Mega-club to be decided on Monday
Members of the Pakenham Racing Club and Cranbourne Turf Club will have the opportunity to vote for a merger on Monday, the end result of which would be a unified club in the south-east corridor of Melbourne.
Floated by both clubs as an opportunity to strengthen their foothold within Victorian racing, a merger is needed for the growth of the sport, according to Cranbourne Turf Club CEO Neil Bainbridge.
“The merger vote is being held at Pakenham and Cranbourne on Monday evening, so that’s an important milestone for the establishment of the super club,” Bainbridge told Racing.com.
Neil Bainbridge | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Both the Pakenham and Cranbourne clubs will hold their AGMs on Monday, members of each club will vote on the special resolution which has been presented to them to endorse the merger recommended by the committees.
“We’re confident, it’s a good deal for the industry, a good deal for the members, a good deal for the clubs.”
Hayes brothers look to the Brightside of autumn
Defending champion of The All-Star Mile, Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), looks set to defend his crown in the lucrative contest, targeting the $4 million dollar race as the grand final of his autumn preparation.
The 6-year-old gelding, who has greeted the starter first in 14 of his 29 starts, was last seen running second in the G1 Champions Mile at Flemington in November, having narrowly missed out on the G1 WS Cox Plate the start prior.
Speaking to Racing.com, JD Hayes, who trains in partnership with brothers Ben and Will, outlined Mr Brightside’s autumn plans, which follow a similar path to his 2023 campaign.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Basically, it will be a carbon copy of last year. Hopefully it will lead to a third-up win in the All-Star Mile again,” Hayes said.
“He’s going really well. First-up in the (G1 CF) Orr Stakes and then we will follow the same path.”
“He’s in great nick. He’s in God’s country at Euroa. We just mucked around with him in the day paddocks there and he freshened up beautifully.”
Oliver loses an ounce of Gold Rush riches
Champion jockey Damien Oliver’s riding career has one last footnote, with Western Australian stewards imposing a $500 fine for making a celebratory gesture prior to the winning post aboard Munhamek (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G3 Damien Oliver Gold Rush at Ascot on Saturday.
The sight of Oliver waving his crop above his head as he crosses the line ahead of Clint Johnston-Porter and Ripcord (Written By) will remain an iconic visual, but stewards were displeased at the celebration, taking $500 off Oliver as he wound up his career in stunning fashion.
Otago with a promising future
Jockey Beau Mertens was glowing in his praise of Otago (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) at Bendigo on Sunday, having steered the 3-year-old to an impressive 2.3l victory in the fourth race on the program.
Speaking to Racing.com after the race, Mertens asserted his belief that the gelding, who is trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, has a strong future ahead of him.
“I think he’s a nice horse, like I said, he’s still not 100 per cent wound up and I think when he gets there, he’s going to progress into a really nice horse,” he said on Otago.
“He’s exactly the same at the trials, he gave me a really good feel whilst probably still being a bit green and inexperienced, which we expect.”
“Even today, it felt like he put them away nicely, but he was doing it a touch wrong, so the horse has got a lot of upside.”
Smokin’ Romans’ brother scores at Bendigo
Having run second in his first start at Kyneton, there were high expectations for Flamin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines {Ire}) to go one better at Bendigo on Sunday, and he delivered with aplomb, scoring stylishly by 1.3l in the 1500-metre maiden under Dylan Browne McMonagle.
The full brother to the G1 Turnbull S. winner of 2022, Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines {Ire}), who is also trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace looked to win with plenty in hand, with hopes he can replicate some of the success of his recently retired brother.
“The horse that beat him first-up (Interlinked) won really well the other day at Caulfield, so the form is good,” Browne McMonagle said post-race.
“He has improved a lot. He settled well and relaxed, and when he picked up, nothing was getting passed.”
No Millions for Barbie’s Sister
Trainer Tony Gollan’s hopes of winning successive R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classics has received a hammer blow, with news exciting filly Barbie’s Sister (Spirit Of Boom) has been sent to the paddock for a spell.
