Racing NSW Board applications close Sunday
Applications for four upcoming vacancies on the Racing NSW Board, including the roles of Chair and Deputy Chair, will close Sunday, October 10.
It is understood that several industry participants will be applying for the vacancies, amongst the names rumoured is John Messara for the Chair position. Messara previously led Racing NSW as Chairman through a period of major rejuvenation from 2011 until 2016.
Current Chair Russell Balding and Deputy Chair Tony Hodgson are outgoing, with the maximum Board term of 10 years now reached by both Directors. The other two Directors with expired terms are Michael Crismale, who has served for three years, and the Hon. George Souris, who has served for four.
Keeneland November released
A total of 3,594 head have been catalogued for the weanling and breeding stock portions of the 78th Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, to be held Nov. 10-19 in Lexington.
“The Keeneland November Sale is unmatched globally in terms of scale and quality, and the anticipation for the sale is building,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said.
“Buyers will find proven producers, coveted broodmare prospects who were successful racehorses and royally bred weanlings at all levels of the market, particularly in the prestigious Book 1. And the reimagined horses of racing age segment ensures the excitement and opportunity continue through the final sale day.”
Cox Plate earmarked
Trent Busuttin is hopeful promising colt Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) can book himself a ticket into the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 23 with success in Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Guineas.
Busuttin, who trains in partnership with Natalie Young, said the stable has no hesitations about taking on older horses in the time-honoured feature.
"Best case scenario is we win the Guineas and go to the Cox Plate. Reality is no-one in Australia wants to stand a Derby winner, so we want to win a Caulfield Guineas first,” Busuttin told RSN.
Forgot You (NZ) after winning at Moonee Valley
Guineas off the cards
Calvin McEvoy has confirmed that talented filly Mac ‘N’ Cheese (Sebring) won’t contest next Wednesday’s G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
McEvoy said the well-related galloper has come through her unplaced performance in the Listed Jim Moloney S. at Sandown in good order and that she will likely line up in a 3-year-old fillies' handicap over a mile on Caulfield Cup Day.
Mac ‘N’ Cheese is a half-sister to G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Exceedance (Exceed And Excel) and G3 Zedative S. winner Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel).
Sudoko impresses
Luke Currie believes that lightly raced galloper Sudoko (Rubick) has a bright future after piloting the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper to victory in a 1200 metre BM64 H. at Sale on Wednesday.
Currie said the $160,000 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase can measure up at a higher level when stepping out over a mile and beyond.
“I've won a couple on him now and he's going quite well," Currie told Racing.com following Sudoko's second win from three starts.
Sudoko holds an entry for the $1 million Bondi S. at Randwick on October 23.
Five rivals for Zaaki
Annabel Neasham’s star stayer Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) will face just five rivals in Saturday’s G1 Might And Power S. at Caulfield.
Three-time Group 1-winning heroine, Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), who finished second in the G1 Underwood S., will be out to turn the tables on Zaaki as will G2 Q22 runner up Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}),
Nonconformist (Rebel Raider), Nickajack Cave (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}) and No Effort (Reward For Effort) will take on Zaaki for the first time.
Gold Trip on track
G1 Cox Plate fancy Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) is showing positive signs despite being deemed lame on arrival from London on September 25, according to Ciaron Maher.
Maher said the three-time Group 1 placegetter is well within himself and loose in his action.
"He's ticking along as good as you could hope at the moment. He's moving well and he's on an improving path, he's up and about more every day,” Maher told Racing.com.
"I watched him work today and he jumped out of the barriers and cruised around. He's kicking up and feeling well. He's come over very fit and we'll continue to bring him along."
Internationals en route
The final group of international spring contenders will arrive in Melbourne on Saturday.
Joseph O’Brien confirmed reigning G1 Melbourne Cup hero Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) to be in superb order ahead of the trip.
Adrian Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, said their trio, which features, Spanish Mission (USA) (Noble Mission {USA}), Away He Goes (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) and Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) are flying.
Saudi Cup promoted to Group 1
Saudi Arabia's US$20-million Saudi Cup has been awarded Group 1 status beginning in 2022 it was announced during Monday's virtual meeting of the Executive Council of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
The move follows the promotion of both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from Part III to Part II of the ICS Book by the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC).
Eagle audition
An emphatic victory in Saturday’s G3 Angst S. at Randwick is required for classy mare Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) to press on towards the $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on October 30.
Trainer Jamie Richards said he favours other options, including the 2000 metre Rosehill Gold Cup on the same day.
“There are a few options there for her. She would have to win impressively to be a Golden Eagle horse, with horses like Mo’unga going there,” Richards said.
“Otherwise, a step up in trip towards the Rosehill Gold Cup might suit her, or she could even head down to Melbourne. We will keep an open mind.”
NZB breeze ups scheduled for next week
New Zealand Bloodstock and the Waikato Racing Club have confirmed that the 2021 breeze ups at Te Rapa Racecourse will be held on Monday, October 11, and Tuesday, October 12, under Alert Level 3 restrictions, should the current Hamilton city border restrictions remain in place.
The general public, including owners, are not permitted to attend the breeze ups, however, authorised New Zealand-based bloodstock agents are available to complete inspections on behalf of buyers.
The full breeze ups clips and parade footage will be made available for viewing on the New Zealand Bloodstock website by Friday, October 15, as well as being streamed on Trackside in New Zealand, plus Sky Racing and Racing.com in Australia.
Fasig-Tipon catalogue now online
Fasig-Titpon has catalogued 1,586 yearlings for its Kentucky October Yearling Sale, to be held from October 25-28, in Lexington Kentucky.
“Kentucky October has developed into one of the most important yearling sales on the calendar,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning told TDN America.
“This year’s catalogue is outstanding, with every top 25 ranked sire represented by multiple yearlings.”
Mendelssohn on top
The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearlings Sale streamrolled to its conclusion Tuesday, ending its two-day run in Timonium with figures up across the board and six-figure transactions right through the very last horses through the ring.
Through the sale's two sessions, 381 yearlings sold for $11,269,400 for an average of $29,578 and a median of $20,000. With 75 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 16.4%.
First-crop sire Mendelssohn (USA), who was represented by the session topper on Monday, secured the sale-topper Tuesday when David Scanlon paid $235,000 for a colt from the Northview Stallion Station consignment. The yearling was one of 16 to bring six figures at the auction, up from 11 in 2020.
Hannam to return
Central Districts-based jockey Robbie Hannam will make a long-awaited return to race riding at Awapuni on Thursday.
Hannam hasn’t taken mount under race conditions since March last year after breaking his femur in a trackwork accident
“I am very excited, it has been a long time,” Hannam said.
“I have been working nine horses every morning for the last two weeks, so I have been pretty active.”
