Agriculture Victoria release statement on horse deaths from unknown illness
Agriculture Victoria on Sunday confirmed 10 horses had died suddenly on properties on the Mornington Peninsula, in south-east Melbourne and south-west Victoria since July 4.
All 10 horses died quickly and displaying what Agriculture Victoria described as “short-term non-specific signs of illness”.
The cause of the deaths is unknown and has prompted significant concern among local owners. Testing has so far not found any sign of infectious diseases including Hendra virus and anthrax, although investigations are continuing.
Agriculture Victoria has received further reports of horse deaths on its social media channels. Those deaths are yet to be confirmed and the department is urging owners and veterinarians to make contact.
Owners are being urged to monitor their horses and report any sudden deaths or onset of illness. Reports should be made to local vets, Agriculture Victoria or via the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
Jantzen dreams of Cox Plate
Christian Jantzen, the syndication manager of the group involved in the G1 JJ Atkins victor King Colorado (Kingman {GB}) are, dreaming of the G1 WS Cox Plate glory.
The 2-year-old colt is raced by Stable Of Stars and trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and is set to resume on the G3 Up And Coming S. on August 26 before potentially tackling the G1 Caulfield Guineas or the WS Cox Plate.
“Most of the owners were first-time owners; belting out ‘Horses’ at The Valley would be a dream,” Jantzen told Punters.
“The Caulfield Guineas is the obvious target, and if he wins, you’d be mad not to have a throw at the stumps in a race like the Cox Plate. The Golden Rose looks winnable, but we all saw how dynamic he can be over the mile, so the Caulfield Guineas, that’s the one we’re really excited about.”
Campbell has eyes on Bletchingly
Tasmanian-based trainer Barry Campbell hopes to see Alpine Wolf (Alpine Eagle) line up in Saturday’s G3 Bletchingly S. at Caulfield but will assess the strength of the field before committing.
“I’ll accept for Caulfield but also for the 1400 metres at Mowbray the following day (Sunday),” Campbell said.
“It’s early in the season in Melbourne, so sometimes it’s not overly strong. If we can figure he’ll be in the finish, we’ll come over (to Melbourne) and have a crack.”
Campbell also indicated the G2 PB Lawrence on August 19 could also be an option for Alpine Wolf.
Globetrotter set for 2024
The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained The Astrologist (Zoustar) has been on a globetrotting adventure, competing in races in Dubai and England, including a recent fifth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. and according to assistant trainer Dom Sutton he’s set to do it all over again in 2024.
“Dubai is already on the calendar,” Sutton said.
“To go overseas and compete on the biggest stage was something I’ll never forget. The Astrologist hasn’t returned from England yet, he’s heading into quarantine next week, and then he’s got to do a couple of weeks there and a couple of weeks when he gets to Australia.”
Farley to return from injury
Victorian-based jockey Neil Farley will return to race riding for the first time in over five months next week. Farley fractured an ankle that has kept him on the sidelines since mid-February.
Farley expects to be riding on Friday, July 21, at Donald.
Neil Farley | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I have been back in the saddle for four weeks. I’ve done three sets of jump-outs and quite a bit of track work,” Farley said.
“The recovery has been okay, but it’s taken a while given the severity of the injury, but the physio has been good.”
New juvenile winner for Capitalist
The Tony Gollan-trained Omilana gave her sire Capitalist a new juvenile winner on Sunday at the Sunshine Coast.
The 2-year-old filly was partnered by Angela Jones and won by 0.80l from Miley’s Memory (Spill The Beans) and Switch And Slide (Sidestep), finishing in third.
Omilana is the first foal from the winning I Am Invincible mare, Uratta Belle. Darby Racing paid $200,000 for Omilana from the draft of KBL Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The Newgate Farm-based Capitalist will stand for the 2023 breeding season for $77,000 (inc GST).
Allow Me makes it 22 for Spirit Of Boom
The Stewart and Taylah Mackinnon-trained Allow Me provided her Eureka Stud-based sire Spirit Of Boom a 22nd juvenile winner on Sunday at the Sunshine Coast.
The 2-year-old filly was ridden by Ben Thompson and won from Quade (Sidestep) and Capital Cee (Capitalist) further away in third.
Allow Me was bred and is raced by Craig Stott Racing. She is from the Bel Esprit mare Mystical Bel. She was a three-time winner and is a half-sister to Mystical Grey (Encosta De Lago), a Listed Spear Chief H. winner.
Spirit Of Boom will be available to breeders at $38,500 (inc GST) this season.
New winner for first-season sire Stratosphere
On Sunday in Tasmania at Devonport Tapeta Synthetic course, the Cameron Thompson-trained Ian’s Finale (Stratosphere) broke through at start three.
The 2-year-old gelding was ridden by Hayley McCarthy and won by 0.75l from Muisca (Winning Rupert). Ian’s Finale was bred and is raced by C Rundell and the Thompsom family.
The gelding is the first foal from the Per Incanto (USA) mare Ansaam. She hails from the family of the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Wonderful World and the G1 Golden Slipper hero Stay Inside.
