During the second inquiry on Friday, Peter V’landys, CEO of Racing NSW, made a series of explosive allegations about “wealthy breeders” engaging in a deliberate campaign to discredit him and Racing NSW, going so far as to claim that these individuals were spreading falsehoods to manipulate the outcome of the inquiry.

He pointed to an email that allegedly encouraged people to fabricate evidence, a move he described as a direct attempt to undermine the integrity of Racing NSW.

V'landys did not stop there; he went on to deliver a particularly charged statement regarding the motivations behind the scrutiny of Racing NSW’s Equine Welfare Fund. He justified the current lack of disclosure in the Annual Report, stating it was the way their reporting has always been done. After Animal Justice Party Emma Hurst’s request, V’landys promised to provide more disclosure in this area, stating: “We've got nothing to hide. We're proud of what we do. Transparency is your friend.”

He then alleged that the intense focus on the fund was not born out of a genuine concern for animal welfare but was instead part of a broader agenda by those seeking the information.

“The reason people are focused [on the Equine Welfare Fund], they have never focussed on any other expense of Racing NSW, but they're focussed on this,” V’landys said.

“You know why they’re focussed on this? Because they want to show that it is too expensive to rehome horses and that we should allow them [those requesting this information] to put them in abattoirs. That’s what the campaign’s about. They want to get rid of me so they can put horses into abattoirs.”

This comment added a new layer of controversy to the inquiry and was met with immediate disgust by several parties. Kick Up, an organisation established by a group that includes Vicky Leonard, a part-owner of The Thoroughbred Report, to promote positive welfare messaging and improve industry perception, provided the following statement:

“Mr V'landys' claim that 'transparency is your friend' is starkly contradicted by the evasive responses—or lack thereof—that Kick Up has encountered in our repeated attempts over years to seek clarity on equine welfare fund spending. To then insinuate that those efforts are driven by a desire to 'put racehorses in abattoirs' is both false and insulting. If transparency is truly his friend, Mr V'landys wouldn’t require the pressure of a parliamentary inquiry to provide straightforward answers to perfectly reasonable requests.”

The club’s shaky foundation

The funding model underpinning the NSW racing industry was brought into sharp focus during the inquiry, as the ATC grappled with the realities of declining TAB revenues and the challenge of maintaining world-class facilities. The ATC Chairman, Peter McGauran, highlighted the club’s reliance on TAB distributions, which have seen a steady decline in recent years. This, he argued, places the future of racing at risk unless new revenue streams are identified.

“The financial challenges we face are significant,” McGauran stated, emphasising the need for the ATC to explore all options, including the potential sale of Rosehill, to secure its financial future. The proposed $5 billion valuation of the Rosehill site, while contentious, is seen by some as a lifeline that could future-proof the club and ensure the continuation of premier racing in Sydney.”

However, this financial outlook as a justification for the sale is not universally accepted.

During his testimony, Jason Abrahams of the Save Rosehill group criticised the funding model, calling for a thorough review.

“There has been a funding shortfall… for a long, long time. It's like stepping back in time 50 years,” Abrahams remarked.

He then questioned the logic of a financially challenged business spending $300,000 on due diligence when the membership is vehemently opposed to the sale: “You can daresay that at least the Chairman and potentially some of the board are severely out of touch with their membership group”.

Discrepancies regarding the valuation of Rosehill Racecourse were a focal point of contention during the inquiry, with figures ranging from $1.6 billion to a speculative $20 billion being cited. McGauran, defended the $5 billion valuation, claiming it was based on expert calculations.

However, Timothy Hale, Vice Chair of the ATC, soon after admitted, “We have never been provided with a valuation showing $5 billion.”

Racing NSW Board Member Garry Charny testified that while a $1.6 billion valuation might be accurate today, the site’s long-term potential value could reach as much as $20 billion.

Governance and accountability under the microscope

The inquiry also turned a critical eye on the governance practices within Racing NSW and the ATC, with Independent MP Mark Latham leading the charge. Latham’s questioning of V'landys centered on the organisation’s decision-making processes, particularly regarding the sale of Rosehill and the allocation of funds.

But the inquiry also raised broader concerns about the transparency and accountability of the Racing NSW CEO, with Charny acknowledging that they offer V’landys a "broad scope" to act independently.

Central to this scrutiny was the revelation that considerable authority is granted to V’landys, including the ability to initiate legal proceedings without the need for board approval if expected costs are estimated to be under $1 million.

The voice of the Members

While financial sustainability and governance dominated much of the discussion, the inquiry also shone a light on the powerful resistance from the racing community, particularly through the Save Rosehill group. Abrahams and Julia Ritchie, who represented the group, articulated the deep sense of betrayal felt by ATC members over the proposed sale.

“We and many, many others in the club and in the broader industry are steadfastly opposed to this sale,” Abrahams said.

“It is an insult to the members who have supported the ATC and its predecessors for generations, a violation of the cultural norms of a member-based sporting club, and a warning to all of our peers across the city whose golf courses, tennis courts and football fields might stand in the way of the next development.”

