Vale Bernadette Payne
The Payne family confirmed the death of their sister Bernadette aged 51 on Tuesday. “It is with deep sadness that we confirm that Bernadette has passed away,” the Payne family's statement read.
“She had a very difficult and challenging time in recent years and we find solace in the hope that she is now at peace. She was loved by many throughout her life. We ask that our family's privacy is respected at this time. Thank you.”
Anthony Cummings withdraws appeal to keep licence
The training career of Anthony Cummings is effectively over with the Group 1 winning trainer officially withdrawing his appeal against Racing NSW’s decision to remove his licence. “On 4 March 2025 I was advised that the Appellant (Cummings) now seeks leave to withdraw his appeal. That application is not opposed by the Respondent (Racing NSW),” wrote the Honourable GJ Bellew SC in his decision on the matter.
Anthony Cummings | Image courtesy of Inglis
Cyclone Alfred puts Jewel meeting at risk
The arrival of Cyclone Alfred off the coast of Queensland may put the QTIS Jewel meeting at the Gold Coast on Saturday at risk. On current predictions, the cyclone is due to make landfall on Wednesday evening with Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates warning Gold Coast residents to have a plan in place. Racing Queensland is expected to make a decision by Wednesday evening with regards to the Jewel meeting.
“We are a couple of kms away from the beach, the latest model has it (the cyclone) crossing between here (Sunshine Coast) and Brisbane,” trainer Liam Birchley told racenet.com.au.
“The horses are reasonably secure, we are taking measures, we are locking the barn doors, bringing anything inside that's outside and that's capable of ending up over the fence. We are clearing drains and all that sort of thing.”
Kiwi winner granted entry into Golden Eagle
Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys has granted the winner of the NZB Kiwi slot race for 3-year-olds automatic entry into the Golden Eagle for 4-year-olds. “The last couple of times we have had some controversy with who gets into the Golden Eagle because it is so competitive, it's attracted horses from around the world,” V'landys told racenet.com.au.
“It's going to be harder and harder to get into the race. Having an automatic entry to the Golden Eagle is a real bonus for the (Kiwi) race.” With the Kiwi run this Saturday, this gives horses approximately six months to prepare for the Golden Eagle, held in the spring.
Peter V’landys | Image courtesy of The Australian
“It's a great initiative, it's an aspirational race and it's going to get its own charisma and attract the younger audience. It should generate significant publicity that normal race meetings don't. The transformation of New Zealand racing is unbelievable, they have gone from really being at rock bottom to now being dynamic. Hopefully this can really take racing in New Zealand to another level.”
Lucy In The Sky set for G1 Sistema Stakes
The first juvenile Group 1 of the New Zealand season is on Saturday, and trainer Tony Pike has Lucy In The Sky (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) ready. “She’s bounced through her run very well, she worked super this morning (Tuesday),” Pike told Loveracing.nz.
Lucy In The Sky (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“She’s going into it only off one trial and one raceday start, but it was a smart field last-start and she couldn’t have been more impressive. If she improves off that, our 2-year-old’s probably lack a little bit of depth this year, so even though it’s a big jump-up in class for her, she’s very progressive and deserves her chance.” She won her only start.
Tuxedo perfect heading to Derby
Trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray have Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) perfect for Saturday’s G1 NZ Derby. “It’s getting harder to find the negatives around him, I suppose if you’re being picky then the traditional lead-up would have been the Avondale Guineas,” Ritchie told Loveracing.nz.
“It’s not like it’s not doable, I understand it’s against normal things, but we felt he didn’t need another run on a hard track at Ellerslie two weeks before the Derby when he’d already excelled in the Waikato Guineas. We’re very happy with how he’s come through everything, and he went up to Ellerslie yesterday (Monday) for a gallop and that has topped him off beautifully.”
Australian targets for Orchestral
Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have triple Group 1 winner Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) on song for Saturday’s G1 Bonecrusher NZ Stakes. “We really feel that we have got her peaking at the right time, and it is going to be quite exciting to see her back over 2000 metres for the first time this preparation at a track she loves so much and has had so much success at,” Wellwood told Loveracing.nz.
