Vale Desert War
Six-time Group 1 hero Desert War (Desert King {Ire}) has died at the age of 22.
A homebred for Gooree Park Stud, Desert War was from the winning Canny Lad mare High Heels, making him a half-brother to the 2012 G1 Rosehill Guineas winner Laser Hawk (Artie Schiller {USA}).
Trained by Gai Waterhouse, Desert War was renowned for setting the pace in his races and being almost impossible to run down.
The gelding amassed more than $3 million in prizemoney in a glittering 45-start career between 2004-2008. His CV includes two G1 Epsom H. triumphs, as well as wins in the G1 Mackinnon S. and G1 Queen Elizabeth S., and he was named Middle Distance Horse of The Year in 2007.
“Many great horses have been produced from Tulloch Lodge, but very few stand out in the way Desert War did,” Waterhouse tweeted.
“He was a warrior, a warhorse, who defied his competitors, fighting out race finesses against the best Australia could offer.
“We bid farewell to this gentle giant.”
Gooree Park Stud added: “Today, our team mourns the passing of our Great War Horse, Desert War, at 22 years of age.
“Desert War, or the War Horse as many called him, captured the hearts of Australian racegoers with his bold front running 'catch me if you can' tactics. He was such a tough horse and loved a battle!
“Desert War will be laid to rest in the Hill Of Champions at Gooree Park.”
Skirt The Law for a Melbourne spring
The Blacksoil Bloodstock filly Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready), who won the $2 million R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January, is heading to Melbourne in the spring. Trainer Tony Gollan has said she is likely to contest the G3 Quezette S. at Caulfield on August 19, with further plans deeper into the spring.
Skirt The Law | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“The plan is to give her a couple of runs early in the spring at this point in time, including the Quezette,” Gollan told Racing Queensland news. “She’ll trial in July and then she’ll head down to Melbourne probably the week before (the race). We’ll give her a couple of reverse gallops here in Brisbane. No doubt the grand final for all these 3-year-olds is probably something like the Coolmore at the end.”
Corstens can’t wait for Royal Ascot Group 1
Trainer Troy Corstens believes The Astrologist (Zoustar) will exceed market expectations in Saturday’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot. Corstens, who trains in partnership with father Leon, knows The Astrologist faces a tough ask in the 1200-metre sprint, but he is adamant the 6-year-old won’t disgrace himself.
“We want to win, of course we do,” he told Racenet. “His job is not done yet. Am I confident? Well, it is hard to be confident in such a good race. Am I confident he will run well? Yeah, I am. He always does.”
Cannonball (Capitalist) who ran in Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. will also contest the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S.
Munce on a date with history
Eagle Farm trainer Chris Munce has the 5-year-old mare Palaisipan (So You Think {NZ}) in this Saturday’s G1 Tattersall’s Tiara. Should she win the 1400-metre feature, Munce will become the first person to have ever won the race as both a jockey and trainer. He was victorious in the Tatt’s Tiara in 2000 aboard the mare Bonanova (NZ) (Star Way {GB}), who has since proved the dam of two stakes winners and is the race’s only dual winner to date.
Palaisipan is owned by Katsumi Yoshida and is a winner of six races, albeit her best form was earliest in her career. She was third in this race last year to Startantes (Star Turn), and was last seen when fourth in the G1 Stradbroke H. to Think About It (So You Think {NZ}).
“Her run in the Stradbroke was terrific, considering the hiccup we had with her in the Kingsford-Smith at her previous start,” Munce told Racing Queensland news. “She’s rising six so I suspect this could well be her last run.”
Dettori coming for the Cup?
Racing.com has reported that Frankie Dettori may yet still ride in this year’s Melbourne Cup as part of his farewell tour. The legendary jockey is bowing out of racing this year but is yet to confirm his final riding engagement. Speculation exists as to whether that will be in the Cup, in Japan or in the Breeders’ Cup meeting in November.
Broadcaster Jason Richardson asked Dettori to confirm if it was his final Royal Ascot meeting this week.
“Yes,” the jockey said. “But not my last Melbourne Cup. If you’re listening, I’ll be back.”
Robert Cram announces retirement
Racing Victoria’s Chairman of Stewards, Robert Cram, on Thursday announced his retirement after 41 years as an integrity official. He will conclude his duties at the end of the current racing season, July 31.
Cram was appointed Chairman of Stewards in 2018 following the departure of Terry Bailey to Singapore. It followed his arrival to the sport in 1982 as a cadet stipendiary steward for the Victoria Racing Club (VRC), and later positions as Senior Stipendary Steward, Deputy Chairman of Stewards and Manager of Integrity Services throughout his long career.
