NZTR announce new CEO
Matt Ballesty has been appointed the new CEO of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. This is a homecoming,” Ballesty told nzherald.co.nz.
“I’ve been passionate about racing for a long time as both an enthusiast and an owner and I can’t wait to get stuck into the hard work of further developing thoroughbred racing in New Zealand.”
Russell Warwick and Matt Ballesty | Image courtesy of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
Ballesty’s varied corporate background across NZ, Australia and Asia was part of the appeal for the NZTR board. “The racing industry is going through a period of significant change and Matt is the perfect candidate to ensure that every person contributing to the industry continues to play a key role in the future,” NZTR chairman Russell Warwick said.
“This appointment is about securing the legacy of the racing industry in the long term. We could not be happier to have someone of Matt’s calibre holding the reins at this critical point.”
Newgate offerings top Inglis Digital
A pair of Newgate-offered racehorses were the standouts in today’s successful Inglis Digital February (Early) Online Sale. Tannhauser (Dundeel {NZ}) made $175,000 and Gold Bullion (NZ) (Savabeel) made $160,000 with both sold to Blueblood Thoroughbreds and will look to continue racing successfully in the famed red and blue silks over the next number of seasons.
“They’re both really well credentialled horses that we think can provide a great return for us for many more racing seasons to come,’’ David Mourad of Blueblood Thoroughbreds said.
Tannhauser | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“On his day Tannhauser is a very good horse and his last run was really good. He’s an ideal middle distance/staying type so we’ll give him time to get up over the right trip and get amongst some of that great prizemoney on offer.
“Gold Bullion will remain with Gai and Adrian and he’s just such a consistent horse, we think his best form has been over the mile so we’ll try and place him over the trip. We just don’t think he sees out a really strong 2000m so we’ll target mile races like the $500,000 The Coast on May 10 and then back up the next week into the Scone Cup, which is a qualifier for The Big Dance which is the ultimate goal.
Gold Bullion (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Inglis Digital is great to buy and sell on. From a buyer point of view it’s easy to navigate and to look up all the information you need, it’s easy to bid and is just a consistent platform and as a seller, it’s super easy to list your ads and with sales every fortnight you can move horses on or shares in horses on almost immediately which is so helpful.’’
Savaglee takes on older horses
Star colt Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) will take on the older horses in a star-studded edition of the G1 BCD Group Sprint on Saturday. “It was a nice day out and a bit of a hit out for him, he’s always pretty casual and never gives too much away,” trainer Pam Gerard told Loveracing.nz of his exhibition gallop last weekend.
“I’m happy with how he’s come away from that. He’ll work in the morning and have a swim in the afternoon as usual for the next couple of days, it’s just keeping him ticking over. We’re just aiming to have him bright, healthy and happy. He can do whatever he needs to do, he jumps and puts himself in the race, he can be back, forward, it doesn’t matter. He’s very adaptable, nothing needs to change.”
Draw not ideal for My Gladiola
My Gladiola (I Am Invincible) has an unfavourable draw for Saturday’s G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (fillies). “It's obviously not ideal,” trainer John McArdle told racing.com.
“Caulfield, especially when they haven't raced there for a while, is probably not the track that you want to be drawn wide at but, look, there's nothing we can do about it now. Obviously we wanted to draw lower. Jamie will just ride her as she comes out, but I'd suggest she'll go back and find some cover and try to attack the line.
My Gladiola | Image courtesy of The Image is Everything
“I don't see any value in trying to punch forward and if you get caught wide becoming a bit one-dimensional. She was a bit slow away at Sandown and got back so we'll probably go back, slot in where we can and if she can't run them down because of the track or the way that it's playing, then so be it. As long as she's hitting the line hard, we'll look towards the Diamond.”
Grafterburners to give Schweida revenge in Millennium
Trainer Kelly Schweida had one of the favourites with El Morzillo (Star Witness) in last year’s Inglis Millennium but she was blocked for a run. This year, he hopes 2-year-old colt Grafterburners (Graff) will get revenge. “We just didn't have any luck in running last year and it would be nice to get a bit more luck this year,” Schweida told racenet.com.au.
