Crowds not ruled out at Victorian Spring Carnival

While large crowds at Victoria's Spring Carnival have been ruled out, racing authorities are still hopeful of small gatherings at the feature Melbourne races.

A state government roadmap has outlined a number of steps for Victorians in an attempt to reopen the state – which includes strict rules on how people can socialise, work, travel and interact, with ongoing restrictions on retail and hospitality.

The roadmap states that 'Major events will be the subject of additional work and further consideration’ and that includes racing.

Minister for Racing, Martin Pakula, told Racing.com that further announcements are expected in following weeks.

“The timing of the spring carnival means that any kind of significant crowds are unlikely in 2020," he said.

“We will consider bespoke arrangements for major events – including the carnival – and to that end, the government will work with the racing industry and the Chief Health Officer about what options might be feasible and safe over the next three months.”

Russian Camelot in fine fettle

Leading spring hopeful Russian Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is making strong progress towards his return in next Saturday's G1 Makybe Diva S. at Flemington.

Danny O'Brien's assistant trainer Ben Gleeson told Racing.com that both Russian Camelot and King Of Leogrance (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), impressed in a gallop over the weekend.

"They had a really nice gallop, we've been really happy with them both at home," he said.

"Russian Camelot goes into next weekend very fit with a lot of improvement to come so we have no qualms about him seeing out the mile first-up. Physically he (Russian Camelot) looks amazing.

"King Of Leogrance has come on from the autumn, he's put on a lot of weight and we really couldn't be happier with his fitness. We are pretty excited for the weeks ahead."

Dunn escapes surgery

Veteran jockey Dwayne Dunn will not require surgery on his fractured C6 vertebrae, which was suffered in a barrier incident at The Valley on Saturday.

The Victorian Jockeys' Association reported that doctors had made the decision not to perform surgery on the injury, which was suffered when Shot Of Irish (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) leapt in the air at the start of a race, and Dunn's head clattered against the top of the stalls.

He was taken to hospital and while it was initially feared he would need surgery, his son Dylan announced on social media that his father would still need to wear a soft collar for the next 4-6 weeks.

"He is very lucky and we would like to thank everyone for their amazing support!" Dylan said.

Waller not worried

Trainer Chris Waller was not concerned about Nature Strip's (Nicconi) first-up defeat in the G3 Concorde S. at Randwick on Saturday.

Waller told The Wrap, that the 6-year-old has done everything expected of him and would be substantially improved off the run.

“(James McDonald) said that’s the best he’s ever settled and he said he was very strong on the pull-up, obviously he got a little tired in the last 50 metres but he was still full of running," he said.

“We could have probably put the acid to them mid-stages but I think with the instructions being for Ball Of Muscle that lead at all costs had some relevance into how we rode Nature Strip, so don’t be too concerned.

“I think 1200 metres is a more natural race for him, he can put the others under a bit of pressure and basically put pain into a race.

“He’ll bounce out of this run, four weeks to the Premiere and then two weeks to The Everest then down to Melbourne for the Sprint on the last day of Flemington.”

Sharrock rapt with Tavi Mac

Trainer Alan Sharrock is pleased that his 'ugly duckling' Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) has booked his spot in the G1 Tarzino Trophy with his second behind Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in the G2 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Plate on Saturday.

Tavi Mac has been affectionately dubbed Frodo Baggins by his trainer and many supporters due to his lack of size and plain features, but he showed on Saturday he was up for a Group 1 test.

“I’m just so very proud of him as he never relented. She is a champion mare so there is no slur on my little fellow in running second and there was a margin of three to four lengths back to third so they did have it to themselves at the end," he said.

“I was speaking with Te Rapa CEO Butch Castles and he was saying who would have thought that Frodo, the equine sausage dog, would be running in a Group 1.

“He’s just a little beauty who has a cult following because of his looks and his attitude.

“There are no rules in this game and if he gets a shower of rain and can draw a barrier then he can be right in the finish at Hastings.”

Zoustar gets Singapore Derby winner

Elswick Stud-bred Top Knight (Zoustar) claimed Saturday's G1 (Sing) Singapore Derby at Kranji.

Prepared by Michael Clements and ridden by Vlad Duric, Top Knight prevailed in a tight finish in the 1800 metre race.

“Top Knight was exactly where I wanted him to be. He saw them all, but was not too far behind, it was a compact field,” Clements said. “We always felt he’d be happier with the extra distance. At his last couple of runs, we didn’t see him at his best as he clearly wanted more ground.

“In saying this, I would say the 1800 seems to be about his limit. At this stage, I don’t think he’s a 2000 horse, even if we might be inclined to consider running him in a race like the Singapore Gold Cup later on in the year.

“Vlad also rode a great race. He knows that horse so well, and timed his run to perfection.”

Top Knight was a $130,000 purchase by Krit Chittaseni from the Nolen Racing draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale.

Influential Illinois racing commissioner resigns

Commissioner Thomas McCauley, who volunteered his time to play a major role in mediating the recently contentious contract negotiations between Arlington International Racecourse and the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (ITHA), abruptly resigned from the Illinois Racing Board (IRB) “effective immediately” on September 4.

No reason was cited for McCauley’s sudden departure, which was announced in an IRB press release late Friday afternoon on the cusp of the Labor Day holiday weekend.

McCauley, an attorney who specialises in gaming law and regulatory compliance counsel as a partner at the Chicago-based Nisen & Elliott, LLC, was frequently the only member of the IRB to ask direct, pointed questions of racing industry stakeholders at IRB meetings. He served two stints on the IRB, first in 2014 and again starting in 2017.

McCauley was especially blunt over the past year in repeatedly grilling executives from Arlington and its corporate parent, Churchill Downs, Inc., (CDI). At an IRB meeting last September, he chastised CDI for lacking “any regard for social responsibility whatsoever” after the gaming corporation intentionally missed a deadline to apply for gaming licensure after a decade of working with the ITHA to get a state law passed to attain that privilege.

IRB Chairman Dan Beiser said in the release that, “The Illinois horse racing industry has benefitted immensely from Tom’s service over the years and will definitely miss his valuable input.”

Commissioner Arlene Mulder, whose term on the IRB recently expired, was not reappointed, the IRB release also noted.