The emotional resonance of this resistance was evident in Ritchie’s testimony, where she shared that none of the 150 to 200 conversations she had with racegoers supported the sale.

Abrahams further emphasised the disconnect between the ATC leadership and its membership, pointing out the “vehement anger” expressed at members’ forums.

The horseman's perspective

Rosehill trainers Chris Waller and Richard Freedman, both voiced strong opposition to the proposed sale, though they approached the issue from slightly different perspectives.

Waller began by emphasising the importance of Rosehill to his successful training operation, then acknowledged the housing pressures in Sydney. While he was firmly against the sale of the entire site, staging “once Rosehill is gone, Western Sydney has lost one of its greatest community attractions”, Waller was open to alternative proposals, such as partial sales of under utilised areas like car parks, provided these changes would benefit the community.

Freedman also expressed his concerns, particularly highlighting the lack of information provided to trainers about the proposal and the potential impact of the sale on their operations, describing the situation as "flying blind". Unlike Waller, Freedman was not in favor of a partial sell-off, arguing that it would cause more harm than good given the possibility of having to train horses in what could effectively become a construction site for years.

The next hearing for the inquiry into the proposal to sell Rosehill Racecourse is scheduled for Thursday, September 12.

First run in 1978, this Group 2 Missile S. dash has some very nice horses on its honour roll, won by the likes of Razor Sharp (Steel Pulse {GB}), Campaign King, Brawny Spirit (Rustic Amber {Ire}), Dance Hero (Danzero) and Eduardo (Host {Chi}).

It has also been won by several horses who have gone onto successful stud careers, such as Lonhro, Commands, Love Conquers All and, most recently, Pierata.

Opening favourite off an easy all the way trial win over proven Group horses, Schwarz (Zoustar) has always shown plenty of talent and he kicked off his last campaign with a game Listed Darby Munro S. second behind Brave Mead (Brave Smash {Jpn}).

Semillion (Shalaa {Ire}) has the fitness edge, maintaining consistent form over the autumn and winter months with his latest run a brave second behind the in-form Recommendation (Shalaa) in the G3 Bletchingly S.

Arctic Glamour (Frosted {USA}) is at her best over a little longer but is capable of finishing off strongly; she struck a strong trial heat when not too far away from Joliestar (Zoustar) at Rosehill late last month.

Shezanalister (Star Turn) was not in the best part of the track when boxing on solidly at Randwick and her previous win there contained merit. The Listed Ramornie H. can be a good guide to this race and its winner Ka Bling (Capitalist) was strong to the line in that Grafton feature.

G3 Behemoth Stakes - a great race for the Jolly family

See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) and Karacasu (Headwater) provide the Jolly family with a chance to continue their recent domination of this race with the former looking to become the fifth horse to win it more than once.

Should she succeed, and she is favourite to do so on the back of good jump-out and trial form, she joins Samist (NZ) (Pakistan {GB}), Redelva (Romantic Hope), Hero Wind (Star Pyramul) and the race's namesake (it was called the Spring S. when he saluted in 2020 and 2021) Behemoth (All Too Hard) as multiple winners of this race.

See You In Heaven is a member of the Richard & Chantelle Jolly stable whilst Behemoth was trained by Richard's brother David who also won this race in 2022 with Calypso Reign (Barbados).

Will Clarken has also already won it; with Mio Dio (God's Own) in 2017 and is seeking another success. Now in partnership with Niki O'Shea, he saddles up two chances; Second To Nun (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) and Boognish (Sooboog). The former showed great heart getting up in the last stride when resuming in a race in which his stablemate was favourite; out of the placings but not disgraced; and her second up form is encouraging.

The classy miler Chicago Storm (Trust In A Gust) tends to race well fresh whilst Episodic (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) just does not know how to run a bad race.

Listed Belmont Newmarket - Bolton form

Weaponson (Oratorio) is the only one of this race's seven runners not to have met the others last start; he is one of the roughies having his first run since April with his best form coming over a bit more ground.

Each of the other six runners come through the Listed HG Bolton Sprint and they have some ground to make up to turn the tables on Boots Like Bruce (Alfred Nobel {Ire}) whose winning performance was a dominant one.

A horse who really knows how to find the line, the sparingly raced seven-year-old has won seven of his 15 starts and was up in class when taking out the Bolton, winning a BM66 at his previous start; on that occasion tough off a wide run.

Enjoying a 3kg swing on Boots Like Bruce is the Bolton's runner-up Man Crush (Manhattan Rain) who strips fitter for two very good runs this time in. Saloon Bar (Sessions) also meets the favourite 3kg better and he really caught the eye with his strong finishing third.

The Bolton favourite Red Fifty Three (Gingerbread Man) was a solid fourth and he has good second up form. He again has the services of champion local jockey William Pike who has a number of Belmont Newmarkets on his resume.

This race has been won by a number of horses who have enjoyed other stakes success, most notably Belele, Medicine Kid (Medical Man {USA}), Willoughby (Fimiston) and Andretti (NZ) (Shifnal) who all also won Group 1 races.

Second Season Sires - the new 3-year-olds

Last season was an exciting one for the new boys with eight different stallions represented by at least eight winners. It is always interesting to see which horses take the next step as their progeny turn three and a number of those stallions have runners in metropolitan races on Saturday.

