RV meets with key stakeholders
Following the conclusion of the 2023 Spring Racing Carnival, Racing Victoria (RV) on Tuesday conducted a strategy meeting in Melbourne with key participant groups. It is believed each group was asked to share its vision for the sport.
The Victorian metropolitan clubs – the Victoria Racing Club (VRC), the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) and the Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) – as well as Country Racing Victoria (CRV), were among those that took part in the session.
Other invitees included the Australian Jockeys’ Association (AJA), the Australian Trainers’ Association (ATA), the Victorian Breeders Association and the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association (TROA).
Each group was asked to present for up to 25 minutes.
“With the spring carnival wrapping up it’s the perfect time to get together to look towards 2024,” RV’s CEO, Andrew Jones, said ahead of the meeting.
It is believed the agenda included items such as RV’s funding to its Clubs, the cost of running racing, prizemoney, race dates, the number of race meetings, infrastructure, welfare and facilities.
Terrific Tuesday for Rubick
The Swettenham Stud-based Rubick sired five winners on Tuesday across Australia. The son of Encosta De Lago sired two winners at Bendigo in Victoria, starting with the Simon Zahra-trained Ruada, who was winning at start two, while the second race on the card saw the Cliff Brown-trained Ezeiza win on debut by 1.3l.
Rubick | Standing at Swettenham Stud
At Corowa in New South Wales, the Daniel McCarthy-trained Solvere was successful as was Indira from the Leon and Troy Corstens stable.
Sibling to Front Page makes winning debut
Well-related mare Deeling Aces (Dundeel {NZ}) made a belated winning debut at Bendigo on Tuesday when prevailing by 1l over 1400 metres.
A $220,000 purchase from the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by her trainer Symon Wilde in conjunction with Dave Mee’s Pinhook Bloodstock (FBAA), Deeling Aces is a half-sister to Listed winner and dual The Kosciuszko hero Front Page (Magnus), as well as the multiple Group-placed mare News Girl (Magnus).
Sent off the joint $3 favourite for the third race on the Bendigo card, Deeling Aces was driven out by in-form jockey Jordan Childs to score comfortably by 1l, with fellow debutant Girls Girls Girls (Fiorente {Ire}) making up plenty of ground from the rear to run an eyecatching second.
Deeling Aces is out of the five-time winning Bel Esprit mare Stacey Lee, who most recently foaled a sister to both Front Page and News Girl in 2022.
Lighting on the radar for Imperatriz?
Te Akau Racing’s star mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) is set to return to work later this week in anticipation of an autumn preparation.
Te Akau Racing’s principal David Ellis indicated races such as the G1 Lightning S. at Flemington could be on the radar for the brilliant daughter of I Am Invincible.
“We’ll be deciding by early next week what we will do,” Ellis told Racing.com.
“To do what’s best for Imperatriz and for the racing industry in general and that’s what we are thinking. She had a two-week spell and then had a week in the water walker and she’ll be back in the stable in the next few days.”
Durston on track for autumn return
The 2022 Caulfield Cup victor Durston (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) is on track to make a return to racing in the autumn after spending time on the sidelines due to a tendon injury.
The Chris Waller-trained 8-year-old, raced by Highclere, has been in pre-training for three weeks.
“Durston is poking around in pre-training and will have a full preparation in the autumn providing he stays sound,” Highclere Australia's managing director Tony Fleiter told Racing.com.
Durston (GB) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He is showing no signs of lameness and has been brought along very slowly and the vets are happy with him as are the pre-trainers.
“It will likely be his last preparation before retirement so we hope it’s a sound and successful one.”
Short spell for Jenni and Gold
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained multiple Group 1 winners Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) have returned to work in preparation for an autumn campaign.
Maher indicated the likely options for the Melbourne Cup and Turnbull champ, Gold Trip, “Given how well he went in the Turnbull over 2000 metres, the Queen Elizabeth on a wet track should be a real option for him and he could well go through to an Australian Cup,” he shared with Racing.com.
“Gold Trip has come through the spring in really good shape.”
While Pride Of Jenni has multiple options, “All those big mile races will be on her radar with The All-Star Mile maybe heading that list.”
“There will be races for her as well in Sydney. There are some nice targets up there.”
Northerly field released
Annabel Neasham’s Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) heads a competitive field of 15 for Saturday’s G1 Northerly S. at Ascot.
The multiple Group 1 winner will be ridden by James McDonald, while retiring legend Damien Oliver, will partner Zoumon (Zoustar) in his final Group 1 ride.
The G1 Railway S. victor Bustler (Playing God) and the G2 Western Australian Guineas winner Zipaway (Playing God) are among a strong local contingent looking for success in the $1.5 million feature.
