Prime Star sidelined

Inglis Millennium winner Prime Star (Starspangledbanner) has been found to have a bone chip in his knee and will miss at least six months of racing.

The Richard and Michael Freedman-trained gelding delivered his large syndicate of owners a huge payday when he won the feature race at Warwick Farm last Wednesday, but the joy has been tempered by news that he will need surgery.

“He was a touch scratchy the next morning and when he flexed with the vet he was reactive and then the X-ray showed he’s got a tiny chip,” Michael Freedman told Racenet. “If anything, it only adds merit to the win. He’s a tough little bugger that’s for sure.

“He’ll go in and have it tidied up on Friday then have some time off and he won’t race again until he’s three. Those types of surgeries are pretty straight forward these days so there’s no reason why he won’t come back and carry on from where he left off.”

Boss backs Kolding's form

Glen Boss is not holding back in his assessment of star 4-year-old Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) ahead of his racetrack return in Saturday's G1 Futurity S.

Boss had a riding ban reduced to take the ride on Kolding on Saturday and he thinks that the G1 Epsom H. and Golden Eagle winner boasts better form than any other runner in the country ahead of the autumn features.

"I'd imagine that he has probably got the best form of any horse in Australia. And he's had that form for the last four, five months," Boss told Racing.com.

"His form is there for everyone to see, everyone he beats or runs beside comes out and wins a Group 1 next start or wins its next start. He has just got amazing stats beside him. He's a proper racehorse and his stats say that.

"Saturday is not his grand final, it's a stepping-stone to The All-Star Mile, but you'd still like to see him come out and run well."

Maher jumps to J-Mac's defence

Leading trainer Ciaron Maher has jumped to the defence of star jockey James McDonald, slamming the suspension handed out for his ride on Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) in Saturday's memorable G3 CS Hayes S.

McDonald received a six-day ban and was fined $1700 for his ride, with stewards determining he struck Catalyst 21 times with the whip – seven times before the 100 metre mark and on every consecutive stride (14) over the last 100 metres.

But Maher told Racing.com that stewards need to use their discretion when dealing with whip infractions.

"The stewards need to be stewards," Maher said. "They know when someone breaks the whip rules. It's very obvious. To me, that wasn't at all. I don't agree with it at all.

"Those horses were quickening themselves. The jockeys were just staying in rhythm with them. I think it's a joke. He (McDonald) didn't even flick the whip up. He used it backhand. He was basically swatting flies.

"I think we need to stop pandering to these groups or whoever. Racing is racing. Obviously, everyone supports and gets behind the push for horse welfare. It's good for the horse and good for the industry.

"But James McDonald, he was in rhythm. He never flicked the whip up."

$500,000 Gosford boost

Gosford's inaugural stand-alone Saturday meeting on May 9 has been boosted by the creation of a new $500,000 handicap run over 1600 metres and called The Coast.

With the support of Racing NSW, the race will follow on from the new spring provincial features – The Hunter at Newcastle and The Gong at Kembla Grange.

“'The Coast' is a race specifically for the Central Coast,” Gosford Race Club chairman Michael Cusick said. “It will be an event that the whole region can get behind.

“It would be remiss of me not to thank Peter V’Landys (Racing NSW CEO) for giving us this opportunity and for us to not only raise the profile of racing on the coast, but to raise the profile of the whole region.”

Total prizemoney for the May raceday rises to $1.6 million with two Listed races - the $250,000 Gosford Gold Cup and $150,000 Takeover Target S. also on the program.

Allpress to ride in Saudi Jockey Challenge

Last season’s New Zealand premiership-winning jockey Lisa Allpress has been invited to compete in the inaugural Kingdom Day Jockey Challenge in Saudi Arabia.

“This will be my third time at a major international competition, I am really looking forward to it,” she said. “Riding against world-class jockeys is something that everyone aspires to do, so you have just got to go there and enjoy it."

“The competition includes four races on the dirt, ranging from 1200 metres to 1600 metres.

“I am lucky in that I have ridden in Singapore on the sand tracks and I have also ridden in Japan on the dirt, so it is not a foreign thing to me.”

