Cover image courtesy of Sharon Lee Chapman

Magic Millions moves sales to July

Magic Millions has confirmed it will now hold the 2020 National Broodmare and Weanling Sale and its 2020 National Yearling Sale in July.

The government protocols surrounding the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 have caused changes in all aspects of the thoroughbred industry and Magic Millions has decided its traditional breeding stock and yearling sales will be pushed back.

The National Broodmare and Weanling Sale will now be held on the Gold Coast from July 20 until July 24, while the National Yearling Sale has been moved to be held July 28 to July 30.

The dates are provisional at this stage and the progress of the sales will depend on government approval. Magic Millions has also indicated it is willing to move the sales online or to another location if required.

"All of our team here at Magic Millions respect the fact that you, our clients, are concerned about sales changes and market adjustments. Just be assured that we are looking to adjust these to do the best thing by you," Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said in a message to vendors.

"It's our obligation to you to hold the best auction we possibly can to provide you with the best opportunity to sell your horse. To assist you in planning, we have put together a tentative sales schedule which can be seen on our website or social media channels."

New Zealand pencils comeback date

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has earmarked July 1 as a possible return to racing in the country, which is currently under a four-week lockdown as a consequence of COVID-19.

NZTR conducted a board meeting on Tuesday night where a timetable for racing's return was confirmed based on Level 4 restrictions currently in place only lasting four weeks.

An indicative four-month calendar has been developed, which confirmed:

- If training is able to resume in May, we anticipate trialling in late June with race dates from 1 July

- Building from a single meeting per week in each region in July

- A focus on racing near the horse population in early months and building to wider venue use by late Spring

- Incentives being explored to get horses to the races rather than multiple trials

- The removal of nomination and acceptance fees during the initial period

- A program that needs to be flexible, with races over shorter distances initially

- No reduction to the minimum stake but a flatter stake model across the board initially to ensure wider distribution of funds to owners

- A return to jumps racing is likely for Northern region but unlikely for South due to likely travel restrictions

- The scheduling of Group and Listed races and reviewing the pattern has been discussed and the recognition that travel restrictions will require a new way of thinking

"The full impact on stake allocations will be known once we have the full picture from RITA and the Government," the statement, signed by Chairman Dr Alan Jackson and CEO Bernard Saundry, said.

NZTR also confirmed that has reduced payroll and contractor costs by 20 per cent since the shutdown of racing including the salaries of Board members by 100 per cent and the CEO by 25 per cent.

It has also commenced the development of enhancing the protocols and actions required when a return to racing and training is possible under the Government Alert level system, worked with RITA and the Government in providing data and information on how NZTR wants racing to resume with an appropriate funding model and conducted phone and video conferences with stakeholders and club representatives to provide information.

"NZTR’s priority is to recommence racing as soon as possible to maintain employment within our sport and to distribute much needed funds for our participants," the statement said.

"We are also very aware that you are all working hard to maintain equine welfare at the highest level."

Melbourne Cup planning still on track

The Victoria Racing Club is intent on staging the 2020 G1 Melbourne Cup, saying at this stage it would not be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

As racing continues throughout Australia despite a shutdown of many other industries, VRC Chief Executive Neil Wilson told RSN that the club would be prepared to run the iconic race behind closed doors if it had to.

"Obviously that would be a disappointing outcome not to have the crowds there, but a more disappointing outcome is that the COVID-19 safety position is such that we can't run the Cup at all," he said.

"Certainly our goal is this year we have a Melbourne Cup and we are certainly looking for the first Tuesday of November to be the date that it is run."

Wilson said it was likely the current Melbourne Cup prizemoney level of $8 million would be reviewed, but it had not yet conceded it wouldn't feature international contenders.

"Regardless of whether there is a strong, or any, international contingent, we'll have a great field," Wilson said.

"Maybe that's the characteristic of this year's Cup, that Australian feel of getting back into the game with an Australian Melbourne Cup.

"We are looking to make this a very special day, a special week, and it comes on the back of a very difficult time for a lot of people."

Hawkesbury, Gosford, Scone set to lose standalone meetings

Standalone race meetings at Gosford, Hawkesbury and Scone won't be run in April and May as Racing NSW makes changes to its schedule to minimise risks.

Racing NSW Chief Executive Peter V'landys confirmed on Sky Racing that those meetings would be replaced by metropolitan meetings in Sydney as part of protocols in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"The majority of the horses come from the metropolitan areas so we need to have the least amount of travel," he said. "We have the highest biosecurity measures in the metropolitan area so we will conduct those meetings in the metropolitan area. The clubs would have made significant losses running them with no crowd so it is better just to run them in the metropolitan area."

