Ladbrokes Owners' Incentive Scheme set to launch in Victoria
Up to $9 million in bonuses will be available to Victorian owners over the next three years, after the introduction of the Ladbrokes Owners' Incentive Scheme (LOIS).
The Ladbrokes Racing Club scheme, which was officially launched in Tasmania earlier this year, will extend to Victoria from September 1 and will see an additional $2000 bonus payment up for grabs for registered owners on all TAB maiden flat races in Victoria, excluding the Future Stars Series (it is not offered on non-TAB and picnic maidens or on any jumps races).
RV Executive General Manager – Racing, Matt Welsh, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Ladbrokes on this fantastic initiative which will inject up to $3 million in extra bonuses per year into Victorian racing.
“Owners winning a standard $27,000 country maiden in Victoria can now pocket $2000 on top of the $14,850 first prize if registered for the scheme. The boosted $16,850 first prize means the maiden will be worth the equivalent of a $30,600 race for those winning owners.”
Kah gets back in the saddle
Champion jockey Jamie Kah took a step closer to her long-awaited return to race riding, taking part in a series of trials at Cranbourne on Monday.
Kah guided the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained pair Boldinho (Brazen Beau) and Steinem (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to win consecutive 800-metre trials.
Kah has been out of the saddle since a fall at Flemington fove months ago.
A timeline for her return to the races has yet to be determined.
The 27-year-old will face the Victorian Racing Tribunal next Monday, August 14 on a charge of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing, which relates to the publication of images of the jockey with a white powder at a private gathering in June.
Memsie test to decide Annavisto’s future
Talented mare Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) may soon be headed to the breeding barn, with co-trainer Mike Price on Monday revealing the how the 6-year-old performs in the G1 Memsie S. at Caulfield on September 2 will determine whether she races on.
“We’re going to run first-up in the Memsie and we’re not sure if she trains on after that, or depending on her performance, if she goes to stud,” Price told Racing.com.
“She's been placed in a Group 1 over a mile and we’re trying to catch the good Group 1 horses still having a snooze.
“If we can whip around Caulfield fitter… bit of a Hail Mary job, but we'll have a crack.”
Annavisto (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Annavisto contested a star-studded Cranboutrne trial on Monday, one that featured Nonconfirmist (Rebel Raider), Steinem (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
The dual Group 3 victress led around the turn and was allowed to cruise to the line under Damian Lane, finishing fourth.
“She had a fair while off, she’s still a bit fat and she had a big blow,” Price explained.
Annavisto will trial again before her first-up run at Caulfield.
Nominations extended for Rosehill feature
If the nominations are anything to go by, Saturday’s Listed The Rosebud at Rosehill could be a cracker.
As of Monday afternoon, talented 3-year-olds including Barber (Exceed And Excel), The Instructor (Russian Revolution), Cigar Flick (Churchill {Ire}) and Tumbling (Trapeze Artist) have all been nominated for the $200,000 contest.
Nominations have been extended until 11am AEST on Tuesday.
Hawkes rallies behind suspension-prone young gun
Australian racing Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes has publicly backed Sydney’s reigning Champion Apprentice Zac Lloyd, following another suspension at the weekend.
Lloyd was last week slapped with successive careless riding bans, ruling him out until August 27, and he has now been hit with 11 suspensions since moving to Sydney in May last year.
“Zac is only learning and probably trying too hard at times, so he has got to find the right balance,” Hawkes told News Corp.
Zac Lloyd | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“I have spoken to him about it as I’m sure others have like his dad (Jeff Lloyd) and Darren (Beadman).
“But he's a real good kid, he’s not a ‘big head’, he works hard and has the right attitude.
“He was here at Rosehill (trackwork) this morning (Monday), so he is not letting these setbacks get to him.
“These suspensions might be frustrating for him but he will be fine. In time, he will be a superstar.”