“I’m extremely grateful to Racing Victoria for all the opportunities I have been given to contribute to the racing industry,” Cram said. “I will leave with many fond memories and having experienced many exciting and challenging times, as only racing can generate.”
Robert Cram | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
Racing Victoria’s Jamie Stier said Cram’s years of service had been "truly remarkable".
“Always approachable, he has been well-regarded for his calm, unassuming manner. To spend your entire professional life within one industry is extremely rare and we thank Robert for his tireless efforts and devotion throughout his career.”
Report: Network 10 loses Melbourne Cup rights
Network 10 has lost the broadcast rights to the Melbourne Cup, according to The Australian.
The Australian reports that Network 10 has been eliminated from the bidding for the Cup, which is now a race between Seven West Media and Nine Entertainment Co.
Network 10 is in the last of a five-year, $100 million cash and contra deal to broadcast the great race on free-to-air television, with rights broker Tabcorp keen for the race to be on Seven or Nine from 2024 onwards, according to the report.
Last month, The Australian reported that wagering giant Tabcorp has moved to take control of all the broadcast rights for the Cup from near onwards in a unique deal for which it is set to pay about $25 million annually for – including free-to-air, pay-television, digital and international distribution rights.
Overriding on-song for city debut
Three-year-old filly Overriding has won three of her five starts for Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle, and on Saturday she will step up to city company for the first time when she heads to Randwick. The filly will meet her own age in the Vinery Stallions H. over 1300 metres and a field that includes the smart Miss Hellfire (Hellbent) from the Snowdens.
“It’s the right race for her and I’m looking forward to seeing if she can take that step,” Doyle told Ray Hickson this week. “She keeps improving. Sometimes these young horses put a good gallop in and plateau out, but every time we step her out and gallop or race her, she continues to improve, which is what you want to see.”
Overriding was bred by Gerry Harvey and bought by Doyle for $35,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. Doyle said “he got stuck with her and own most of her”, but the filly has won over double her price-tag to date.
Promising Harry Angel 2-year-old to spell
The Vinery Stud-owned Blazing Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) has gone to the paddock and won’t contest Saturday week’s $175,000 Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington. The 2-year-old gelding was an impressive winner at Geelong on debut, before running second behind the ultra-talented Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) at Flemington last Saturday.
Blazing Harry winning on debut at Geelong | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He is definitely going for a spell but is a lovely horse,” co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr told Racing.com. “We will look after him. The spring comes around pretty quickly.”
Steparty’s trainer, Paul Preusker, is weighing up whether to run his gun colt in the Taj Rossi Series Final or send him for a spell.
“I will flip the coin Monday morning after he fast works and I am either happy or not,” he told Racing.com.
Stokes to rise from The Ashes
England cricket coach Brendon McCullum is a busy man at The Ashes right now, but the 3-year-old gelding he bred and owns in New Zealand, Stokes (NZ) (Shamexpress), has been a handy trial winner recently for trainer Kurtis Pertab at Matamata.
“He trialled nicely at Te Rapa the other day,” Pertab said. “He will probably be running in the next three weeks to a month, and will probably kick off over 1400 metres somewhere. He has got good upside on him and is one to keep an eye on.”
Stokes was named after the England cricket captain Ben Stokes. He is a son of the Pentire (GB) mare Pinto Gris (NZ) and, as such, is a half-brother to the G2 Wellington Guineas winner President Lincoln (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Biographer breaks the ice
The Ron Quinton-trained Biographer (I Am Invincible) is a maiden no longer after knocking off his maiden at Gosford on Thursday. The 3-year-old won the 1100-metre event by 1.57l in the hands of Jean Van Overmeire.
Biographer (orange and white silks) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
From the Listed winner Precious Memories (Stratum), Biographer was bred by Yarraman Park Stud and Gall Bloodstock. He made $500,000 from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with James Harron Bloodstock buying, before Gall Bloodstock paid $95,000 for him at the 2022 Inglis April (Late) Online Sale.
Biographer commenced his career with Anthony and Sam Freedman, where he had three starts.
Biographer’s brother fetched $900,000 at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, while at this year’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, a sister realised $550,000.
Precious Memories was covered by Home Affairs last spring.
Riodini returns to New Zealand
Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter, Riodini (NZ) (Proisir), has returned home to New Zealand and will rejoin former trainer Nigel Tiley’s Pukekohe stable in the new season.
Riodini was a standout youngster for Tiley, winning his lone start as a juvenile before impressing in his 3-year-old season with three successive victories, including the G3 New Zealand Bonecrusher S., before placing in the G2 Auckland Guineas and G1 Levin Classic.
