Kementari retired, receives Godolphin Lifetime Care honours
Kementari (Lonhro), a beloved figure and fan favourite in the Godolphin stable, has been retired from racing and will now become the latest flagbearer for the Godolphin Lifetime Care program.
Together with Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}), Hauraki (Reset), It's Somewhat (USA) (Dynaformer {USA}), Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Best of Days (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) and Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}), he forms part of an extraordinary group of racehorses placed by Godolphin to promote the versatility of the thoroughbred breed in various post-racing endeavours.
Kementari is a magnificent son of the mighty Lonhro, out of the multiple Group 1-producing mare Yavanna (Redoute’s Choice). He was the winner of six Group races, including the G1 Randwick Guineas.
Kementari | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Godolphin Australia Racing Manager Jason Walsh said: “Kementari is in great order, as always presents magnificently and is very healthy, but regardless of that our decision is still to retire him following his recent run in the G1 Goodwood H. at Morphettville.
“He’s a high-class horse who has consistently thrilled us with some remarkable performances in the top races in Australia.
“After his extraordinary journey, Kementari will now take a well-deserved break at Kelvinside before beginning his new role as a flagbearer for Godolphin Lifetime Care.
“The first priority is the horse gets all the care and has a wonderful life, post-racing,” Walsh added.
“The flagbearer program promotes the thoroughbred breed, its versatility and life after racing.
“The thoroughbreds’ versatility has been gaining increased acknowledgment, evidenced by the recent announcement that the breed will be honoured and featured in several Olympic events this year.”
Further prizemoney boosts for New South Wales
Racing New South Wales (Racing NSW) on Monday announced increases to minimum prizemoney amounts for Group and Listed races.
Thanks to sustainable revenues, Racing NSW has been able to increase its wagering turnover and revenues this year, which will lead to an injection of $7 million in prizemoney for black-type races.
Taking effect from August 1, Group 1 races will be worth a minimum of $750,000, Group 2s will be $300,000, Group 3s will be $250,000 and Listed races will be $200,000.
Furthermore, five Group races, including the G1 Winx S. and G1 Champagne S., will now carry a prize purse of $1 million.
These $1 million races are spread across a range of races including weight for age, fillies and mares and 2-year-old races with varying distances and conditions.
Racing NSW Chairman Russell Balding AO said: “The minimum prizemoney for ‘bread and butter’ races in New South Wales has increased so significantly that it has started to encroach upon prizemoney levels for black-type races.
“Traditional black-type races are important to the industry as a whole as much of the racing economy benefits from these races.
“Accordingly, these increases to minimum prizemoney for black-type races recognises the aspirational nature of those races. Feature racing in Sydney and New South Wales is among the best in the world and these increases will reinforce this position.”
Announcement of Waikato Super Club merger
A significant decision has been reached regarding the establishment of a new racing Club, named Waikato Thoroughbred Racing (WTR), following the official merger approval between Waikato Racing Club, Cambridge Jockey Club and Waipa Racing Club.
The amalgamation was endorsed by the Board and members of all three Clubs during their respective Special General Meetings (SGMs), with the intention of bringing extensive benefits to the racing region of the Waikato. The merger will take effect on August 1, 2023.
The overwhelming majority of members present at the three SGMs voted in favour of the merger, as they firmly believe that this formation will give rise to a robust and well-resourced super Club in New Zealand's largest thoroughbred racing and breeding region.
“Collectively, the merger of the three Clubs places the newly formed Club in a significantly better position to accomplish our primary objectives, surpassing the capabilities of any individual Club or combination of two Clubs,” said Waikato Racing Club Chairman and WTR Working Group Chair John Elstob.
“The merged Club will have improved scale and strength, as well as the flexibility to advance its racing and training operations.
“These positive effects will extend beyond the Club itself, benefiting the racing industry throughout the entire country.”
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Sharrock, also endorsed the game-changing union and the benefits it has on the domestic racing industry.
“The Boards and members have illustrated with overwhelming support that, whilst each Club has a proud history, together they set themselves and the industry up for a brighter future,” he said.
“This is another very significant step forward for the industry in gaining efficiencies and better utilising assets as a collective.”
Cloud over King’s Stand Stakes favourite
Trainer Ciaron Maher expressed some concern after the dual Group 1-winning filly Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) finished third in a jump-out at Flemington on Monday.
The 3-year-old is scheduled to leave for the United Kingdom next Wednesday, June 7 ahead of a tilt at the G1 King’s Stand S. at Royal Ascot on June 20.
“I expected her to be a little sharper. (Jockey) Ben (Allen) said she jumped and travelled well, gave him a good feel but when he asked her to pick up he said he thought she was a little plain,” Maher said.
“We will assess everything with her and the trial and make sure everything is spot on.
“When you are going halfway across the world to a big assignment, we will have to make sure everything is right, as you do anyway, but as I said I expected a little bit more as well.
“We will have to do the I’s and cross the T’s and just assess everything.”
Coolangatta finished about 3.5l behind stablemate Field Of Flutes (Deep Field), while Team Snowdens’ Cannonball (Capitalist), who is also King's Stand S.-bound, was 2l clear of Coolangatta.
“He was there for fitness reasons and that was his main last piece of work before he goes over there,” jockey Brett Prebble said of Cannonball.
“His action’s great, he’s pulled up very clean in the wind so, if he travels well, he’ll perform well.”
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Artorius (Flying Artie), who will contest the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S., was last of the five runners, 1l adrift of Coolangatta.
“That’s probably as well as he can go down the straight with some sharp horses like that,” Sam Freedman said.
