Jason Collett taken to hospital after fall on Monday
On Saturday Jason Collett rode Manaal (Tassort) to win the G1 Sires’ Produce S, and on Tuesday, racing received a stark reminder of the dangers jockey face when dislodged from his mount Hiawatha (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the first race at Kembla Grange.
Jason Collett
“He was complaining of soreness in his left hand and left shoulder, also his lower back and left hip,” acting chief steward Chris Albrect said. “He's also got a few lacerations. We've adjourned an inquiry into the incident until Jason is available to give his evidence.”
Racing NSW reported that Collett is conscious and was transported to hospital for further assessment. Hiawatha avoided injury in the fall.
Pride pays entry for Ceolwulf for Queen Elizabeth
Trainer Joseph Pride has added 3-year-old gelding Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) into the G1 Queen Elizabeth S nominations. He will carry 55.5kg under weight for age conditions against a field of ten other horses, all older than him.
Ceolwulf has only won one of his eight starts, but ran second in the both the G1 Rosehill Guineas and G1 Australian Derby at his two most recent starts.
Mr Brightside to continue to Queen Elizabeth
Team Hayes will continue on with Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) autumn campaign with the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. next for their Group 1 star. “We know he doesn’t enjoy those really firm tracks, unfortunately that day it dried out and was a good 3. He just felt the track a bit,” co-trainer Ben Hayes told Racingnsw.com.au about the G1 Australian Cup run.
“We monitored him, had a good chat to the whole team and the way he’s come out of it there’s no problems. You can’t just give up off one run.”
“I still believe 2000 metres isn’t an issue and it’s unfortunate we ran into a horse that’s got Vo Rogue tactics that takes away our asset which is the turn of foot. It’s a race full of quality, there’s a couple of new horses he hasn’t raced against that I’m sure he can get on the back of and bring him into the race.
“We know how the race is going to be run, we tried different tactics in the Australian Cup, had him a bit closer, and it didn’t work. We’ll let him balance and have him hit the line.”
More Felons out of Sydney Cup
Trainer Chris Waller notified Racing NSW stewards that More Felons (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) has a minor tendon injury and will miss the G1 Sydney Cup. The 5-year-old gelding ran second in the G1 Tancred S. at his last start and has a record of five wins from 17 starts including the Listed Parramatta Cup.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Circle Of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) is now the favourite for the race.
Foxy Frida draws wide for G1 Queen of the Turf
Trainer Andrew Noblet’s Group 3 winner Foxy Frida (Foxwedge) has drawn 15 for Saturday’s G1 Queen of the Turf S at Randwick. “She's going very well, she worked great yesterday morning, she gets to what I think is her pet distance, a mile,” Noblet told Racing.com.
“It's just a shame we have to overcome a wide gate, that's all.” Foxy Frida has earned more than $1.3 million in prizemoney in her career and is due to be sold at the Inglis Chairman's Sale on May 9.
Brave Mead euthanised after track work accident
Trainer Ciaron Maher made the sad announcement that 3-year-old colt Brave Mead (Brave Smash {Jpn}) sustained an injury in trackwork on Tuesday and had to be euthanised. “We're heartbroken to report that Brave Mead suffered a catastrophic injury during a routine gallop at Warwick Farm this morning, and was euthanised at Randwick Equine once it was confirmed surgery wasn't an option,” the Maher stable press release said.
“On the track, he was as tough as they come, only missing a place once in his 12 starts, with 5 wins including 3 at Group & Listed level. Off the track, he was as kind and gentle a colt as you'll find.
“It's a loss that will be felt particularly deeply at Warwick Farm, as Georgia Schofield helped prep him as a baby, while Marcus Eleftheriou adored him so much, that he drove from Ballarat to Pakenham just to watch his debut run. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his owners, Australian Bloodstock, and all who had the pleasure of working with him.”
Brave Mead won the Listed Darby Munro S at his most recent start, and had a record of five wins and six placings from 12 starts with earnings over $680,000. Ciaron Maher Racing purchased him as a weanling at the 2021 Inglis Digital July Sale from Lustre Lodge for $90,000. He was from the first crop of Brave Smash.
