Daily News Wrap

Brett Prebble retires from saddle

Jockey Brett Prebble announced his retirement on Tuesday. “It's a real mix of emotions, but I know the time is right,” Prebble told racenet.com.au.

“I've had the most incredible career. It's not lost on me just how fortunate I am to leave my time in the saddle a fit, healthy, happy and content 46-year-old. Over four decades of riding, I've seen way too many times just how incredibly dangerous, devastating and life-changing the job can be.” Over a 30-year career, Prebble has won 37 Group 1 races and ridden over 2000 winners including 800 wins in Hong Kong.

Prebble's career highlights include three Melbourne Apprentice Premierships, two Melbourne jockeys' premierships wins and two Scobie Breasley Medal wins, one shared with Damien Oliver.

Warwick appointed NZTR Chairman

Russell Warwick has been appointed by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Board as Chairman at Tuesday’s June Board meeting. Taking effect immediately, Warwick will replace current Chairman Cameron George following his announcement to step down at the end of the current racing season. “The industry has made excellent headway in recent times, but there is still a lot of work to do,” Warwick told Loveracing.nz.

“I really enjoy being able to give back to the industry, and timing wise, I feel I can offer a constructive view as we look to inspire a new generation of stakeholders and encourage further growth within the business.

“Cameron George’s contribution to New Zealand Racing throughout his tenure is unmatched. He has driven growth and guided the industry into a period of change that has brought new life and excitement to the sport.”

Haunui Farm announce 2024 fee for Ribchester

Haunui Farm’s four-time Group One winner and two-time Champion Miler Ribchester will return in 2024 for his fifth season at stud in New Zealand at a fee of NZ$10,000 (plus GST). “We’re pleased to have Ribchester back this year and believe he represents great value for breeders wanting to tap into a quality European bloodline,” Mark Chitty said.

“He has had limited opportunities at the track due to small crops, but the results are very encouraging, and the statistics stack up. All eyes will be on Royal Ascot where Ribchester will be represented by Facteur Cheval in the G1 Queen Anne S., a race he set a record in himself.

“Ribchester is of course a son of Iffraaj, and we see his continued influence every week as he nears 100 stakes winners worldwide, and through the deeds of his sons at stud.”

Ribchester is the sire of nine stakes winners, with Group 1 winner Facteur Cheval the best to date.

Gavelhouse announce Elsdon Park reduction sale

Gavelhouse will host the annual reduction sale for Elsdon Park, and the catalogue is live on their website now. “It’s a two-fold sale this year,” Elsdon Park’s general manager Kerrie Cox said. “Part of it is made up of Elsdon Park’s annual reduction of broodmares and weanlings. We have a number that we want to try to stick to with our broodmare band, and it can grow quite quickly when you’re buying mares and have racehorses retiring off the track to join the broodmare band as well.

“The other aspect of this sale is the dispersal of the Dewar Partnership, made up of mares in foal to Ardrossan and some young progeny of that stallion. That includes two weanlings and four racehorses, including one that placed at Cambridge on Wednesday – the 3-year-old filly El Amor.”

Bidding will close on June 25.

Jenuwin Hope Lodge announce Bulleton fee for 2024

Breeders looking for an outcross option to the Danehill-infused population have an opportunity with Bulleton who will stand at Jenuwin Hope Lodge in the Hunter Valley for 2024 at a fee of $3950 (inc GST).

“Despite Bulleton’s initial runners scoring 66 per winners to runners, he did not serve a mare for some years. His fertility is good, and his strong, tenacious Byerley Turk sireline is contributing to top gallopers like Auguste Rodin (English and Irish Derby), Rebel’s Romance (multiple Group 1 winner), Cascadian (2024 Australian Cup),” said Pam Gough.

Bulleton won on debut and followed it up with a city win in South Australia before his retirement to stud. From sporadic foals, he has sired four winners led by Chance At Midnight. Bulleton’s sire Rubiton left 43 stakes winners including seven at Group 1 level, while Bulleton is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Hollow Bullet, Group 3 winner Last Bullet and Listed winner Red Hot Mama.

Santa Anita's safety ranks highest in the world

Santa Anita Park concluded the six-month 2023-24 Winter-Spring season on June 16 which, when combined with the six-week Autumn Meet from 2023, produced a 99.97 per cent safety record, making the 1/ST Racing facility the safest track in North America among those with a comparable volume of racing and training according to a release from the track on Monday.

Since the Opening Day of the Autumn meet on September 29, 2023, through the Closing Day of the Hollywood Meet on June 17, 2024, 6678 horses ran in races over Santa Anita's main track and turf course. The 99.97 per cent safety mark ranks Santa Anita the highest in the world with a similar schedule.

