive, Mr Peter V’landys AM.
Coast key to 2YO
A return to the Gold Coast is expected to help promising 2-year-old The Drinks Cart (Unencumbered) return to his best on Saturday.
The Drinks Cart will need to run first or second in Saturday's $125,000 Gold Nugget to make the field for the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic a week later.
He was installed as Magic Millions second favourite after a strong win at the Gold Coast on November 27. He then had a slight setback before his next start when at Eagle Farm two weeks ago.
Co-trainer Toby Edmonds said The Drinks Cart was one of the horses who did not seem to handle the new Eagle Farm surface.
"He just didn't stretch out like we know he can last time. Back at the Gold Coast you will hopefully see a better horse on Saturday."
Another winter carnival boost
Racing Queensland has announced another new $200,000 race and QTIS bonus payments.
The $200,000 QTIS Gold Jewel will be run over 1300 metres on Queensland Oaks Day at Eagle Farm.
It will be for QTIS registered horses, giving Queensland owners and breeders a further boost ahead of the yearling sales season starting next week. RQ has already announced new races in the $1.5 million Q22 (2200 metres) and the $150,000 Pam O'Neill (1350 metres).
RQ's Corporate Affairs manager Mary Collier said for the first time the winter carnival would include five races worth $1 million or more.
"In addition to the QTIS Gold Jewel, there's more than $1.7 million in QTIS sales vouchers available across the carnival, along with a further $340,000 in breeders' bonuses, demonstrating why we believe QTIS is the best thoroughbred incentive scheme."
Break no issue
Co-trainer Chris Meagher isn’t concerned about the three weeks between runs for the in-form Trevelyan (Pierro) in the $250,000 The Wave at the Gold Coast.
Trevelyan has earned his chance at the race with two strong wins at his past two starts including a Class Six Plate at Eagle Farm on December 14. That followed a victory at Doomben on November 9.
Meagher said it was not unusual for Trevelyan to have his runs well spaced.
"He seems to race best that way and we can keep him ticking over in the lead-up to his races," Meagher said.
"I know his best form to date has been at 1600 metres but we have been keen to get him back out to 1800."
Beauden back for Cup
Group 1 performer Beauden (NZ) (Bullbars) will return to his favourite track in search of his first black-type win in Saturday’s Listed Japac Homes FastTrack $5k Marton Cup at Awapuni.
He has stepped up to stakes level this season and made a very good impression, finishing second in the G3 Eagle Technology S. and third in the G1 Zabeel Classic.
In between times, he overcame a severe blunder at the start of an open handicap at Awapuni to score a dominant 4l victory. That was the seventh win of his 24-start career, and his fifth at the Palmerston North course.
“I thought it was a very good run in the Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day,” co-trainer Graeme Rogerson said. “He had a little bit of bad luck in the running, but that’s racing. It was a great effort in his first start at that level.”
Success for Iffraaj
Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj (GB) enjoyed success at the opening of the Dubai World Cup carnival.
His son Major Partnership (Ire) was successful in the Listed Meydan Challenge for trainer Saeed bin Suroor and jockey Pat Cosgrave.
“I think he’s a better horse this year. He looks better, feels better and moves better. I had a lovely run down the fence and it worked out nicely,” Cosgrave said.
