Tabcorp and Nine sign for Melbourne Cup TV rights
On Tuesday morning, Punters reported that the Victoria Racing Club, Tabcorp and Nine have signed a broadcast, media and sponsorship deal for the Melbourne Cup Carnival from 2024 to 2029.
The agreement is reportedly believed to carry a value of up to $80 million. The Melbourne Cup Carnival will be broadcast on SKY platforms and the TAB app, with Tabcorp having the right to sell the coverage to wagering providers.
VRC Chairman Neil Wilson said, “The VRC is delighted to extend and enhance its long-term partnership with Tabcorp. As Australia’s first major event, the Melbourne Cup Carnival will sit very appropriately in the calendar of Nine’s Wide World of Sport major event coverage.”
All four days of the carnival will be broadcast live and free on Channel 9 and streamed on 9NOW.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival's benefit was tangible when the 2022 edition of the carnival provided $422.1 million in economic benefit and impact to Victoria, making it the biggest contributor of any major annual sporting event in the past decade. Reportedly, the 2023 edition early modelling suggests the 2023 edition could eclipse the 2022 impact.
Blue Diamond barrier draw
The barrier draw for the 2024 Blue Diamond S. was held on Tuesday. Leading chances Coleman (Pierata) received barrier seven and Stay Focused (Cosmic Force) barrier 15. While Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) drew alongside in barrier six. History is against Bodyguard with no horse ever winning the Blue Diamond S. from that barrier.
The smart fillies Eneeza (Exceed And Excel) drew barrier five, while Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}) received barrier 11. The Sydney visitor Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) will jump from four.
| Matisse | 1 |
| Kuroyanagi | 2 |
| Dublin Down | 3 |
| Lady Of Camelot | 4 |
| Eneeza | 5 |
| Bodyguard | 6 |
| Coleman | 7 |
| Zestiman | 8 |
| In Her Eyes | 9 |
| High Octane | 10 |
| Hayasugi | 11 |
| 18E Altermatum | 12 |
| Flyer | 13 |
| Traffic Warden | 14 |
| Stay Focused | 15 |
| Fearless | 16 |
| Rue De Royale | 17 |
| Spywire | 18 |
Coleman cruises around Caulfield
G1 Blue Diamond S. favourite Coleman (Pierata) cruised around Caulfield on Tuesday morning ahead of Saturday’s big one.
The Matt Laurie-trained 2-year-old has been a dominant winner of the Listed Debutant S. and the G3 Chairman’s S. at Caulfield and will look to provide his Yulong-based first-season sire Pierata with his Group 1 winner.
Laurie told RSN927, “Ben (Melham) was very positive about Coleman. He felt he was sitting on the Blue Diamond winner. Hopefully he’s a good judge.”
Shinn to partner Sparta
Victorian-based hoop Blake Shinn has been confirmed to partner the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) when he contests the $4 million The Quokka in Perth in April.
King Of Sparta was an impressive winner of last Saturday’s G2 Expressway S. at Randwick.
Master Eight returns to Australia
The G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy winner Master Eight (Oamaru Force) will return to Australia with an eye on contesting the G1 Goodwood H. in May.
Master Eight trialled once in South Australia behind the talented Beau Rossa (Unencumbered) before his sale to Hong Kong where he won his first five starts and was labelled a “a star” by Champion Jockey Joao Moreira and “the most exciting young horse in my stable” by Frankie Lor.
Master Eight | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Master Eight will join his former conditions Richard and Chantelle Jolly.
“You usually send them to Hong Kong and don’t get them back,” Richard Jolly told Punters.
“He got to the top level over there pretty quickly and just struggled.”
La Crique heading south
Simon and Katrina Alexander’s brilliant filly La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) will head south on Saturday to tackle the G1 WFA Classic at Otaki.
A daughter of Vadamos (Fr), La Crique resumed after a muddled spring campaign with a solid fourth-placed effort in the G2 Westbury Classic on Karaka Millions night last month, a run that gave the husband-and-wife training partnership confidence to target the Central Districts feature.
“I’m very pleased with how she came through that run, it was fresh-up for her whereas a lot of the other horses were having more of a grand finale,” Katrina Alexander told loveracing.nz.
“I was very happy with how she found the line; it was all that we needed to see from her to make sure we’re on the right track.”
No Diamond for Bastille
The Lindsay Park-trained Bold Bastille (Brazen Beau) will not contest Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond S. at Caulfield. On Tuesday morning, co-trainer Ben Hayes confirmed the decision to Racing.com, stating the filly will be saved for a Listed 1000-metre race at Flemington in a fortnight.
Bold Bastille | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bold Bastille was an impressive victress of the R. Listed Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley on debut and was recently unplaced at the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies).
Oliver: these sorts of opportunities don’t come up often
Legendary jockey Damien Oliver retired from the saddle in December at Ascot but shortly after accepted an invite to ride for the very last time in Riyadh’s Saudi Cup meeting. Oliver will ride at both Friday and Saturday meetings and explained to Racing.com his reasoning, “It’s just a great opportunity. These sorts of opportunities don’t come up very often, so while I’ve still got a relatively good fitness and a chance to ride on the international stage once more was too good to refuse, then I an relax and enjoy my retirement.”