Santa Anita Park's record is highlighted by a 90 per cent improvement in racing fatalities over the past five years since historic reforms to modernize the sport of Thoroughbred racing were instituted by 1/ST Racing, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), and industry stakeholders.

En Francais stays in Queensland

South Australian mare En Francais (Puissance de Lune {Ire}) will debut in Queensland for new trainer David Vandyke after she failed to meet her reserve at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Part-owner and trainer Jake Stephens told racingsa.com.au, “After getting passed in at the sale we decided we’d send her to David. She just doesn’t handle the travel. That hindered us every time she went to Victoria.”

En Francais was a last start winner in the G3 Cummings S. and has won five of her 20 starts with earnings over $360,000.

Magic Time to spell for spring sprints

After an uncharacteristic performance in the G1 Stradbroke H. last Saturday, where Magic Time (Hellbent) finished 14th, trainer Grahame Begg will spell his star sprinter. “I'll give her a month and then assess whether we need to give her longer or not. It's a tight turnaround though,” Begg told racing.com.

Breast cancer drug tribunal delayed again

Trainers Smiley Chan, Mark and Levi Kavanagh, Amy and Ash Yargi, Julius Sandhu and Symon Wilde are all charged with presenting horses to race with Formestane, a breast cancer drug, in their systems and now their tribunal has been adjourned until next month.

All five trainers maintain their horses' results are the results of contamination during the testing of the samples. The tribunal will resume on Wednesday, July 10.

New juvenile winner for Shamus Award

Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained 2-year-old filly Savvyrocker (Shamus Award) won at her second start on Tuesday at Ballarat. Purchased by Dalziel Bloodstock and Peter Moody from Rosemont Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $100,000, Savvyrocker is the first winner for Savannabeel (Savabeel), who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Jungle Rocket (NZ) (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}).

Western Empire’s Melbourne spring canned

Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) won’t be aimed at the G1 WS Cox Plate and will stay in Perth next season to focus on the main sprint races over summer. “He won’t be travelling,” trainer Grant Williams said to The Races WA.

“His form was too good in the short races, so now we’ll train him for a Winterbottom (1200 metres) and a Gold Rush (1400 metres).” Western Empire has won nine of his 25 starts and over $1.8 million.

Tasmanian apprentice heads to South Australia

Talented apprentice jockey Taylor Johnstone is on loan to South Australian trainer Andrew Gluyas for three months. “It’s a little bit scary having to move your life to a different state, but it’s also very exciting, and hopefully, things go well,” Taylor told tasracing.com.au.

“A lot of people have said that he’s a great person and he’s really good to work for. I had a chat to Raquel, and she spoke really highly of him, and even Siggy (Carr) said he’s a really nice bloke as well.” Taylor has two rides for Gluyas on Wednesday at Balaklava: Pride Of Shalaa (Shalaa {Ire}) and Just Joking (Sir Prancelot {Ire}).

Waikato Stud debutant excites trainer

Matamata trainer Paul Richards will debut Waikato Stud-bred and raced 2-year-old filly Rhythm ‘N’ Spice (NZ) (Ardrossan) at Pukekohe on Wednesday. “She is in good order. It is nice to have one for Waikato Stud and hopefully she can do a bit of a job,” Richards told Loveracing.nz.

“Her trial was good. That is not her ideal footing, she has got an action that prefers a bit of cut in the ground, hence why she is at Pukekohe tomorrow.” She is a half-sister to Listed winner Poser (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).

Promising 3-year-old ready for Aussie debut

Tony Pike-trained 3-year-old colt Eliud (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) will make his Australian debut on Saturday in Melbourne. “He has been nominated for Mahogany Series and will run at Flemington in the 3-year-old 2000-metre race,” Pike told Loveracing.nz.

“Should he go as expected on Saturday, the final is two weeks later over 2500 metres” Eliud has won two of his five starts in New Zealand.

Asmussen Assistant Toby Sheets found dead in Greece

Toby Sheets, a longtime assistant trainer to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, was found dead Sunday on a beach on the Greek Island of Mathraki, Sheets' family has confirmed to the TDN. Sheets' death is the most recent in a series of foreign tourists to disappear or be found dead on the Greek islands in the past week, according to the Associated Press. According to Reuters, Sheets was 55 years old.

“Toby was a part of our stable for many years, including our Belmont S. win with Creator, as well as his expert handling of Haynesfield among others,” Asmussen told the TDN. “He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.”