Sir Davy ready for Golden Mile
Trainer Ciaron Maher is hoping Sir Davy (Street Boss {USA}) can win his first stakes race in Saturday’s Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo. "It was good to see him get back to a bit of form at The Valley," Jack Turnbull, Maher's assistant trainer who operates the Cranbourne stable, told Racingandsports.com.au.
Sir Davy
Sir Davy won at Moonee Valley last start to bring his record to seven wins from 23 starts and earnings over $425,000.
Trainer keen to honour mate
Trainer Alex Malliff won the first leg of the Rob Koch Memorial FNQ Up and Coming Stayers series for 2024 with Last Not Least (Criterion) at Mareeba. “"I really appreciated what Rob did for the racing industry up here,” Malliff told Racingqueensland.com.au.
“I would like to have a go at winning this series as it's obviously named in his honour.”
The Up and Coming Stayers Series does not culminate in a Final, but there is an owner, trainer and jockey bonus based on points accrued with Malliff, and winning hoop Chelsea Jokic taking three points from the opening event on Sunday.
“That was only his third start for me,” Malliff said of Last Not Least. “We bought him as a sort of a country Cups contender, thinking about places like Einasleigh and Mount Garnet, those types of places. But, he might even be a little bit better than that.”
Tassie training pair thriving
Training partnership of Tanya Hanson and her nephew Kyle Maskiell are thriving and will bring three strong chances to Launceston meeting on Wednesday night. Tricky Mikki (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) will will be ridden by their apprentice Lauryn Bingley who has won three of her last five rides.
“We are so proud of her. She is doing so well, she’s working really hard, and it’s paying dividends,” Hanson told Tasracing.com.au.
The other two runners are Speed Rock (Rock Hero) and And Beyond (Wordsmith).
Sirileo Miss set to return after year-long ban
Sirileo Miss (Pride Of Dubai) will resume in Saturday's $150,000 Gold Bracelet at Bendigo after a 12-month ban for testing positive to the prohibited substances Formestane and anabolic steroid 4-Hydroxylestesterone. “It's been frustrating, but we're finally back at the races,” trainer Symon Wilde told Racing.com.
Sirileo Miss as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Mark and Levi Kavanagh-trained Circle Of Magic (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Smiley Chan's Lake Tai (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) are both allowed to race again, while Julius Sandhu-trained Alphaville (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) has been retired. Amy and Ash Yargi-trained Yulara (All Too Hard) can race again from April 13. Under AR 248 (4), once an anabolic androgenic steroid is detected, a horse is not permitted to start in a race, official trial or jumpout for 12 months from the date the sample is collected.
Dual Group 1 aiming at Queensland Winter Carnival
Despite several setbacks, trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are hopeful they can get dual Group 1 winner La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}). She hasn’t raced since winning the G1 Otaki-Maori WFA S. in February. “It was really disappointing having to scratch out of the Breeders’ Stakes,” Katrina Alexander told Loveracing.nz.
“It is the same foot issue. … We just have to keep that (foot) clean and tidy as the hoof wall grows down and stop that separation from happening. … Ideally we would still like to get to Brisbane but we will just have to wait and see.”
La Crique has won seven of her 18 starts.
Irish jumps jockey arrives in New Zealand
Jockey Dylan Mcdonagh is a welcome addition to New Zealand’s riding ranks. “I was meant to ride in Australia over the jumps season. I applied for the visa too late and I had seen Paul (Nelson) had advertised for a jumps jockey. I spoke a bit with Aaron Kuru (jumps jockey) and I have ended up here,” McDonagh told Loveracing.nz.
“I think this season will be my last racing unless something magical happens,” he said. “My long-term goal is training, I have always wanted to train horses since I figured out what I am doing (in racing).
“I think I may head to America to try and train. I spent a bit of time in Virginia, Maryland and Pennysylvania. I think Maryland was my favourite place, but I wouldn’t rule out checking out Kentucky and a few other places.”