Hawkesbury was scheduled to host its Cup meeting on April 25, while Gosford's Gold Cup meeting on May 9 and Scone's meeting on May 15 are also set to be impacted.

Warrnambool carnival changes confirmed

Racing Victoria has confirmed the Warrnambool May Carnival, usually conducted over three days, will be a two-day carnival in 2020.

The decision to restructure the program was made in light of the impacts of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, with racing being conducted in Victoria under strict biosecurity protocols. It had already been confirmed that this year’s May Carnival would be closed to all spectators, including members, owners and the general public.

The first day of the meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 5 and features the historic Grand Annual Steeplechase as part of an eight-race jumps program.

The Brierly Steeplechase and Galleywood Hurdle will also feature on what shapes as one of the biggest jumps racing program ever conducted in Victoria.

The second day, to be held on Wednesday, May 6, will feature two Listed events, the Warrnambool Cup and the Wangoom H.

“With the strict biosecurity protocols in place to allow for the continuation of racing in Victoria without crowds, we have had to re-imagine this year’s May Carnival to provide a program that minimises risks, community interaction and the number of essential staff to deliver the event," RV Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter, said.

“In consultation with the Club, CRV and AJRA, we have determined that a two-day May Carnival with one meeting exclusive to jumps racing and the other to flat racing is the safest format to ensure that we can still conduct Warrnambool’s iconic races.

“The revamped program assists with the logistics of conducting the event, allows us to segregate our jumps and flat jockeys, and significantly reduces the number of participants that need to stay in Warrnambool, which is again unfortunate for local businesses, but a responsible measure for the industry to take.

“It is going to be fascinating to watch what is expected to be our biggest ever jumps racing meeting on Tuesday, 5 May with the famous Grand Annual Steeplechase, Brierly Steeplechase and Galleywood Hurdle all conducted on the one program for the first time.”

RA committed to ongoing racing

Racing Australia has emphasised its commitment to working with the state-based PRAs to ensure racing continues across Australia during the COVID-19 crisis.

RA has been undertaking analysis and advocacy on behalf of the industry, speaking with government and determining the economic impacts across the industry, which it has assessed as worth nearly $10 billion to the Australian economy, contributing around 75,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

“We understand that the federal and state governments have to act in the national interest and protect the welfare of its citizens and we totally support the actions that governments are undertaking. We also make the commitment that our industry will do everything within its power to comply with all the changes that are being enforced by both the federal, state and territory governments," Racing Australia Chairman Greg Nichols said.

RA confirmed its commitment to maintaining global-leading standards of equine welfare as well as the health and safety of participants.

"Racing Australia will continue to be uncompromising in its resolve to achieve full conformance of measures authorised by the National Cabinet and be pro-active in implementing additional stringent measures that augment the National Cabinet’s initiatives," the statement said.

Latest from Europe, the UK and Ireland

Courtesy TDN Europe

Tate backs resumption at Newmarket

James Tate believes Newmarket is the ideal location for racing to take place behind closed doors–if and when the British Horseracing Authority is able to resume the fixture list.

The Newmarket trainer is confident meetings could be staged on the Rowley Mile under a phased return which would reflect any easing of the COVID-19 measures currently in place.

Prospects of racing –which has been placed on lockdown by the BHA until the end of April at least –were given a glimmer of hope on Friday after a letter issued to stakeholders by the Resumption of Racing Group suggested work was being carried out so the sport could start up again on May 1.

Although not confirmed, one idea mooted has been the introduction of a number of regional racing centres–of which Newmarket might be one.

Tate said, “I would be behind racing returning to Newmarket–because with everything applied, it would be a sensible place to have a meeting before anywhere else.

“You could run a meeting with Newmarket-based trainers and only use professional jockeys–and that could just be Newmarket-based ones, because nobody would have to travel far or stay over either.”

Latest from USA

Courtesy of TDN America

Castellano details coronavirus fight

For Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, the hard part of having the coronavirus has not been the physical effects. Relatively young at 42-years-old and in peak physical condition, Castellano said he feels “great” and considers himself to be “very lucky and very fortunate.”

But that doesn’t mean the coronavirus didn’t beat him up, just in other ways. Castellano said Tuesday that the mental toll COVID-19 took on him was substantial and the hardest part of his ordeal.

“This has been one of toughest challenges I have faced in my life,” he said. “That’s because I didn’t know what to do, what to say. They said I would not have any symptoms for the first couple of days but later on it was going to catch up to me. That’s the worst. When you go to sleep, you worry about whether you’ll be able to breathe, whether you need to go to the hospital. Then if you go to the hospital you have to be isolated and nobody could have seen me. I didn’t know what to think. The problem has been much more mental than physical. I felt fine all along, but I knew that could change.”

