VRC confirms Cup Week celebrations
Following Wednesday’s news that the Melbourne Cup parade would not be held in its traditional format in 2023 because of building works in the city, the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) on Thursday outlined how the event will look this year.
Crown’s Riverwalk and Petanque Social will be the central hub for celebrations from Derby Day (November 4) through until the end of Champions’ S. day (November 11), with food options, a DJ and cocktails all featuring. An event will be held along the Riverwalk from 11am AEDT on Melbourne Cup eve where fans will be able to meet jockeys, trainers and see the Melbourne Cup.
“The Melbourne Cup Carnival draws thousands of visitors to our city from interstate and overseas every year, and while we hoped to run a traditional parade this year, we could not with the current Big Build activity in the city,” said VRC Chief Executive Officer Steve Rosich.
The 2023 Melbourne Cup | Image courtesy of The Lexus Melbourne Cup
“The one-year challenge that we have with the Big Build activity created an opportunity to think differently and innovate to create a central spot for people to enjoy the festivities all week long in 2023, with plans to return the parade to city streets next year with the support of the City of Melbourne.
“The Melbourne Cup Carnival is unique for the fact it showcases so many different elements that make Melbourne wonderful, from live sport to fashion, hospitality and entertainment and the VRC is thrilled to be working with Crown to deliver a taste of those elements in the middle of the city, creating more opportunities across Cup Week for the public to experience the magic of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.”
Frankie Dettori cancels retirement
It was revealed on Thursday that high-profile jockey Frankie Dettori will not retire at the end of this year, despite spending much of 2023 on a promotional ‘farewell tour’. The Italian had lofty send-offs at meetings like Royal Ascot in June, with European broadcasters devoting a lot of time to Dettori’s successful career over the years.
However, on Thursday the Racing Post revealed that Dettori had cancelled his retirement and plans to ride full-time in America from the start of 2024. It follows a number of successful stints the jockey has had in the country, including a most recent one in California. The 52-year-old will ride at British Champions Day next weekend, and also did not rule out the possibility of returning to Royal Ascot and other European meetings down the line.
“I didn’t expect this year to be so successful,” Dettori told the Racing Post. “I feel like I still have to get it all out of my system, so the obvious choice for me is to move full-time to America. I’m going to be based at Santa Anita, but I’ll also do a bit of stuff on the international scene in Dubai and Saudi Arabia when available.”
Dettori will relocate he and his family to California before christmas, and he said he could ride for another three months or three years.
Ownership spat over Hawaii
An ownership discrepancy in the 4-year-old colt Hawaii Five Oh (I Am Invincible) came to light on Thursday when the News Corp journalist Ray Thomas revealed that firm friends Gerry Harvey, John Singleton and Ray Hadley were in a barney over the valuable horse. Hawaii Five Oh, a full brother to Libertini, will take his place this weekend in the $20 million The Everest, but, at this stage, without Hadley’s name on the ownership record.
Hadley is in a lease agreement with Harvey, who bred the horse, and Singleton, and it was revealed that a fortnight ago, lease papers had not been renewed and Hadley’s name had been dropped from the ownership. The 2GB broadcaster aired the fiasco on his top-rating radio program on Thursday morning, with Harvey claiming they were working overtime to rectify the discrepancy before The Everest.
Gerry Harvey and John Singleton
“Gerry is a good friend of mine but he’s a billionaire businessman and he’s let something like this happen,” Hadley told Thomas. “I can’t believe it. I’m hoping we can get the paperwork through in time.”
Hawaii Five Oh has drawn barrier 10 for Saturday’s race. He will be ridden by James McDonald and heads into contention after a well-run second to Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) in the G2 Premiere S. last time out.
Ben Hayes bullish with Brightside
Brilliant miler Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will look to add a fifth elite-level triumph to his CV when he contests Saturday’s G1 King Charles III S. at Randwick. The 6-year-old should get every chance, too, having drawn gate eight.