“He was a pretty exciting horse,” Tiley said.
“Alan Galbraith (breeder-owner) had races that he wanted to target (in Australia) and we had problems with COVID and me having to be away for an extended period of time. The sensible thing was to find a good home for him over there and see what he was capable of.”
Riodini was later sent to Sydney, with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott taking over his training.
As well as winning the $1 million The Gong, he placed in the G1 George Main S., G1 Epsom H., G2 Chelmsford S. and G2 Shannon S.
Galbraith made the decision earlier this year to bring his gelding home to New Zealand and he thought it fitting that Riodini would end his career where it started, in Tiley’s care.
Riodini is currently enjoying a spell at Rich Hill Stud in Waikato.
“Alan Galbraith sent me a text to see whether I would take him back, so that was pretty awesome,” Tiley said.
“Unfortunately, he is like a lot of horses that have probably reached a mark in the handicap where they are a couple of lengths off the best of them.
“I think with him being back in New Zealand, he is going to be extremely well placed at weight for age.”
Apprentice 'excited' by maiden Group 1 ride
Talented Victorian-based apprentice Celine Gaudray heads to Brisbane on Saturday and will have her first ride at the highest level. Gaudray will partner the Lindsay Park-trained Excelida (Exceed And Excel) in the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “I was having a nap and my manager called me to say that I potentially have a ride in the Group 1. He said the owner really wanted me on, so I was happy to grab the opportunity with both hands. Winning the apprentices’ premiership is also a goal of mine, but the ride in the Group 1 is always something that I would take first. A Group 1 could provide a lot of opportunities.”
Trio for Robbie Patterson in Queensland
Kiwi trainer Robbie Patterson will have a trio of runners across two venues in Queensland on Saturday. Nom De Plume (NZ) (El Roca) will join Puntura (NZ) (Our Vespa {NZ}) at Eagle Farm, while Contribute (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) will step out in the Gatton Cup.
The former two horses will contest the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown and Listed Tattersall’s Mile respectively. There is a chance that Nom De Plume could press on to the Listed Caloundra Cup on the Sunshine Coast next week.
Puntura (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“There’s also the Grafton Cup as well if she goes really well, but I do need to get her in the paddock if she is to target the Waikato Cup and the City of Auckland Cup (now the G3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup),” Patterson told Loveracing.NZ. “She can’t carry on forever over here, so we’ll just wait just wait and see what happens at Eagle Farm first and hopeful she gets some Australian black type.”
Irish trainer loses appeal
Irish trainer Ronan McNally, who in January was disqualified for 12 years from Irish racing following multiple sanctions by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB), has lost his appeal against the disqualification. He was, however, granted a four-year reprieve.
The IHRB published the verdict of an appeals panel on Wednesday evening, which outlined that the final four years of McNally’s disqualification is contingent on his adhering to the rules, a breach of which would reinstate the full penalty.
McNally was found in January to have conspired with fellow trainer David Dunne, who was also sanctioned, to conceal ownership of a number of horses. In addition to McNally’s fine, he was fined €50,000 (AU$80,000) and ordered to return €13,000 (AU$21,000) of prizemoney.
Horse Racing Women’s Summit this September
Santa Anita will host the Horse Racing Women’s Summit (HRWS) this September 27-29 in a homecoming of sorts, one year after the inaugural event was held at the same location. The event will occur at the beginning of Santa Anita’s autumn meeting.
“We are thrilled to be back at Santa Anita Park for the second HRWS,” said Stephanie Hronis, HRWS chairperson. “In the past year, we have hosted events at Keeneland Racecourse, the Global Symposium on Racing, Gulfstream Park, and upcoming at Saratoga (on August 3). Our community has grown significantly and we have big plans for when we get together again in September.”
Founded in 2022, the HRWS is about engaging, connecting and empowering women in racing across America.
Vale El Corredor
The stallion El Corredor (USA), a winner of the G1 Cigar Mile and former resident of Hill ‘n’ Dale, has died at the age of 26 in Turkey, according to Turkish news sources. Since 2015, the stallion had stood at the Turkish Jockey Club’s Silivri Stallion Complex until his death on June 20.
El Corredor (USA) | Image courtesy of Hill 'n' Dale
El Corredor retired from his 10-start career with seven wins and a second in the US, and his stud career included stints in Kentucky, New York and Louisiana before making his way to Turkey. He also shuttled to Argentina for several seasons.
El Corredor has 33 black-type winners to his name in the Northern Hemisphere, including the Grade 1 winners Adieu (USA), Backseat Rhythm (USA) and Dominican (USA), along with five other Graded winners.
