Owners back at Randwick

The Australian Turf Club will admit owners to Saturday's meeting at Randwick.

Owners who pre-register with the ATC will be admitted to the meeting, which will be conducted under strict NSW Government Public Health Orders.

“Racehorse owners will also be given the first opportunity to purchase special sit-down dining and hospitality packages which will allow those patrons to attend all races this Saturday, June 6," an ATC statement said.

“Those owners who do not wish to purchase sit-down dining will be provided with a designated area where they can watch their horses race and then leave the designated area and the racecourse to provide capacity for owners with horses in later races.

“The Public Health Orders require all pre-booked seating and hospitality numbers to be capped at 50 people per dining area, with bookings for this Saturday taken on a “first in” basis.

“Owners who have an accepted runner on Saturday will receive an email with instructions on how to book a ticket.”

Earlier this week, Darwin announced it would allow patrons back on track from this Saturday, while the Belmont meeting in Perth will admit a crowd of up to 300 people.

Racing Victoria released a statement confirming it has continued to speak with government health officials about bringing crowds back to the races but didn’t expect any update in the near future.

“We’re continuing to work on a return to crowds framework with our clubs and government and we expect to finalise that in the next fortnight,” a Racing Victoria statement read.

Shane Wright joins Kia Ora

Shane Wright has joined Kia Ora as Breeding and Bloodstock Manager, replacing Andrew Perryman, who has taken up a role at Twin Hills Stud.

"We are thrilled to have Shane start with us and the experience that he brings. Shane got an early taste for the industry working at Lynn Lodge Stud in his home country of Ireland under the guidance of prolific breeder, Eddie O’Leary, which gave him a great grounding and understanding of the Thoroughbred industry," a statement from Kia Ora read.

"He then went on to be the youngest graduate of the Irish National Stud Breeding Course before being offered a management role within the organisation when the course concluded, which he held for four years before travelling to Australia."

Wright then spent over 10 years at Yarraman Park as Stud Manager working with star stallion I Am Invincible.

“It is a privilege to join Mr Krishnan, Bob Rose and the Kia Ora team, a foundation stud in the Hunter Valley that has been operating for over 100 years and is steeped in its own legacy. Many champions have been bred here and this tradition continues through Mr Krishnan’s passion for the industry and is evident in the quality of the world-class broodmare band he has assembled," Wright said.

"It is a very exciting time for the Stud going forward with some outstanding yearlings primed for sale next year and also some very exciting Kia Ora-bred racehorses performing very well on the track at present. I feel it is a huge opportunity to be part of a Stud with such history and tradition and I look forward to the challenge. I would like to wish Andrew Perryman and his family all the best with their future at Twin Hills.”

Cliff's Edge to stand at Rangal Park

Rangal Park Stud has confirmed that Cliff's Edge, the Group 2-winning son of Canford Cliffs (Ire) will stand at its Victorian property in 2020.

Cliff's Edge was a winner of eight races from 2000 metres to 2040 metres, including the G2 Alister Clark S. and the G2 Crystal Mile as well as two Group 3 races. He amassed over $1.1 million dollars in prizemoney in his 30 start career.

Out of multiple city winner Simulation (Snadee {USA}), he was a $60,000 purchase from the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, and contested Group 1 races on nine occasions.

He will stand for $6600 inc GST and will stand alongside of Soul Patch, Boom Time and Danerich.

Chequerboard stays perfect

Fastnet Rock filly Chequerboard made it two wins from as many starts when winning the Ladbrokes H. at Sandown on Wednesday over 1400 metres.

Chequerboard was a winner on the Pakenham Synthetic last month and handled the step to the turf with aplomb seeing off Insaaf (Pride Of Dubai) in a slogging finish to the 2-year-old race.

The Lindsay Park-trained filly is one of eight Australian 2-year-old winners for Coolmore's Fastnet Rock this season. She was foaled, raised and is raced by Coolmore, after being passed in short of her NZ$300,000 reserve at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka.

She is out of Chi (NZ), who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner What Can I Say (Khozaam {USA}), stakes-winner Wry Hero (NZ) (Clay Hero) and closely related to Group 1 winner Invader (Snitzel).