Santa Anita closed, Derby postponed

Santa Anita Park announced Tuesday that it will remain closed for live racing through at least the weekend, prompting the postponement of the G1 Santa Anita Derby and G2 Santa Anita Oaks, which where scheduled for this Saturday, April 4, to an undetermined date later in the meet.

Racing was halted at Santa Anita last Friday on orders of the Los Angeles County Health Department, which has closed all businesses deemed non-essential in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been no known cases of COVID-19 at Santa Anita Park at this time.

“At Santa Anita Park, the health, safety and welfare of every person and every horse in our community remains our top priority,” read a release from the track. “We are continuing to have constructive dialogue with the LA County Health Department and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and her staff. In cooperation with our industry stake holders, a proposal was submitted earlier this week which we believe was fully responsive to their requests. We have yet to receive a satisfactory response to that proposal.

Ohio extends racing ban

The Ohio State Racing Commission (OSRC) issued a directive effective March 31 mandating that Thoroughbred and Standardbred tracks remain closed for live racing through April 30 while stipulating that backstretch facilities at venues where meets were already in progress have to stay “open and operational until further notice.”

At this time of year, Mahoning Valley Race Course is the only Thoroughbred track open in Ohio. Live racing was last held there March 18.

The OSRC’s directive was issued on the heels of horsemen at Mahoning Valley receiving notice from track management on Monday that all horses and humans had to be off the premises by April 7 at midnight in an effort to clear out the backstretch as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yarraman Park has earned a reputation as not only a top-quality vendor, but also one which has been willing to meet the market and it is currently on a streak of selling 71 straight yearlings at major Australian sales without passing one in.

But with so much uncertainty in the market ahead of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Round 1 of which begins on Sunday as an online auction as part of the protocols in place because of the outbreak of coronavirus, that streak will be put to the test.

While the exact impact on yearling prices the current crisis will have is hard to quantify, the universal expectation among vendors is that selling horses in this environment will be particularly hard work, with clearance rates expected to drop markedly even at a sale as select as Easter.

Director Arthur Mitchell said Yarraman Park will be typically fair on its reserve prices, with the expectation that the depth of the buying bench, as well as their ability to spend, will be significantly hampered by the current environment.

"We are just hoping for the best and we are getting as many people through the farm as possible to view the horses and we are letting them know that they will be there for sale," he said.

"We are going there wanting and trying to sell our horses, the best we can, without having to give them away. We are hopeful of getting the bulk of them sold.

"We are not expecting anything big. We are just hoping to get a few horses sold. We know it’s not going to be easy, but I think Inglis have done the best job they can in the circumstances."

Aside from the current economic uncertainty, Mitchell said the online aspect of Round 1 of the sale - Inglis intends holding Round 2 in a traditional format at the Riverside Stables in July - clouds the possible outcome even further.

"It’s the first time yearlings at this level are going to be sold like this, I don’t think anyone knows what that is going to mean. We are in uncharted territory here," he said.

"We might all end up being surprised, and it might be stronger than we think. I feel it’s a very good opportunity for people to buy the best-bred fillies in the land."

Impacts felt across the industry

The knock-on impacts of the coronavirus crisis will be felt far beyond the upcoming sales season, with several of Australia's state-based racing bodies already cutting prizemoney, which has traditionally fuelled much of the investment in the bloodstock industry.

There is highly likely to be a major drop in stallion fees for the 2020 season, which adds further uncertainty, while the capacity for ongoing investment from those whose external businesses will be severely impacted by the economic slump, is also another factor to consider.

"I don’t think we really know and that is the hard part," Mitchell said. "We don't know how long it is going to take to burn out. We just don’t know when we are going to be back on track and know what it is going to look like in July or August at all.

"There will be a bit of a downturn and we just don’t know how long that is going to be. Everyone is doing what they can, the race clubs are keeping racing and there is an interest going. Racing keeping going is very important, I'm not sure we can do much more than we have been doing.

"We are obviously thinking that if the world economy becomes depressed, the market will drop dramatically. Hopefully, racing can get back on its feet. Australia is lucky, we’ve got good prizemoney and we are doing the right thing at the moment cutting it back, but I think long term, we are probably in a better position than a lot of countries in the world."

Quality an Easter focus for Yarraman Park

Selling top horses is something Yarraman has always done well and while its draft of 10 set for the Easter Sale this year is smaller in quantity than last year, it is at the very top end for quality.

