Stud And Stable Staff Awards short list announced
The 2025 Stud And Stable Staff Awards short list has been announced. “Once again, the quality of nominations for the Awards has been exceptional, with a particularly high standard across all categories,” Chair of the Stud And Stable Staff Awards shortlisting committee Mary Capuano said in a press release.
“Notably, the Newcomer category stood out, as many of the nominees were of school age. Now, the judging panel is diving into the tough job of going through the shortlisted nominees to pick out the two finalists. It's a thorough process because all the nominees are so impressive.”
Mary Capuano | Image courtesy of Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards
The two finalists for each category for the 2025 Stud And Stable Staff Awards will be announced early April and the ceremony to celebrate these finalists will be on Monday, May 26 2025 at QT Hotel Surfers Paradise.
These Awards are proudly sponsored by Victoria Racing Club, Australian Turf Club, Queensland Off-The-Track (QOTT Program), Inglis, Magic Millions, Yulong, Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders and Thoroughbred Breeders NSW.
Moroney memorial service held
A memorial service for trainer Mike Moroney was held in the mounting yard at Flemington on Tuesday. Family, friends, and industry leaders all spoke, reported racing.com. “He was the same person every day,” trainer Chris Waller said.
“He was never jealous of other people's success and he had a great mix of the old and new generation of trainers. A true legend of the sport.”
His funeral is being held in New Zealand next week.
Entries open for NZB Weanling sale
New Zealand Bloodstock announced on Tuesday that entries for NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale are now open, with the Sale set to be held at the Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday June 26.
"With all the positivity surrounding the industry at the moment, it should give breeders great confidence to bring these weanlings to the market," said NZB in a press release.
“The Sale continues to attract strong international and domestic participation, with the opportunity for both end-users and traders given the genuine racing and investment types on offer. There appears to be a lot more synergy between the two codes at the moment, so having both sales on the day should create a bigger crowd, a better atmosphere and hopefully some cross-coding.”
Nathan Berry medal for 2025
The Nathan Berry medal returns for the 12th year in 2025, with points given on a 3-2-1 basis across the 10 Group races in The Championships as well as the Finals of the Country & Provincial Championships, with the winner announced at the completion of Day 2 of The Championships, being April 12.
Tommy Berry tied with James McDonald in the very first edition of the Nathan Berry Medal in 2014. “That was so good to win the Medal that first year with James – it left me with a great feeling, and I felt it was just meant to be,” Berry told racingnsw.com.au.
“And to win it jointly with James was amazing as he is not just one of the world’s best jockeys, but he is truly a great friend.
“Looking through the Honour Roll and the riders to have won the Medal since is remarkable. The Medal I won has a very special place in my heart and sits proudly on the mantelpiece, and my kids are also super proud and love looking at it.”
Godolphin’s trio for The Showdown
Godolphin will have three runners in Saturday’s The Showdown for 2-year-olds being Cloisters (Frosted {USA}), Chergui (Frosted {USA}), and Cryoseisms (Frosted {USA}). “We try to target this race now as we are quite lucky to have the facilities in Melbourne and we breed horses in Victoria, so it's a great initiative for breeders having horses bred in Victoria to run for such good prizemoney,” Godolphin's Melbourne foreman Nacim Dilmi told racing.com.
Willydoit aimed at G1 Australian Derby
Trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy will retain G1 NZ Derby winner Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) until the end of this campaign, rather than have him transferred to Ciaron Maher as was the original plan. They will bring him to Sydney for the G1 Australian Derby. “We will go straight to the Australian Derby now from here, that's the plan at the moment,” Shaun Clotworthy told racenet.com.au.
Willydoit (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“We haven't quite finalised when he'd come over, or if he is definitely going to be in the Derby, but he's pulled up well and so we will give him three or four days in the paddock and have a look at him. If we are happy with him in the next week or so, we will get over there maybe a week before the Derby.” The last two horses to win the NZ Derby/AJC Derby double were Mongolian Khan in 2015 and Bonecrusher (NZ) (Pag Asa) in 1986.