Ottawa Stakes heroine wins trial
Well-bred filly Charm Stone was another to head to the Cranbourne trials on Monday and the I Am Invincible filly looked sharp in taking out Heat 16 over 800 metres.
Charm Stone, who won the G3 Ottawa S. last spring as a 2-year-old, clocked 45.46s under Damian Lane.
The filly, who cost $1.55 million at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is from the two-time Group 3 winner Najoom (Northern Meteor), was put on ice after failing in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) in February. Charm Stone is a sister to the dual Listed scorer Najmaty.
Meawnhile, stablemate Amenable (Lonhro), a Group 2 placegetter, won Heat 9. He ran 59.83s for the 1000-metre gallop and was also ridden by Lane.
Forgot You ready to resume from long break
Dual Group 2 winner Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) took another step to returning to the races on Monday, finishing second in a Cranbourne trial over 1000 metres.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained galloper hasn’t been seen on raceday since his unplaced effort behind Hitotsu in last year’s G1 AJC Derby. Forgot You has been sidelined because of a suspensory injury.
Busuttin said the stable has earmarked the G2 PB Lawrence S. at Caulfield on Saturday week as his likely fresh-up run.
Forgot You (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s going to be a 5-year-old bull 18 months between runs, but we’ll probably give him a spin around in the Lawrence just to get him going,” Busuttin told Racing And Sports.
“He’s a genuine Group horse and he’ll end up being competitive in Group races throughout the prep, but he’s going to need the run for sure first-up.”
Favourite son finally lands Darwin Cup
At long last, top-end legend, 50-year-old Paul Shiers, is a Darwin Cup-winning jockey.
Shiers partnered the Dick Leech-trained Write Your Name (Written Tycoon) to a comprehensive victory in Monday’s $200,000 feature.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Shiers told Sky Racing.
“I was the right man in the right spot and picked up the ride.
“I thought I gave him a pretty good ride.”
Shiers has won every Northern Territory feature-race, most on multiple occasions.
Sanblas (Casino Prince) was second, with Wolfburn (Snitzel) third.
Write Your Name is from the stakes performer Jillimarg (Blevic) - an eight-time winner.
New winner for Trapeze Artist
Widden Stud resident Trapeze Artist is on the board in 2023/24, after the Team McEvoy-trained 3-year-old colt Theodor saluted at Ballarat-Synthetic on Monday.
Trapeze Artist enjoyed an encouraging first season, with nine winners and 10 wins.
He will stand at Widden Stud this spring at a fee of $55,000 (inc GST).
Theodor was offered by his breeder - Longwood Thoroughbred Farm - at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He was bought by McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $210,000.
The colt is the sixth foal of the Group 3 victress Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom {USA}), making him a close relation to the stakes winners Hallowell Belle (Starcraft {NZ}), Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) and Brereton (Zoustar).
Taviarma makes NZ$150,000 at online sale
Tavistock (NZ) mare Taviarma (NZ) realised a sale-best NZ$150,000 at the latest Gavelhouse.com online sale, which concluded on Monday.
The 4-year-old was bred by Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan and was raced by Te Akau. She was placed in two of her five starts.
Campbell set for stint on sidelines
Talented apprentice jockey Luke Campbell has a non-displaced knee fracture and remains in Alfred Hospital.
Campbell was injured after being dislodged from Naval Academy (Justify {USA}) in Race 1 at Sandown-Lakeside on Sunday.
A stewards’ hearing into the incident has been adjourned until Campbell is able to give evidence.
Parnham eyes Sydney riches with Snowdome
Neville Parnham is already looking ahead to next autumn with his Group 3 winner Snowdome (Rommel).
Parnham will consider taking the consistent 4-year-old to Sydney for a crack at some of the rich feature races.
Snowdome | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“I think the best is yet to come and I would like to take him to Sydney for the autumn,” Parnham said on Tabradio.
“He’s a fairly good horse and the races over there in the autumn would suit him.”