The competition will be made up of 14 international jockeys, seven men and seven women and Allpress said she is looking forward to competing against some of the biggest names in thoroughbred racing.

“I have ridden with a few of these jockeys before in Japan, but also at Ascot when I competed in the Shergar Cup, which is another really prestigious international jockey competition.

“Frankie Dettori is heading up the men’s team, he has been my idol since I first started. I know there are some pretty famous jockeys in there like Mike Smith from America, Yutaka Take from Japan, and James Doyle. They are very good jockeys.

“Sophie Doyle is heading up the female jockeys. I know there will be Emma-Jayne Wilson, and also jockeys from Germany, France, and England."

Expansion for Busuttin and Young

Training partners Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young will extend their Cranbourne operation to accommodate more than 100 horses.

Cranbourne Turf Club confirmed that Busuttin and Young have been allocated an additional 40 boxes, growing their capacity to 115 horses.

The stable has prepared 55 Victorian winners this season, placing them fourth on the premiership table.

Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale catalogue released

A total of 182 2-year-olds make up the catalogue for the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training slated for Wednesday, April 1. Held in Gulfstream Park’s walking ring, the sale will begin at 1 pm EDT. The under tack show is scheduled for 9 am Monday March 30.

“The Gulfstream Sale annually offers the highest concentration of quality of any North American 2-year-old sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “This year’s catalogue is no exception, as it is again loaded with sire power, depth of pedigree, and quality individuals.”

Past graduates of the Hallandale showpiece include 2019 G1 Santa Anita Oaks heroine Bellafina (USA) (Quality Road {USA}), G1 Humana Distaff scorer Mia Mischief (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) and current Triple Crown contenders Independence Hall (USA) (Constitution {USA}), winner of the G3 Nashua S. and Jerome S.; and G2 San Vicente S. victor Nadal (USA) (Blame {USA}).

“Performance over Gulfstream’s dirt surface in the sale’s under tack shows has translated to victories in the sport’s most prestigious races,” continued Browning. “Gulfstream provides the opportunity to watch 2-year-olds perform over a big, dirt racetrack–which has proven to be a tremendous advantage for buyers.”

In 2019, 59 2-year-olds grossed US$29,115,000 (AU$43.39 million) with an average of US$493,475 (AU$738,817) and a median of US$375,000 (AU$559,000). Topping the 2019 sale was a son of Curlin (USA) out of Achieving (USA) (Lot 173), who was knocked down for US$3.65 million (AU$5.44 million). He was one of four juveniles to hammer at seven figures.

BHA Unveils Eight Equine Welfare Videos

Eight short films discussing some of the common questions regarding equine welfare were released by the British Horseracing Authority on Monday. The films, featuring National Hunt jockey Tom Scudamore and BHA vet Sally Taylor, cover some commonly asked questions about equine welfare like “What happens when a horse falls?” and “What is the life of a racehorse like?” The videos will be displayed on big screens and CCTV across British racecourses.

Previews of the eight videos can be viewed below:

What is the life of a racehorse like?

Is it fair to ask horses to race?

How does racing benefit the horse and wider society?

How much importance does racing place on horse welfare?

What does the sport do to make racing as safe as possible?

What happens when a horse falls?

What is a whip and why is it used?

What happens to horses when they finish racing? (Featuring Alice Plunkett)

“I was pleased to be able to take part in these videos,” said Scudamore. “I feel very passionately about what I do and about the close connection that I have with the horses that I ride. I want to be able to help share that message and show the public that the horses are the most important part of this sport for everyone who works in it.”

Added Dr. Taylor, “While everyone who works in British racing is aware of the remarkably high welfare standards that exist within the sport, it is not necessarily the case that everyone who visits racecourses has full knowledge or understanding of just how well cared for our horses are, and what lengths the sport goes to in order to keep them safe.

“As a vet I can say with confidence that racehorses are extremely well cared for. Over 5.6 million people visited British racetracks in 2019–these videos are designed to inform and educate those racegoers about the lives that racehorses lead.”