"We only go to Easter with what we think are the top ones. We've got a very good draft all the way through, they are right up with the best we have bred," Mitchell said.

The headline acts, as you’d expect, are the six lots by Yarraman Park's star resident I Am Invincible.

There are four fillies, all with big pedigrees and all with significant residual value.

Lot 12 is out of Lady Macan (Where's That Tiger {USA}), a daughter of G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Lady Jakeo (Last Tycoon {Ire}) who produced two stakes winners herself and who boasts another six black-type winners among her family, including G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Mrs Onassis (General Nediym).

Lot 39 is out stakes-placed Lorna May (Redoute's Choice), who is from the extended family of Group 1 winner Virage De Fortune (Anabaa {USA}). The I Am Invincible-Redoute's Choice nick has produced 22 winners already.

Gallery: I Am Invincible fillies

Lot 123 is another 'Vinnie' filly and is closely related to Group 1 winner and leading first-season stallion Pride Of Dubai, being by Street Cry (Ire) mare Palace Talk (NZ), while Lot 199 is out of stakes-winner Silently (Anabaa {USA}), who has produced four winners, including South African Grade 3 winner Muwaary (O'Reilly {NZ}). Silently is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) and Comin' Through (Fastnet Rock).

The two I Am Invincible colts are Lot 148, who is a half-brother to South African Grade 1 winner Entisaar (More Than Ready {USA}) out of stakes-placed Purrpurrlena (Catbird), and Lot 242, out of the Group 1-placed mare Thinking Of You (NZ) (Thorn Park).

Gallery: I Am Invincible colts

Last chance to buy a Hinchinbrook

Easter will also be the last time that Yarraman Park sell a yearling by its former resident, Hinchinbrook, whose final crop have proven very popular so far in 2020.

Lot 79 is out of stakes-winning mare Miss Vandal (Don’t Say Halo {USA}), making him a half-brothrr to Group 2 winners Miss Marielle (Encosta De Lago) and Eurozone (Northern Meteor), and a close relative to G1 Coolmore Classic winner Peeping (Redoute's Choice).

"Hinchinbrook has a strong reputation with the Hong Kong market in recent times and it will be interesting to see where that market is," Mitchell said. "A lot of people like to see before they buy, but everyone has made a big effort on their videos, to ensure buyers can get a decent look at the horses. There have also been a lot of agents around."

Lot 273 is the top-priced colt from last year's Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, where he sold for $480,000 to Blandford Bloodstock. A son of Redoute's Choice, he is out of imported mare Victoire Celebre (USA) (Stravinsky {USA}), who has already produced a stakes-winner in Arab Dawn (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}).

There is also Lot 182, an Astern half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner and young Darley stallion Brazen Beau and Lot 37, a filly by Shalaa (Ire) out of Group 2 winner Longport (Casino Prince).

It has been confirmed by majority owner Newgate in the past couple of days that Brutal's racetrack career is over after it became apparent that an intended trip to Brisbane and then possibly Royal Ascot would be shelved due the coronavirus outbreak.

Queensland has cancelled its Winter Carnival, ruling out the handsome 4-year-old son of O'Reilly (NZ) further building on a 10-start career which saw him win five races, including a G1 Doncaster Mile, and win over $2.6 million in prizemoney.

"The plan was to take him to Brisbane, but obviously when they called the carnival off, there was no other choice but to retire him, which is a shame, because he had a lot more to offer," Field said.

But having already taken plenty of enquiries about Brutal from breeders in the past 24 hours, Field can not wait to see what he can do in the breeding barn, given he possesses all the ingredients to make a substantial impression as a stallion.

"He was a proper racehorse. He has a great physique, is a great outcross and is by a champion sire. They are all the things we look for," he said.

"He's such a beautiful horse. He's got that stunning dark colour. He can have a really good place in the market.

"He's going to really suit those fast Aussie-type mares and he is absolutely one of the most stunning horses as a stallion. He will be one of the best-looking horses on any roster this year. I think when you add up those parts, you have a pretty exciting prospect."

Brutal was bred by Auckland-based Anne Storey and her mother Ruth Kerr Taylor from their stakes-placed mare Alberton Princess (NZ) (Golan {Ire}). That family has produced stakes winners such as Te Akau Rose (NZ) (Thorn Park), Lady Alberton (NZ) (Golan {Ire}), Alberton Park (NZ) (Thorn Park), Testarhythm (Testa Rossa) and Cavalry Rose (Charge Forward).

Brutal is a full brother to stakes-winner Talaria (NZ) and was offered through the Mapperley Stud draft at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, where Hawkes Racing paid NZ$220,000 for the colt.