Orchestral (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“Clearly El Vencedor is going to be very hard to beat, he is at the top of his game, but if we get a fair run in transit, they are going to have a hell of a fight. There are a number of options, the Australian Cup, Tancred, and Ranvet, but the Tancred is probably number one at this stage. It would be lovely to pick-up a Group 1 as an older horse over there, and we always love getting over there and competing.”
Lindsay Park juveniles are flying
Trainers Ben, Will, and JD Hayes have won 10 juvenile races this season, with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Bjorn Baker and Tony Gollan all with seven each, and they have a strong team for Saturday led by Gin Spirit (Spirit Of Boom). “It's something that we've always prided ourselves on, is getting horses up early and running,” Ben Hayes told racing.com.
“We've had a great season this year with a lot of nice 2-year-olds that have performed on the track, so to get 10 winners from not that many runners is a really good result.”
Jimmysstar for William Reid next
Group 1 sprinter Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) will stick to the plan with the G1 William Reid Stakes next. “You can talk yourself into whatever you like but he was dynamic fresh in easily the best run of his career,” trainer Ciaron Maher told racing.com.
Jimmysstar (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“His prep will be interesting where he can get to, he could just cement himself as a proper weight-for-age sprinter hopefully. I thought just given how well he went first-up and I thought going to a race like the William Reid would be ideal.”
Penrod pushes on to Jewel
Top trainer David Vandyke will continue on to the QTIS 2YO Jewel with 2-year-old colt Penrod (Better Than Ready) despite a poor showing last start. “He began ok but he just did not muster pace as I would have expected,” Vandyke told racingqueensland.com.au.
“He got a bit lost back in the field and was over racing with his head up and copped a check. It was messy so I think it was a bit of a forget run. He pulled up well, which is the main thing.”
Baker star's brother to step up on Wednesday
Bjorn Baker-trained 4-year-old gelding Istolea Merc (Winning Rupert) is a full brother to Group 3 winner Iowna Merc, and will run at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. “They’ve both taken a bit of time,” Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton told racingnsw.com.au.
Istolea Merc | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He hasn’t been the most straightforward but he’s improving and improved out of sight this preparation. Mentally and physically he’s so much better every time. He’s a lot stronger than Iowna Merc, he’s probably physically a better type. He’s taking each step in his stride and deserves a chance on Wednesday.”
West Australia announces apprentice team
Western Australian Racing have announced their team for the 2025 National Apprentice Race Series (NARS). Luke Campbell will captain the team. Rosie Mahony and Zephen Johnston-Porter return for another year, while Chanel Cooper makes her debut. Last year, WA finished third.
“We’ve selected a strong team this year, and all but Chanel have competed in NARS before, so they’re familiar with the format. Chanel is a highly skilled rider, and we’re confident she’ll perform well in the Northern Territory. It’s an exciting chance for her at this stage in her apprenticeship,” Racing WA Racing Training Manager Sharyn Lancaster told racingwa.com.au.
"We select the team based on who we believe will perform best in each state, giving us the strongest chance of success in the series. Our apprentices have incredible talent, and this national competition is a fantastic opportunity to showcase their skills on a broader stage."
Racing Tasmania announce welfare grants
Racing Tasmania’s Racing Animal Welfare Grants Program will allocate $100,000 for the welfare of racing animals, split between health research, infrastructure, and projects which enhance welfare standards.
Applications can be made through the tasracing.com.au website.
Gosford pleased with return to racing
The upgraded Gosford track had their first meeting on February 22 and the surface has held up well. “We had a couple of teething issues we had to work through but nothing major,” Gosford Race Club CEO Daniel Lacey told racingnsw.com.au on Tuesday.
“On that home turn where they always went only two or three wide they have no problem coming wider on the turn so from that regard it makes the track bigger. Even though physically we haven’t made the track bigger it gives them a more raceable area.
