Champion jockey Damien Oliver is 2024 Western Australian of the Year
Retired Champion Jockey Damien Oliver has been named 2024 Western Australian of the Year. “This is a huge shock to say the least,” Oliver told The West Australian.
“I do feel a little bit embarrassed … I am really proud as a racing participant to win this award. Racing is sometimes not so much acknowledged as a mainstream sport. It is a passion, it is a way of life - and the truth goes that if you do a job you love, you never work a day in your life.
Damien Oliver | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“There are so many proud and successful Western Australians that have come before me - and so many Western Australian icons that I looked up to over the years - so to be recognised as one of those is a huge honour. I know as West Australians we always punch above our weight in anything we do.”
Bittercreek can overcome draw in Sires
Bittercreek's (Snitzel) visitor's draw of barrier 17 has not dampened the spirits of co-trainer Troy Corstens for Saturday's G2 Sires' Produce S.
“I'd be a lot more confident had he not drawn 17,” Corstens told Racing.com.
Troy Corstens | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“It's one thing that I don't worry too much about. A, you can't change it, and B, we've got Blake Shinn on. Blake does all his homework, he's the ultimate professional, he knows what he's doing, he'll come out and tell me he'll try and do this and if it needs to change he doesn't need me in his head with another idea.” The 2-year-old Snitzel colt won impressively at Group 2-level last start.
In Secret first up no issue for Cummings
Trainer James Cummings won’t be surprised if Group 1-winning mare In Secret (I Am Invincible) shows plenty first-up in Saturday's G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup at Eagle Farm.
“Although it's 1300 metres first-up, which is foreign to her, I think her preliminary has gone ahead very smoothly,” Cummings told Racing.com.
“We were not happy with her in the lead-up to the Lightning, so we tipped her out. Since she's been back in the stables, she's been a happy mare, going about her work beautifully, a different horse from earlier in the year. The feedback I've had on her has been nothing short of outstanding.
In Secret | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“The (Doomben) 10,000 came up on us about 10 days too soon. There's match fitness that she's giving away to her rivals, but I like the fact she's somewhat the fresh horse on the scene. All that aside, she's in the right frame of mind and that extra time she's had could easily be a serious factor into why she's feeling so good. She's got a bit to prove but I love the way she's going at the moment.”
Bayliss brothers to ride in Group 1 against each other for first time
The G1 Queensland Derby on Saturday will be the first time brother Jake and Regan Bayliss will ride against each other at Group 1 level. “When we were apprentices in Melbourne, we rode against each other in races multiple times,” Jake Bayliss told racenet.com.au.
“But this will be our first Group 1 riding against each other. The day of my first Group 1 win (Volpe Veloce in the Railway in New Zealand in 2018), we were meant to ride together as Regan was on the third or fourth favourite. But it got scratched 20 minutes before the race because of a huge downpour. I ended up winning my first Group 1 in that race. Things happen for a reason and I think Regan was just meant to be there for me on that day. It would be a couple of years since we have ridden against each other and I am really looking forward to Saturday.”
Jake rides outsider Warialda Warrior (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) while Regan rides Sonofdec (Kermadec {NZ}).
Injury concern for Bella Nipotina
Group 1 winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) showed some lameness on Friday morning and will have to be vetted before Saturday’s G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup. The Ciaron Maher-trained sprinter will be re-shod with race plates on Saturday morning before her final vetting.
New winner for Pierata
Friday’s Wagga Wagga meeting opened with a win by 2-year-old colt Prorata (Pierata) who won by 2.3l for trainer Gregory Hickman and jockey Jeff Penza.
The colt was having his second start and becomes the eighth winner for first-season sire Pierata. Prorata was a $200,000 purchase from Valiant Stud by his trainer at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Cosmic Force juvenile wins again
At Rockhampton on Friday, 2-year-old gelding Astra Star (Cosmic Force) won the QTIS 2YO H. for trainer Graeme Green and jockey Les Tilley. Astra Star took his record to two wins and three placings from five starts with earnings over $66,000.
Purchased by Green Racing at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $90,000 from Kenmore Lodge, Astra Star is one of six first-crop winners for Newgate Farm's Cosmic Force.
Western Empire unconcerned about wet track
Any notion that rain affected ground will halt the winning momentum of revived gelding Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in Saturday’s G3 Hyperion S. at Belmont was shrugged off by co-trainer Grant Williams.
“We haven’t had too many that can’t perform on it,” Williams said on Tabradio.
Grant Williams | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“We haven’t had him in that ground, that was when he was in Melbourne and obviously it was clear he wasn’t at his best over there. There could have been other reasons why he didn’t perform on those grounds, one of those was in the Makybe Diva against pretty tough opposition and he only got beaten six lengths. We’re not going into it thinking we’re going to struggle in the ground, I think like many we have got fit horses that don’t seem to worry too much about it."
Episodic chasing four in succession
In form mare Episodic (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) will chase a fourth win in succession when she makes her Melbourne debut on Saturday.
“She’s in career best form,” Clarken and O’Shea’s Racing Manager Lachlan Weekley told Racingsa.com.au.
“Typical with these tried horses that the boys get, they learn a lot from their first preparations and know how to train them better the second time around. She’s a horse who is really enjoying being trained out of Murray Bridge.” Episodic has won three of her twelve starts with all three wins coming in her last three starts.
Abounding might need lightweight jockey for Stradbroke
If Queensland filly Abounding (Rich Enuff) books a golden ticket into the $3 million Group 1 feature at Eagle Farm next month, her trainer Robert Heathcote will need a jockey who can ride at 49.5kg.
“Abounding needs to win this to get into the Stradbroke and if she does win we'll need to find someone who can ride the weight,” Heathcote told Racingqueensland.com.au about Saturday’s G3 Fred Best S.
Abounding | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“This is probably one of the strongest Fred Best’s I’ve ever seen - it’s a cracking race. She still hasn’t a rider for the Stradbroke but if she wins on Saturday then hopefully I won’t have to call and jockeys will call me. There’s a few jockeys around who can ride that weight including young Zac Lloyd and he’ll be in the mix.”
Potential Payne brother-sister training partnership under consideration
Brother and sister Patrick and Michelle Payne are contemplating a training partnership for next season.
“We're just feeling our way a bit, see how we fit in together and make a plan from there,” Michelle told Racenet.com.au. She currently has about 10 horses in work out of brother's private training property in Plumpton.
Patrick and Michelle Payne | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We actually complement each other, she's been very helpful to us, I think we work well together, just got to work out the logistics of it (training partnership). She's got in-depth ideas … not all of them are going to work but you're an idiot if you don't listen to a lot of what she says,” said Patrick.
Molly Bloom is 2023-24 NZB Filly of the Year
Throughout a proud history spanning more than 50 years, the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series has repeatedly unveiled superstars of the racetrack and the breeding barn. And 2023-24 didn’t disappoint with three different fillies going on to win Group 1 races during the season.
At the end of the exciting 11-race series, the name added to the honour roll as the 52nd Filly of the Year was the exceptional Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High). “She is such a good quality filly and to win this time-honoured award is recognition of her class,” co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan told Loveracing.nz.
Molly Bloom (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
“Thank you to NZB for their longstanding sponsorship of the Filly of the Year Series, it is such a prestigious title acknowledging 3-year-old filly excellence and we are delighted that she has won it.” Molly Bloom’s connections have earned NZ$50,000 in bonus cheques including NZ$10,000 for breeder Seaton Park, NZ$10,000 for trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, and NZ$30,000 for her syndicate of owners.
Four for Godolphin at Newcastle
Trainer James Cummings will send four lightly raced horses to Saturday’s Newcastle meeting with 2-year-old gelding Blue Illusion (Blue Point {Ire}) and 2-year-old filly The Fort (Blue Point {Ire}) in the first.
James Cummings | Image courtesy Ashlea Brennan
Cummings also has 3-year-old gelding Presides (Lonhro) and 3-year-old filly Lily Bobtail (Harry Angel {Ire}) at the meeting.
Ka Ying Rising’s biggest test on Sunday
Four weeks after demolishing quality opposition in Class 2 company, 3-year-old gelding Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) is back at Sha Tin for his stiffest test to date in the G3 Sha Tin Vase H. on Sunday.
“I think Ka Ying Rising has very good form references going forward. He’s taking on international Group 1 winners, so we’ll see how good he is,” trainer David Hayes told Loveracing.nz.
“He’s eaten up and held his form and it was good to see that good young horse he beat (Call Me Glorious) win, beating Little Brose at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 May). I thought he was one of the most progressive horses on the weekend.”
Russian Emperor retired
Three-time Group 1 winner Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has officially been retired, with Douglas Whyte paying tribute to the horse that put him on the map as a trainer.
“He’s been the best horse in my stable and it will be a very hard box to fill. They come around once in a lifetime and he was just a pleasure to have in the stable,” Whyte told scmp.com.
Russian Emperor (Ire) | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I think I was probably the only one that galloped him and I did most of his trackwork. I had a very strong bond with him so it’s a bittersweet day, but he deserves it.”
Russian Emperor is out of Group 1 winner Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) and won six of his 36 starts including the 2022 and 2023 G1 Champions & Chater Cup and 2022 G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup. “We’re contemplating going to Living Legends if there’s space and they accept him, because that’s easier to go and visit him and the facilities are great. That’s the first priority.”
City Of Troy draws inside for Derby
Aidan O'Brien will be represented by a trio in Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby, with Ryan Moore staying loyal to last year's champion juvenile City Of Troy (USA) (Justify {USA}) over the stable's other kingpin Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). There was a very public blow to City Of Troy's chances as he was handed the dreaded stall one with all its disadvantages.
Aidan O'Brien | Image courtesy of Emma Berry
Fierceness to skip Belmont
The G1 Belmont S. lost a major contender on Thursday when trainer Todd Pletcher revealed that last year's juvenile champion Fierceness (USA) (City of Light {USA}) will pass the final leg of the Triple Crown and will instead point for the G1 Haskell S. on July 20 at Monmouth Park.
“We felt like Fierceness needs more time and will point for the Haskell,” Pletcher said.
Industry speaks out against Louisiana rule changes
On Thursday, the Louisiana Racing Commission announced “Active Emergency Rules of Racing,” to go into effect on June 8. These new regulations have raised the permissible dosage and shrunk the allowable withdrawal times for several medications, most notably the bronchodilator Clenbuterol and corticosteroid Depo-Medrol.
The Louisiana Racing Commission does not currently make equine fatality data public on its website, as many other jurisdictions do, nor do Louisiana tracks publicly post their equine fatality statistics on The Jockey Club's “Equine Injury Database.”
Friday saw many industry participants react against the changes:
“Quite frankly, it's a major step backwards as far as horse health and safety is concerned, as well as for the riders,” said Jeff Blea, the California Horse Racing Board's Equine Medical Director.
Ryan Carpenter, a Southern California-based veterinarian, takes a similar position to Blea. “It's kind of what you'd expect coming from an anti-HISA state,” he said.
“You're going to inhibit the ability of the examining veterinarian of identifying if a horse has a problem. There's much more research to support what HISA is doing. And this thing that Louisiana has come up with, it smells,” said former LRC equine medical director Tom David.
“Churchill Downs Incorporated is extremely disappointed with the Louisiana Racing Commission's 'emergency rulemaking' to weaken Louisiana racing medication standards," Churchill Downs said in a statement. "We had no opportunity to weigh in on this action and view it as an inexcusable abuse of process resulting in a substantial degradation in the safety and integrity of racing in the state. To reiterate, we had no prior knowledge of these new emergency rules being discussed or implemented. We are evaluating our options with respect to the Road to the Kentucky Derby/Oaks and daily racing at Fair Grounds.”
Japanese invader for Irish Champion S.
Yoshito Yahagi has provided a sprinkling of stardust to the G1 Irish Champion S. by pencilling the Leopardstown highlight in for the Japanese star Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The brother to Sottsass (Fr), who fetched €2.1m (AU$3.4 million) at the August Yearling Sale at Arqana in 2022, finished third in the Japanese Derby last weekend.
Shin Emperor (Fr) | Image courtesy of the Japan Racing Association
Good draw for Ghostwriter in French Classic
The draw for Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly resulted in Jeff Smith's G1 2000 Guineas fourth Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) getting an inside post in two.
French chasing Royal Ascot win
Jerome Reynier has the Queen Anne in his sights for stable star Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) who won the G1 Dubai Turf in March.
“He is aiming for the Queen Anne on the Tuesday and he came back in very good shape from Dubai. We're very happy with him,” Reynier said.
“Now he's going to try to win a second time in a row after having not won for a long while. We don't have any questions about good ground because he won on it in Dubai and he's done the straight course at Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth so everything seems to be in good shape for him."
