RV provides clarity about show-cause situation
Jamie Stier, Racing Victoria’s integrity boss, has provided clarification around the show-cause notices issued to connections of 29 horses ridden at incorrect weights by Australian-based Kiwi apprentice Wiremu Pinn over a 17-day period. Pinn is on a three-month loan stint with trainer Michael Kent and, after initially being allowed to claim 3kg, despite riding more than 170 winners (including one at Group 1 level) in New Zealand, his allowance was recently reduced to 2kg.
“It has been determined on the information available that the number of New Zealand wins currently attributed to Pinn’s metropolitan claim is incorrect,” claimed Racing Victoria.
Speaking on RSN927 on Wednesday, Stier said the show-cause notices were necessary to enable stewards to determine the ultimate outcome of those races.
Jamie Stier | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
“What the rules actually say is; the horses may be disqualified, so there is discretion inbuilt into the rule,” he said. “In order for the stewards to provide a proper process, a very important part of that, where they may be giving consideration as to whether a horse may be disqualified, is that they should afford the owners and the trainers of those horses the opportunity to be heard or make submissions that may assist stewards in their deliberations.
“No one that I am aware of is suggesting it is the owners’ fault at all, but it is a procedural matter and it’s the correct process to be undertaken.”
Racing Victoria announced the show-cause notices on Tuesday to connections of the 29 horses Pinn rode with the benefit of a 3kg claim, instead of the 2kg claim he was entitled to. Stier said the next step in the process belongs to the stewards.
Coolangatta to continue in England?
Racing.com has reported that 3-year-old filly Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), who was 11th on Tuesday in the G1 King’s Stand S., could remain in England with a possible agenda in the Nunthorpe S. at York in late August. It is understood she may remain with Charlie Hills at Lambourn, to whom she has been indentured since her arrival in Europe this month.
Broadcaster Jason Richardson also reported from Royal Ascot that Coolangatta’s connections are considering a trip to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, which will occur at Santa Anita on November 4.
Prebble explains Cannonball performance
Three-year-old Cannonball (Capitalist) was a disappointing last on Tuesday night in the G1 King’s Stand S., and jockey Brett Prebble told Racing.com that the horse “got it all wrong”. He said Cannonball was buffetted out of the gates and came out in the air.
“He did it all upside down,” Prebble said. “He is an aggressive sprinter. The hill at Ascot, it sorts them out. He was going good with 500 metres to go and, 100 metres later, he was going to last. He will learn from it. He’s a young sprinter and he’s better than that. He just got it all wrong.”
Maher excited about Light Infantry
Tuesday was a mixed bag for trainer Ciaron Maher with Coolangatta’s below-par performance in the G1 King’s Stand S., but he had cause for cheer with the 4-year-old horse Light Infantry (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}), who was a respectable third in the G1 Queen Anne S.
Light Infantry raced in Australia last spring under the care of Maher and co-trainer David Eustace in a joint arrangement with British trainer David Simcock. He will likely return to Australia this spring again.
“I can’t wait to get him down there,” Maher told Racing.com. “I think the Cox Plate will be ideal for him. David (Simcock) has always had a massive opinion of the horse. He actually said he can’t wait to bring his kids to Australia and enjoy his time down there.”
Marco Botti returning?
It’s been almost a decade since the Italian-born, England-based trainer Marco Botti has sent a horse to Australia for the Spring Carnival, but Racing.com reported that his G2 Hardwicke S. hopeful Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}) may be on the way. Ardakan was a winner in May last year of the G2 Italian Derby and has raced in Germany, France and Dubai.
“The Melbourne Cup is a race that I always dream to have runners in, let alone to hopefully win one day,” Botti told Jason Richardson. “The timing is perfect and it fits in with quarantine, so that could be an option. He’s a very uncomplicated horse and he seems to handle all kinds of ground.”
Botti campaigned a number of horses in Melbourne during the 2012 and 2014 spring carnivals, including Jakkalberry (Ire), who was second in the Melbourne Cup, and Dandino (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was second in the 2013 Caulfield Cup.
Full field for Tiara
Saturday’s G1 Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm, which is the final top-level race in Australia in 2022/23, has attracted a capacity field of 17 runners and five emergencies.
Three-year-old filly Opal Ridge (Rubick) has drawn well in gate six, while G1 Robert Sangster S. heroine Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was allocated barrier 19. Connections of Testa Rossa mare Chaillot (stall 11) will be hoping she can notch a Group 1 success at her final start before heading to the breeding barn.
Kah return could be imminent
Champion jockey Jamie Kah has revealed she has overcome the complications that have plagued her since her fall at Flemington in March. Kah, who rode a few horses for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr on Tuesday, before riding a few more at Mornington on Wednesday, said she is “100 per cent”.
“Confidence is back to normal. I don't feel unbalanced. I feel confident, I feel exactly like I used to,” she told Racing.com. “I feel 100 per cent. I just feel like I am back to myself and I feel like I’ve got a purpose again and that was really important. I’ve ridden a few horses and I just feel normal and really, really enjoying it, even though it was in the pouring rain.
Jamie Kah | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The restricted trackwork licence means I can ride pretty much as much as I want, at the moment, but just try to look after myself. If I am tired, I don’t go to work. I’ve got to do one more balance neuro test and, when I pass that, I can do jump-outs and races, so hopefully that’s only a few more weeks away, but at the moment I am just happy to be back on the horse.”
Kah admitted she wants to win the Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership. She currently leads the title race, with Blake Shinn seven wins behind in second.
Ardrossan stakes winner joins Waller camp
This year’s Listed Auckland Futurity S. winner Saltcoats (NZ) (Ardrossan) has been transferred from Samantha Logan’s Cambridge stables to Australia’s Champion Trainer Chris Waller.