Ben Hayes, who trains the gelding alongside brothers Will and JD, is supremely confident Mr Brightside will take plenty of beating in the inaugural running of the $5 million race.
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He is really good when he travels and really switches on and we've got a good routine,” Hayes told Racing.com. “We are thrilled with him and can’t fault him. We respect all the Sydney form, but with his record, I think he deserves to be in the market like he is. I think he has drawn a good barrier and even though it is a very competitive race, he has got the form on the board.”
‘Super prep’ has Supido entire primed for shot at The Everest
Matthew Smith claims Buenos Noches (Supido), who will line up in Saturday’s $20 million The Everest, has enjoyed a faultless campaign. The 4-year-old will be third-up, having won when fresh in the G3 Show County Quality H., before finishing a close third in the G2 The Shorts.
Buenos Noches (navy blue cap) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He’s had a super prep, his work has been really good,’’ Smith told Racing NSW. “He’s gone better than leading into his last race so he’s still on the way up. He’s a really good horse and will go on to be a good horse whether he wins an Everest or he doesn’t. He’s in the right place at the right time, he’s landed in the right spot.”
Buenos Noches will jump from gate eight under apprentice Dylan Gibbons.
Nolen not losing sleep over inside draw
Group 1-winning jockey Luke Nolen concedes barrier one isn’t the ideal draw for I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) in The Everest, but it certainly hasn’t put paid to his chances.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained gelding possesses a devastating turn of foot and usually likes to run on out wide from the back of the field. The inside alley makes that scenario a challenge.
“He looks a million bucks and he has a real sense of timing about him. We drew one in the Memsie and were three-back and we sliced through really well, if we get even luck it won’t be a hindrance,” Nolen told Racing NSW.
I Wish I Win (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“I won a TJ on Black Caviar from gate one, that was a bad spot for a horse like her too. It was a bit different, it was autumn, but Pete wanted me down the middle of the track in the better ground. We got there from that gate with her, she was a bit more robust than this bloke. But if he’s presented his opportunity he will give a good account of himself.”
Pride remains grounded ahead of dual Everest tilt
In-form trainer Joe Pride is remaining grounded ahead of his star pair of Private Eye (Al Maher) and Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) tackling the $20 million The Everest on Saturday. The latter is virtually undefeated in 11 lifetime starts (just one loss) and shares equal favouritism for the race with I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel).
“I’ve got my job to do, a team at home to get horses ready for this race,” Pride told Racing NSW. “It’s pretty simple stuff. It feels like we’ve nailed the preparation and, once the gates open, up it’s to what happens after that. You put the prizemoney aside, you’ve got to treat it like another race.”
Joe Pride | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Private Eye has drawn barrier nine on Saturday with Nash Rawiller, with Think About It and Sam Clipperton getting barrier five.
O’Hara hoping for King Charles repeat
The 4-year-old gelding Rediener (Redoute’s Choice) recently gave Kathy O’Hara her third career Group 1 when winning the Epsom, and the jockey is hoping for repeat business this Saturday in the G1 King Charles III S.
“He’s a very unassuming horse,” she told Racing NSW. “To look at, he’s just a run of the mill thoroughbred and just ticks along in his trackwork. He goes about his business and is competitive when it matters. It’s the next step for him, it’s sink or swim. You find out how good he is against the topline horses.”
Rediener has won his last two starts, on both occasions carrying O’Hara. Before the Epsom, he won the G3 Bill Ritchie and, before that again, the G3 Gunsynd Classic. He will head into Saturday a winner of his last four races.
Pearl Of Alsace at the top for Livamol Classic
The Group 3-winning filly Pearl Of Alsace (NZ), a daughter of Tavistock (NZ), has had a faultless prep into this Saturday’s G1 Livamol Classic at Hastings, according to her trainers Shaun Ritchie and Colm Murray. The 5-year-old was a last-start winner at Te Rapa.
