Ellis humbled

Te Akau principal David Ellis, who received the Outstanding Contribution to Racing Award in 2017, has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Ellis received letters of notification from the Prime Minister and Governor General that he had this honour confirmed by Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of his services to the New Zealand thoroughbred industry.

“It’s very humbling and somewhat overwhelming to be honoured by your Queen and country, that’s for sure,” Ellis said. “My grandfather received the equivalent honour (CBE) for services to the business community 52 years ago and my father was also honoured with the Queen’s Service Order (QSO) for services to the community in 1991.

“I had no idea whatsoever and it was a huge shock to receive notification a couple of months ago. We were in lockdown at the farm and I was actually in the office selling the final shares in a filly from Karaka, when an email arrived in my Inbox from the Honours’ Unit.

“I think it is an incredible privilege to be recognised for services to the thoroughbred racing industry, an industry that has been my passion for nearly 50 years and will be until my dying day.”

Ocean Atlantique makes light work of the Prix de Suresnes

Second to Pao Alto (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) in ParisLongchamp’s G3 Prix la Force on May 14th, Ocean Atlantique (American Pharoah {USA}) made light work of Sunday’s Listed Prix de Suresnes at Deauville to set up a potential Classic tilt. As he had been when dominating a Saint-Cloud mile maiden in October, Coolmore’s heavy favourite was sent to the front from the break by Pierre-Charles Boudot and after setting his own terms kicked early in the straight to settle the outcome. At the line, the bay had five lengths to spare. Ocean Atlantique was a US$275,000 Keeneland September Yearling and €1,100,000 Arqana May 2-year-old.

Darwin opens gates

The Darwin Turf Club will be the first in Australia to welcome crowds back to the track this weekend.

In a letter to members, Chief Executive Officer Brad Morgan confirmed this Saturday’s meeting would be staged with crowds.

“We’re excited to welcome you back trackside again on June 6. We also have a full staff back on board who are working hard to bring this year’s Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival to life.

“Even more exciting, the new public stand is coming along nicely, due to open in early July, and our brand-new Silks Darwin venue will open from 12pm ACST on June 5. Both venues are stunning, and will provide years of entertainment for all to enjoy.”

Top colt back

Mamaragan (Wandjina) is back in work with Randwick trainer John Thompson with the G1 Golden Rose S. already identified as a spring target.

The lightly-raced colt won the G2 Skyline S. on debut and subsequently finished third in both the G1 Golden Slipper S. and the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce S.

Thompson said Mamaragan had thrived during his time out and expected him to be a major Group 1 player again during his next campaign.

Logan keen for return

Despite a recent extension to the shutdown of thoroughbred racing in Singapore until June 30, ex-pat Kiwi trainer Donna Logan can see some light at the end of the dark tunnel.

Singapore trainers have been allowed to provide basic exercise services on a daily basis for their horses, under strict conditions, but racing and trialling were halted.

“From the beginning of the shutdown our Malaysian workers had to either stay in Singapore or go home but if they did, they weren’t allowed back until the restrictions were lifted,” Logan said.

“We had eight of our workers stay on which allowed us to trot and canter the horses each day within strict criteria such as wearing face masks and the like.

“I have to say our workers have been just amazing as they have done it hard. They weren’t allowed out of the racecourse and had to have their meals delivered, but they have all coped fantastically well.

“We’ve now moved to being allowed to do three-quarter pace for the last fortnight and we can start galloping again. Hopefully, that will mean that we will be allowed to trial them again shortly and then we should be back racing.”

Apprentice working hard

Popular Japanese-born apprentice Taiki Yanagida has been working hard on his fitness as the countdown continues to the resumption of thoroughbred racing in New Zealand.

Yanagida, who sits in the top 20 on the National Jockey’s Premiership with 37 wins for the season, is happy with his base level of fitness, however when it comes to race-riding he still believes he has a little more to do to be in shape for a race day return.

“I managed to keep active enough during the lockdown and since the restrictions have eased a little, but it’s different when it comes to riding fitness,” he said.

“Getting back on the horses was quite hard, but I’ve been working hard since we have been allowed back to trackwork, but I know there is still work to be done.”

Yanagida has kept in regular contact with his family back in Japan over the past months and is relieved that they have managed to stay in good health.

Online venture

Godolphin Flying Start graduate Jack Carlino and current Flying Start trainee Liza Hendriks have launched Wanamaker’s, an online thoroughbred auction house. The website will host a sale each month, with the first going live June 17 on wanamakers.com.

For each monthly auction, entries will be open for approximately three weeks, the catalogue will be live for nine days, and online bidding will take place on the final day.

“While development began well before the COVID-19 pandemic, we feel the platform we have created is going to serve our customers’ needs in the immediate future and in years to come,” said Carlino.

“Online auctions provide some great advantages such as consistent and opportune timing, an ability to maximise visibility and reach to buyers, and the reduction of costs and labour required for a physical sale.”

Keen on winter prospects

The successful completion of a set of jump-outs at Hastings has boosted local trainer John Bary’s spirits as he awaits a return to racing next month.

“It was great to get the horses up and going on the day after the last couple of months,” he said. “We certainly enjoyed the day and it was good for the staff to get back into the groove and to also catch up with a few people we haven’t seen due to the lockdown.

“I’ve probably got the biggest winter team I’ve had for a few years and I’m hopeful of some early success if they can go as well as they did on Friday.”

Bary welcomed back to the stable the majority of his spring team on Monday morning, including several of his better performed runners, including G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas runner-up Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante).