Racing Victoria keeps spring protocols the same for 2024
On Monday, RV announced in a press release that its safety standards, originally introduced in 2021, would remain in place for the upcoming spring carnival with “an enhancement to help minimise the risk of injuries to international horses”.
“All international horses wishing to compete in Victoria within 10 weeks of departing quarantine whether in Victoria or New South Wales must have satisfactorily completed the pre-travel veterinary protocols,” the RV statement said.
“We are proud that our safety standards have set a global benchmark for horses competing internationally,” RV’s Executive General Manager of integrity services Jamie Stier told Racing.com.
“The safety standards have contributed to the spring racing carnival being conducted without serious incident to any competing horse for the third consecutive year.”
Dr Forbes heads NZ Racing Integrity Board
Dr Eliot Forbes has accepted the role of CEO for the New Zealand Racing Integrity Board (RIB). "On behalf of the Board I am pleased to advise the appointment of Dr Eliot Forbes to the position of Chief Executive of the Racing Integrity Board," Neville Harris, the RIB Chairman, told justhorseracing.com.au.
Dr Eliot Forbes
Forbes was most recently the Chief Executive of RACELAB Pty Ltd who create software for bookmakers, and previously has worked as Chief Operating Officer and then Chief Executive Officer of Tasracing, and served as the Chief Executive Officer role for Racing Queensland. Eliot has served on the Boards of Racing Australia (RA) and Greyhounds Australasia and Chaired RA’s Retirement of Racehorses Committee.
Forbes will commence with the Racing Integrity Board on 29 April 2024 and will be based in Wellington.
Pulchritudinous heads to South Australia for new trainers
Co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will take their newly acquired 3-year-old filly Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) to the G1 Australasian Oaks in South Australia.
“She is a beautiful filly who was so impressive in New Zealand,” Waterhouse told Racing.com. "The big track at Morphettville will really suit her. I think she's quite a special filly.” Pulchritudinous won the G1 New Zealand Oaks.
Dom To Shoot dies in paddock accident
West Australian Group 1 winner Dom To Shoot (Shooting To Win) has died in a paddock accident. Trained by father-and-son duo Sean and Jake Casey, Dom To Shoot won eight of his 44 starts and was placed on 16 occasions with earnings over $2 million.
His biggest win was in the 2023 G1 Northerly S, while he recently ran fourth in Mr Brightside's (NZ) (Bullbars) G1 Futurity S.
Winx film announced
Written and narrated by renowned journalist and racing lover Andrew Rule, a documentary film called ‘A Horse Named Winx’ will be released soon.
Australian documentary film maker Janine Hosking has also worked on the project.
Stokes pair ready for Sangster challenge
Trainer Phillip Stokes has Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) in the G1 Robert Sangster S. at Morphetville on Saturday. “She's matured physically, and still has more to come, but she's a lot stronger than last year,” Stokes said of Stretan Angel.
Phillip Stokes
“Obviously the Ciaron Maher horse (Estriella) will be the one to beat, but we are very happy with the way our two have prepped up to it.”
Free entry to Sangster meeting
As part of the recently announced $25million deal between the South Australian Jockey Club and Sportsbet, punters will get free entry to Saturday’s meeting at Morphettville. “Not only is it the biggest sponsorship agreement signed in racing in this state but one of the largest in South Australian sport,” SAJC CEO Grant Mayer told Racing.com.
The Sportsbet Adelaide Racing Carnival will see four Group 1 races run at Morphettville over the next three weekends, all worth $1 million, with the backing of Sportsbet.
Les Young Scholarship open
The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program has announced that applications for the Les Young Scholarship are now open and will close on Wednesday, 1 May 2024.
The Les Young scholarship continues Les’s legacy by giving one young professional the opportunity to further develop their skills and knowledge via an international course and paid placement at the UK National Stud.
Les Young was a renowned industry all-rounder – respected bloodstock agent, journalist, long-serving committee member of Thoroughbred Breeders NSW as well as a foundation member and vice president of the NSW Racehorse Owners Association, Les spent a lifetime committed to the thoroughbred.
Wilde’s Oaks chance with Etara
Trainer Symon Wilde will take progressive 3-year-old filly Etara (Tarzino {NZ}) to the G1 Australasian Oaks. “We're probably going to give it a crack I think,” Wilde said.
Etara | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We're not going there with too much expectation, but we'll head over and hope with a horse that's fit and in form. Running top four would be a huge result for her pedigree.”
Etara has won her last two in succession and has a record of three wins from six starts.
Three for Coffey at Mildura
Jockey Harry Coffey rode three winners at Mildura on Monday. He won race one on 3-year-old filly Celebration (Snitzel), race two on 3-year-old gelding Coronation Drive (Foxwedge), and race four on 3-year-old filly You Oughta Know (Lonhro).
Ace High’s Espadas heading to Melbourne
3-year-old colt Espadas (NZ) (Ace High) won at his second start on Saturday and now will likely head to Australia for bigger targets. “He is a nice horse,” Shaun Clotworthy, who trains the gelding in partnership with his wife Emma, told Loveracing.nz.
“We do send a lot of horses over to Australia and we have got shares in a few at Mick Price’s, so there is a chance that he may head there.”
Illawarra Turf Club appoints new racing manager
Illawarra Turf Club (ITC-Kembla Grange) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new racing manager, Zane Campbell, following the impending retirement of the long-standing Michael Craig.
Campbell, who has 17 years industry experience as a raceday judge, will began at the ITC on Monday under the watch of Craig, who will finish up by the end of the financial year.
J-Mac to ride in Japan in June
James McDonald is set to ride in Japan for the first time in nearly a decade aboard Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in June’s G1 Yasuda Kinen. “Yes (I’ll be going to Japan), it will be my second time there,” McDonald told scmp.com. “But, I’d love to win the QE II first.”
Romantic Warrior (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
He will ride Romantic Warrior on Sunday as the horse bids for a hat-trick of G1 QE II Cup wins.
Purton aiming for third Sprint Prize
Jockey Zac Purton is aiming for his third G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize on Flying Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) who won a trial on Monday ridden by Matthew Poon. “He jumped quite fast today and travelled nice. I just gave him a very easy trial. The horse is happy and he pulled up well, so it's good,” Poon told Racenet.com.au.
Purton has won the Chairman's Sprint Prize on Ivictory (Mossman) in 2018 and Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) in 2023.
Richards hopes Seasons Wit break losing streak
Trainer Jamie Richards hasn’t had a winner in his last 59 runners in Hong Kong but hopes Seasons Wit (Capitalist) can break the drought on Wednesday night at Happy Valley. “It’s been a bit of a frustrating month, but hopefully it will turn at some stage,” Richards told scmp.com.
Seasons Wit hasn’t won in his last six starts, but won four in succession before that.
Durezza favourite for Tenno Sho Spring
Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) is the favourite for Sunday’s G1 Tenno Sho Spring at Kyoto Racecourse on April 28. "Tenno Sho" means "Emperor's Cup" in Japanese.
Durezza is already a Group 1 winner, and his dam is G1 New Zealand Oaks winner More Than Sacred (More Than Ready {USA}).
