Brown ready to excel in 2024
After a year marred by a bad fall in the G1 Australian Guineas, jockey Ethan Brown is feeling refreshed and ready to tackle 2024, telling Racing.com he is honing in on getting his weight in the right spot to be fully involved in race riding again.
“Weight is still coming down. Hovering around 58kg at the moment, which for me is quite good,” Brown said.
Ethan Brown | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I have only been back for a couple of weeks. It’s only going to come down.
“My mind’s really good. I definitely reaped a lot of benefits from having that second break.”
Alcohol Free returns to Europe, will visit Frankel
After five starts in Australia, elite racemare Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) will return to Europe according to published reports. She was joined on the plane by the prolific producer, and half-sister to Redoute's Choice, The Broken Shore (Hussonet {USA}).
The multipe Group 1 winner in Europe was purchased by BBA Ireland (for Yulong) at Tattersalls December in 2022 for 5,400,000gns ($10,926,948). She is set to be covered by Frankel (GB) this season.
Young Werther, Vow And Declare have big autumn target
The G1 Australian Cup at Flemington looms large for two of Danny O’Brien’s stable starts, Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) and Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
“Vow And Declare has come back into work in good shape,” he told Racing.com, with the publication reporting the 8-year-old gelding will run in the Australian Cup prelude as his first run for the autumn.
As for Young Werther, O’Brien reported that the 6-year-old gelding, “Didn't really have a break as he doesn't like spelling,” and will tackle the Australian Cup as his third run of the campaign.
Pushpa set for Widden S.
Trainer Annabel Neasham holds high hopes for her 2-year-old filly Pushpa (Pierata), who is set to debut in the G3 Widden S. on Saturday.
“We’re a bit light on the colt front,” Neasham told Racing And Sports.
Annabel Neasham | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“We've got nothing in the Canonbury (for colts and geldings), but we might have Pushpa in the Widden.
“She is a Pierata filly who won a trial last week and she's a nice filly.”
Tony Williams departs Newgate Farm
On Wednesday, Negate Farm announced the departure of their Head of Nominations and Sales, Tony ‘Tubba’ Williams.
“Tubba has been with us from the early days of Newgate, from a startup stallion business to the biggest stallion operation in Australasia (based on mares covered last season). He is a great friend, and will be missed in the day to day running of Newgate,” a statement read.
McGruddy faces suspension after guilty plea
Jockey Shaun McGruddy will learn his fate in the coming days after pleading guilty to a charge of local rule 228, which he breached following a race at the January 24 meeting at Belmont Park.
McGruddy directed comments towards apprentice Brandon Louis, that fell afoul of LR228, which stipulates, “A person must not engage in: conduct which threatens, disparages, vilifies or insults another person on any basis, including but not limited to, a person’s race, religion, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, special ability/disability, or sexual orientation, preference or identity, while the other person is acting in the course of his or her duties in the racing industry”.
The experienced jockey, who has ridden over 1400 winners in his career, has not ridden since the meeting, after making himself unavailable for rides following the incident.
Chipping Norton renamed in great mare’s honour
The G1 Chipping Norton S. has been renamed the TAB Verry Elleegant S. and will carry a purse of $1 million. The Chris Waller-trained superstar, Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), won 11 Group 1 races in her career, including the 2021 and 2022 G1 Chipping Norton S.
Verry Elleegant (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Verry Elleegant also claimed the G1 Caulfield Cup and the G1 Melbourne Cup.
Thompson lands Hong Kong gig
Queensland-based jockey Ben Thompson has landed a short-term contract in Hong Kong. Thompson has been permitted to ride in the jurisdiction for eight weeks and will fly to Hong Kong next Wednesday, to compete in barrier trials on Friday week and then begin riding on February 12 at Sha Tin.
“It’s very sudden and out of the blue, but it’s amazing and a bit of a dream come true,” Thompson told RSN927.
Ben Thompson | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
“I had a phone call come through (on Monday) and it was a member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club asking if I would be interested in coming over. Fast forward and it’s not even 48 hours and everything’s been booked and we’re getting set to head over.”
Bull cleared of injury
Tatum Bull has been cleared of any fractures following a fall at Benalla on Tuesday. Bull was dislodged after crossing the line on the Grant Rich-trained Calypso Rich (Danerich) in Race 7 at Benalla.
The Victorian Jockeys’ Association Chief Executive Officer Matt Hyland confirmed on Wednesday that the ankle injuries are most likely soft tissue. However, Bull also sustained a concussion and will be stood down automatically for 12 days.
Autridge rates Livid Sky despite early challenges
Stephen Autridge is set to run the promising filly Livid Sky (NZ) (Proisir) in the Saturday’s Listed Grangewilliam Stud Oaks Prelude at New Plymouth, with a successful run potentially seeing the filly head towards the G1 New Zealand Oaks.
“Livid Sky has come a long way after a few problems with her in the early days, she was immature,” Autridge told loveracing.nz.
