Daily News Wrap

Juvenile double for Mikki Isle

The former Arrowfield Stud shuttler Mikki Isle (Jpn) posted a juvenile double on Tuesday. The Paul Messara-trained Brok Cafe saluted on debut at Newcastle. Donovan Dillon rode the 2-year-old filly to a 1.86l victory from Snow Star (Bullet Train {GB}).

The Marc Conners-trained Manhattan Baby broke through at Bathurst to record her maiden victory and complete the double. The daughter of Mikki Isle was ridden by Deanne Payne and scored narrowly from Starmae (Zoustar).

Sirileo Miss likely to race on

The Symon Wilde-trained Sirileo Miss (Pride Of Dubai) has put retirement talk on hold for a moment with another tilt at a spring preparation.

The rising 6-year-old mare enjoyed a fruitful autumn campaign that saw her score the G2 Sunline S. and the G3 Matron S.

“She'll probably come back for a spring campaign before going to the breeding barn,” Wilde told Racing.com.

“She's getting towards that stage and especially if her form dipped, we'd consider what we do with her.

“She had her best preparation last time - she won the Sunline really well - and as she's got older, she's got better and better.

“There are a lot of people in her with smaller shares, so when we do make the call, she'd probably have to go to auction I'd say.”

Strip thrills McDonald

Chris Waller’s Champion Sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) has returned to work ahead of another spring campaign. A rising 9-year-old, the gelding took his first major step back with a gallop on his hometrack of Rosehill on Tuesday morning, impressing his regular partner James McDonald.

“He seems in good form, he’s pretty forward,” McDonald told Racing.com.

“He didn’t blow a match out and he enjoyed his work, so thumbs up.”

Big option for Little Brose

This season’s G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}) has had an international option kept open for him ahead of his Classic year. Trained by Ben and JD Hayes, the colt has been vaccinated in order to be eligible for racing in Hong Kong, where his owner is based, and yet may be seen for the international meeting at Sha Tin in December.

“It is a possibility as he is owned by Mr Young up there in Hong Kong and he would love to see his horse compete on the world stage,” co-trainer JD Hayes told Racing.com.

“He is going to have to put together a very good spring to book his ticket, but we think he is capable and hopefully the next couple of months will tell.”

Little Brose will likely resume in the G3 Vain S. and may target the G3 McNeil S. following that.

“We might try him in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude over 1400 metres and that might be a fork in the road for the preparation as to whether we kept sprinting or look to a possible Guineas tilt,” Hayes added.

Lucky move takes next step

Lightly raced 4-year-old Extremely Lucky (Extreme Choice) is building towards his much-anticipated return to action for his new trainer, Chris Waller, at Rosehill. Away from the track since disappointing in the G1 Moir S. last September, the gelding was then trained by Will Clarken, and had his first trial for Waller last week.

A part owner, Suman Hedge of Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) gave a guarded view on his return to the track.

“He trialled really well, he was within himself, there's been a lot of hype about the horse in the past and even after the trial, we'll just leave it up to Chris and see how the horse goes,” Hedge told Racing.com.

“He's been with Chris for a few months now, the ownership group - a lot of them are based in Sydney and they wanted to see how he'd go in a different environment.

“I think he needs to get back to the races and be competitive and prove he can show that kind of talent on race day,” he added.

Brown getting back on track

After suffering severe internal injuries as a result of a fall in the G1 Australian Guineas back in March, Ethan Brown reported a promising level of fitness ahead of his as-yet-unknown return to race riding after galloping horses at The Valley on Tuesday.

“I've done four lots of trials so the fitness is really good,” Brown told NewsCorp after partnering horses for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

“I'm pretty fit. I've been eating well and focusing on doing all the right things in recovery and that seems to be paying dividends.

“I've recovered a lot quicker than usual.

“I think I'm still a couple of weeks off (race riding) but the body is holding up really well,” he said, before adding that early August is his current aim for a return.