Saltcoats (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“We knew from the start that he would be going to Aussie at some point and we were more than happy to get the chance with him while we did,” Logan said. “It was a good moment to win the Auckland Futurity and it was good for Ardrossan to have three stakes winners from nine runners. I think he (Saltcoats) is going to have a smart future over there.”
The King and Queen receive Australia Day Cup trophy
Yesterday at Royal Ascot, Their Majesties The King and Queen received the trophy for Chalk Stream’s (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) victory in the Australia Day Cup from senior representatives of the Australian horse racing industry.
The King is pictured holding the trophy accompanied by The Queen and (left to right) Peter McGauran (Chairman, Australian Turf Club), Chris Waller and Neil Wilson (Chairman, Victoria Racing Club) | Image courtesy of Nicole Hains
Chalk Stream, bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II, owned by Their Majesties, trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Regan Bayliss, won the Listed event at Warwick Farm, Sydney, on January 26, 2023.
Stakes winner sold to Hong Kong
Unbeaten 3-year-old Press Charges (NZ) will continue his career in Hong Kong. The Press Statement gelding was initially prepared by part-owner Ben Foote, before being sent to Terri Rae.
Press Charges won on debut at Wingatui in January, before taking out the Listed Southland Guineas at Ascot Park in February.
Press Charges (NZ) | Image courtesy of Monica Toretto
“He’s gone to Hong Kong. We have to keep moving them and I’ve got a stable full of yearlings at the moment,” Foote said. “Upper Bloodstock and I owned him and he’s gone to David Hall and is in work now. I had a Charm Spirit (Ka Ying Victory) yearling that I really loved last year and ended up selling him to David as well and he won the Griffin race on Sunday night and looks pretty smart.”
Currie keen for another crack in Hong Kong
Australian jockey Luke Currie admitted he hasn’t enjoyed the success he would have liked in Hong Kong, which is part of the reason he has decided to stay in the Asian jurisdiction. The Group 1-winning rider was last week granted a six-month license from the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the 2023/24 racing season.
“It wasn't an easy one (decision) because I haven’t gone nearly as well as what I’d hoped this season,” Currie told Racing.com. “After a hard start last season, and only getting to ride the last couple of months, I thought I got going quite well in the last few meetings and then this season, I just haven’t been able to get any sort of momentum at all and haven’t gained a lot of support.
Luke Currie | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Riding in Hong Kong is an opportunity that I’ve dreamt of for years and when the opportunity is still there, I’ll press on for another part of the season and see if I can turn things around next season.”
Countryman Brenton Avdulla was also given a six-month contract for the new season.
New racecourse manager for Hawkesbury
Hawkesbury Race Club has welcomed Kyle Cassim to the position of racecourse manager. Cassim, 35, took up the new role after six years at Rosehill Gardens, two of which were as assistant racecourse manager to Shaun Patterson. He replaces Rick Johnston at Hawkesbury.
“I’ve made a lot of friends working at Rosehill and was sorry to leave, but Hawkesbury is much closer to home and this was an opportunity too good to pass up,” Cassim said. “My job at Hawkesbury is to prepare and maintain the tracks in the best possible condition, and present the best racing surface I can at all our meetings.”
Dettori cops nine-day ban
Frankie Dettori will miss the ride on likely G1 Coral-Eclipse favourite Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) after being banned nine days for careless riding by the Royal Ascot stewards.
The Italian, whose ban runs from July 4-12, picked up the suspension after causing interference to multiple horses aboard King Charles and Queen Camilla's runner Saga (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Listed Wolferton S. The John and Thady Gosden-trained Emily Upjohn takes her chance at Sandown on July 8.
Frankie Dettori | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
During the first day of Royal Ascot, Dettori was runner-up three times–with Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Queen Anne S., Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 St James's Palace S. and Absurde (Fr) (Fastnet Rock) in the Copper Horse H.
Aidan O’Brien makes history
Ballydoyle master Aidan O’Brien has had a halcyon start to Royal Ascot week, winning his 10th G2 Coventry S. on the opening day with 2-year-old River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The colt was in a different class to the rest of the field and has earned a position at the head of betting for next year’s G1 2000 Guineas. The win made O’Brien the most successful trainer in the history of the Coventry S.
Later in the opening day card, the St James’s Palace S. provided O’Brien with a most impressive winner in the Siyouni (Fr) colt Paddington (GB), who swept aside the 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
The win made 53-year-old O’Brien the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history, with 83 winners and counting.
Edgar Prado retired
American Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado has retired, with the news confirmed on Tuesday by Gulfstream Park. The 56-year-old was the eighth most-winning jockey in the sport’s history, with Prado telling Blood-Horse that he wanted to spend more time with his family.
“It was getting harder and harder and I wasting the time I had with my family, with my loved ones,” he said. “I saw my kids in my house having a great time and I decided to call it off. I’ve been very blessed throughout my career.”
Peru-born Prado has been associated with such horses as Barbaro (USA) (Dynaformer {USA}) and the Belmont-winning pair of Sarava (USA) (Wild Again {USA}) and Birdstone (USA) (Grindstone {USA}). The jockey won an Eclipse Award in 2006 as the nation’s leading rider and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008. He’s had a lean few years to date and said that younger riders are coming through all the time.
“I totally understand that,” he said. “When I was 20, I took somebody’s place and now somebody is taking mine.”
Respect The Code among the KY trailer fire victims
Subsequent to a trailer fire in Kentucky on Monday that killed four racehorses and spared four others, one of the victims has been identified as the Honor Code (USA) gelding Respect The Code (USA), who had run third in the Clocker’s Corner S. at Santa Anita earlier in the year.
The 4-year-old, trained by George Papaprodromou, was on his way from California to Kentucky to be sold at the Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale on July 10.