“We have been building toward this and, with that in mind, we have ridden her very colt in her first two starts this prep, partly because of the barrier draws and being proactive in teaching her to relax so she runs out the 2040 metres,” Ritchie told loveracing.nz. “This is a big test and the program we have mapped out, and only having the two runs going into this, opens up a number of options.”
Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
There is a chance Pearl Of Alsace could go to Melbourne or instead opt for the G1 Captain Cook S. at Trentham, where she has a good record. Decisions will be made following Saturday’s Group 1.
Tristate injured
Anthony Cummings advised Racing NSW on Thursday that his 5-year-old gelding Tristate (Headwater) had been injured in a stable incident ahead of the Sydney S. this Saturday. A veterinarian had examined the horse and declared him 1/5 lame in the near-fore.
Tristate will be examined again on Friday morning to determine his suitability to face the field in the $2 million Sydney S. He is currently the first emergency.
Racing in doubt in West Auckland
A dark cloud looms large over racing in West Auckland, with its future in doubt after New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) announced no further trial meetings will be held at Avondale Racecourse for the foreseeable future.
Concerns relating to track safety at Avondale have escalated following the abandonment of the club’s September 6 meeting due to the unsafe nature of the track.
With the subsequent breakdown in communication between the two parties, NZTR decided it was in the best interests of its stakeholders to cease trials at the track and enter discussions with TAB NZ to revoke the allocation of race dates to the Avondale Jockey Club (AJC) for the current season.
“Avondale haven’t really engaged since the abandonment in September. We needed to bring it to a head, we couldn’t keep going around in circles,” NZTR chief operating officer Darin Balcombe said.
Darin Balcombe | Image courtesy of Race Images
“We have got obligations to stakeholders in terms of race meetings and to give surety to everyone as to where they are going to trial and where they will be racing. We have tried to make contact (with AJC) several times since the abandonment and we have had one response, which was pretty underwhelming.
“We have got to the end of our tether, and we have got no faith that they can provide a safe racing surface, and that is why the decision had to be made. The decision was all about a safe racing surface and we can’t have our industry participants going all the way to Avondale and have meetings called off.”
NZTR are now working with the Northern programming chair and other clubs to look for alternate venues for the affected trials and race meetings.
King in line for plum Cup ride
Group 1-winning jockey Rachel King is likely to retain the ride on the last-start G1 Metropolitan H. winner Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Melbourne Cup. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding will run on Saturday in the G1 Might And Power S. at Caulfield. Jordan Childs will partner Just Fine this weekend, with King riding in Sydney.
“We told her to not take a ride in the Cup, simple as that,” Waterhouse told News Corp. “She hasn’t done a bad job, she won the Sydney Cup last year and she’s won the Metropolitan this year, she’s hard to beat, isn't she?”
Guineas part of long play with Justify colt
Jockey Beau Mertens is confident that talented 3-year-old Verdad will be competitive in Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Guineas, but claims the Justify (USA) colt may be better suited to the longer trip of next month’s G1 Victoria Derby.
Mertens guided the Robbie Griffiths and Mathew De Kock-trained Verdad to a brilliant debut win at Bendigo, before the pair combined to run second in the G2 Bill Stutt S. last time out.
Beau Mertens | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s stepped out in a maiden to win in good fashion there, then stepped out in a Group 2 at his second start and put in a great run at a track that probably didn’t suit him,” Mertens told Racing.com. “This isn’t his grand final on Saturday but, all going well, we want him to run well so he can keep progressing to the Derby. I think getting him to Flemington will be his best chance of winning a big race.”
Freedman hopes Attrition can bounce back
Mitchell Freedman admits to being disappointed with Attrition’s (Churchill {Ire}) effort in the G1 Underwood S., but is prepared to forgive the 4-year-old for one bad run. The entire, who will line up in Saturday’s G1 Toorak H. at Caulfield, finished third last in the Underwood.
