Tivaci begins the week with a double
Waikato Stud’s Tivaci sired a double at Scone on Monday afternoon. Trained by Kris Lees, 3-year-old filly Willinga Karisma (NZ) broke her maiden at the fourth time of asking to score by 3l before 4-year-old mare Savanaci (NZ) did the same for Annabel Neasham.
Tivaci stands at Waikato Stud for NZ$20,000 (plus GST) this year.
Tivaci | Standing at Waikato Stud
Anamoe’s return plotted
Godolphin’s spring hero Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) may return in the G1 Canterbury S. in March next year, whilst an international campaign is still under consideration, with possibilities including the Dubai World Cup meeting (late March) and Royal Ascot in June.
“Anamoe is presently grazing up in the sunshine at Osborne Park,” trainer James Cummings told Racenet.
“He is probably thinking what have we got in store for him in the autumn.
“But, I like the idea of running him first-up in March, possibly in a race like the Canterbury S.”
Anamoe’s incredible spring included four Group 1 victories in the Winx S., the George Main S., the Might And Power S. (Caulfield S.) and the Cox Plate - but was denied a fifth consecutive Group 1 in the Champions S. on November 5.
Artorius looks back to Europe
Managing owner Henry Field has indicated that G1 Blue Diamond winner Artorius (Flying Artie) may return to Royal Ascot next year before he begins his stud career.
The 4-year-old has been spelling since returning from Europe, and will return in the autumn.
“At this stage the plan of attack will be to give him a couple of runs in the autumn, whether that’s the Futurity and the Orr or the Newmarket,” Field told Racing.com.
“And then there is a real chance we will have another crack at Royal Ascot next June.
Artorius looks set to return to Royal Ascot in 2023 | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“To have a Blue Diamond winner that has elite 3-year-old form in some of the best races is an elite resume but you’d love to finish it off as a 4-year-old and go out on a high.”
Artorius’ 2022 European campaign yielded third placings in both the G1 Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot and the G1 July Cup at Newmarket, before he was sixth in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in France.
“He was frighteningly unlucky not to win the Platinum Jubilee…he was held up and just lost his momentum at a vital stage and was phenomenal through the line and went down by the smallest of margins,” Field said.
Another Vekoma on top as Keeneland November Book 4 concludes
Book 4 of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale concluded on Sunday (local) with figures largely in line with the same book in 2021. For the second day in a row, a weanling by Spendthrift's first-crop stallion Vekoma (USA) (Hip 2355) topped proceedings when selling for US$290,000 (AU$434,300) to Oreo Racing. The colt was consigned by Brookdale Sales on behalf of breeder Susan Anderson.
“He was leggy and attractive and a good size,” said Brookdale's Joe Seitz. “He looks like he will shape out to be a really nice yearling next year. He has that look. I can see a lot of potential in him. We were very happy with that result.”
The weekend's Book 4 section of the November sale saw 532 horses sell for US$19,112,800 (AU$28,618,000). The average of US$35,926 (AU$53,800) was up 3.4 per cent from 2021, while the median remained constant at US$25,000 (AU$37,400).
Hip 2355 - Vekoma (USA) x Female Drama (USA) (colt) | Image courtesy of Keeneland
During last year's two-session Book 4, 582 horses sold for US$20,220,000 (AU$30,276,000). The section average was US$34,742 (AU$52,000) and the median was $25,000 (AU$37,400).
As the November sale marched into its second week, Seitz said there was still plenty of activity on the sales grounds.
“It still feels great,” he said. “The foals especially have been out constantly with lots of showing. And even the mares are getting plenty of action.”
Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) was amongst the buyers in the final session of Book 4. He signed for Hip 2276, Bullseye Beauty (USA) (Dialed In {USA}), a stakes-winning 3-year-old filly for US$180,000 (AU$268,800).
The November sale continues through to Wednesday (local) and is followed by the Horses of Racing Age Sale on Thursday (local).
Moody’s apology
Peter Moody has apologised after an audio update sent to owners, in which he repeatedly disparaged a ride given by Blaike McDougall, was leaked to the public. Racing Victoria stewards are investigating the incident.
The ride in question was at Cranbourne on Saturday, where McDougall partnered 3-year-old gelding Amalgamation (Dundeel {NZ}). Moody was critical of the jockey for allowing the horse to be shuffled back in the field, claiming to have instructed him to be in a free-flowing position.
“It was an absolute disgrace, he deserves to refund your training fees for that sort of performance,” Moody said in part of the leaked recording.
