Champion jockey J-Mac hospitalised
Champion jockey James McDonald was admitted to Prince Of Wales Hospital on Wednesday night after he was stood down from engagements at Warwick Farm earlier in the day due to stomach pains.
James McDonald
McDonald continued to undergo tests on Thursday, with appendicitis ruled out and has confirmed he will not ride on Saturday.
Snowden partnership dissolved
Peter Snowden released a statement late on Thursday announcing that his partnership with Paul Snowden will dissolve at the conclusion of the 2023-24 racing season. “Paul has a young family to care for and we have mutually decided that it is the right time for him to take a step back and be able to focus on them,” Peter Snowden said.
“Since the establishment of Snowden Racing in 2014, we have had some incredible success together and Paul's contribution to the business will be hugely missed. As for Snowden Racing, it will be business as usual at our Royal Randwick and Flemington stables as we continue to strive for success and provide results for our owners.
“We look forward to sharing this with you all in the 2024-25 season ahead.”
Abounding an outsider for Group 1
Trainer Rob Heathcote’s stable is hoping to give the locals a Group 1 breakthrough with 3-year-old filly Abounding (Rich Enuff) in the G1 Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm on Saturday despite a barrier of 18 and a price of $34.
“She ran well in the Dane Ripper but she felt the firm track,” Heathcote’s racing manager Jarred Coetzee told Racingqueensland.com.au. “She didn’t quite let down as well as she normally does in her races.”
3-year-olds have won the G1 Tatt’s Tiara 16 times since 1989.
Impressive Versaille wins
Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman may have unveiled another smart horse on Thursday at Bendigo, with 2-year-old filly Versaille (Written By) impressively taking out the juvenile race on debut. “She's a filly that they've (Moody and Coleman) always had quite a good opinion of. It's good that she's beaten maybe a handy bunch of horses,” syndicator Wylie Dalziel told Racing.com.
Versaille was purchased by Moody and Dalziel for $150,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, with Dalziel hinting that she was initially passed in and purchased outside the ring. She is from the second crop of Written By, who sired G2 Silver Slipper S. winner Straight Charge earlier this season.
Last Druid a nice juvenile winner
Godolphin’s 2-year-old colt Last Druid (Brazen Beau) beat the older horses at Wyong to break his maiden at his third start. The colt is out of a full sister to Lonhro.
Mishani Storm keeps Ross going
Despite Les Ross having cancer and about to retire, the Mishani train keeps going with 2-year-old filly Mishani Storm (Kobayashi) winning at Dalby on Thursday to take her record to two wins from five starts.
Kobayashi has sired seven winners in his third crop this season.
Three for Te Akau in NZ
Te Akau Racing won three races on Thursday with Time Is King (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Star In The Sky (Savabeel) both winning at Riccarton, while Baronet (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) won at Te Aroha.
The three wins gave the stable 165 wins in NZ for the season.
Affluential makes it six
The full brother to Horse Of the Year Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) Affluential won again on Thursday to make it six in succession, which are all his career wins from his 19 starts.
Half his wins are on the flat, and he’ll head to the Grand National Steeplechase on August 25 at Ballarat.
Stewart announces Baker will get two yearlings
After announcing on Wednesday that Chris Waller would train two of his expensive yearling purchases, John Stewart mentioned on Thursday that Bjorn Baker would train the Lope De Vega (Ire)-Hint Of Pink (Ire) filly which he purchased for $425,000 and the Dundeel (NZ)-Game Of Thorns colt who cost $240,000.
He also stated he would make another trainer announcement on Friday.
Bullbars dies
Bullbars, the sire of Group 1 winner Mr Brightside (NZ), moved from New Zealand to South Australia in 2020, and his owner Mark Conroy confirmed to thoroughbrednews.com.au on Thursday that the sire had died at the beginning of the 2023 breeding season.
He served 18 mares in 2020 and 2021 and 17 in 2022, but there is no other information on the Stud Book website, nor is his death officially recorded.