Livid Sky (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“Mentally and physically, she has turned the corner and we keep her to a set pattern. We don’t change because she doesn’t like change and she handles everything well now.”
Brown and McDonald take up residence at Thompson Creek Thoroughbreds
On Wednesday, Thompson Creek Thoroughbreds announced Dr Stuart Brown and wife, Sara McDonald, have taken up residence at Thompson Creek Thoroughbreds Surf Coast property, Glentree South.
Brown, a leading vet in the area, will provide live-in coverage to all equine residents while McDonald, a leading Grand Prix Dressage rider, will manage day-to-day equine activities on the property.
Foxy set for multi-state preparation
The classy mare Foxy Frida (Foxwedge) is expected to contest races in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane this preparation.
Andrew Noblet has no hesitation in travelling his star mare, given his belief she gets better deeper into a preparation.
“Foxy Frida is a beauty and she just keeps coming back in good order,” Noblet told Racing.com.
“Her first couple of runs will tell us which way she’ll go, maybe Sydney, or we’ll poke around in Melbourne and wait until Adelaide.
“We could do both like we did in 2023, she went to Adelaide then we flew up to Queensland, she thrives on a preparation, you can space her runs no problem, so there’s no rush with her.”
Zedan joins list of owners sticking with Baffert despite Derby ban
Prominent owner Amr Zedan, who owns several top 3-year-old colts, has informed TDN that his horses are staying with trainer Bob Baffert, which means they will be ineligible to run in the G1 Kentucky Derby, barring any change in policy from Churchill Downs. Churchill set Monday as a deadline for owners to take their horses away from Baffert. Any horse remaining in his barn after the deadline will not be permitted to race at Churchill Downs.
“No move,” Zedan said in a text message. “Mr Baffert (is) our man.”
“Nobody is going to transfer their horses,” Baffert told the Times. “I just remain focused on training my horses and competing in the big races. It's out of my hands. I just want what's best for the game.”
Bob Baffert | Image courtesy of Fasig Tipton
Zedan has several top 3-year-old colts. The best may be Muth (USA) (Good Magic {USA}), the winner of the G1 American Pharoah S. and the G2 San Vicente S. He also has Maymun (USA) (Frosted {USA}), a very impressive winner of his debut, and Coach Prime (USA) (Quality Road {USA}), who was third in the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity.
2024 Kentucky Derby trophy unveiled
The gold trophy that will go to the winner of the upcoming 150th G1 Kentucky Derby was unveiled to the public Tuesday at Churchill Downs. The special Kentucky Derby trophy was handcrafted by silversmiths of S.R. Blackinton in Smithfield, R.I. from 14-karat solid yellow gold and green gold over a period of more than six months. As always, the front of the trophy is adorned by a 14-karat gold horseshoe pointed upward, the top features a 14-karat gold horse and rider, and the sides showcase a pair of horseshoe-shaped wreath handles.
The trophy stands 22 inches tall and weighs just under 68 ounces, excluding its jade base and unique gems added to this year's milestone trophy.
The gold trophy that is the 150th G1 Kentucky Derby | Image courtesy of Kentucky Derby
As was the case with previous special anniversaries–1949 (75th), 1974 (100th) and 1999 (125th)–this year's trophy has unique jewelled embellishments to commemorate the special 150th anniversary.
A distinctive garland of roses outfitted with 196 rubies, 96 marquise emeralds and 36 round emeralds is draped across the withers of the horse atop the 2024 trophy. Additionally, there are 12 diamonds on the cover cape beneath the horse, 38 rubies on the circular braid atop the gold cup, and eight diamonds within the horseshoe on the front of the trophy.
Three smaller sterling silver replica trophies are awarded to the winning jockey, trainer and breeder of the Kentucky Derby.
Mucho Macho Man to stand at Adena Springs
Mucho Macho Man (USA), winner of the 2013 G1 Breeders' Cup Classic, will stand the 2024 breeding season at Adena Springs in Ontario, Canada. The 16-year-old stallion is the sire of G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. winner Mucho Gusto (USA), as well as Graded winners City Man (USA) and Mucho Unusual (USA).
O'Brien pair to race on in Hong Kong
Group 1 second Islandsinthestream (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and the Group-placed Mythology (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) have both been sold to Hong Kong interests and will race on in that jurisdiction, Joseph O'Brien confirmed to The Irish Field on Tuesday. The former is now in the barn of Tony Cruz, with Mythology settled in with Pierre Ng.
“Everybody needs to keep trading for the bottom line,” O'Brien told The Irish Field. “We're lucky to have had 2-year-olds who could compete in those top juvenile races and now it's all about looking forward to the next generation.”
Formerly owned by Islandsinthestream Partnership, the dual winner is out of A Mist Opportunity (Foxwedge), herself a half-sister to three stakes winners.. Islandsinthestream broke his maiden at the Curragh, before running second in both the G2 Futurity S. and G1 National S. to Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Successful in an allowance at ParisLongchamp in September, he finished his year with a close second in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October.
