McLachlan appointed Tabcorp CEO
Only a few days after Gillon McLachlan pulled out of the race for the Racing Victoria chair position, he has been announced as the new Managing Director and chief executive officer of Tabcorp, beginning August 5. “Gill needs no introduction – he is recognised as one of Australia's leading CEOs and securing Gill is a great vote of confidence for Tabcorp's future,” Bruce Akhurst, Executive Chairman, told Racenet.com.au.
“We've laid strong foundations and Gill brings a growth mindset and the capability to capitalise on the opportunities ahead of us. Gill has a deep understanding of sport, racing and wagering, combined with significant acumen which was highlighted in the substantial growth of AFL revenues under his leadership.
“Importantly for us, Gill brings an added dimension of having been responsible for some of the most significant media rights deals in Australian sports history and we're excited about the potential growth opportunities for our wagering and media business under his leadership.” He will earn a salary of $1.5million plus bonuses.
G1 Prix de Diane winner Sparkling Plenty to be sold
Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly was won by Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois's Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) for trainer Patrice-Cottier and jockey Tony Piccone. A last start winner in the G2 Prix de Sandringham, Sparkling Plenty is a full sister to Group 3 winner Noble Truth (Fr), out of a Frankel (GB) half-sister to the 2009 Prix de Diane heroine Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}).
“I have no words. It is just unbelievable. My thoughts are with Christian Demuro, who got hurt last week and couldn't ride, but Tony was perfect today. It is a pleasure to train for a top owner-breeder like Jean-Pierre Dubois. Last year we had Sauterne, this year Sparkling Plenty. He is such a great horseman. You learn from him every day,” said Cottier.
Owner Dubois now faces a quandary, with Sparkling Plenty catalogued to be sold as Lot 11 in the Goffs London Sale on Monday.
Asfoora can win at Royal Ascot, says trainer
Henry Dwyer believes Asfoora (Flying Artie) can win the G1 King Charles III S. (formerly the King’s Stand S.) on Tuesday at Royal Ascot. She finished fourth in her English debut last month in the G2 Temple S. at Haydock.
“I walked away (from the run) thinking it was just a pass mark, nothing more, nothing less,” Dwyer said on Racing TV. “We knew she was going to be underdone, you can see that she probably loomed up like the winner at the about the 200-metre or the furlong marker – and just blew out late.
Henry Dwyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It sort of coincided with getting to that rise in ground, she really felt the pinch once she got to that furlong marker and just weakened late.” She will be ridden on Tuesday by Oisin Murphy and has drawn 17.
Her sire Flying Artie becomes the third non-shuttler to sire two Royal Ascot runners. His first was Artorius in 2022 and 2023. I Am Invincible and Testa Rossa are the other two sires with this milestone.
Debut winner for Exceedance at Muswellbrook
Kris Lees-trained 2-year-old filly Etude (Exceedance) won on debut on Monday at Muswellbrook, ridden by Christian Reith, by 0.8l against the older horses. Etude becomes the sixth winner for first season sire Exceedance.
The first foal of a winning mare from the family of Starspangledbanner, Etude is raced by Kia Ora Stud with partners, after the stud passed her in as a weanling.
Bates to undergo knee surgery
Jockey Declan Bates will undergo knee surgery and miss the rest of the season. “It's not serious,” Bates told Racenet.com.au.
“It's just an old injury. I have a couple of screws in my knee from when I broke my kneecap in a fall a few years ago. I'm just getting them taken out. They could stay in but it's the right time of the year to have a little freshen-up, so I'll go in, get them taken out. It will require a few weeks recovery for that but it will ensure I'm fit and ready to go for the spring.”
Declan Bates aboard Pride Of Jenni | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bates combined with Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) for three Group 1 wins this season and took Bates's prizemoney tally for the season to more than $12.2 million, almost four times his previous best.
26 for Civic S. with top weight Tamerlane
Godolphin’s Tamerlane (Golden Horn {GB}) will have to break the weight-carrying record for the Listed Civic S. at Royal Randwick on Saturday after being given topweight of 59.5kg. The modern day record for the race is 59kg, held by Ninth Legion (Fastnet Rock) who won in 2016 and Mic Mac (Statue Of Liberty {USA}) who won in 2013.
Treble for Nolen at Pakenham
Jockey Luke Nolen rode a treble at Pakenham on Monday aboard debutant 3-year-old gelding Milo (Deep Field) for trainer Phillip Stokes, Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock-trained Clock Strikes (Zoustar), and Clinton McDonald-trained Unlimited Magic (Impending).
Australian-owned Docklands runs at Royal Ascot
The G1 Queen Anne S. on Tuesday will feature Australian-owned Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}). “He’s probably at about his right odds,” OTI Racing director Terry Henderson told Racing.com of the $15 chance.
“He’s not been exposed to Group company before other than the Listed race in France, which really didn’t go to plan at all. But when he ran at Ascot over 1600 metres first-up this season he was very impressive. I think he’s well placed to be competitive and he’s always competitive. He loves that track and that distance, so he’ll be thereabouts.”
