Industry mourns Kerrie Van Tijn after tragic accident
China Horse Club has confirmed the tragic death of Kerrie Van Tijn, who was the farm manager of its The Chase property on the New South Wales Southern Highlands.
Van Tijn, 47, died on Sunday when the motorcycle she was riding collided with another vehicle at Mittagong.
"Taken from the world too soon in a tragic road accident she was a wonderful woman, talent, friend, colleague, mentor, mother & daughter," China Horse Club tweeted.
"Please keep her loved ones in your prayers."
Lady Of Honour out until the spring
The Lindsay Park-trained Lady Of Honour (No Nay Never {USA}) won’t be seen until the spring after going amiss prior to her scheduled tilt at last Saturday’s R. Listed Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
The last-start Listed Twilight Glow S. heroine impressed winning a recent Gold Coast trial that featured subsequent winner Snapdancer (Choisir), luckless 3YO Guineas runner Jamaea (Headwater) and the Group 1-placed Beau Rossa (Unencumbered).
Lady Of Honour
"She just went amiss behind, it was very unfortunate for connections but she's fine and she'll be racing in the spring," co-trainer Ben Hayes told Racing.com.
"I really have a high opinion of her, it was unfortunate, but we've still got the horse and we'll look after her properly and she'll be racing in the spring doing very well.
"It's just one of those injuries that you've got to give them time and she'll be absolutely fine."
Another winner for Astern
Second-season Darley stallion Astern notched his 13th winner of the Australian season via the dominant debut victory of Pole Position at Muswellbrook on Monday.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained 3-year-old finished 2.5l the better of stablemate California Lynx (Fastnet Rock) with a narrow gap back to Keen Idea (Cluster) in third.
Calthorpe chasing further Awards
Chris Calthorpe won’t target further Group 1 glory with G1 Australasian Oaks heroine Media Award (Shamus Award) in the autumn instead setting his sights on a host of ‘fringe’ features.
The $5000 2019 Inglis Gold Yearling Sale purchase, who was seen just twice in the spring, finishing eighth in The Invitation and a distant 16th in the Golden Eagle, is set to trial at Geelong on January 25 before resuming in either the G3 Vamos S. or G3 Mannerism S.
Media Award
Calthorpe outlined the G2 Sunline S. at Moonee Valley and the G3 Easter Cup at Caulfield as Media Award’s autumn goals.
"The problem is if she runs in Melbourne in those Group 2 fillies and mares’ races, she gets like 60 or 61 kilograms because she's a Group 1 winner in the last 12 months," he told Racing.com.
"So, it's a lot of weight and you're giving good horses four kilos, so we just have to play our cards right."
Waymouth improving
Bec Waymouth has provided a positive update on the condition of her mother Deb after the popular picnic jockey was injured in a fall at Woolamai on Saturday.
The 66-year-old was unseated when her mount Baldock (Needs Further) clipped heels at the 200-metre mark causing her to suffer a broken jaw, multiple rib fractures and a back fracture on impact.
"She had a much better night. She's currently under sedation in an induced coma on a ventilator because she has multiple broken ribs and had trouble breathing. Her breathing has improved though which is good,” Bec Waymouth told RSN.
Bright Blue Sky heading home
Bright Blue Sky (Fastnet Rock) will return home to New Zealand after sustaining lacerations and swelling to her legs in last Saturday’s R. Listed Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Bright Blue Sky | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
The Jamie Richards-trained filly finished a distant 15th in the lucrative juvenile feature, having only been beaten 4.9l by subsequent 2YO Classic winner Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) in the G3 BJ McLachlan S. on Boxing Day.
Te Akau Racing confirmed in a tweet on Monday that the injuries will have no ongoing impact on her racetrack performance.
Pakistan Star retired to Living Legends
Enigmatic Group 1-winning Hong Kong-based galloper Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal {USA}) has been retired to Living Legends in Victoria a little over a month after he stopped in a race for the third time.
Pakistan Star (Ger) | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
After stints with Tony Cruz and Paul O’Sullivan, Pakistan Star moved to Doug Watson’s stable after stopping twice during races in Hong Kong, the first of those in the G3 Premier Plate in June 2017 and then again in the 2019 G2 Jockey Club Sprint when he jumped but refused to run further than 100 metres.
Fellowes to train for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum
Charlie Fellowes, who trained three-time G1 Melbourne Cup placegetter Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) will train horses for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.
Al Maktoum is the owner of dual G1 Queen Elizabeth S. winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}).
“Sheikh Ahmed on the roster is a real boost,” Fellowes said. “He is a really wonderful owner to have in the yard. It is a nice set of colours to have in the yard and I’m led to believe he is a wonderful man to train for.
Charlie Fellowes | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“He has been associated with some fantastic horses over the last few years and hopefully we can have a nice one for him.
“They haven’t come to me yet, but I’m told we will have three 2-year-old colts for him, and they will all be in pre-training at the moment and come to us when they are ready.”
Sioux Nation favoured in first-season sire markets
G1 Phoenix S.-winning Coolmore Stud stallion Sioux Nation (USA) has been instilled as a 1-2 ($1.50) favourite in the Leading First-Season Sire markets in Great Britain by Fitzdares.
G1 Flying Five S. hero Havana Grey (GB), who stands at Whitsbury Manor Stud is close second elect at 9-4 ($3.25), with Coolmore Stud stallion and Classic winner Saxon Warrior (Jpn) rounding out the top three at 6-1 ($7).
Sioux Nation (USA) | Standing at Coolmore Ireland
“It was hard to not pick out Sioux Nation as a short-priced favourite given the huge numerical advantage he has,” Fitzdares Head of Horseracing Sam Hockenull said.
“We hope in coming weeks to price up a ‘total prizemoney’ market for the first time. In turn, this will hopefully offer a much more competitive market.”
Levante to tackle Te Rapa sprint
Ken and Bev Kelso were delighted to tick the Group 1 box with classy mare Levante (NZ) (Proisir) when successful in the Telegraph S. on Saturday and the focus will now shift to doubling that elite level tally.
A winner of nine of her 14 starts, Levante will be prepared for the G1 BCD Group Sprint at Te Rapa on February 12, a race in which she finished fifth last year after being slow to begin.
Levante (NZ), winner of the G1 Telegraph S. | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“It was a great day on Saturday and I’m very pleased for the mare to get her Group 1, it was well-deserved,” Ken Kelso told Weigh In.
“It was a real tough effort and she ground it out to the line and showed a lot of heart and it was pleasing to see that she’s jumping better and putting herself forward now.”
TAB NZ appoints new chief executive
Mike Tod has been announced as TAB New Zealand’s new chief executive.
Tod, who is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Programme has held senior roles with TVNZ, Fonterra, Air New Zealand and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. He is a former member of MasterCard’s Asia Pacific Advisory Board, is a Director of Queenstown Airport, and is an advisor to Live Ocean Racing.
Mike Tod | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“The Board and I are thrilled to welcome someone of Mike’s international experience to lead TAB NZ,” Board Chairman Mark Stewart said.
“His appointment and those areas of focus will allow us to drive further revenue growth for our racing and sporting stakeholders.”