Darby to increase Perth presence
Fresh off the back of Overpass’ (Vancouver) breakthrough Group 1 win in last Saturday’s G1 Winterbottom S., leading syndicator Darby Racing has suggested it could be increasing its presence in Western Australia in the coming years.
Overpass, who landed the inaugural The Quokka earlier this year, is set to defend his title in the $4 million showpiece in 2024, where he could be joined by fellow Darby-raced gelding Insurrection (Russian Revolution), who will bid to make it five wins from his last six starts in Saturday’s Listed Razor Sharp S. at Royal Randwick.
Scott Darby | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The syndicator’s director, Scott Darby, also confirmed that he plans to attend the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale in February next year, with a view to expanding Darby Racing’s client base across The Nullarbor.
“We had lunch with David (Houston) from Magic Millions on Friday and he floated the idea we may look to syndicate a couple over here,” Darby said.
"It looks like it's all systems go to potentially come over here in February and looking at buying one or two to extend the arm of Darby Racing in WA.”
Aegon to resume in New Zealand
Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) will make a return to New Zealand for Saturday’s G1 TAB Classic S. for the first time in more than a year.
Aegon’s trainer Andrew Forsman is hopeful he can improve on last year’s runner-up performance, “I think it is going to be a big enough field from looking at the nominations. The key with him is that we are desperately hoping he draws a decent barrier,” he told Racing.com.
“I am really happy with Aegon. It would have been nice to get two trials into him in a perfect world, or even a lead-up run, but there just wasn’t anything suitable for him.”
Sixty swansong?
Connections have indicated that the end is closer than the beginning for the remarkable racing career of the 8-year-old Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}). The champion Hong Kong-based galloper is set to make his seasonal reappearance in Sunday’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin. Golden Sixty is looking to emulate Good Ba Ba (USA) (Lear Fan {USA}) as the only horse to win three additions of the race and according to Golden Sixty’s trainer Francis Lui the gelding is ready to go.
“He’s good. Everything is fine, it’s smooth and he’s improved with each barrier trial he’s had. His condition is very good now and everybody is very happy,” Lui told Racing.com.
Golden Sixty | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“Golden Sixty likes to run fresh. It’s a tough field especially with the Japanese horses. We’re just focused on the big race. We don’t know if it will be his last race; we will let the horse tell us when it’s time to retire. I think this will be his last time at the Hong Kong International meeting - he’s done his job.”
Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa reduces Violence's 2024 stud fee
Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa stallion Violence (USA), the sire of last year's champion 2-year-old Forte, has had his 2024 stud fee reduced from the previously announced US$60,000 (AU$90,700) to US$40,000 (AU$60,500) live foal.
In announcing the reduction Sunday evening, Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa president John Sikura explained, “At the end of last breeding season, Violence had a period where he was missing too many of his mares. We raised his fee to, not only reflect his race track success, but to lessen demand for the stallion. In evaluating a recent veterinary opinion on the management of his book, we feel confident he can cover a maximum book of 125 mares in 2024. We will accommodate breeders with constant communication regarding the ideal booking schedules for their mares and 'double' all mares if possible. Violence is an important sire and we feel this adjustment will allow more breeders to access the horse at a price more than competitive in the marketplace. It's a tough time for breeders with stud fees rising in an ever-polarised market. I think this is good for the stallion and good for breeders.”
Pletcher, Repole lose another round in fight to overturn hopeful DQ
Members of the New York Gaming Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to uphold a recommendation from a hearing officer that Forte (USA) be disqualified from his victory in the 2022 G1 Hopeful S. In the Hopeful, Forte tested positive for the prohibited substance meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication.
The case has moved slowly since the September 2022 race. It took eight months for the New York Gaming Commission to make the finding public and when it did the stewards disqualified Forte, fined Pletcher US$1000 (AU$1500) and suspended him for 10 days. Pletcher and owners Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola appealed the stewards' ruling, which meant the matter was sent to a hearing officer, Clark Petschek. The session with the hearing officer was held in July and Petschek issued his report on September 30. Petschek upheld the original findings of the stewards, the fine, the suspension and the disqualification.
Forte (USA) | Image courtesy of Racingphotos
It is within the commission's right to reject the hearing officer's recommendations but, instead, it voted unanimously to uphold them.
It was noted that the owners of Hopeful runner-up, Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt, appeared at the hearing to support the decision to disqualify Forte.
It's unlikely that Tuesday's ruling by the New York Gaming Commission will be the last word on the Forte matter. The Forte team can now take their case to the courts and will like file an appeal within the New York court system. Repole has vowed to spend whatever it takes to get the Hopeful decision overturned.
