Daily News Wrap

V’Landys lashes interstate colleagues

Racing NSW boss Peter V’Landys believes some of his interstate colleagues are failing “the most crucial requirements” regarding animal welfare, while accusing them of hypocrisy. V’Landys has called for other authorities to follow his state’s lead in banning racehorses being sent to abattoirs and the knackery.

V’Landys’ comments come as Racing NSW initiated legal action against fellow Principal Racing Authorities (PRAs) Racing Victoria, Racing Queensland, Racing South Australia and Racing and Wagering Western Australia, all amid concerns about anti-competitive behaviour.

“The artificial argument regarding whip reform and animal welfare is purely spin to justify the actions they were going to take against me in the dossier,” V’Landys said.

“What’s more concerning is that other states won’t follow Racing NSW’s lead and ban horses from being sent to knackeries and abattoirs. In one breath, they're saying Racing NSW doesn’t want reform on a padded whip which doesn’t hurt the horse, while they allow horses to be slaughtered at any age, either before they race or after they race.”

‘Positive start’ for new welfare protocols, says Head Vet

Racing Victoria’s General Manager of Veterinary Services, Dr Grace Forbes, believes the state’s new spring carnival international vetting procedures are ticking the boxes. Stringent vetting requirements for internationals to compete in Melbourne were introduced ahead of the spring of 2021.

“As a part of the process, when we did our initial review, we went around and did a benchmarking exercise to look at all the different procedures and protocols that our other neighbouring jurisdictions have in place,” Forbes said at the Asian Racing Conference.

“We’ve had two years with the new protocols in place and we’ve had injury-free run Melbourne Cups and none of our international competitors have suffered serious injury, so that’s a really positive start.

“Each year after the carnival we review how the carnival has proceeded and we undertake some stakeholder engagement, so we've been talking with local and international trainers and veterinarians.”

Forbes said those conversations with stakeholders had resulted in “mixed feedback.”

Cummings eyes another Diamond contender

Godolphin Australia trainer James Cummings is hoping Snitzel colt Amur can put his hand up for a spot in Saturday week’s G1 Blue Diamond S. (1200 metres) at Sandown-Lakeside. Amur, who is unbeaten in two runs, will tackle Saturday’s Listed Talindert S. (1100 metres) at Flemington.

“We backed up Ingratiating, who all but won the (G1) Blue Diamond and was impressive in defeat,” Cummings said.

“Amur is a tough colt who has got more brilliance about him than he’s shown so far. It could be a sign that he’s ready to reveal that. He’s had a good gap going into the Talindert on Saturday and if he was able to step out on Saturday and win, it’s not impossible he would improve again and be in the mix.”

Kane Jones appointed Bloodstock Sales Manager

New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) has promoted long-term employee Kane Jones to the position of Bloodstock Sales Manager. Responsible for managing NZB’s bloodstock interests, Jones fills the position vacated by Danny Rolston, who moved to the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) last June.

“Kane has continued to develop into an outstanding and integral part of the NZB team,” NZB Managing Director, Andrew Seabrook, said. “He is very well-liked by his peers, as well as having immense respect from our vendors and buyers. We know he’ll do an excellent job for both the NZB team and our clients.”

Jones, who has been with the company since 2009, is excited by the challenge his new role provides and will take up the role immediately.

“It’s an opportunity I’m very appreciative of and a challenge I’m thrilled to take on,” he said. “I love the industry and am very much looking forward to leading the bloodstock team into the future.”

Duckworth believes Welwal can fire fresh

Chris Waller’s assistant trainer and racing manager, Charlie Duckworth, is confident imported entire Welwal (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}) will take a power of beating in Saturday’s Channon H. (1400 metres), a BM100, at Rosehill on Saturday. The 4-year-old has had one start for the stable, finishing a luckless 17th in last year’s $10 million Golden Eagle (1500 metres).

“He’s come back well,” Duckworth told News Corp. “Lee Magorrian galloped him on Tuesday and he reported he’ll be very competitive on Saturday. He’s plenty good enough to be beating them up and making them look moderate on Saturday. He’s better than a Benchmark 100 horse.”

The Longchamp Group 3 victor, who boasts a first-up win, will jump from barrier nine.

