QRIC charges 13 trainers

A group of 13 thoroughbred trainers based in Queensland have been charged with allegedly procuring substances or preparations after an investigation by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission.

Darryl Hansen, John Zielke, Jared Wehlow, Ricky Vale, Benjamin Williams, Christopher Tapiolas, Ian Shaw, Toni Schofield, Steven Royes, Kevin Miller, Darryl Gardiner, Kristy Best and Trinity Bannon have been charged as well as stablehand Andrew Minton and jockey Mark Barnham.

"The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) has today charged 13 thoroughbred trainers, one stable hand and one jockey from around the state with allegedly procuring substances or preparations in breach of the applicable legislation," a QRIC statement said.

"The alleged breaches are as a result of a state-wide investigation into the alleged procurement of substances or preparations in breach of Australian Rule of Racing 256(2)(a)(iii).

"A person must not have in his or her possession or on his or her premises any medication, substance or preparation which has not been registered, labelled, prescribed, dispensed or obtained in accordance with applicable Commonwealth and State legislation.

"The participants have been notified and Stewards have requested submissions in writing or at an inquiry on a date to be fixed."

Registration required for Inglis sales

Those who wish to bid at Inglis' Easter Round 2 Sale, Scone Yearling Sale and Australian Weanling Sale or conduct inspection periods at the Riverside Stables will be required to register as part of the Inglis COVID-Safe plan.

Those intending to inspect or attend are asked to complete the required forms on the Inglis website before attending, while a separate process is required to register for Inglis' online bidding function during the sale.

OTI Racing announces NSW expansion

OTI Racing has acquired a Racing NSW syndication license as it looks to build its network of partners.

OTI recently won the G1 Australian Derby with Quick Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) and is looking to increase its interests in Sydney, spearheaded by its Australian and International Marketing Manager, Hermione FitzGerald, who currently operates out of Sydney.

“Whilst we have had great success racing horses in NSW for many years, acquiring a license with Racing NSW will allow us to continue to grow our network within Australia,” Terry Henderson, Head of OTI Racing, said.

“We have a number European imports arriving over the next few months and we’re looking forward to basing many of them in NSW for both existing and new partners."

The first horse registered under OTI's NSW license is the 5-year-old French import Rider In The Snow (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), who will be trained by Kris Lees out of his Newcastle training facility and Henderson says he’s optimistic about the horses staying credentials.

“From his 10 starts, he’s won three and been placed on six other occasions. His physical characteristics and talent should suit our racing," he said.

Nothdurft marks century

Brisbane apprentice Baylee Nothdurft has brought up his 100th winner for the season with a treble at Ipswich.

Nothdurft's winners were all for his master Tony Gollan, aboard Nicci's Spirit (Nicconi), Knight Mariner (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Socialising (Bel Esprit).

He holds an 11.5-win lead over Ryan Maloney, who also rode a treble, on the metropolitan jockeys' premiership, looking to become the first apprentice to win the Brisbane senior title since Zac Purton in 2008.

He is 14.5 wins clear of Robbie Fradd in the Queensland premiership, while he becomes the 10th jockey in Australia to pass 100 winners for the season.

Bidding open for Perth Sale

Bidding for the 2020 Perth Winter Thoroughbred Online Sale has opened on the Magic Millions online platform.

The sale. which closes on Friday, features 103 lots including weanlings, yearlings, race fillies, broodmares and racehorses.

Lots catalogued in the sale include 25 yearlings (by 15 individual sires), 35 weanlings (by 15 sires), 25 broodmares, nine race fillies and nine racehorses.

NZB Ready To Run Sale entries extended

New Zealand Bloodstock has extended its entry cut-off date for the 2020 Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds until August 7.

In the last six years, the Sale has produced 20 Group 2 wins and 132 Stakes wins across New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Macau.

Breeze Ups for the Sale are set to take place at Te Rapa Racecourse on October 15 and 16, with an auction date of November 18 and 19.

Flying filly headed to Flemington

Improving filly Walking Flying (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) made it back-to-back wins for connections at Sandown on Wednesday.

Ben Hayes, who trains the filly in partnership with his father David and cousin Tom Dabernig, said she could now head to Flemington on Saturday week to tackle a 1600 metre assignment.

“We will just see how she pulls up, but there is a nice race in 10 days’ time at Flemington over a mile,” he said. “But we will just see how she is over the next couple of days.

“It was a good ride by Jamie (Mott, jockey), he was fairly confident and gave her a good chance. My only question mark was the track heading into today, if it was a dry track I would have been extremely confident.

“It’s a big thrill to get the win for the owner who is supporting us a lot.”

Walking Flying is a daughter of Group 1 winner Veloce Bella (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) and was bred by Murray and Marg Hardy and Paddy Preston of the Sunlight Trust.

Hard Spun filly tops Keeneland Digital Sale

Regally bred 3-year-old filly Trapezium (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) topped Keeneland's first-ever digital auction, the Select Horses of Racing Age sale, on a winning bid of US$327,000 (AU$473,000) from Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stables.

A Gulfstream maiden special weight runner-up in February, the granddaughter of blue hen Toussaud (USA) was consigned by her owner/breeder, Juddmonte Farms, Inc. The Juddmonte draft was responsible for four or the sale's top five lots at the close of trade.

"The successful launch of the Digital Sales Ring marks a milestone in Keeneland's storied auction history because it enables us to deliver another high-quality sales option to our clients," Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said.

"This sale met the needs of the market by providing buyers, as tracks reopen around the country, the opportunity to purchase proven, ready-made racehorses from top-flight consignors."

The sale grossed US$829,500 (AU$1.2 million) for 12 horses, at an average of US$69,125 (AU$99,900) and a median of US$32,750 (AU$47,333).

Cornwall Park launches with Hampton Court as foundation stallion

Group 1 winner Hampton Court will launch Peter Boyle and Lisa Gordon's recently acquired Cornwall Park in Victoria.

The son of Redoute's Choice, who has sired 19 runners from his first 35 runners in Australia, USA, Canada, Malaysia and South America, will stand for $2750 (inc GST).

"He is such a gentleman, just so easy to work with," Peter Boyle said of Hampton Court.

Hampton Court won the Listed Dulcify S. and the G1 Spring Champion S. and previously stood at Spendthrift Australia.

Scorpz finds Victorian home

Platinum Thoroughbreds of Victoria will stand multiple stakes-winning son of Charm Spirit (Ire), Scorpz (NZ) at its Victoria farm.

Scorpz, a winner of the G3 Wellington S. and the Listed 3YO Salver, will open his breeding career at a fee of $5550 (inc GST).

He will be the only son of Charm Spirit to stand in Australia this season and will do so at the farm of Rene Hoefchen and Sarah Pfeiffer at Hilldene, just outside Seymour.

Tamworth meeting moved

Friday’s meeting set down for Tamworth has been moved to Scone due to surface water.

Stewards and track officials made the decision to transfer the meeting following a Tuesday track inspection.

“Tamworth is holding surface water and has no chance of drying sufficiently for racing," Racing NSW reported.

Two 1200 metre races on the card have been shortened to 1100 metres.