Winx and Black Caviar to be honoured at Randwick on Saturday
The first Group 1 of the 2024/25 Sydney racing year – the 101st running of the $1 million G1 Winx S. – holds centre stage at Royal Randwick on Saturday as Australian Turf Club honours two of the sport’s immortals.
A moment’s silence for Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) will be held and special video tributes throughout the day will feature Black Caviar’s remarkable unbeaten 25-start career, including her farewell victory at Royal Randwick in the G1 TJ Smith S. of 2013.
“These two remarkable thoroughbreds along with their trainers, jockeys and connections gave racing so many of its biggest moments over so many years,” Australian Turf Club Chief Executive, Matt Galanos told racingnsw.com.au.
“We forever salute Winx at Royal Randwick with her own grandstand and this race named in her honour. We are also very grateful for the career of Black Caviar including another magic moment in Royal Randwick history at her final race.”
Mirra View tops Inglis Digital August (late) Sale
Walnut Farm has purchased the sale topper at the Inglis Digital August (late) sale, spending $600,000 to own Listed winner Mirra View (More Than Ready {USA}). She is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Mirra Vision (Lonhro) and both are out of Group 3 winner Mirrasalo (Redoute’s Choice) who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and young sire Castelvecchio and Group 1 winner Maid Of Heaven (Smart Missile).
Mirra View | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Three other lots sold for more than $100,000. Ultra Thoroughbreds spent $275,000 to buy One Last Kiss (Toronado {Ire}), while Middlebrook Valley Lodge spent $115,000 on Dublin Belle (So You Think {NZ}) who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Dublin Down (Exceedance). Rounding out the top lots, High Calibre Racing spent $105,000 to own 5-year-old gelding Bews (I Am Invincible).
In realising $600,000, Mirra View became the 78th lot to realise $100,000 or more on Inglis Digital so far this year. In total the August (Late) Sale grossed $3,235,226 with 232 horses sold.
Talks reopen between NSW and Victoria
New Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison will reach out to NSW with a deal to grant both The Everest and the All-Star Mile Group status. “We're trying to find a way to work with Racing NSW and other members of Racing Australia to reactivate that (black-type pattern) process,” Morrison told racenet.com.au.
“On the basis of what we're proposing, a race like The Everest would quite clearly qualify for Group 1 status, based on ratings mainly. Equally, the All-Star Mile, the All-Star Mile has rated above the Group 1 benchmark in every running that we've conducted.
“If we're successful in progressing what we think we're going to progress, those two would be natural outcomes (Group 1 status), which I think will be great for everyone.”
Racing Victoria GM of Racing resigns
Racing Victoria Executive General Manager - Racing, Matt Welsh, has resigned according to racing.com. Welsh took on the role with the industry facing wagering headwinds post-COVID and made many tough decisions on prizemoney.
During his stint at RV, he oversaw changes to Victoria's Spring Racing Carnival race dates and was key part of the implementation of a number of initiatives, including the Geelong Super Saturday race day, the Sportsbet Future Stars Series and the 10th race on Saturdays.
Fangirl’s return to the races impressive
Getting Fangirl (Sebring) back from a potentially life-threatening injury in time to attempt a defence of her G1 Winx S. crown is already a win for trainer Chris Waller and her owners. “The day she had her injury I didn’t expect her to probably be racing again, let alone survive,’’ Waller told racingnsw.com.au.
Fangirl | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It’s a remarkable story how he’s recovered. She had a nasty injury but through great care and attention from our staff, and the vets, we have got her back in work and you can barely see a blemish. She’s racing again in a pretty short timeframe without bending anything. We’ve followed guidelines with the vets, our vets as well as the Randwick Equine Clinic, and they have done a great job.”
Golden Eagle for Portelli pair
The $10 million Golden Eagle is the aim for trainer Gary Portelli’s classy pair of Encap (Capitalist) and Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) who kick off their 4-year-old seasons at Randwick on Saturday. “He’s run second to Militarize in a Golden Rose so it’s hard to put ones beside their name when you’re racing these horses. His winning strike rate doesn’t look good but the prizemoney he’s won looks very smart,” Portelli told racingnsw.com.au about Encap.
About Kimochi he said, “We’re working closely with the Yulong team but in my mind the Golden Eagle could be a perfect race for her. If she was to win this race there might even be Everest talk. I’m looking forward to getting a benchmark after Saturday as to where we’re at with her.”
