Osburg's smart filly

Renowned breeder Alan Osburg's homebred filly Pride Of Islington (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) broke her maiden in style for trainer Ron Quinton at Hawkesbury on Wednesday.

Having her second start, and up to 1500 metres, Pride Of Islington led all the way under jockey Sam Clipperton, and strode away to win by 2.6l, giving an indication of her promise.

Her dam, Isla Canela (USA) (Gone West {USA}), who is out of the Champion filly Islington (USA) (Sadler's Wells {USA}), cost US$2.4 million (AU$3,359,932) as a weanling, and later came to Australia as a broodmare having been sold through Arqana to Osburg.

Pride Of Islington, who was retained by Osburg, is her third winner and looks capable of further wins.

Sky wins Queensland broadcast rights

Tabcorp and Racing Queensland have come to an agreement over media rights, with Sky Racing to have exclusive rights to broadcast Queensland metropolitan and country racing for the next 10 years.

Tabcorp’s Managing Director of Wagering and Media, Adam Rytenskild, said: “This agreement extends the decades-long relationship that we have with racing in Queensland.

“Sky broadcasts 12,000 Queensland thoroughbred, greyhound and harness races each year – taking Queensland racing into TAB venues, punter apps, homes and international audiences across and up to 65 countries.

“We look forward to Sky’s extensive network continuing to champion Queensland racing action and its stories.”

Racing Queensland Chairman Steve Wilson said the announcement was a positive step for the industry and its clubs.

“The Queensland racing industry has laid the foundations for a prosperous future by signing a new long-term agreement with Sky Racing,” Wilson said.

“There were a number of outcomes we were determined to achieve – most notably increased distribution, showcasing and revenue – and that’s exactly what we’ve been able to secure for our clubs.”

Racing.com, backed by the Victorian racing industry and the current broadcaster of Victoria and South Australian racing, had been a bidder for the Queensland rights.

Nature Strip to return at trials

Nature Strip (Nicconi) is set to return to the trials next week at Rosehill .

The four-time Group 1 winner is headed towards The Everest and will begin his path in a trial next Tuesday according to co-owner Rod Lyons.

"They are really rapt with him," he told Racing.com when asked of how the stable are feeling about the star sprinter, James McDonald had a ride on him on Tuesday and said he felt fantastic.

"He said you could ride him on a piece of cotton at the moment as he's putting his head down and bowling around as if there are no worries at all.

"But we all know he does suffer a bit from white-line fever."

Pike set for Cup booking

Champion Western Australian jockey William Pike could be set for a G1 Melbourne Cup ride.

The Perth-based ownership group of Schabau (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}) have booked Pike should they secure a run in the race with the promising 6-year-old, who is trained by Robert Hickmott.

"It's very nice and great to be able to secure a ride in a race like that this early," Pike told Racing.com.

"The Perth ownership had spoken to me a long time ago, and I kept an eye on it. I know the owner (Geoff Evans) well and we've been to lunch a few times.

"I knew about the horse and kept an eye on it. Once they got wind that I was going to be over that way, well then he said, 'If you're there then I'd like you to ride it'.

"It probably wasn't a lot of chasing on anyone's behalf, it was just good timing."

Spring plans for Santa Catarina

Trainer Mike Moroney has spring ambitions either on the track or in the breeding barn for Santa Catarina (NZ) (Savabeel), who has joined his Melbourne stable and will have her first hitout for him at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

The mare, a winner of five races in New Zealand, including the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO S. is raced by prominent New Zealand owner Lib Petagna and was previously trained in New Zealand by Stephen Marsh.

"Lib Petagna and I race quite a few horses together," Moroney said. "I trained his first Group 1 winner for him, a mare called Clean Sweep and he had a share in Tivaci and Alabama Express, so I've always trained for him.

"He wants to send her over here and possibly go to (stallion) Alabama Express so for that reason she came to Melbourne.

"But they were open to how she is racing.

"She could go to stud this year or she could race on. It just depends on what sort of form she's in in her next couple of runs."

Another smart winner for American Pharoah

American Pharoah (USA) got yet another quality debut winner with Zero To Sixty (USA) showing her potential at Saratoga.

Drawn widest in the field of nine, the US$320,000 (AU$448,000) Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase was beaten for speed and raced in the latter half of the field for the opening furlong before advancing outside into midpack nearing the entrance to the turn.

She found that extra gear for the final furlong, beating Let Them Eat Cake (USA) (Animal Kingdom {USA}) by 1.5l. Zero To Sixty’s dam Cat Moves (USA) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) broke her maiden by 8.25l at first asking for Tony Dutrow and the late Ned Evans and added a victory in the G1 Prioress S. two starts later ahead of a third in the G1 Test S. in 2009. Cat Moves produced a filly by Widden Stud’s Zoustar last year following her export to Australia. She missed to Justify (USA) in 2020.

Seymour meetings moved

Meetings scheduled for Seymour in August and September have been transferred after problems with the track.

Racing Victoria and the Seymour Turf Club announced on Thursday the club's next two meetings on August 15 and September 17 have been transferred to Tatura and Echuca respectively.

A Racing Victoria statement acknowledged the resurfaced track was still to mature.

"Whilst the track was deemed safe for racing by RV Stewards at the July meeting, some areas did not perform as expected due to its immaturity and some ongoing challenges the SRC is facing around damage to the surface caused by birds," the statement read.

Seymour underwent major track renovations last summer which involved full resurfacing with kikuyu grass and a subsequent oversow of rye grass in autumn to provide year-round performance and stability and while racing resumed at the track in May 2020, the surface has struggled to hold up and the SRC have since advised that it is their preference to transfer their two upcoming meetings to allow the track time to further consolidate.

The plan is to allow a return to racing on Monday, October 5.

"Given the nature of kikuyu grass, both RV and CRV are confident the racing surface will continue to improve as the weather warms up and that the track will benefit greatly in the long-term from a summer of growth and consolidation," the statement said.

Kelso mares warming to spring

Matamata trainers Ken and Bev Kelso will give Group 1 performers Supera (NZ) (Savabeel) and Princess Kereru (NZ) (Pins) an exhibition gallop on their home track on Saturday.

Ken Kelso said both had pleased him as they prepared for a likely return in the G2 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on September 5.

"It's a good opportunity to give them a nice hitout on the course before they head to the trials," Kelso said.

"They are both coming up really well. They'll head to the Group and Listed horses trial at Taupo on the 12th and then they'll probably both go to the Foxbridge Plate.

"Supera will miss the first day at Hastings and then target the Group 1 races on the middle and last days. We'll see how Princess Kereru goes in the Foxbridge and then make up our mind on what we do with her. They will both go to stud this year, probably getting served after the Foxbridge Plate."

Kelso said he would love to retire them both as Group 1 winners.