“A colt, in the spring, he might have been focussed a little elsewhere,” Freedman told Racing And Sports. “He seems to have worked really well at home since then, so we’re going to have to put our faith in the horse that he'll turn it around on raceday.
“There looks like there’s a lot of speed, so it should be a good test. We toyed with the idea of the blinkers, but I would rather make sure he was going well before we put that sort of gear on.”
New winners for second-season sires
Trapeze Artist and The Autumn Sun are likely to be in contention for second-season sire honours come the end of the season, and the two stallions both logged a new winner on Thursday.
At Kyneton, Dismount (Trapeze Artist) won on debut in Race 1, before Red Vicar (The Autumn Sun) broke through at the second time of asking in Race 4.
Inspiral choices abound
The five-time Group 1 winner Inspiral (GB), a daughter of Frankel (GB), will head to either the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile or British Champions Day at Ascot, with the star 4-year-old also a possibility to stay in training in 2024.
“We're looking at the QEII or the Breeders' Cup this season,” said Richard Thompson, speaking on behalf of owner Cheveley Park Stud. “It will be one of the two, we just don't know which one yet. It depends on how she comes out of Saturday, it depends on the ground at Ascot–there's a few factors.
“She could potentially stay in training next season, but that depends on how she comes out of her final race this year, whichever race that is going to be.”
Screen Hero retired from stud
The Japan Cup winner Screen Hero (Jpn) has been retired from stud duties, it was announced this week by Rex Stud. The son of Grass Wonder (USA) had sired such Group 1 winners as Australian shuttler Maurice (Jpn), the Arima Kinen winner Gold Actor (Jpn) and last year’s Hong Kong Vase winner Win Marilyn (Jpn).
Screen Hero won his Japan Cup in 2008, defeating Deep Impact (Jpn) and Vodka (Jpn) during a vintage era in Japanese racing. He was found to have a bowed tendon after the 2009 Japan Cup, and retired from racing with a career record of five wins from 23 starts, with two Graded stakes wins. He will see out his life at Shadai Farm in Hokkaido.
Spendthrift fees set
Fees have been set for Spendthrift Farm’s four first-crop sires, which currently occupy four of the top five spots on the leading freshman sire list in North America. Their fees were held back in September when Spendthrift announced its 2024 roster.
Omaha Beach (USA) heads the overall roster at US$40,000 (AU$65,000), followed by Maximus Mischief (USA) at US$25,000 (AU$40,000). Vino Rosso (USA), who previously shuttled to Spendthrift Australia, will stand for US$20,000 (AU$31,000), while Mitrole (USA) will command US$15,000 (AU$25,000).
Omaha Beach (USA) | Standing at Spendthrift Farm, USA
The roster will feature three new stallions in 2024, two of which will contest next month’s Breeders’ Cup before fees will be set. They are Taiba (USA), a son of Gun Runner (USA), Arabian Lion (USA) by Justify (USA) and Zandon (USA) by Upstart (USA).
NYRA buys Sugar Maple Farm
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has purchased the former breeding operation Sugar Maple Farm, 466 acres an hour from Belmont Park and two hours from Saratoga, it was reported on Wednesday. NYRA’s Patrick McKenna said the property could be used for a variety of reasons.
“It could be appropriate for wide array of uses, including as a new centre for equine health and safety research, veterinary education, thoroughbred aftercare, as well as off-track training and lay-up services,” he said. “The acquisition of Sugar Maple Farm will, for the first time, allow NYRA to directly contribute to New York’s breeding industry and strengthen the NY-bred program. NYRA jumped on the opportunity to protect Sugar Maple Farm.”
The property features a homestead with eight bedrooms, a wine cellar and indoor swimming pool, as well as a tennis court and putting green. There are paddocks, outbuildings and six barns with 94 stalls. It used to belong to the entrepreneur Howard Kaskel and his wife Susan.