Chi was sold to Hastings Bloodstock for $55,000 in foal to So You Think (NZ) at the 2020 Inglis January Online Sale.

Chequerboard was one of three winners for David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig on the Sandown card.

Bidding passes $300,000 for Spinning Memories

Bidding for the Magic Millions Online Sale closes on Thursday with Group 3-winning mare Spinning Memories (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) already attracting plenty of interest, with a price of $305,000 as of 4.30pm on Wednesday.

The 131 lots close sequentially, and Spinning Memories, a winner of the G3 Prix du Plaid Royal at Clairefontaine last week, will be the final lots sold when bidding on her closes at 10pm on Thursday.

She is part of a reduction sale by Goldin Farms, which includes mares and weanlings offered without reserves.

Bidding for Lunar Light (Akeed Mofeed {GB}), who is also part of the Goldin Farms reduction, topped $50,000 on Wednesday evening. Her auction closes at 1pm on Thursday.

Another milestone for Moody

Champion trainer Peter Moody got his first city winner since his return to the training ranks with Cernan (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) winning over 2400 metres at Sandown.

Moody has been training since the start of May and while he has had a trio of winners at country tracks, Cernan's win was his first at metropolitan level since Flamberge (Exceed And Excel) won the 2016 G1 William Reid S.

"We haven't got a superstar, our chances are in our younger brigade that are going to be six, 12 or 18 months away, so we've just got to place these horses to advantage, keep them in their grade and see if we can keep them ticking over," said Moody.

"I'd love to have a superstar, don't get me wrong. We've got a couple of nice horses - we'll probably have a couple of spring horses - but on the whole, the majority of these horses I own myself and they're restricted grade, so we keep them in their grade so they can keep paying bills and keep Mrs Moody happy."

The Sandown meeting also proved a breakthrough for young jockey Campbell Rawiller, the son of top jockey Nash, who got his first city winner on Brilliant Concept (Star Witness) in a 1600 metre BM70 H.

RITA directors have terms extended

New Zealand Minister for Racing Winston Peters has announced the directors of the Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) will have their terms extended until 30 June 2021.

The transition period has been extended due to the COVID-19 crisis and to ensure that the Racing Industry Bill can complete its progress through the House at a time when the current focus on the COVID-19 response is reduced.

“We knew from the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis that the racing industry was facing an unparalleled crisis in its history,” Peters said.

“The racing industry is seriously underestimated for its important contribution to our regions and our economy, and getting the reforms right is pivotal to the economic recovery of all of New Zealand.”

Peters said the extension will allow the directors to continue contributing to work strengthening the governance and operational settings in the racing industry.

“It is crucial that the directors continue to offer their extensive expertise and experience during this extended transition period to help make the racing industry both more prosperous and sustainable,” Peters said.

“In the long term, when we get all the steps correct, there is no reason why racing in this country cannot be a viable, world-class industry.”

The directors are Dean McKenzie (Chair), Bill Birnie, Liz Dawson, Kristy McDonald, Anna Stove and Sir Peter Vela.

Moore, Dettori return winners

After sitting out Newcastle’s curtain-raising card on Monday, Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore both returned to action at Kempton on Tuesday, with each notching a winner.

Moore was victorious aboard The Queen’s homebred 3-year-old colt First Receiver (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) for Sir Michael Stoute, while Dettori partnered Nat Rothschild’s 3-year-old Galsworthy (GB) (Dansili {GB}) to break his maiden at the third time of asking for John Gosden.

Commenting after the return after nearly 12 weeks of lockdown, Dettori said, “It’s good – I’m away from home. I think my wife is more pleased than me, I’ll be honest with you.”

Dettori is gearing up to ride champion stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in Friday’s G1 Coronation Cup ahead of this weekend’s G1 2000 and G1 1000 Guineas.

“It’s all happening now,” Dettori said. “We usually have a stop-start season, but now it is full on. I hated [the break from racing] like everybody else. At the moment I’ve seen everything running smoothly and long may that continue. It is the start of sport–we are a non-contact sport and it’s great we are able to start.”