Terry Henderson | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“There looks to be a bright future for him irrespective of the (Queen Anne) result. But if it happened to be a Group 1 winner here, you start to ask yourself, ‘do you move a Group 1 horse away from a trainer like Harry Eustace when you’ve then got options that could take in a Breeders’ Cup.”
OTI also have potential Melbourne Cup horse 3-year-old gelding Deakin (Fr) (Australia {GB}) in the Duke of Edinburgh H. OTI have won 100 races this season.
Strong trio for Widdup at Hawkesbury
Brad Widdup will have three leading chances set to contest races at Hawkesbury on Tuesday led by debutant 2-year-old Hyperbolic (NZ) (Proisir), as well as last start winner Guzumped (Dundeel {NZ}) and Troika (Russian Revolution) later on the card. “She looks to be a filly with a bit of potential,” Widdup told Racingnsw.com.au about Hyperbolic.
“She’s had two trials in preparation for her first start, and she looked pretty good winning the latest of them at Hawkesbury. Tyler Schiller will ride her, and it looks a nice race for her to kick off her career.”
Murphy hopes for his first Hawkesbury winner
Former jockey Pat Murphy is hoping to train his first winner at Hawkesbury on Tuesday with Victory Roll (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}). Since gaining his trainer’s licence in 2021/22, Murphy has trained 30 winners including two city successes with Body Bob (Written Tycoon), but none at Hawkesbury which was a successful venue for him as a jockey.
“Victory Roll’s part-owner Jimmy Bergin lives at Gerringong, the same as my Mum and Dad (Lindsay Murphy retired in 2019 as ATC general manager of racecourses after a stellar 42-year career in the industry),” Murphy told Racingnsw.com.au.
Pat Murphy | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“They have become good friends, and Jimmy was keen to give this horse another chance and bought him back online (for $2250) when he was put up for sale in March. We have a really good crew, which includes my mother Bernadette and sister Jill and Dubbo Turf Club chief executive Sam Fitzgerald, now racing Victory Roll.”
Murphy has 14 horses in work at Goulburn with another three in wife Emma’s barn.
Coffey to miss a month with injury
Jockey Harry Coffey will miss a month as he has surgery on his hand. “He’s actually having a little bit of surgery done today,” Coffey’s manager Dean Hawkes told Racing.com.
“He went and got it scanned the other day, it’s his wrist and his thumb, they said if they didn’t operate it would be a six- or seven-week injury, but if they do operate it will only be three weeks. We’re probably thinking he’s probably three to four weeks away from riding depending on what happens today with the little surgery.
“He’s had a terrific season, so if he needs to go in and get this sorted then now is the time to do it.” Coffey has ridden 81 winners in 2023/24.
Major Share owners turn down Hong Kong offer
Trainer Adam Chambers announced that connections of unbeaten 3-year-old gelding Major Share (Overshare) have turned down an offer from Hong Kong. “At this stage the plan is to go to Bendigo next Thursday, there's a BM64 over 1000 metres,” Chambers told Racing.com.
“There has been a fair few people from Hong Kong that have come knocking. It's a very difficult situation because there's a lot of people in the horse, there could be up to 40 people that have some sort of share in him. There's a few of them that are a bit older and money's not that important to them, they'd rather have fun and go to the races with him.
Major Share | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We always dare to dream but it's sort of hard to tell with him because he's unassuming, I don't know what his ceiling is, it might not be that high, but it may be, we'll just take him through his grades, and he can do the talking.” Major Share has won both his starts to date, and was a $75,000 purchase by his trainer at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale from Two Bays Farm.
Chinny Boom to spell for spring
Trainer Clinton Taylor will spell stable star 4-year-old mare Chinny Boom (Spirit Of Boom) but is now hopeful his hot form continues with stable mates 3-year-old filly Viennawaitsforyou (Vancouver) and 3-year-old gelding Bush Diamond (Spirit Of Boom) who clash at Mackay on Tuesday. “We sent (Chinny Boom) down to Brisbane hoping to win black-type and she did that when she won the (Listed) Coughlan S. at Eagle Farm,” Taylor told Racingqueensland.com.au.
“The track was too hard for her on Saturday, but she’s done her job and she’ll go to the paddock now.” Chinny Boom has won nine of her 17 starts including the Listed race two starts ago with earnings over $600,000. Viennawaitsforyou has won her last two in succession.
Garcon D’Espoir looks an exciting youngster for Tasmania
Garçon D’Espoir (Omaha Beach {USA}) showed he could be one of the best 2-year-olds in Tasmania with a dashing win against older horses on Sunday at Devonport to take his record to two wins from four starts. “First time 1650 metres, he did everything well and is showing more than expected; he’s done a good job,” trainer Yassy Nishitani told Tasracing.com.au on Monday.