“I was a bit disappointed when I saw the barrier he came up with (14) but a lot of the other better chances have got wide barriers too. He's not a speed horse so maybe the barrier doesn't mean as much, he was always going to be back in the run.” He is a winner and twice placed from three starts.
Arabian Summer on trial for Group 1
Exciting 3-year-old filly Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}) will resume in Saturday’s G3 Peter Le Grand Stakes. “She went to another level in that big race up there, I thought, finishing alongside a Golden Slipper winner (Lady Of Camelot) at set weights and didn't have a great run in transit,” co-trainer Tony McEvoy said.
Arabian Summer | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“If she runs how I expect, we might look at an Oakleigh Plate for her. She would have to really be impressive at set weights against her own sex on Saturday.”
Steparty to upset CF Orr
Jockey Blaike McDougall thinks Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) is poised for an upset in the G1 CF Orr Stakes on Saturday. “His run was probably better than what it looked, although visually it looked great,” McDougall told racenet.com.au about his last start second in the G2 Australia Stakes.
“He was back following a benchmark horse, well out of the race and had no cart in, he had to bring himself into the race and balance around the corner at The Valley … he wasn't entitled to finish the way he did.
“It just shows you how well he's going and how nice of a horse he is, he had no favours at The Valley and still ran very creditably, from that favourable draw Saturday I'd imagine he'll have the run of the race.”
Firefighter Cadzow has Listed runner
Country trainer Lindsay Cadzow will run Stormsarrived (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) in Saturday's Listed Premier's Plate at Morphettville and if she wins, it’ll be a nice reward for all the volunteer work he’s done fighting fires lately. “I'm a volunteer in my local brigade, it's just something we do in the country,” Cadzow told racing.com.
“It (the fire) is in Victoria, just over the border and we were just waiting for it to come out of the Little Desert National Park and trying to stop it before it burned any grasslands. Yesterday with the heat and the wind the way it was, we didn't know how much of a threat it was going to be. I left the fire ground about midnight last night and it was pretty much settled. There were still a few other parts of it (fire) that were still going pretty strong, so it's not quite under control.
Stormsarrived | Image courtesy of Racing SA
“Our property is 40km south of Bordertown and only about 4km off the Little Dessert National Park, so you always worry when that lights up. Our place isn't a risk over the next couple of days but if the wind changes around to the north, there's a bit that could get going again towards us.”
Stormsarrived won the Strathalbyn Cup last start. “She's started to bounce again now and I thought if we waited another fortnight for the Lord Reims, she might be over the top by then. We thought we'd roll the dice. We're running against some similar horses to what we did the other day and she's in form. Everything is positive about her so we'll keep going while we can.”
Cahill to retire on Saturday
Jockey Michael Cahill, a five-time Group 1 winner will retired after the Gold Coast meeting on Saturday. The 60-year-old has ridden for 45 years. “The Wellington Boot is the biggest 2-year-old race in country NSW and I won it in 1994 for my father Ossie on a filly called Life Begins, that holds a special place in my heart,” Cahill told racenet.com.au.
Michael Cahill
“Dad was a trainer and he had been a successful country jockey and my brother and I were both apprenticed to him. The other race that stands out for me is winning the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Real Surreal in 2013. It meant a lot to me because I regard the Gold Coast as my home track and it was probably my best ride in a big race.
“Everyone wants to talk about Group 1s and they are good too. Don't get me wrong, winning the Stradbroke Handicap was great, that's Queensland iconic race. And winning two Doomben 10,000s was pretty good too. I rode my first winner when I was still at school, on Melbourne Cup day 1980.”
Fast Track applications now open
Applications for the 2025 Thoroughbred Breeders Australia's Fast Track Program are now open and will close March 11. This free, 12-month program offers successful applicants the chance to turn their passion into a profession, all while completing a paid placement in the thoroughbred industry.