80 years for Leeton Race Club
The 80th anniversary of the Leeton Jockey Club will be celebrated on course on Saturday 20th April. “The Club has a very proud history and benefited from strong support from the Leeton community across eight decades,” Leeton Jockey Club's president, Grant Fitzsimon told Racingandsports.com.au.
“From volunteers watering and mowing the track and maintaining the grounds through to the trainers, jockeys and owners who travel great distances to compete at our meetings, and are in high praise of the standard of the facilities.
“The club and racing in general have weathered many challenges over the years but Leeton has emerged in a strong position and boasts one of the best maintained tracks in the western Riverina.”
First winner for Earthlight
Kildangan Stud's first-season sire Earthlight (Ire) (by Shamardal) sired his first Northern Hemisphere winner when Lady Lightning (GB) won at Wolverhampton on Monday. The Ed Dunlop-trained 30,000gns Tatts Book 1 purchase is out of a Listed winning mare.
Earthlight (Ire) | Standing at Kildangan Stud
Earthlight’s oldest Australian foals are yearlings and he shuttles to Darley Victoria.
Inspiral on track for Lockinge S
2023 Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Female Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will kick off her 2024 campaign in the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury on Saturday, May 18. “The Lockinge is the plan, but obviously she is a filly that likes to take her time to come in the spring as we've seen before,” Chris Richardson, managing director of Cheveley Park Stud, told TDN Europe.
“Certainly the Lockinge looks the first engagement we can consider and, if she tells us she's not quite ready, then we can wait until the Queen Anne [at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, June 18].” Inspiral has won nine of her 13 starts including six wins at Group 1 level.
Bernardini’s trainer retires
Tom Albertrani announced his retirement from the American training ranks this week. “I felt it's time now to take a little breather and take a break,” Albertrani told bloodhorse.com.
Best known for Champion 3YO Colt Bernardini (USA) (A P Indy {USA}), Albertrani rode 49 winners as a jockey retiring in 1982 then worked as a foreman for trainers Bill Mott and Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin. In 2003 he began training on his own, and over two decades, he trained 624 winners and seven individual Group 1 winners. “We've had so many talented horses in the barn. It was unbelievable, it was a great career.”
Baffert ban back in court
Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) have filed a motion on April 8 to dismiss a lawsuit by Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., that seeks to lift a CDI-imposed ban against horses trained by Bob Baffert in the GI Kentucky Derby.
Zedan Racing own the Bob Baffert trained GI Arkansas Derby winner Muth (USA) (Good Magic {USA}), who is currently unable to run the Kentucky Derby.
Bob Baffert | Image courtesy of Fasig Tipton
After Medina Spirit (USA) tested positive for betamethasone in the 2021 Derby, Baffert was banned from CDI's properties for two years. A federal judge in February 2023 denied Baffert a preliminary injunction that the Hall-of-Fame trainer had sought to be eligible to race in the Derby. Last July CDI extended the ban at least through 2024.
Epic Clash Scheduled For Champions Mile
Champion Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro {}) will clash with Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) in the G1 Champions Mile. “We plan to run him in the Mile,” trainer Pierre Ng told scmp.com about Derby runner-up Galaxy Patch.
“He’s still recovering from the last run, so the next few weeks will be very crucial to make the decision. It’s not guaranteed yet. Hopefully he’ll get better every week and we’ll see how he recovers. I really want him to run against top quality gallopers, like Golden Sixty, so he can get experience for that.”
Galaxy Patch ran second in the Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup before running second in the Listed Hong Kong Derby at his most recent start. He has won five of his ten starts.
UK Jockey Club announces prizemoney reductions
The UK’s largest racecourse ownership group, The Jockey Club, will cut prizemoney by £1.5 million from May until the end of the year. “We are still facing some very, very significant financial headwinds, and that has continued into 2024,” Jockey Club chief executive Nevin Truesdale told Racingpost.com.
“We have had to take some fairly decisive action around our cost base, not just for prize-money but for other areas too, so this is part of an overall plan to make sure the business is sustainable in the long term.”
