90 submissions live for Rosehill inquiry
A Select Committee was established to inquire into and report on the proposal to develop Rosehill Racecourse, with public submissions closing Thursday July 18, available for viewing on the inquiry website.
Leading trainer Bjorn Baker criticised the excessive prize money for certain Sydney spring races, such as the Golden Eagle and The Big Dance, in his submission. Baker argued that these races would still attract top-quality fields with significantly lower purses, highlighting the Australian Turf Club's inability to invest adequately in maintenance despite the combined $45 million value of its five most valuable races.
Twin Hills Stud owner and industry leader Olly Tait criticised Racing NSW for promoting the development proposal, asserting that it should act as a regulator rather than an investor and raised the concern that Racing NSW nor the Australian Turf Club have the expertise to manage the asset's commercial divestment effectively.
Respected owner Frank Cook raised concerns in his submission about the lack of transparency and governance in the proposal, the potential negative impact on horse welfare and funding, and the impracticality of suggested alternative sites.
There have been numerous other industry groups and respected indentities submit their thoughts on the proposed sale, click on the links below to read:
TAB NZ Interim Chair resigns
TAB New Zealand Interim Chair Anna Stove has today (Tuesday) announced her resignation after a significant five-year contribution to the statutory body. “It has been a rewarding five years and more importantly we have delivered a sustainable long-term outcome for our stakeholders through the Entain partnership,” she told Loveracing.nz.
Anna Stove
“I would like to thank the Minister, and all my director and management colleagues who I have worked with during this time. I have the utmost confidence in the remaining Board and management team continuing to build on the foundation we have laid – we are well placed for the next chapter. I feel very confident about the industry’s future and its contribution to the nation’s economy.”
TAB NZ Chief Executive Officer, Nick Roberts, congratulated Stove on her contribution. “I would like to thank Anna for her leadership and drive. There’s no doubt that Anna leaves the organisation, and those who rely on our funding, in a better position than when she joined in 2019.”
NZ Champion Jockey for 2023/24 is Kennedy
Warren Kennedy will welcome a less taxing riding schedule next season after achieving his ambition of securing the New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership. With one more meeting to come at Tauranga on Wednesday, Kennedy secured the title with 139 winners, 17 at Group or Listed level, with his mounts earning just shy of NZ$6 million in 2023/24.
“It’s always been my goal and I am so happy to have achieved it,” he told Loveracing.nz.
Tasmanian Premierships decided for 2023/24
Up until a month ago, the Tasmanian trainer’s premiership looked like it would go down to the wire, but in the end, it was a runaway victory for John Blacker. The Longford/Brighton-based trainer landed four winners on the final day of the season last Sunday to finish with 68, 12 ahead of Glenn Stevenson and John Keys, who tied for second.
Anthony Darmanin (57 wins) took out the jockey’s premiership, while Erica Byrne Burke (42 wins) won the apprentice title.
Queensland tensions continue
Tensions within Queensland racing reached boiling point on Tuesday morning, with a set of trials at Doomben interrupted when jockeys were involved in a meeting with high-level Racing Queensland administrators regarding the Eagle Farm track issues.
The trials were eventually completed, reported racing.com.
Coleman heads to Moir S.
Rising 3-year-old colt Coleman (Pierata) will return in the G1 Moir S. in six weeks' time. “I don't think it's necessary to run in races like the Vain (S.),” trainer Matt Laurie told racing.com.
Coleman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He's already done that (class) and he's better than that. He's a Group 1 horse and that is what we are going for and this (Moir) is an opportunity to knock that off. The Coolmore (Stud S.at Flemington in November) is miles away and obviously that is on the cards and part of the program, but we're hoping he can do it (win a Group 1) before then.”
Coleman, from Pierata’s first crop, won the G3 Chairman’s S. and placed in both the G1 Golden Slipper and G1 Sires’ Produce S.
Ninth winner for Blue Point
Ciaron Maher trained 2-year-old gelding Centre Square (Blue Point {Ire}) won at Ballarat on Tuesday to give his first season sire his ninth Southern Hemisphere first crop winner.
Treble for Stockdale at Ballarat
Jockey Thomas Stockdale won the Victorian Country Jockey Premiership for the season with a treble at Ballarat on Tuesday. He won on The Doll (Starspangledbanner), Centre Square (Blue Point {Ire}), and Chargenlikapluma (Magnus).
Power juvenile winner at Rockhampton
Trainer John Wigginton’s 2-year-old filly Power Of Katie (Power {GB}) won on debut at Rockhampton on Tuesday to give her sire his fourth juvenile winner this season.
Power Of Katie as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Whetu ready for city challenge on Wednesday
Trainer Richard Collett says Whetu (Dundeel {NZ}) is ready to step up to city company on Wednesday at Warwick Farm. “He’s a good type of horse, he wasn’t a cheap horse, he was going badly when he left New Zealand and we got his confidence back,” Collett told racingnsw.com.au.