BlueBet acquires TopSport
BlueBet have announced the strategic acquisition of Queensland bookmaker TopSport in a reported $15 million deal. “The acquisition of TopSport materially enhances BlueBet's profitability and scale, is highly accretive for our shareholders and brings us closer to our strategic target of market share in Australia,” BlueBet CEO Andrew Menz told racenet.com.au.
“Inorganic growth remains a key opportunity for BlueBet and we have a laser focus and a repeatable M&A model to drive shareholder value by further consolidating the Australian wagering market.
“This transaction is a blueprint for further M&A and delivers a high conversion of Net Gaming Revenue to EBITDA as we leverage our previous investment in our proprietary technology, brand and best-in-class management team.”
Reputation steps up to Listed company
On Thursday, New Zealand’s Waitangi Day, 5-year-old mare Reputation (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) will step out in the Listed NZB Clubs Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes. “It’s a tricky little race, it’s a big trip to get down there but it’s a nice chance for her to get some black-type,” trainer Pam Gerard told Loveracing.nz.
Reputation (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright Images
“We’ve asked a lot of her this season, she’s raced well out of her grade and performed very well. This was probably one of the easier options for her, even though she’s had to travel a long way.”
Derby is main plan for Tuxedo
Trainer Shaune Ritchie has been approached by several slot holders for the NZB Kiwi regarding his 3-year-old gelding Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci), but his plan remains the G1 NZ Derby. “We've had a couple of approaches for the Kiwi but because my client (Barnett) bought him primarily to win the Derby, he's been in racing a long time and it's the blue riband event, we'll have a go at that one first and see how we go,” Ritchie told Loveracing.nz.
“The Derby looks like it's going to be a terrific race this year. Willydoit looks like he's got a stranglehold and he left us behind last time. We've just got to mellow in the early stages of his races - that's the whole key to getting him to run the Derby trip right out.” He runs in Saturday’s G2 Waikato Guineas.
El Vencedor chasing bonus
Stephen Marsh-trained 6-year-old gelding El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) will line-up in the G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes on Saturday where he will be chasing a share of the NZ$500,000 on offer in the Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series. “It is a great series that is worth a lot of money, and he is going so well,” Marsh told Loveracing.nz.
El Vencedor (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright Images
“The field has changed shape (with the withdrawal of Snazzytavi and Orchestral) in the last 48 hours, but it makes it a very open affair now. Once his fitness is up and rolling, he holds his fitness well and races well.” He won the Listed Fulton Family Stakes at his most recent start.
Halford retires from training
Michael Halford, trainer of Group 1 winner Casamento (Ire), is to depart from the Irish training ranks prior to the start of the Flat turf season. Formerly a sole licence holder, he has been training in partnership with Tracey Collins for the last two years.
Michael Halford | Image courtesy of Goffs
Halford, 62, who has been training for four decades and has saddled more than 1,000 winners, announced his impending retirement in a statement on Tuesday. He said, “Over the last 40 years I've been lucky enough to train for some of the world's leading owners and there have been many highlights along the way, with Casamento's Racing Post Trophy victory and Portage's Royal Ascot success among them.
“Being entrusted with horses for the Aga Khan for the best part of 20 years has also been a huge honour and I leave the training ranks with no regrets. I've enjoyed every minute of it and I'm hoping to stay involved in racing but for the moment I've no plans in terms of what is next.”
Citizen Bull tops Triple Crown noms in America
Eclipse Champion Juvenile Citizen Bull (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) tops a list of 373 total 3-year-olds who were made eligible to this year's Triple Crown series, Churchill Downs announced Tuesday.
This year's total represents a 7.8% increase from last year's 346 early nominations. Additionally, a record 69 Japan-based horses, trained by 33 different conditioners, were nominated, which shattered last year's record of 47.
The nominations feature several of the sport's top conditioners, led by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who has 32 horses nominated. Other leading trainers include Bob Baffert (21), Brad Cox (14), Chad Brown (13) and Kenny McPeek (12).
