Plans for the proposed new city at Rosehill Racecourse unveiled
The Rosehill-Camellia Landowners Alliance (RCLA) – a partnership between Wentworth Properties, Billbergia Group, Abacus Group (ASX: ABG) and the Australian Turf Club – have announced their intention to transform Rosehill Racecourse into a suburb with 45,000 new homes.
“This is a once-in-a-century opportunity to plan strategically for an entire ‘city-within-a-city’, while also unlocking access to the riverfront – activating, remediating, and beautifying what is now a former industrial wasteland,” Rick Graf, the development director of Billbergia, told businessnewsaustralia.com.
“It will enable Parramatta to fulfil its destiny as a global city alongside Sydney. For scale, the combined site is four times larger than Barangaroo and will accommodate 100,000 people, generating over 15,000 jobs. It will be the largest development in the history of the Central River City and is a total game-changer for Western Sydney.”
Concept plans for the proposed $25 billion transformation of the Rosehill-Camellia riverfront precinct
The Central River City region includes the local government areas of Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Parramatta, Georges River, The Hills and Blacktown. The press release promised a masterplan but only delivered a proposal with Graf instead announcing, “We want to ensure international best practice is utilised to leverage the potential for value creation to both the government and to the economy. The new masterplan needs to be a highest-level collaboration between government and the private sector investors and must have the best international expertise to crystallise the broader vision.”
Many racing participants including Champion trainers Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse are opposed to the sale of Rosehill for this proposal.
Three more wildcard entries for The All-Star Mile
Racing Victoria have added three more wildcard runners to The All-Star Mile with Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) all being given slots.
“Ayrton's owners made a highly convincing case for him and given his track record at Caulfield, where he has produced three stakes wins, it made a lot of sense to award him a wildcard,” Matt Welsh, Racing Victoria's Executive General Manager – Racing, told Racing.com.
“Ayrton arguably would have won the Blamey Stakes with clean air and it would be no surprise to see him run a big race at Caulfield on 16 March. Aegon bounced back to something like his best in New Zealand last start. He brings recent Group 1 form to the race, and his best form would see him most competitive in this year's All-Star Mile.”
Confirmed All-Star Mile runners (nine): Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai), Munhamek (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}), Dom To Shoot (Shooting To Win) , Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), Ayrton, Aegon.
Those with a ticket, yet to confirm (three): Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon), Jimmysstar, Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel).
Dean Holland honoured with trophy
The winning jockey of the G1 Newmarket H. on Saturday will be given the Dean Holland Trophy to honour the jockey who won last year’s race on In Secret (I Am Invincible).
Holland died in a race fall only a few months after that on April 24, 2023. Holland rode the winners of 1075 races including two at Group 1 level and had an excellent record in Cups races, winning the Adelaide Cup twice, as well as the Mornington Cup, Geelong Cup, Wodonga Cup, and several Country Cup such as the Casterton, Devonport, Dunkeld, Hamilton, Horsham and Warracknabeal Cups.
Needs Sugar half-sibling to debut in Tasmania
Trainer Stuart Gandy is excited about his 2-year-old debutant Gems Eagle (Alpine Eagle) for Wednesday night’s Launceston meeting. The half-brother to Needs Sugar (Needs Further) who won the 2023 Listed Elwick S. has had two trials to prepare him for his first raceday run.
“He’s a really nice horse, beautiful type with a heap of ability. He’s trialled up really well, and I’m really happy with him, and I think it will be a nice kick-off for him,” Gandy told Tasracing.com.au.
Stuart Gandy | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Her dam (Galeocerdo) was a handy horse herself with heaps of speed and she’s had Needs Sugar, a Listed winner, this bloke has taken a little bit of time and he will get better and better as most Alpine Eagles do.”
Galeocerdo (Sharkbite) won eight races and Needs Sugar and Gems Eagle are her first two foals.
Golden Sixty completes first gallop since injury
Hong Kong Champion Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) had his first serious gallop on Tuesday morning. He’s been recovering from a track work injury sustained at the start of the year that forced him to miss the G1 Stewards’ Cup.
“He galloped this morning. It was his first gallop, I think he’s okay — I saw him pass around,” trainer Francis Lui told hkjc.com.
“He’s the same at home — a happy horse.” As for his next target, Lui said, “It’s hard to tell and I will let the horse tell me.” Golden Sixty has won 26 of his 30 starts and holds the Hong Kong earnings record with over HK$165million (AU$32million) in earnings.
Team Snowden aim Fearless at Sires' Produce
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden will skip the Golden Slipper with Fearless (Pierata) and aim the 2-year-old colt at the G1 Sires’ Produce S. instead.
“We want to try and give him a bit of confidence, get him winning, and he’ll win a nice race somewhere,” Peter Snowden told Thoroughbrednews.com.au about the decision to run him at Newcastle soon.
“It was a very good run in the Blue Diamond and seven furlongs will suit him right down to the ground.”
Fearless ran sixth in the Blue Diamond, having previously run second in the G3 Canonbury S. and fourth on debut in the G3 Breeders’ Plate. The Snowdens' other Blue Diamond runner High Octane (Deep Field) pulled up sore after finishing in nineth.
“I’m glad we were able to find something because that was a pretty poor run,” Snowden said.
“He was quite sore Sunday morning and that came out of nowhere. It certainly explains the run and he’ll be back.”
Victor The Winner to head to Japan for Group 1 raid
Hong Kong Group 1 winner Victor The Winner (Toronado {Ire}) is being aimed at the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen over 1200 metres on March 24 at Chukyo.