Four in succession for WA’s Triple Jay
Exciting galloper Triple Jay (Street Boss {USA}) has made it four straight wins in a thrilling edition of Wednesday’s $100,000 Blue Spec S. at Belmont. “(The mile) was a bit of a concern,” co-trainer Ben Pearce told racingwa.com.au.
“The way it turned out, it looked like he wanted 1700. He did the job well.” Now the winner of eight of his 17 starts, he has earnings over $365,000.
Sweet Orange rarity wins at Sandown
One of eight live foals from the last New Zealand crop of Sweet Orange (USA), 3-year-old gelding Stylish Secret (NZ) won at Sandown at her third start for trainer Mike Nolan and jockey Luke Nolen.
Sweet Orange is the sire of two stakes winners from 71 runners, led by Group 2 Daqiansweet Junior (NZ).
Love Conquers All 3-year-old wins at Sunshine Coast
Trainer Lindsay Gough’s 3-year-old colt Ramp It Up (Love Conquers All) won over 1000 metres for jockey Jake Bayliss on the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday. He was having his second start and is the second winner for winning mare Rubycue (Al Maher) who is a full sister to Listed winner Al Passem.
Pair of 3-year-olds open the card at Belmont
Placed twice at two, 3-year-old gelding The Top Bar (Sessions) showed improvement at three to win first up for trainer Adam Durrant and jockey Clint Johnston-Porter with a 1.35l win over Nicely Played (Nicconi) and Saxon Jewel (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).
Raced by Oakland Park Stud, who stand Sessions for $8800 (inc GST) in 2024, The Top Bar is a full brother to stakes placed winner of five races Saloon Bar, and a half-brother to Listed placed winner In Love With Paris (Rogano).
The second on the card at Belmont was won by Michael Grantham trained 3-year-old gelding Allentown (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) who had been third on debut a fortnight ago. Raced by Peters Investments, Allentown was purchased by SA Sharrock at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale for NZ$10,000 from Woburn Farm. He won a trial in New Zealand in as a 2-year-old in February before ending up in West Australia in his current ownership for this season.
Charm Spirit has 19 stakes winners led by European Group 1 winning sprinter Shaquille (GB) and Allentown is the fifth foal and third winner for She’s A Screamer (NZ) (Pins).
Gulfstream announces 2025 program
Highlighted by the Jan. 25 $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational and $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Jan. 25 and the Mar. 29 $1 million Curlin Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park will launch its 2024-2025 Championship Meet Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 and run through Mar. 30, 2025.
Godolphin Flying Start 2024 begins
The newest intake of Godolphin Flying Start trainees have begun their two-year training programme at Sheikh Mohammed's Kildangan Stud in Ireland. The class of 2024-2026 consists of trainees from America, Britain, France, Ireland and the Czech Republic and they will undergo training across the racing and bloodstock industry in Australia, America, Dubai and the UK.
Flying Start trainees | Image courtesy of Godolphin Flying Start
Godolphin Flying Start executive director Clodagh Kavanagh said,“We welcomed our 22nd Godolphin Flying Start class to Kildangan Stud last week. They are an enthusiastic group who are determined to forge careers in the thoroughbred industry. Their engagement and work ethic will stand to them as they progress through the Irish phase and beyond.”
Arqana V2 figures slightly down
One of the first indicators as to how strong the middle tiers of the European yearling market will be this autumn was provided at the V2 session of the August Sale at Arqana where a Starspangledbanner filly led the way at €115,000 (AU$189,000) when sold to Arthur Hoyeau.
A 79 per cent clearance rate, which was down 6 per cent on this corresponding sale last year, followed on from the 6 per cent drop in the August Sale. The average fell by 14 per cent and the aggregate by 19 per cent to €4.523 million (AU$7.4million). The median was also down by €3000 to €27,000 (AU$45,000).
“The day ended with very satisfying results, following on from an historic year in 2023,” read an Arqana statement on behalf of Freddy Powell and Olivier Delloye. “With 80% of horses sold and an average price of €33,000, this sale was one of the best v.2 sales since its creation. This sale is now well established in the yearling sales calendar and the very good turnout from French trainers is testament to this, and we would like to thank them warmly. Many of the yearlings sold today will remain in training in France and we wish them every success in the ARQANA Series next year!”
Petition to court over HISA unconstitutional status
Forty-five days after the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit declared that the Horseracing and Safety Integrity Act (HISA) is unconstitutional because its enforcement provisions violate the private non-delegation doctrine, both the HISA Authority and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) petitioned for a rarely granted “en banc” procedure that asks for a rehearing before all 17 of that court's judges instead of just the panel of three that issued the July 5 opinion.