Daniel Lacey | Image courtesy of The Entertainment Grounds
“Unfortunately for us, every time you hear people talk about Gosford, especially in the lead up to The Coast, it’s that it’s a tighter track and you’ve got to be near the front and it’s difficult if you’re out wide. That was the perception, right or wrong, but we had to address it.” Their next meeting is the Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier on March 15.
Purton confident he’ll be back for Derby Day
Champion jockey Zac Purton believes his broken big toe will be healed in time for Derby Day. I see the specialist again tomorrow just for a check up to make sure everything is in order, which I don’t see why it wouldn’t be,” Purton told scmp.com.
“Then I get the pins out next Monday, wait a couple of days for it to settle then we’ll get back on with things. I think the Derby should be no problem. I’ve been going to the gym and the physio and it feels pretty good, so I can’t see any reason I won’t be back Derby Day. There’s not much there (in the way of rides) so I could be back Derby Day but the way things are going I might be watching it from the room.”
Jockey Vincent Ho faces a much longer recovery time as he heals from a head injury as well as minor shoulder and neck fractures sustained in a race fall on February 9.
HKJC proposes to run basketball betting
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has lodged a proposal with the government to run betting on basketball to counter the illegal betting on the sport. “The proposal is with them and we have to see how they want to progress it. It will be interesting,” CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges told scmp.com.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“Now, they lead and we only can follow because it’s a policy decision. They asked us to give them a proposal and we did. It is good that it has been recognised that there is obviously a significant illegal gambling problem.” It is estimated that illegal betting on basketball turned over between HK$70 billion (AU$14.9 billion) and HK$90 billion on basketball last year, which would result in up to HK$2 billion (AU$410 million) in taxes for the government.
Darby Dan Farm increase terms for breeders
Darby Dan Farm has unveiled a Breeder Reassurance Plan which will provide breeders a 60-day window of financial security to provide insurance should a foal face an unforeseen challenge during its first two months. Instead of the standard 48-hour stand-and-nurse payment deadline after the birth of a live foal, Darby Dan will extend the payment window by 60 days, specifically protecting breeders in the unfortunate event of foal mortality within that period. The time frame aligns with the foal's most delicate stage of development.
Stuart Fitzgibbon | Image courtesy of Darby Dan Farm
“We recognize the inherent risks and anxieties that breeders face, particularly in those critical first 60 days of a foal's life,” said Darby Dan's stallion director Stuart Fitzgibbon. “This plan isn't simply about extending payment deadlines, it's about providing a safety net, a buffer against the financial burden that can accompany the loss of a foal. We are essentially sharing the risk with our breeders during this crucial window.”
New training partnership in France
The arrival of March has ushered in an exciting new training partnership in Chantilly with Nicolas Clement, one of the most respected members of the French training ranks, teaming up with Dutch-born Frauke Hermans.
Widely known by the nickname Flo, Hermans, 30, has been Clement's assistant for the past five seasons, having previously worked in various English stables, including for Roger Varian in Newmarket, and also in Dubai.
“It has always been my dream to train so Nicolas pushed me to get my trainer's licence and to get started,” she told TDN Europe. “And I always wanted to train in France as I think it's the best country to set up.”
Pletcher accepts seven-day suspension
Trainer Todd Pletcher has accepted a seven-day suspension imposed by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit after a horse from his barn tested positive for betamethasone.
“After learning of the allegation, Todd conducted an internal investigation and discovered he and his team followed all timelines and protocols as laid out by HISA,” Pletcher's attorney Drew Mollica said. “Despite this fact, the test seems to show a trace amount was discovered in the system of the horse, and rather than litigate, Todd made the prudent choice to accept the penalty and move on, putting this matter behind him and getting on with the business of the Triple Crown trail.”
Todd Pletcher | Image courtesy of West Point Thoroughbred
The Pletcher-trained Vassimo (USA) (Nyquist {USA}) tested positive for the drug, a long-acting corticosteroid with immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties, after breaking his maiden December 14 at Gulfstream Park. The 3-year-old colt returned to win a Tampa Bay Downs allowance January 17 and was most recently fourth in the GII Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds.