Stratosphere | Standing at Grenville Stud
Ian’s Finale is the sixth winner for Stratosphere, who will stand the 2023 breeding season at Grenville Stud in Tasmania for $7700 (inc GST).
Square on the comeback
The Ballarat-based horseman Dan O’Sullivan revealed that his star galloper Berkeley Square (Territories {Ire}) is building towards the spring after missing the autumn following a pedal bone infection.
“Berkeley Square is completely over his injury, and he’s had a nice time maturing and growing into a lovely, big, strong horse,” O’Sullivan said.
Dan O'Sullivan | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He’s very bright and full of himself. We could have had Berkeley Square at the races by now, but he’s a spring horse, and we wanted to wait and get him ready. Berkeley Square is about 10 weeks into this preparation and will be ready for the trials in two weeks.”
O’Sullivan indicated Flemington’s August 5 meeting would be when racing fans get to see the gelding back in action while the G1 Makybe Diva S. and the Turnbull S. are on the radar with an ultimate goal of the G1 WS Cox Plate.
Ben and JD Hayes welcome back Master Montaro
Lindsay Park trainers Ben and JD Hayes have welcomed back Master Montaro (Toronado {Ire}) after the 6-year-old gelding returned to Australia following three wins in Hong Kong from 28 starts.
“Master Montaro has been back for a few months now. We gave him a good, good break,” JD Hayes told Racing.com.
“He has had a month on the water walker, then a month on the machine just building up a nice base. We are happy to have Master Montaro back in the system. We feel he will be a lovely Saturday horse.”
Bott pleased with Jubilee’s progress
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar) stepped out at Randwick on Friday morning for a 742 metre barrier trial, finishing second. The trial effort pleased her co-trainer Bott, who said, “It was great to see her back doing what she does. That’s all Platinum Jubilee was there to do, have a nice hit out.
“She’s open to a good deal of improvement, and I’m sure she’ll come on nicely out of the trial. She goes again in two weeks and will be asked for more effort there.”
Platinum Jubilee at the trials at Randwick on Friday | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Bott also confirmed the daughter of Zoustar will target the G2 Silver Shadow S. first-up on August 19.
“She’ll chase the Princess Series,” Bott told Punters. “The first two legs are over 1200 metres, and then you have Tea Rose over 1400 metres. The Tea Rose is important to find out whether she’ll push onto the Flight S. or head to Melbourne for other 1200 metre options.”
Richards pleased with Hong Kong debut season
As Hong Kong’s racing season comes to a close at Sha Tin on Sunday night, expat Kiwi trainer Jamie Richards reflects positively on his first season training in the Asian racing jurisdiction.
The former Te Akau Racing head trainer has enjoyed his first foray into training in Hong Kong where he has recorded 35 wins from 334 starts, accruing more than HK$36 million (AU$6.7 million) in prizemoney.
“I think it has been a good start, but there is always room for improvement,” Richards told SENZ’s The Good Oil.
Jamie Richards | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I think we have had nearly 350 starts this season, but we need to have a lot more than that next season to play the rating game, which is what you have to do in Hong Kong.
“I would like to think we can have 400 to 500 runners next year, just to give ourselves a chance.”
Richards’ latest win came at Happy Valley last Wednesday courtesy of Seasons Wit (Capitalist), and he was delighted to get the result after a quiet patch.
Richards said he has learnt a lot from his first season training in Hong Kong and he is looking forward to applying that knowledge next season with some welcome reinforcements.
“We have just got to play the handicap game a little bit better,” he said.
“If you don’t run your horses then they don’t lose points, and if they don’t lose points then they are pretty much stuck on their rating. We have got about 55 (horses) at the moment with a capacity of 70. When you are a single-site trainer and only have horses at Sha Tin, you are allowed 60, and when you have access to the Conghua stable, which is the racecourse in China, then your capacity goes to 70.”
Richards is also excited to be welcoming multiple Group 1 winner Wellington (All Too Hard) to his barn on his return from Royal Ascot.
“He is back in Hong Kong now and is in quarantine, he gets out next week.
“It will be an honour to train a horse of his calibre.”
Frankie Dettori and his manager, Peter Burrell, part ways
Jockey Frankie Dettori and his manager of over 30 years, Peter Burrell, will no longer be working together according to published reports.
Dettori, who is retiring at the end of the year, began working with Burrell in 1987, besides a brief split in 2007 and 2008. Dettori's career has been highlighted by a trio of champion jockey titles and big-race wins on an international scale, but also for his 'Magnificent Seven', where he won all seven races at Ascot in 1996. Besides assisting Dettori with his storied career on the track, Burrell has also aided the Italian with his career away from the races. Among other projects, the jockey released a film, Dettori, in 2021.
Frankie Dettori | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Burrell told The Sun, “I've not too much to say other than we both felt that we wanted to explore other avenues. I have other projects that I now want to spend more time on and I'm looking forward to it. It's been a great thirty year run and we remain great friends.”