Boag speaks up for Canberra cut

Les Boag, chairman of the Canberra Racing Club (CRC), has argued that the state’s funding mechanism from gambling leaves it worse off than its counterparts around Australia because they receive direct funding from the government rather than a share of the Point of Consumption Tax (PoCT) in the territory.

That PoCT was increased on July 1 in the ACT from 20 to 25 per cent, which will yield an expected $32 million per annum.

“What we are seeking is a fair share of the funding from the ACT PoCT which is a gambling tax upon our racing product,” Boag told NewsCorp.

“All the states are providing a share of PoCT to their racing industry and the SA government has just doubled the amount to enable SA racing to stay competitive. It makes good sense for the ACT government to fund ACT racing from a percentage of the funds from gambling on our racing product, the same as all the states.”

Racing Victoria cut Betfair fees in bid for increased turnover

Racing Victoria (RV) has cut the race field rates it charges on the Betfair Exchange by five per cent, to 30 per cent. Although Betfair accounts for just five per cent of total wagering turnover in Victoria, it is a crucial tool for pro punters and bookmakers alike.

“Racing Victoria supports the continued competitiveness and viability of the Exchange, and this change will bring race field rates applicable to the Exchange more in-line with fees RV applies to other betting products in market,” RV COO Aaron Morrison told Racing.com.

“Betfair directly contributes around five per cent to overall Victorian thoroughbred turnover, but we also recognise the broader unique and important role that the Exchange plays for specific consumer segments in the wagering market and for the Australian wagering ecosystem.

“The Exchange serves as a key platform for unrestricted punter-to-punter betting, risk management for bookmakers, as a key reference for price and market trends, and an important source of liquidity for the broader wagering market.”

Ballard racing into 70

Mount Isa-based Keith Ballard will celebrate his 70th birthday this Saturday at Corfield, where he will be riding into the history books. Ballard started riding as a teenager, and is now thought to be the oldest jockey riding in Australia, according to Kevin Ring of the Australian Jockeys' Association.

“It is no surprise for anyone that knows him, he is renowned for having one of the better work ethics you would encounter,” Ballard’s son Dan, also a jockey, told Racing Queensland.

“He has always been very consistent and tough; he has always been a grinder and his longevity speaks to those traits.

“It is a huge achievement no doubt but it is no surprise. It is very much in keeping with what he is known for.”

'A complex full of the famous Donny Rockets' – UK’s Doncaster Premier catalogue revealed

The catalogue for the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale, which boasts 450 yearlings set to sell at Doncaster in the UK on August 29 and 30, can now be viewed online.

All yearlings sold through the auction will be eligible for the Harry's Half Million, currently known as the Goffs Harry Beeby Premier Yearling S. and re-branded for 2024 in honour of Goffs UK's late Chairman Harry Beeby. Next year's race will still be held at York with a guaranteed prize fund of £500,000 (AU$950,000).

“The 2023 Premier Sale catalogue remains true to the central pillars of the sale's long enduring philosophy,” Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent said. “Buyers already know what they are going to be presented with when they arrive at Doncaster in August–a complex full of precocious, athletic yearlings. To put it another way – a complex full of the famous Donny Rockets.”

Desert Crown on course for King George return

Desert Crown (GB) is set to return from his latest injury setback in Saturday's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. as last year's G1 Epsom Derby winner is one of 15 runners still in contention for the £1.25 million (AU$2.38 million) Ascot contest.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the son of Nathaniel (Ire) stormed to Classic glory at Epsom in 2022 before spending almost a year on the sidelines. A further setback ruled him out of an intended Royal Ascot engagement but after working well in a grass gallop at Newmarket on Sunday morning, Desert Crown is now on course for a belated reappearance.

“He's going okay. He worked yesterday morning and he worked nicely,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager for owner Saeed Suhail.

“He doesn't do a lot now, but everyone was very pleased. It was good to see him on the grass.”