A Group 3 winner Bullbars sired three stakes winners from 105 runners, and was one of five stakes winners out of Accessories (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}).
International offers for Big Brute
Trainer Chris Bieg has three runners in Saturday’s Listed Oaklands Plate at Morphettville, but it could be only two if the big offers for Big Brute (Brutal {NZ}) eventuate. “Gee he won well at Balaklava,” Bieg told the Racing SA Front Runner Podcast.
Chris Bieg
“Winning so impressively (on debut), being a gelding, there is a lot of interest and offers coming across the desk from international parties, so there’s a bit to play out over the next few days. Looking ahead he doesn’t have to run over the 1400m from this sort of barrier knowing we’ve got the Sires’ Produce now moved to July. There are a lot of options around for what we think is a pretty talented horse.”
Hong Kong trainers tied on 65
The Hong Kong Trainers Premiership battle continued on Wednesday night with Francis Lui winning two races to tie up the top with Pierre Ng on 65 wins each. Copartner Prance (Epaulette) led the way with his sixth successive win. “Of course, it is hard to win six in a row,” Lui told scmp.com.
“He keeps improving. There’s a 1200m race at Sha Tin towards the end of the season, but we’ll see how he recovers after the race and leave it to Zac (Purton).” His other winner was Packing Hermond (Rubick).
Emma-Jayne Wilson soon to pass USA female rider earnings record
Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson is only US$206,311 (AU$309,000) short of the USA female jockey earnings record currently held by Julie Krone. The male jockey earnings record for USA is John Velazquez who has amassed US$480,922,616 (AU$720million) in earnings.
“I don't want to focus on gender as a big thing in racing,” Wilson said. “But I am well aware of the milestone and the path that has been paved for us to be successful. Learning about these records and seeing them being broke leads to more opportunities for more women to be equal in the game. That's what makes it important for me.”
UK Gambling Commission investigates UK election
On Tuesday afternoon, the UK Gambling Commission has asked betting companies to provide information on whether parliamentary candidates have bet on themselves losing the seat they are contesting after several candidates were found to have made election related bets.
This follows news on Monday via the BBC that up to 15 conservative politicians are being investigated for having bet on the election date announcements.
Share in Zarak sells for €740,000
A share in Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) realised €740,000 (AU$1.18million) from Laurent Benoit, acting on behalf of Haras Voltaire, during Wednesday's Arqana Online Pop-Up Sale. Additionally, a share in Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) was also knocked down to Benoit, this time bidding for Haras des Sablonnets, for €180,000 (AU$288,000).
Shares in sires sell at Arqana | Image courtesy of Arqana
Cambridge Stud shuttler and first crop sire Hello Youmzain has already sired Electrolyte (Ire), runner-up in the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last week.
Listed Oaks Trial goes to Sea The Stars filly
Wednesday's Listed Naas Oaks Trial looked a hot contest beforehand and it proved just that as The Aga Khan unearthed another 2024 Classic contender in Hanalia (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who won’t be going to the Irish Oaks.
“She's not big, but has a good turn of foot when she relaxes early and it worked out very well today,” trainer Johnny Murtagh said. “Ben said said he loved the way she hit the line and she was tough as well. He said he wouldn't go a mile-and-a-half just yet, but maybe later. A mile-and-a-quarter is good for her at the moment. I entered her this morning in a group 3 over a mile-and-one at the Curragh in three weeks' time. I'd definitely bring her back to a mile-and-one rather than going a mile-and-a-half at this stage.”
Irish National Stud 2024 class graduates
A total of 28 students celebrated June 26 after successfully completing a comprehensive six-month programme designed to prepare them for careers in the thoroughbred industry. The ceremony feting the 2024 Class of the Thoroughbred Breeding Management Course took place at the Irish National Stud, Co Kildare.
“Our graduates this year have shown an extraordinary commitment to their studies and the Thoroughbred breeding industry,” said Anne Channon, Education Manager. “We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and excited to see them contribute to the future of the Thoroughbred industry.”