He debuted in a late-season 2-year-old race at Caulfield, winning by 5l and followed that up with a stakes win at just his second start in the Listed McKenzie S. at Moonee Valley,

He then won the Listed Exford Plate at Flemington before being spelled for the spring, unbeaten in three starts.

Brutal was beaten in his first two runs back in the autumn, but showed his absolute class when running second to Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), beaten 3.5l, in the G1 George Ryder S.

He then claimed the G1 Doncaster Mile at just his seventh start, the least experienced colt to ever win the famous Randwick race.

Newgate then secured a controlling interest in the colt with a view to his future as a stallion.

"The Hawkes' were always so bullish on the horse and that was a big part of our investment decision," Field said. "They really had an ultra belief in the horse. The last time they had that sort of belief in a horse was probably Deep Field and he was the last one from their stable we invested in. I always felt confident to buy that horse."

Brutal's final win came when he returned to win the G2 Premiere S. in the spring beating several of the country's top sprinters.

He was being readied for a late autumn return, but circumstances have conspired against his racetrack career resuming and he is now headed for the stallion barn.

For exactly what fee will be determined in the coming weeks, according to Field.

"We'll probably announce his fee next month. There is no hurry. We have had really good enquiries since it came out that he was retired. I've got no doubt he will cover a full book. We will work out what is a fair price and price him accordingly," he said.

Inglis has said all is in readiness for the start of the sale, with bidding to begin on Sunday (April 5) and auctions closing progressively throughout Tuesday (April 7) and Wednesday (April 8).

Government protocols surrounding the outbreak of coronavirus has necessitated Inglis moving the sale to an online auction environment.

That aspect of the sale is classified as Round 1, with the option of vendors selling through a Round 2 auction, which Inglis intends to be staged in a traditional environment at the Riverside Stables in July should government protocols permit that.

Inglis has confirmed online bidding will begin at 10am on Sunday, with lots selling in lot order from 10am on Tuesday and Wednesday. That means that bidding for Lot 2 (the first lot of the sale) will open from 10am Sunday and close at 10:04am on Tuesday.

Lot 4 (the second lot, as Lots 1 and 3 are withdrawn), will close at 10:06am on Tuesday, and that will process of closing bids will continue in two-minute gaps, regardless of withdrawals.

Day 2 on Wednesday will begin with Lot 258 and bidding for that lot, a colt by Cable Bay (Ire), is scheduled to close at 10:04am on Wednesday.

Such as is the case with all Inglis Digital auctions, a lot's time will be extended by two minutes if a bid is placed in the final five minutes of bidding. So if someone bids with 30 seconds remaining, the bid timer will extend to 2:30. This will continue until there are no more bids. Time extensions do not impact on the timing of other lots in the catalogue.

Other aspects confirmed include:

- Bids will be only accepted from registered bidders and bidders must only be logged in on a single device.

- Bidders can bid on multiple lots at the same time.

- Bidders need to register with Inglis online and request bidding approval/credit for the Easter Sale, with all existing Inglis Digital Accounts and Inglis Online Bidding accounts eligible to participate.

- There will also be capacity for registered bidders to conduct their bidding via telephone with assistance from Inglis staff.

- All bids made prior to the final sale will be confidential and will not be made public.

- Inglis has confirmed the minimum opening bid of $20,000 will be in place, regardless of whether it is unreserved. The system also allows automatic bids up to a maximum price set by the buyer. Bidding increments will be $5000 when the current bid is $100,000 or less, $10,000 between $100,000 and $300,000, $20,000 for current bids between $300,000 and $500,000 and $25,000 when the bid is above $500,000.

Registered participants will also be able to test run the platform on Friday from 10am-3pm to ensure it works to their requirements.

“While we have over 4000 registered users built up from our highly-successful twice-monthly Inglis Digital Online Auctions, there will obviously be new clients using the online portal for the first time for what is our first ever Easter Yearling Sale Online,’’ Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said.

“This test auction on Friday will give them and everybody a chance to trial the software, get a feel for how the online auction platform works and make themselves comfortable so when the Easter Sale goes live at 10am Sunday morning, everybody will know how the process works and how simple it is."

Inglis has also confirmed that it will limit access to the platform which hosts the bidding engine to registered bidders, limiting the load on its servers, which have been significantly ramped up by Amazon Web Services and have been load tested by a third party.

Those interested in following the sale will be able to do so through Inglis' usual website.

Inglis has also confirmed that the sale will be complemented by a Sale Day Live channel hosted by Caroline Searcy, which will begin at 9.30am on Tuesday and Wednesday. There will be previews of the upcoming day’s action as well as uninterrupted live coverage and commentary of the sale.