Garcon D’Espoir as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Garcon D’Espoir will spell now and be aimed at the Tasmania Classics next season. He was a $37,000 purchase by his trainer at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale from the draft of Waterford Livestock. He is the second Australian winner for first season sire Omaha Beach, who has six stakes winners from his first USA crop.
Loch Katrine ready to thrive in sodden track on Wednesday
Winner of last year’s Listed Champagne S. Loch Katrine (NZ) (Ardrossan) will relish the same conditions at Pukekohe Park on Wednesday. “When she won as a 2-year-old it was very heavy and basically every time she runs on that sort of track she’s been in the money,” trainer Stephen Autridge told Loveracing.nz.
Loch Katrine (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“We’re looking forward to the wetter track on Wednesday with her and from now on.” Loch Katrine has only the one win from her 12 starts.
Autridge will also run nicely bred 3-year-old filly Midnight Monarch (Snitzel) at Te Aroha on the weekend. “She has shown us quite a lot at home but had to have a little chip taken out of her fetlock which has had her away from the races for some time.”
Ascot likely to water the track before the Royal meeting
Dry conditions at Ascot have increased the chance that they may water the track prior to the Royal meeting on Tuesday. “We’ve had no change here, so the going is good to firm, good in places and it’s been a drying day with breezy conditions. It’s very likely we’ll put a spot of water on tomorrow to maintain conditions as they are,” Ascot’s clerk of the course Chris Stickels told racingpost.com.au.
“We’ll make a decision first thing in the morning, but I would say that we’ll look to put 5mm on the straight course and 3mm on the round course.” Last year, attendance for the opening day of the meeting was 41,848 with overall attendance for the week being 266,147 and ticket sales for this year appear to be on par with last year.
French Guineas winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi bounces back at four
Sunday's G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines at Chantilly was won by Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}). “One mile most certainly is his best trip,” said trainer Andreas Schutz.
“He won the French 2000 Guineas last year and, even though he had run well over further, his best runs are over a mile. Therefore, it was not a surprise to see him win again today. His owner is keen to see him run again this season in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville, so that will be his next target.”
German Derby next for Narrativo
Gestut Ittlingen's 3-year-old colt Narrativo (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) booked his ticket to next month's G1 Deutsches Derby with a decisive victory in Sunday's G2 Sparkasse KolnBonn 189th Union-Rennen at Cologne for trainer Peter Schiergen. “We had an excellent trip throughout ,and he was always travelling smoothly,” said winning rider Adrie de Vries.
“He had already displayed plenty of speed at two, and he did so again today. He is a really good horse and, if runs like this in Hamburg, he should stand a really good chance in the Derby.”
Last year’s Derby winner adds Group 2
Bouncing back to form at Cologne on Sunday, last year's G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) registered a first success since the G2 Prix Niel in September in the re-scheduled G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft.
Jockey Rene Piechulek was excited to see his mount put a substandard effort when last in the G1 Prix Ganay firmly behind him. “Now that's my boy again! I had a perfect race and he made it easy for me,” he said. “I asked him for more and today he didn't let me down.” Fantastic Moon has won six of his 11 starts.
Unbeaten Frankel adds Group 3
Coolmore and Westerberg's 3-year-old colt Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) remained unbeaten in winning his third start in Sunday's G3 Prix du Lys Longines to lay down a marker for next month's G1 Grand Prix de Paris. “I am very emotional, it is a very difficult moment for us at the stable, and I am sincerely delighted for the owners, and everyone involved back at home,” said Jean-Claude Rouget's assistant trainer Jean-Bernard Roth.
“The horse had been working incredibly well before this race and looked awesome the whole week. He has improved with every run, and I guarantee he still has a lot of room for improvement. The G1 Grand Prix de Paris could be next, but we would not want to run him on firm ground on a hot day, so we will play it by ear. There are some important races coming up in the autumn and we want to have him ready for that. He is a very, very good one and we are blessed to have him.”
Burke adds another French sprint to resume
Trainer Karl Burke plundered another French prestige prize courtesy of the 2-year-old colt Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}) who proved toughest in a pure speed shakedown in the G3 Prix du Bois Longines at Chantilly on Sunday.
“He's a lovely stamp of an individual and he was always doing just enough in front,” jockey Jim Crowley said. “He got there quite easily, and he then sort of just found himself in front and just doing enough. He's a lovely type of horse and hopefully he will keep progressing.”
Favourite makes it two in G3 San Juan Capistrano S.
Favourite to defend his title in Sunday's G3 San Juan Capistrano S., 6-year-old entire Planetario (Brz) (Il Doge {Brz}) didn't disappoint, breaking his own course record over the 1 3/4-mile distance at Santa Anita in the process. He covered the 2800 metres in 2:46.95.
“He is an old pro. He knows what he is doing, and he likes his job,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “He has a great mind and running in a race like that, that's what you need.” Planetario has won eight of his 19 starts including a Group 1 in Brazil and the 2023 G3 San Juan Capistrano.
