Gary and John Moore partnership confirmed

With COVID-19 delaying John Moore’s return to Australia, the champion Hong Kong trainer will initially work remotely in partnership with his brother Gary.

After a record 1735 winners and seven premiership titles in Hong Kong, Moore has reached the Asian racing centre’s compulsory retirement age of 70 .

Racing NSW on Wednesday granted Moore a trainer’s licence and approved the application of John and Gary Moore for a Metropolitan Trainers’ Partnership Licence at Rosehill Gardens.

The partnership will operate from a stable complex of 20 boxes, with John Moore participating remotely from Hong Kong until such time as COVID-19 travel restrictions allow his relocation to Sydney.

Stewards to monitor Melody Belle

Jamie Richards has advised Racing NSW stewards that 10-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), an acceptor for Saturday’s G2 Missile S. at Rosehill, has developed a skin rash on her chest which is being treated by the stable veterinarian.

Matamata-based Richards advised that, otherwise, the mare is in good shape and has missed no work as a result of this condition.

Racing NSW Veterinarians will inspect the star Kiwi mare on Thursday to ascertain her suitability to race on Saturday.

First Australian foal for Real Steel

The first Australian foal by Arrowfield Stud’s Japanese shuttle stallion Real Steel (Jpn) was born on Tuesday night.

A strong filly with a white blaze, she is the first foal out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Shabaia, whose dam Brazilian Pulse (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}) won the G1 VRC Oaks.

A son of the champion Japanese racehorse and sire Deep Impact (Jpn), Real Steel shuttled to Arrowfield in 2019 and served an introductory book of 72 mares.

He and fellow Japanese shuttlers Maurice (Jpn) and Mikki Isle (Jpn) will not be returning for the 2020 breeding season.

Irish team in doubt for Williams

The spring carnival hopes of owner Lloyd Williams are up in the air as Melbourne moves into stage four COVID-19 restrictions.

A number of his carnival candidates are being trained in Ireland by Joseph O’Brien, and Williams told Racing.com that they are now not certain to travel to Australia.

“Too early to say, but travelling now is a greater consideration than it was 72 hours ago,” said Williams, who has won six Melbourne Cups.

“Melbourne’s next few weeks will have a bearing on the future. If there was any concern for staff travelling, I would not allow my group of horses to come – health is paramount.”

O’Brien has nominated eight horses for the Cox Plate, with Williams sharing in the ownership of Buckhurst (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Degraves (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Pondus (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Master Of Reality (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).

An even larger Williams-owned contingent is expected among the entries for the Melbourne Cup, which close on August 25.

Wyndspelle on parade

Grangewilliam Stud’s new stallion Wyndspelle (NZ) will parade between races at Hawera on Saturday.

The public will have the chance to view the Group 1 performer between the second and third races on the program, and breeders are encouraged to speak with Grangewilliam Stud principal Mark Corcoran about the discounted fee on offer and the limited number of lifetime breeding rights available.

Wyndspelle won the G1 Captain Cook S. at Trentham last season and placed in another seven races at the elite level, including the 2017 Cantala S. at Flemington.

Breeders will also get a chance to view Wyndspelle in the Waikato as part of the gavelhouse.com stallion parades when he is presented at Seaton Park on August 22.

Wyndspelle will stand at Grangewilliam Stud in 2020, in partnership with Jen Campin Bloodstock, for an introductory service fee of NZ$7500 plus GST.

Queensland introduces whip penalty template

New penalty guidelines are being introduced to help curb excessive use of the whip in Queensland.

From this Saturday, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) stewards will implement a penalty template which will include substantial fines and suspensions for whip breaches. Stewards will also consider fines up to the equivalent of a rider’s winning percentage for repeat offenders or offences in feature races.

“These new guidelines will provide clear penalties for breaches of the whip rules,” said QRIC’s chief stipendiary steward Peter Chadwick. “This will assist in providing greater consistency to the penalties applied and it’ll also ensure that riders are well aware of the potential penalties for any breaches of the whip rules. "

The new guidelines, which have been drawn up in consultation with the Queensland Jockeys Association, set out three schedules of penalties which are based on a sliding scale depending on the number of offences.