Waller has no regrets not campaigning Winx overseas

Chris Waller believes connections of the great Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) made the right call to retire her when they did. Winx was retired at the top of her game, taking out the 2019 G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick at her final start. She bowed out with a 33-race winning streak over a four-year period.

Prior to her retirement, there had been calls for connections to test their superstar in the Northern Hemisphere and, while it was strongly considered, it didn’t eventuate.

“It would have been a huge challenge (to keep her racing or race overseas), I doubt she would have kept winning, so I think we made the right decision,” Waller said at the Asian Racing Conference. “For her to win her last race was so important, as she rose to a different type of status here in Australia, similar to Black Caviar.

“Australian households expected her to keep winning. It was such an amazing journey, but it was so taxing.”

Bowman’s rich vein of form continues

Hugh Bowman is making every post a winner in Hong Kong, and his Wednesday night double at Happy Valley saw him improve to outright fourth in the Jockeys’ Premiership. Bowman is striking at 13 per cent, the equal of Vincent Ho, with 26 wins from 206 rides.

The Australian will return home on Saturday week to partner James Cummings’ star filly In Secret (I Am Invincible) in the G1 Surround S. over 1400 metres at Randwick. Bowman replaces the suspended Nash Rawiller.

Childs suspended, back for Blue Diamond

Group 1-winning jockey Jordan Childs will be absent from Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning meeting at Flemington after being hit with an eight-meeting suspension at Sandown-Hillside on Wednesday.

Childs was suspended for causing interference aboard Niccolite (Nicconi) in Race 4 and will commence his penalty after Friday night’s meeting at The Valley, meaning he will be free to pilot top colt The Instructor (Russian Revolution) in Saturday week’s G1 Blue Diamond S. (1200 metres).

Mental health advocate’s plea to racing

Beyond Blue founder Jeff Kennett has called for racing to schedule one day off a week, claiming racing participants are being driven into the ground.

“There must be a day off. If you are serious about your industry, you have to have a day off,” Kennett told the Asian Racing Conference on Thursday. “We should never race seven days a week, I don’t care who argues the case. It is always going to result in human penalties that should be avoided and if you drive people into the ground, you are going to hurt them.”

Industry gets behind cyclone support

The New Zealand thoroughbred industry is looking to provide some immediate relief for those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle in the Hawke’s Bay region via a partnership between New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), Dunstan Horse Feeds and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

Administered locally, the appeal will deliver feed to the region and be dispersed amongst those with equine requirements. While trainers and breeders based in the area will be first beneficiaries, they will also be supporting the wider equine community.

The amount of feed provided will depend on donations made which can be deposited into the following NZTR account: 01-0517-0063944-07 – use 'Cyclone Appeal' as the reference.

NZTR will allocate NZ$50,000 to this cause, and donations will be accepted until midday, February 24, at which time the funds will be transferred to Dunstan.

Keating to contest Cobalt charges

Ballarat-based trainer Shay Keating will fight to clear her name after it was announced on Thursday that she has been charged by Racing Victoria for a cobalt positive from her horse Absconded (Sweet Orange {USA}).

Keating will face an administration as well as a presenting charge under AR 245 (1) and 240 (2) for cobalt, which was detected above the legal threshold limit after the mare won at Kilmore in February 2022.

“When the investigators were here and said, ‘You’ve got a positive’, I was absolutely dumbfounded and to this day no one can tell me where it came from,” Keating told Racing.com. “I have maintained my innocence from the start and I’m going to keep strong.”

The charges issued against Keating will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be determined.

Magic Millions WA ambitions for Carbery

With the R. Listed Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic this Saturday at Pinjarra Park, local rider Patrick Carbery is hoping his mount, Champagne Street (Street Boss {USA}) for trainer Simon Miller, can give him a record-equalling haul for the race. Carbery has won three editions of the WA Classic, while Shaun McGruddy has won four.

Carbery’s past victories have occurred aboard Ravinia (Thunder Gulch {USA}) in 2006, Time To Climb (Bearcat) in 2010 and Darlington Abbey (Stratum) in 2012. Champagne Street was second on debut on February 5 and will face 13 other rivals on Saturday.

“She’s certainly improved a good deal since first-up,” Carbery told Tabradio this week. “She definitely has a good turn of foot and if she can get a reasonable-enough run, she can utilise it.”