The trainer subsequently issued an apology via Twitter, and the horse has been transferred to trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
McDonald to miss Old Flame
Champion Jockey James McDonald will miss riding Old Flame (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in this Saturday’s $1 million The Gong at Kembla Grange, owing to a lack of suitable flights and his commitment to ride in Hong Kong on Sunday.
McDonald’s engagements at Sha Tin on Sunday include Hong Kong Derby winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G2 Jockey Club Mile and top sprinter Super Wealthy (Epaulette) in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint.
Old Flame (GB) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Old Flame, a last-start winner of the G2 Linlithgow S. under McDonald, will now be partnered by Tommy Berry.
“James was desperate to ride Old Flame, he wanted to stay for The Gong but the last flight out of Sydney to Hong Kong on Saturday is 3pm (local),” co-trainer Paul Snowden told Racenet.
“Old Flame has returned from Melbourne in good order. He will have a bit of ‘tick-over' work on Tuesday morning and be ready for Saturday's race.”
Racing Victoria report $13.9 million surplus
Releasing its figures for the 2021/22 financial year, Racing Victoria (RV) have reported a net surplus of $13.9 million, as total revenue increased by 4.6 per cent to $572.5 million. Due in part to COVID’s impact on TAB’s retail network, total wagering revenue decreased by 0.5 per cent ($2.1 million).
Commenting on the figures, RV Chief Executive Andrew Jones said:
“This is a positive set of financial results and testimony to the efforts of everyone at Racing Victoria and across Victorian racing, especially during the first half of FY22 where racing continued under strict biosecurity protocols and COVID restrictions.
“I would particularly like to acknowledge the contribution of Giles Thompson, who was RV CEO through the period.
“While FY22 delivered record turnover of $9.2 billion, overall wagering revenue slightly declined and the start of FY23 has seen wagering soften with a return to a more normal operating environment and some macro-economic headwinds.
“Looking ahead, our focus will be industry sustainability, prudent financial management and the next phase of growth for Victorian racing.”
Boost for The Archer
The latest in a series of prizemoney boosts across Australia sees Queensland’s Rockhampton slot-race feature The Archer gain an additional $335,000 for its second running next year. The extra prizemoney takes the race’s total purse to $775,000.
Just one of the 12 slots for the race remains up for grabs, which will be auctioned at a lunch on Friday, at the Red Lion Hotel in Rockhampton.
Mornington training halted
Mornington fell victim to severe weather on Monday morning as flooded training tracks led to closure in the early hours, though Thursday’s meeting there may not have been jeopardised.
“At one point this morning, probably at about 4:30(am) in an hour we had 40mm, that’s what’s done the damage,” track manager Michael Suey told Racing.com.
“(The) course proper luckily didn’t flood, which is good because we race (on) Thursday. Inside of that we had the polytrack, training grass, and two of the sand tracks have flooded.
“I’ve been here for a long time and it was the heaviest rain I’ve seen here and the wildest conditions.”
Interest remains despite ratings decline in Cup week
The Seven Network has indicated an interest in securing the broadcasting rights back from Network 10, despite declining raw TV ratings.
One year remains on Network 10’s five-year deal to broadcast Cup week, worth $100 million, as the viewing figures for the Cup shrunk this year to 1.5 million, from 1.85 million in 2021.
The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has yet to begin the bidding process, but Chairman Neil Wilson is unflustered at the reported figures.
“That’s just a free-to-air rating,” Wilson told The Age.
“We look at the whole picture, we look at the whole audience picture which is the way you need to measure it now. We see these free-to-air comparisons going on, and on a live free-to-air at that time, and it’s valid, it’s real, it’s true, but it’s not the picture you should be looking at now as a measure of engagement.
“(We’re working) to attract audiences who are very much not the ‘sit in front of one station all day’ (crowd). There are some people that want that, there are some people that want racing only, there are some people that want entertainment and the colour of the event only.”
Soumillon may face longer suspension
French jockey Christophe Soumillon, who was banned for two months on September 30 after pushing off fellow rider Rossa Ryan mid-race at Saint-Cloud. The incident also resulted in termination of Soumillon’s contract with the Aga Khan Studs.
It was reported in Jour de Galop that the French gambling police, ‘Police des Jeux’, sent a letter to the national racing authority France Galop requesting that Soumillon’s ban be extended to a maximum of sixth months or his licence be withdrawn indefinitely.
Christophe Soumillon | Image courtesy of Scoop Dyga
The letter also indicates that Soumillon was asked to correct his behaviour in May of this year.
Soumillon showed immediate remorse for his actions following the event, and even refunded the owners of Ryan’s horse €7278 (AU$11,200) for the cost of travel from the UK to France.