The three schedules cover:

• Prior to the 100 metres – Consecutive use of the whip within the five permitted times.

• Prior to the 100 metres – Additional use of the whip in excess of the five permitted times.

• The excessive use of the whip over the whole race when it is used 15 times or more.

A rider’s breach of the whip rules prior to August 8 will not be taken into account when assessing penalty under the new guidelines.

Sad loss of star sprinter

The fairytale of Sceptical (GB) (Exceed And Excel) had a sad end when the star Irish sprinter suffered a fatal injury while galloping on Tuesday.

Bought by owner James McAuley for only £2800 (AU$5100) a year ago, Sceptical rose to stardom with four victories including the Listed Woodlands S. at Naas. In his last two appearances, the 4-year-old finished third in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot and second in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket.

“The owners and everyone in the yard absolutely adored him,” trainer Denis Hogan said. “Sceptical transformed my training career. He caught the public's attention and the phone hasn't stopped ringing all morning since the news broke. I always knew he had a following, but I'm in complete shock that he meant so much to so many people – it's all very much appreciated.”

McAuley raced Sceptical in a Hilltop Racing partnership with his brother Stephen and uncle Jim Gough.

“It's gutting, but we have to keep perspective that there are people much worse off than us today in hospitals everywhere,” he said.

Derby placegetter sidelined

Last month’s G1 Investec Derby placegetter Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will be out for the remainder of the year with a leg fracture.

While he has yet to win in four career starts, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt has recorded multiple placings including a third behind stablemate Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Derby at Epsom.

He was injured en route to a runner-up finish in a maiden race at Naas on Monday.

“Unfortunately Amhran Na Bhfiann pulled up lame last night at Naas after the race and has a condylar fracture,” O’Brien said.

“He had an operation last night, when he had two pins put in his fetlock joint. We think he's going to be okay for next year, but we'll see how things go. He's a talented horse and we're hoping everything goes well in his recovery.”

Aloha Star to be auctioned

Last month’s G2 Airlie Stud S. winner Aloha Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) will be offered as part of the inaugural Tattersalls Online August Sale. Bidding will open on August 12 and close on August 14.

Aloha Star will be offered from trainer Fozzy Stack’s stable, as will Meaningful Vote (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), a 89-rated 3-year-old colt who won a premier handicap at Naas two starts ago.

Also among the initial entries is the 7-year-old mare Akhania (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) in foal to Golden Horn (GB) and with a Night Of Thunder (Ire) colt foal at foot. The Night Of Thunder colt is bred on the same cross as this year’s G2 Dante S. winner Thunderous (Ire).

Goffs releases Doncaster catalogue

Goffs UK has released the catalogue for its Doncaster Premier Sale, with 423 yearlings set to go under the hammer on September 1 and 2.

Ventura Tormenta's (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) half-brother by Starspangledbanner (Lot 313) is among this year’s offerings at the Premier Sale. Other highlights on paper include a colt by Invincible Spirit (Ire) out of G3 Firth of Clyde S. victress Distinctive (GB) (Tobougg {GB}) (Lot 173) and a filly by the same sire out of G1 Nassau S. winner Favourable Terms (GB) (Selkirk {USA}) (Lot 206); a No Nay Never (USA) filly out of a half-sister to Equiano (Fr) (Lot 195); a Cotai Glory (GB) half-sister to A’Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) (Lot 322); and a full brother to G3 Hackwood S. winner Yafta (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (Lot 423).

“It has been a very strong year for the Premier Sale on the track and once again it has proved its ability to produce horses of the highest calibre with A’Ali and particularly Golden Horde,” said Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent. "Seeing these results is very exciting for the Sale and the host of top 2-year-olds we have this year, headlined by the likes of Cairn Gorm, Method, Supremacy, The Lir Jet and Ventura Tormenta certainly puts it in a strong position for the latter half of the season and their Classic season next year.

“We have some outstanding yearlings catalogued this year, including siblings to some of our star performers, and we have plenty to look forward to over the coming weeks with a number of graduates lining up in Group 1 races. We will be busy in the build-up marketing this catalogue to our ever-growing global audience and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Doncaster on September 1 and 2, where we will be strictly following the updated protocols to ensure that we comply with the UK Government’s latest COVID guidelines."