“It’s a great opportunity and it’s come at the right time. The horse is fit and well, it’s just that it’s a left-turning course and the pace could be different. I’ll do more homework and trust the horse,” jockey Derek Leung told hkjc.com.
Victor The Winner | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I’ve ridden in Korea, Dubai, New Zealand, France, England and Australia. During COVID we couldn’t leave, so it’s quite exciting and it’s a good time go. He’s a fit horse, a Group 1 winner, straightforward and it depends on the conditions on the day.”
Sold by Collingrove Stud for $180,000 at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Victor The Winner has won seven of his 14 starts with earnings over HK$19.7million (AU$3million).
Forecast hot weather forces reduction at Flemington
The card for Saturday at Flemington will reduce from 10 races to eight to ensure participant’s safety in light of forecast hot weather. The additional two races will be moved and nominations extended to give trainer’s time to make decisions in light of the change:
The $80,000 BM84 2500-metre race has been moved to Friday night, March 8 at The Valley; and - The $80,000 BM84 1100-metre race has been moved to Monday, March 11 at Sportsbet-Ballarat.
A final decision on race times will be made on Friday once the forecast is more certain. At this point, it is expected to reach 39C on Saturday.
I Wish I Win pleases in jump-out
Waikato Stud owned I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) took a step closer to defending his G1 TJ Smith S. crown with an 800 metre jump-out at Pakenham on Tuesday morning.
“I thought it was very pleasing, he carried a featherweight in Will Price. It would be like carrying a postage stamp compared to Luke Nolen I'd imagine,” Moody told Racing.com.
“He just settled out the back and ran home nicely. It’s always nice to trial in a heat where there's a competitiveness about it instead of just dawdling along. Without being asked, he lengthened and stretched to the line and rounded off. More pleasing was the way he pulled up, the report from Will was very positive. He’s really come up nicely, he’s very clean in the wind, very clean in his action, and just seems to be enjoying life.”
I Wish I Win hasn’t raced since finishing second in The Everest in October 2023. His full career record is six wins and 10 placings from 18 starts with earnings over $10.7 million.
New winner for Steps In Time
G1 Coolmore Classic winner Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) produced a new winner on Tuesday when 3-year-old gelding Etched In Time (Written Tycoon) won over 1500 metres at Kembla Grange.
Steps In Time (yellow silks) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
His win improves Steps In Time’s broodmare record to five winners from as many to race. Etched In Time was a $160,000 purchase from the Meredith Park draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and is trained by Richard and Will Freedman. Steps In Time has a yearling by Ole Kirk who passed in at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Debut winners at Kembla Grange
Trainers Lee and Cherie Curtis enjoyed the trip to Kembla Grange on Tuesday with 3-year-old filly Princess Vittoria (Capitalist) who won on debut over 1000 metres. Purchased from Kenmare Lodge at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $150,000 by Mystery Downs, Princess Vittoria is the second foal, and second winner, for her winning dam Pirelli Princess (Show A Heart).
Team Hawkes trained a debutant to win at the same meeting when 3-year-old gelding Briasa (Smart Missile) won over 1200 metres. The homebred is the fourth winner from as many to race for Listed winner Mary’s Grace (Twining {USA}).
Toowoomba 2-year-old makes it two
Trainer Georgie Holt’s 2-year-old gelding Dance For Me Randy (Performer) won at Toowoomba on Tuesday to take his record to two wins and two placings from four starts. The consistent youngster was purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $5000 and now has earnings over $44,000. Dance For Me Randy is from the second crop of Performer, a son of Exceed And Excel. Performer has sired 11 winners from only 26 runners to date including stakes placed 2-year-old Butwedid who ran third in the Listed Phelan Ready S. earlier this season.
Yankee Rose’s Triple Tiara filly Liberty Island heads to Dubai
Trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida has announced that his Triple Tiara winning filly Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) will head to Dubai to contest the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic.
“It's such an honour to have a horse like her,” Nakauchida told tdn.com.
“Her racetrack record is incredible. She's just a natural in her races and she has such talent. It's a pleasure to have her in my stable. After the Japan Cup she had a little rest and she was actually tired after the race so it took her a little while to recover. After that she bounced back and she did quite well during the winter. She looks much stronger now and she looks like she is starting to fill out.”
Liberty Island (Jpn) | Image courtesy of Asian Racing
Liberty Island has won five of her seven starts, including four group 1 wins in succession at two and three, before running second in the G1 Japan Cup against the older horses at her last start. She was ranked the Champion 2YO Filly & 3YO Filly in Japan in 2022 & 2023.
Her dam, Yankee Rose (All American) was a dual Group 1 winner and Champion 2YO and Champion 3YO filly in Australia. Liberty Island is her second foal, and her first foal is also a winner.
USA’s Belmont Stakes day already sold out
In a huge boost for racing’s popularity, the G1 Belmont S. day at Saratoga is already sold out. To put this into perspective, this is the third leg of the American Triple Crown and ticket sales typically depend on what happens in the first two legs, but this year is sold out before the G1 Kentucky Derby is even run.
“To have the 150th Kentucky Derby and the first Belmont Stakes at Saratoga in the same year is going to make it a special Triple Crown season,” said New York Racing Association CEO and president Dave O'Rourke.
“We can already feel the excitement about the Belmont being in Saratoga for the first time. That we sold out the day we opened up sales to the public; it's unprecedented. I don't think that has happened with the Belmont or any horse racing event. It's a really good sign. Even with our recent job fair we found people want to work there and be a part of it. We saw crowds at the job fair we've never seen before. The town is psyched about it. We're used to having big events at Saratoga, we're just doing it a little earlier than usual. It's like a mini-Saratoga.”