Noblet mulls Group 1 test with in-form mare
Group 3 victress Foxy Frida (Foxwedge) could be given a maiden shot at Group 1 level, should she perform in and then pull up well from Saturday’s $150,000 Magic Millions National Classic at Eagle Farm.
Foxy Frida | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“If she ran well there, we could look at leaving her there, freshening her up and having a shot at the Tatt's Tiara at the end of June. It will depend on how she pulls up," her trainer, Andrew Noblet, told Racing.com.
The lightly raced 5-year-old has won two of her past three starts.
Connections target spring riches with imported stayer
Father-son training duo Anthony and Sam Freedman will point impressive G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup victor Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) at some serious races.
The 6-year-old was 13th in the Melbourne Cup last year when trained by Simon and Ed Crisford.
“He showed a good turn of foot there on the weekend,” co-trainer Anthony Freedman said.
“I know his owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid would love to get him back to the Melbourne Cup. He probably got the ground not to suit last year, when he actually travelled up like he was going to run a real race.
“So, possibly the Melbourne Cup, possibly the Caulfield Cup, those sort of targets, but I wouldn’t rule out maybe a Cox Plate or a Mackinnon (Champions Stakes), something like that.
“I think we just want to get to know him a bit better and get through his next run and then we can target up the spring.”
Foote looks to continue Kiwi dominance
Two of the Group 1s for 3-year-old fillies this year have been won by New Zealand-trained gallopers, with Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) taking out the Vinery Stud S. and Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) the Australian Oaks.
Furthermore, Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) beat the boys in the G1 Australian Guineas.
Cambridge-based trainer Ben Foote is hoping to continue the impressive trend with Sakura Girl (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in Saturday's G1 Queensland Oaks (2200 metres) at Eagle Farm.
Sakura Girl (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“It does add a bit of confidence that they (Kiwi fillies) have been going so well over here and I hope it can continue on Saturday,” Foote told News Corp.
“There’s no doubt she’s going to improve and the step up in trip certainly suits her. Opie (Bosson) came back the other day and said she’ll improve with the run.
“She’s come on well since that effort. All her work has been great and she’s in good order leading up to Saturday.”
Churchill Downs issues statement on equine fatalities
Churchill Downs Incorporated responded to questions about track safety following recent incidents with a statement, which began:
In today's first race, Kimberley Dream (USA) (Colonel John {USA}) sustained a significant injury, a distal sesamodean ligament rupture, to her left front leg. A similar injury occurred to Lost In Limbo (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) during Friday's seventh race. Unfortunately, in both scenarios, attending veterinarians determined that the injuries were inoperable and unrecoverable and made the difficult but most humane decision to euthanise. We send our deepest and most sincere condolences to the connections and all who loved and cared for Kimberley Dream and Lost In Limbo.
Rose ‘N’ Power for sale on Gavelhouse Plus
Listed victress Rose ‘N’ Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) will be offered for sale on Gavelhouse Plus this week, with bidding closing from 7pm (NZT) on Monday, June 5.
Rose ‘N’ Power won six races, including four in succession between May and November of 2021. That winning sequence culminated in the Listed Levin S., where the mare claimed a valuable black-type victory and set a new track record of 1:08.63 for 1200 metres at Otaki.
Rose ‘N’ Power recorded an additional four placings and finished fifth in this season’s G2 Foxbridge Plate and G3 King’s Plate. The high-class mare earned more than NZ$176,000 in prizemoney.
Rose 'N' Power (NZ) | Image courtesy of Gavelhouse Plus
“She’s been a very good mare to us,” co-trainer and part-owner Fred Cornege said. “She hasn’t quite performed at her very best in the current season, but that can happen sometimes. She rose up through the grades so quickly before then, and she reached the pinnacle of the weights in handicap races.
“I do believe she could still be a racing proposition for someone else if they were that way inclined. With the benefit of a nice, long break, she could easily come back and perform to a high level again. But we own her in partnership with Liz Pollard, who has some younger ones on the family going now, so this is the time to put her up for sale.”
Rose ‘N’ Power is currently at Seattle Lodge in Cambridge and inspections can be booked by contacting Fred Cornege on +64 21 732 853.
Service fee set for Levendi
Magnum Park has announced its Group 1-winning stallion Levendi will stand at a fee of $5500 (inc GST) in 2023.
“We are ecstatic with Levendi's first-crop foals. They are absolute crackers. Bold, strong, athletic and nice conformation. They are proving to be an intelligent bunch with a love to run. They are everything you could want from a foal and sure to impress,” Levendi’s owner, Alexis Beadman from Magnum Park, said.
Levendi | Standing at Magnum Park
“With such excellent value for money, this makes Levendi accessible to all local and interstate breeders. Sending a mare to Tassie is as easy as sending a mare to any of the mainland states.”
Levendi covered 43 mares in 2021 and 37 last season.
Moody-Coleman training partnership taking shape
Katherine Coleman is expected to join Peter Moody as co-trainer from the start of the new racing season on August 1, assuming she passes all the clearances required by Racing Victoria.
“We haven't hidden that fact, it’ll be close to that (August 1),” Moody told Racing.com.
“It’s something we’ve always had on the drawing board for her, and three years into my comeback, that’s where it was always going to be.
“She's a hell of a girl and does a great job, we’re fortunate we have a good team, Jeff O'Connor - racing manager - and her and myself, we work well together.
“We’ve had success beyond our wildest dreams, we didn’t expect to be running second in premierships or anything like that, we were just happy to keep chipping away and it’s gone better than we could've ever thought.”
