Vale Megan Taylor
The death has been confirmed of 26-year-old Kiwi apprentice Megan Taylor, who fell from her mount in Race 2 at Ashburton, New Zealand, on Thursday. Taylor was among four riders that came down during the incident, with the remaining three assessed for injuries not considered life-threatening.
Taylor was apprenticed to Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston after beginning with Canterbury trainer John Blackadder. She had previously spent two years in the eventing stable of Olympians Tim and Jonelle Price.
Megan Taylor | Image courtesy of Monica Taylor
“Our deepest sympathies are with Megan’s family, friends and others in the racing community who have worked closely with Megan,” said Bruce Sharrock, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s chief executive. “We will look to support them in any way possible in the coming days and weeks. We will also support the jockeys and others who were at the races today (Thursday).”
Taylor’s death comes just four months after Taiki Yanagida, a fellow rider, died from his injuries after a race fall at Cambridge in August.
Thron Bone for Hong Kong
Racing.com confirmed on Thursday that the talented 3-year-old gelding Thron Bone, a son of Thronum, has been sold by owner Graeme Gathercole to Hong Kong ownership. He will head into the care of David Hall in the Asian jurisdiction.
“We felt that he’s a gelding that is rising four and if something went wrong, we couldn’t breed with the horse,” said Jerome Hunter, the horse’s Mornington trainer to this date. “I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him because he was still developing.”
Thron Bone won three of his seven starts in Australia, with offers for the gelding emerging from Hong Kong after his good second to Kote (Choisir) last time out in the Listed Brian Crowley S. at Randwick in October. He will head to Hong Kong in the new year.
Good showing expected from Coventina Bay
The dual Group 1 winner Coventina Bay (NZ), a daughter of Shamexpress (NZ), will line up in this Saturday’s G2 Challenge S. at Trentham and her trainer, Robbie Patterson, is expecting a good showing. The 7-year-old mare was last seen when unplaced at Te Rapa last month, but she has improved out of sight, according to Patterson.
“It just didn’t pan out for her at Te Rapa and the next morning one of her eyes was closed over after she copped a clod,” he told NZ Racing Desk. “I think you’ll see something special from her on Saturday, she’s that well and pretty fit. I am very confident that with some luck she will be right in it.”
Coventina Bay (NZ) winning the G1 New Zealand S. at Ellerslie last march | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Coventina Bay is a five-time Group winner since 2020 and is likely to defend her wins in the G1 Herbie Dyke S. and G1 New Zealand S. next year.
ATC tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
The Australian Turf Club (ATC) will this Saturday unveil a new garden space at Royal Randwick in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who granted the racecourse ‘Royal’ status in 1992. The Club will host a tree-planting ceremony as part of a Commonwealth Government-funded project, which was among a number of special events that were held to honour the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year.
Queen Elizabeth II at Randwick Racecourse in 1992 | Image courtesy of the Australian Turf Club
Saturday’s ceremony will take place ahead of the 10-race meeting and it will be attended by a number of dignitaries, including Member for Kingsford-Smith Matt Thistlethwaite. Gates open at 11am local time with the first race at 12.20pm AEDT.
Thorndon Mile on the agenda for Humbucker
Kiwi gelding Humbucker (NZ), a 6-year-old son of Iffraaj (GB), could have the G1 Thorndon Mile in his sights on January 28 if his next two runs go according to plan. The gelding will contest the Tapanui Cup this Sunday and then head to the Listed Timaru Cup on December 28.
“I’d like to have a go at the Thorndon with him,” said his trainer, the Gore-based Ellis Winsloe. “He’s been a bit special to us since we got him. He’s doing everything so well.”
Humbucker (NZ) | Image courtesy of Monica Toretto
Humbucker is yet to win at stakes level but he was fourth two outings ago in the G3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile. He has won three races with 13 placings from 25 starts.
New apprentice for Newnham
News outlets reported on Thursday morning that jockey Jasper Franklin, an apprentice rider on the New South Wales North Coast, could become the newest addition to the Randwick stables of trainer Mark Newnham. The move is rumoured for early 2023.
Previous riders to graduate from Newnham’s yard are the likes of Robbie Dolan, Tom Sherry and Tyler Schiller, the latter about to head into senior rider status. Irishman Jamie Powell, apprenticed to Johnny Murtagh in Ireland, is currently with the stable on a three-month summer stint.
“We’ve got a few talks to have between now and then, but we’d be looking for him to come down in February when Jamie Powell heads back to Ireland,” Newnham told Racenet. “Jasper will come down with the understanding that he will be riding at the provincials first and I most likely won’t have a city apprentice for the time being.”
Kalashani Lad to go on
The 12-year-old marvel Kalashani Lad (Bel Esprit), who has been up and racing since the autumn of 2014 for owner Kel Cox, will press on after landing his 12th career win last weekend at Bendigo. After initial thoughts of retirement, Cox took the advice of jockey Joe Bowditch to keep going.
“I’m still trying to think how an aged horse like that can beat horses six and seven years younger than him,” Cox told Racing.com. “We might give him one or two more starts.”
Christmas yearling auction this week
Bloodstockauction.com will host its Christmas Yearling Sale this week, its final online auction of the year. The sale is the first pre-Christmas event of its kind, designed to cater for yearlings that didn’t find a place in the physical sales of 2023.
“It has been extremely well-received by everyone that we’ve spoken with,” said Anthony Gafa, the company’s director. “It makes sense to move stock on as early as possible, especially with some economic uncertainty on the horizon. The sale allows breeders to then focus on the live sales in the first quarter of 2023.”
To date, 50 yearlings have been entered in the sale, some by the likes of Frosted (USA), Merchant Navy, Yes Yes Yes, Cosmic Force and Saxon Warrior (Jpn). Entries were accepted up to 6pm AEDT on Thursday evening, with the catalogue going live an hour later. Bidding will begin to close from 7pm AEDT on Tuesday, December 20.
Country Championships launch at Tuncurry-Foster
The 2023 Newhaven Park Country Championships will kick off on February 12 at Tuncurry-Foster in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales. Garry McQuillan, the president of the Tuncurry-Foster Jockey Club, said it was a monumental occasion for the two regional towns to host the Championship’s first meeting.
“When I was informed that we’d got it, would you believe that at 71 years of age I got a little tear in my eye,” he said. “It was great to get our first licence to race. People said we wouldn’t race and we’re holding TAB meetings, and now we’ve got the Country Championships. And we are really going to showcase this meeting like you’ve never seen before.”
The Tuncurry-Foster meeting will be the first of nine qualifying races in seven districts for the 2023 Country Championships. The final will occur on the first day of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