“He came in at the right rating, we did a bit of schooling with him but I think the biggest thing was he had everything done in blinkers in New Zealand so we took the blinkers off after his first run. That’s the great thing about bringing a horse over from New Zealand out of form, he’s won four races here and $100,000 and he’d won virtually no money before he left. He’s got better and he’s got to city grade now.”
Hong Kong sale falls over for Battlefield
Hong Kong’s loss could be trainer Barry Lockwood’s gain after a sale offer for talented 3-year-old Battlefield (Deep Field) failed to eventuate, and he will run in the final QTIS race for the season at Doomben on Wednesday.
“He’s been good since he’s come north but he drew poorly the day he ran second at his first start here at Doomben,” Lockwood told racingqueensland.com.au. “(the sale) it never eventuated as the buyer found out later that Hong Kong don’t allow horses to race over there if they’ve had a problem like heart arrhythmia. Arrhythmia happens in a lot of horses, but it doesn’t affect them long term.”
Oldest apprentice makes return
Apprentice jockey Darren Evans was once told his shoulder was so badly damaged he would never ride in a race again but the veteran is back fighting fit as he edges closer to a return winner in the saddle. At 43 years of age, Evans is jostling for the record as one of the oldest apprentice riders in Australia.
Darren Evans | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
“I just need to get my eye back in with my balance and my focus but other than that – I feel pretty good in the saddle,” Evans told Racingqueensland.com.au. “I was not far away from a winner on my second day back at Ipswich, I was just beaten in a photo-finish.”
He will ride the same horse who he rode into second at Ipswich, Voulait (Wanted), on Friday.
Berkshire Breeze on track for Melbourne Cup
Berkshire Breeze (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) will chase his fourth-straight win and take another step with his Melbourne Cup ambitions when he lines up at Flemington on Saturday for trainer Ciaron Maher. “He's really good,” said assistant trainer Jack Turnbull.
“We're very happy, it will be interesting to see what will go there, but the idea will be to hopefully win this race and then head on to the Archer.”
Kiwi invader for Melbourne spring
Group 1 performer Express Yourself (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) will test her talents in Melbourne this spring, with part-owner and former trainer Nikki Hurdle entrusting her to the care of Cranbourne conditioners Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. “She is on a temporary visa,” Hurdle told Loveracing.nz.
Express Yourself (inside) will campaign in Melbourne this spring | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
“She is going to have a spring campaign in Melbourne. It is pretty open-ended, but the plan is that she will be back here in December. I have looked through what is coming up for her in New Zealand and when you get to a rating like her, it is just so limited. Every time she races now, she is going to be carrying a lot of weight and we just felt that the time was so right to give her a go in Australia.” She has won six of her 17 starts and ran second in the G1 Telegraph H. two starts ago.
Big Ass Fans celebrate Cody’s Wish
Big Ass Fans celebrated Group 1 winner Cody's Wish (USA) (Curlin {USA}) at a ceremony to honour namesake Cody Dorman with Make-A-Wish Foundation, Godolphin at Jonabell Farm and special guests held on July 25.
“Big Ass Fans was part of two of the biggest days of Cody's life and two of the biggest days in Cody's Wish's career,” said Kelly Dorman, Cody's father. “We'll never forget that.”
Rosallion to miss Qatar Sussex S.
Star miler Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) will miss the Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood on Wednesday due to a respiratory infection.
Runner-up to Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the 2,000 Guineas on his 3-year-old debut, Rosallion went one better in the Irish edition before turning the tables on his Newmarket conqueror when landing the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Emmanuel, Iscreamuscream headline Fasig Digital
Bidding is now open for the Midsummer Flash Sale on Fasig-Tipton Digital. Bidding will close Thursday, Aug. 1, at 3 pm ET. The two offerings are:
Hip 1: Emmanuel (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}): The 5-year-old, a five-time graded stakes winner on turf, also finished third in the GI Blue Grass Stakes on the dirt at three. He is also the current course record holder at Tampa Bay Downs for 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Hip 2: 33% ownership interest in Iscreamuscream (USA) (Twirling Candy {USA]): Undefeated in three starts, she broke her maiden at Santa Anita last autumn before adding a score at that venue when returning June 13 in optional claiming company. Most recently, she took the GII San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar on July 20 going wire-to-wire over the Del Mar turf.
Two owners allegedly threatened trainer and jockey after horse wins
Two owners threatened former trainer Henry Spiller and jockey Ray Dawson after a horse won despite their instructions for him to lose, a disciplinary panel was told on Monday. Royston Cooper has been charged with two breaches of rule (F) 41 and Royston Barney with one breach of the same rule.
It is alleged Cooper and Barney had instructed Spiller and Dawson not to win but Enough Already (GB) (Coach House {Ire}) won by a neck as the 2-1 second favourite. Racingpost.com reported that when Spiller was asked why he didn’t report the incident, he told the panel, “I feared for my life, that’s why I said that. If someone gives you a viable death threat would you go speaking out?”
The hearing is expected to last four days.