“She got a chip in her knee from that run on Saturday,” Gollan told Newscorp, referring to the filly's last-start success in the Listed Calaway Girl S. “She will be out for a while now, we will miss the Magic Millions.”
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Gollan will also be without his number one seed for the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, with Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready) set to miss the carnival after campaigning in Melbourne during the spring.
Zaaki going around again
Narrowly defeated by Dom To Shoot (Shooting To Win) in the G1 Northerly S., 9-year-old warhorse Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) has more racing left in the tank, according to trainer Annabel Neasham.
Speaking to Racing New South Wales, Neasham remains confident her 11-million-dollar man can find suitable races in the autumn, although perhaps not at the elite level he is so accustomed to competing in.
Zaaki (GB) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’re going to carry on with him, it’s day by day, but maybe we just set our sights that little bit lower,’’ Neasham said.
“James (McDonald) said do not retire this horse, he’s trying and is really happy.
“He hasn’t won all prep but he hasn’t run a bad race. We’ll pick our way with him, I haven’t got any plans as yet.”
Harron’s faith in promising colt remains strong
After a sizzling debut in the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic, James Harron believes Highness (Snitzel) can deliver him glory in the $3 million R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January.
Speaking to News Corp, Harron asserted the promising colt has a strong future ahead of him, and is well-placed to feature prominently in some quality races in the coming months.
“I really like the horse, I am so pleased with how he is going about things at this stage of his career, he is a laidback customer which is good and we love the way he hit the line (at Wyong),” Harron said regarding Highness.
“A high-pressure race like the Magic Millions over 1200 metres will really suit him, he should eat it up, so we are excited to be going up there with him.
“Highness is probably one of the best chances we have had since Capitalist. I’m not saying he is Capitalist because he has a lot to do to get into that discussion, but it was a good race to get in the bag.”
Highness is rated an $8 dollar chance to take out the Gold Coast feature.
McNeil with a treble at Bendigo
Jockey Jye McNeil enjoyed a successful trip to Bendigo on Sunday, booting home a treble to continue his strong start to the summer months.
Scoring a victory in the second race on the program aboard Hellara (Hellbent) for trainer Danny O’Brien, McNeil would repeat the dose in Race 5 aboard Magnapur (Magnus) for Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock.
Jye McNeil | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
One race later, he was able to steer highly-regarded Fretta (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who had not been seen for 12 months since breaking her maiden at her first start to victory for Mike Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
Broome bound for Turkey, O’Brien hoping to plunder Australian riches
Aidan O’Brien-trained stayer Broome (Ire) has been retired from racing, and will take up residence in Turkey, it was revealed on Friday.
The son of Australia (Ire), who tasted success at the highest level in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and been victorious in Great Britain, France, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates, will reside at Çelikoğlu Stud, who recently lost veteran stallion El Corredor (USA) at age 26.
O’Brien is eyeing off a return to a more involved role in Australian racing, remaining optimistic he can find competitive horses that can also pass Racing Victoria’s veterinary requirements.
“We would have had a lot of horses checked this year for it, but they didn’t make it through. When they’ll get through, we’ll run them, and when they can’t, we won’t,” O’Brien told Racing.com.
“Hopefully, we will have more runners.”
Almond Eye to visit Equinox
Recently retired superstar Equinox (Jpn) will have at least one world-class mare to visit in his first season at stud, with confirmation the brilliant Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in 2024.
Crowds turned out in numbers to farewell Equinox at Nakayama at his retirement ceremony, a tradition in Japanese racing afforded to the revered horses that grace their turf.
Both Equinox and Almond Eye raced in the Silk Racing colours of light blue with red spots, and share 15 Group 1 successes between them.
Less elite-level races in the United States for 2024
There will be four less Grade (Group) 1 races ran across the United States next year, with the total amount of stakes races dropping from 440 to 429 as a result of the two-day grading session by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
The G1 Carter H., the G1 Man o'War S., the G1 Beverly D. S., the G1 United Nations S. and the G1 Hollywood Gold Cup have all been ran as elite-level races for the final time, with the promotion of the G2 Franklin-Simpson S. to a Grade 1 contest leaves a net loss of four races at the highest level.