Prophet propsects boosts of half-sibling
The Georgina Bourke-trained Time To Prophet (Divine Prophet) resumed from a 93-day spell to win her second race from three starts at Townsville on Saturday. Justin P Stanley, rode the 2-year-old filly to defeat That’s It (Smart Missile) and Dance For Me Randy (Performer).
Time To Prophet is the seventh foal from the late, No Time (Barely A Moment). Her last foal, a colt by Rothesay, will be offered as Lot 43 by Lyndhurst Stud Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
Time To Prophet was a $17,500 purchase by Holt Racing from Lyndhurst Stud Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions March Yearling Sale.
New winner for The Autumn Sun
Arrowfield Stud’s exciting proposition The Autumn Sun posted another winner on Tuesday at Benalla. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Autumn Acquisition, ridden by Jamie Mott, defeated Quamby (Dandino {GB}).
The 3-year-old gelding is the seventh foal from the Stravinsky (USA) mare Jeu De Cartes (NZ), who won the G2 Counties Cup.
Jeu De Cartes is a daughter of outstanding Prized Gem (NZ) (Prized {USA}) and a half-sister to the G1 Australian Derby winner Nom Du Jeu (NZ).
Autumn Acquisition was a $250,000 purchase by Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Cressfield at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Wellington retired
Champion Hong Kong Sprinter Wellington (All Too Hard) has been retired and will return to Australia to his birthplace of Kia Ora Stud.
The son of All Too Hard was the first foal from the Group 2-placed Mihiri (More Than Ready {USA}).
Wellington | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Wellington was a $70,000 purchase by Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm from the draft of Kia Ora Stud from the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He won 12 races and four Group 1s.
Moroney pleased with Pendragon
Flemington-based trainer Mike Moroney has been pleased with how Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) has settled into Australia as he works towards a start in the G1 Australian Guineas.
“I am really happy with him, he arrived here in great order,” Moroney told Racing.com.
“Pendragon is a little on the fresh side, but I am sure with that jump-out and a bit of extra work, hopefully he will be at his best for the Australian Guineas. I am lucky that I have Run Harry Run, who blew out on Saturday (CS Hayes S.), and he is going to take a bit of work too. They will be nice mates for each other.”
Purton back on Bubble
Hong Kong-based hoop Zac Purton will reunite with Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) in Sunday’s G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin.
Purton rode the Ricky Yiu-trained galloper to his first six victories and is looking forward to renewing their association as they take on a field set to include the G1 WS Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}).
Zac Purton | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He is a very exciting horse. He’s been our best 4-year-old going into the 5-year-olds. Voyage Bubble hasn’t had many runs this season and he gets back to 2000 metres, where he won the Derby,” Purton told Punters.
“He’s got a big task to tackle the great Romantic Warrior but he’s on the way up and he’s certainly worth riding and hopefully he can draw a gate and get a nice run.”
Nolen expected to return to the saddle in March
Luke Nolen is expected to be back race riding by early March, according to his manager Mathew Alesci.
Nolen injured his back and pelvic region, alongside internal bleeding and a broken rib in a trackwork fall at Pakenham two weeks ago but is hopeful of gaining clearance as early as this Friday. If successful, Nolen will be no doubt in the running to ride the star sprinter I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G1 William Reid S. on March 23.
Vale Echo Zulu
Star filly Echo Zulu (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}) was euthanised on Sunday at the Chino Valley Equine Hospital in Southern California, North America.
Daily Racing Form was first to report the news. Trainer Steve Asmussen told Daily Racing Form that the filly became cast in her stall and injured herself when trying to get back on her feet.
“She was beyond special. My condolences to all who loved her,” he said.
Echo Zulu (USA) | Image courtesy of Sarah Andrew
Echo Zulu was dominant in winning the G1 Spinaway S., the G1 Frizette S. and the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in an outstanding juvenile season.
She stayed in training and added another several Group races to her CV before she fractured sesamoids in an October workout, underwent surgery at Chino Valley Equine Hospital. Up until the stall accident Echo Zulu’s post-surgery recovery had been progressing on an optimistic arc.
Rosario picks Saudi Cup ride
Outstanding North American-based jockey Joel Rosario has picked up the ride on the RRR Racing’s Isolate (USA) (Mark Valeski {USA}) for Saturday’s G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
The 6-year-old Isolate made the first 12 starts of his career in the US. for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, winning two from his first five for trainer Kathy Ritvo before joining the barn of Tom Amoss. The Florida-bred posted four victories from seven outings for that barn, winning the Work All Week S. at Hawthorne and the Tale of the Cat S. at Saratoga ahead of a runner-up effort in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society S. in 2022.
Subsequently acquired by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi's RRR Racing and turned over to trainer Doug Watson in Dubai, Isolate was runner-up in a pair of group sprint races at Meydan, then stretched out in distance to post an impressive win in the G2 Godolphin Mile with Tyler Gaffalione in the irons. He has made just one appearance since, a handy success in the G2 Al Maktoum Mile at Meydan on December 22.