The second race at Moonee Valley has three; Blue Stratum (Blue Point {Ire}), Immortal Star (I Am Immortal) and Just Like Gaby (Pierata). Each of those promising young horses are in the market, Blue Stratum Group 2 placed last time in and impressive breaking his maiden first up, the stakes placed Immortal Star resuming off good jump-out form and the regally bred Just Like Gaby, the first foal produced by the dual Group 1 winning sprinter Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible), very good at debut.

Pierata also has a nice chance in the third race at Randwick with Bella Khadijah recording a deserved breakthrough at Doomben a couple of weeks ago. Strongly fancied in the same race is Getafix (Calyx {GB}) who has trialled well since finding the line well when resuming.

There is another Pierata racing at Belmont, Promising debuting in the second race off solid trial form. The Trevor Andrews trained filly, a $60,000 Perth Magic Millions graduate is out of Our Time Will Come (Oratorio) who won at her Ascot debut at two.

The opening event at the Sunshine Coast, a race which has QTIS and Inglis bonuses, has two runners by second season sires and both are facing the starter for the first time; the $60,000 Inglis Classic purchase Balmoral (Royal Meeting {Ire}) who has opened up at double figure odds and the more fancied Cosmo Centaurus (Cosmic Force), a $140,000 Classic yearling who has created a big impression winning three Doomben trials.

The following race at the Sunshine Coast sees two last start winners by second season sires take their place, Master Bianco (Zousain) and Outta Control (Dubious). The former is well fancied coming off an Ipswich win as an odds-on favourite whilst the latter also has winning form having surprised punters at his Toowoomba debut.

The first-uppers - stakes winners resuming

It's that time of year when the better horses start reappearing and there are a number of gallopers already proven at stakes level kicking off their campaigns on Saturday.

In the fifth race at Moonee Valley, a 1000m BM100 contest, Acromantula (Written Tycoon) and Taunting (Brazen Beau) are both strongly fancied to kick off their preparations in winning form.

The smart Perth galloper Acromantula returns to Moonee Valley where he won the 2023 Listed Norman Carylon S. and where he took on the best, fading from on pace, in last spring's G1 Moir S. quinellaed by Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) and Asfoora (Flying Artie). He has missed a first up placing only once in six tries and has been dominant winning a couple of trials.

Last year's Listed SAJC Railway S. winner Taunting disappointed at his only autumn run but was in great form last spring and has been runner- up at his two Moonee Valley outings. Another interesting runner on the Strathayr is the import Point King (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) who resumes in the seventh race; likely to have done plenty of work to be ready for the 2040m.

Randwick hosts a number of stakes winning first-uppers including Sebonack (Capitalist), the 2022 G3 MRC Chairman's S. winner who saluted at Kensington first up last time in. He races in the fifth whilst the G2 Missile S. has three stakes winners resuming; Schwarz, Zoustar and Arctic Glamour (Frosted {USA}) who we have already touched on as well as one of the outsiders, last year's G2 The Ingham winner Loch Eagle (Lonhro).

The following Randwick race sees the imported Group 2 and Group 3 winner Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) making his Australian debut for the Kris Lees stable. In the same race is Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}) whose latest win was the 2022 G1 VRC Derby.

We've already mentioned Weaponson (Oratorio) who kicks off in the Listed Belmont Newmarket and there are also a couple we have already touched on in the G3 Behemoth S. in Adelaide; Chicago Storm (Trust In A Gust) and See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet). Also first up in that race is the Group 3 and three time Listed winner Air Assault (Justify {USA}) who was good the line when fourth first up last campaign, going to the paddock off a game G1 South Australian Derby third.

The first-uppers - horses of promise

Aside from the stakes winners resuming on Saturday, there are also a number of horses who aspire to that sort of form, kicking off with Mistressofillusion (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the opening event at Moonee Valley.

Last in a couple of jump-outs, the Chris Waller trained import was amongst the favourites (but well beaten) when contesting a Listed race at Bath last October. More strongly fancied at Moonee Valley is Scuderia (Squamosa) in the fifth race who resumes off a jump-out victory and an impressive overall record of five wins and five placings from 11 starts.

Speaking of horses who know how to find the line, Our Kobison (Kobayashi) resumes as an odds-on favourite in the fifth race at Randwick. Bolting in with a Wyong trial, he has five wins and three placings from nine starts on his record and he has been in the money at both of his Randwick runs. Also showing plenty of promise in that race is Dancing Alone (I Am Invincible) who has tasted defeat just twice from eight starts; earning black-type with a last start Group 3 third at Flemington on Derby Day.

The following race at Randwick sees Tulsi (The Autumn Sun) resuming off a close up Warwick Farm trial third. The consistent former New Zealander was third behind Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High) in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas in November.

And there is a nice staying type resuming in the G3 Behemoth S. in Adelaide;

Arugamama (Churchill {Ire}) having his first run since a Listed second over 2006m in February. He has been placed over the 1200m and his consistent record of four wins and eight placings from 17 starts is hard to fault.