Wagering benefit for Queensland
Racing Queensland are hoping for a wagering benefit with two metro meetings on Saturday. “It's been an extremely challenging start to the year for the Gold Coast Turf Club,” Racing Queensland acting chief executive Lachlan Murray told racenet.com.au.
“Whilst we appreciate some trainers may have preferred us to reschedule the Jewel to under lights at the Gold Coast, it's imperative that we also factor in the feedback from our clubs and the increase on turnover that will be materialised on Saturday.
“Punters are habitual, and if we were to reschedule the Jewel to Friday night, we'd expect turnover to be close to halved. That was certainly the case during the Magic Millions, and with the wagering market continuing to tighten, it's important that we're making commercial decisions that benefit the entire industry.”
Lady Of Camelot to run in G1 Coolmore Classic
Co-trainer Adrian Bott will run 3-year-old filly Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) in the G1 Coolmore Classic. “Lady Of Camelot has come through her run in the Surround Stakes really well,” Bott told racenet.com.au.
“She is just one of those honest fillies who shows up every time and there was a lot to like about her run in the Surround (when second). I thought she was very brave and ran out the 1400 metres very strongly. She will take her place in the Coolmore, it looks a lovely race for her.”
Lady Of Camelot | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Guineas for Tardelli
Stephen Marsh-trained 3-year-old colt Tardelli (I Am Invincible) will head to the G2 Wellington Guineas in 10 days after his strong win on Champions Day last Saturday. “He’ll got to the Wellington Guineas and then we’ll reassess things, there’s a small chance he could go to Brisbane if he went particularly well at Trentham,” bloodstock agent Bruce Perry on behalf of part-owner Lib Petagna.
“A race like the Fred Best Classic could suit him, otherwise there are plenty of nice 1400-metre or mile races here and then possibly Australia later on. We bought him as a potential stallion prospect, but unfortunately nothing quite went right when he was in Australia.
Tardelli | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“He is a very good-looking horse and Stephen (Marsh) and Michael McNab were adamant after he ran third in the Levin Classic that he is a Group 1 horse and they’re still of that opinion. Because things didn’t go quite right early, we missed a few of those opportunities. The plan is to get a foundation stallion at some point for Elsdon and it would be wonderful it was one we’ve been involved with from day one.” Tardelli is out of unraced mare Pierro Moss (Pierro), a daughter of Listed winner Upon This Rock (Fastnet Rock).
Magic Time for TJ Smith
Trainer Grahame Begg will run Magic Time (Hellbent) in the G1 TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick next. “I had a good think about it over the weekend and what the right way to go was,” Begg told racing.com.
“You could get a very wet track at Randwick and she's got a good record at Randwick. She only got beaten just over a length last year in the T.J. Smith when Chain Of Lightning won it. I just don't know that the field is going to be that great outside of Joliestar.”
New CEO for VGCCC
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has appointed Suzy Neilan as CEO. She begins on April 1, and previously was the acting CEO at Environment Protection Authority Victoria. “Suzy’s commitment to achieving regulatory outcomes that benefit Victorians makes her a strong leader to support the Commission and head the agency’s executive leadership team,” VGCCC chair, Chris O’Neill, said in a press release.
Around the Nation: Tuesday’s highlights
With three of the four meetings in Australia on Tuesday abandoned, only Goulburn was available to racing fans. Brutal (NZ) 3-year-old filly Xcessive Force took her record to two wins from three starts, while 3-year-old gelding Orthies (Pierata) won on debut. Widden Stud’s Lot 140 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale got a pedigree update when the yearling filly’s 3-year-old full sister Soho Artist (Trapeze Artist) won, taking her record to two wins from six starts.
Lofty goals for expensive debutant
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will run 2-year-old colt Hostility (I Am Invincible) in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes if he runs well in his debut on Wednesday. “He has been faultless here at home, touch wood it can continue on Wednesday,” Bergerson told Loveracing.nz.
“He has got a fantastic temperament, he is a very laidback customer, and his trials have been super. If he was to run well, we could potentially have a look at the Manawatu Sires’ with him.”
Hostility as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Hostility topped the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at NZ$1.65 million when purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis from Kiltannon Stables’ draft. He is the third foal of Group 1 winner Shillelagh (NZ) (Savabeel) whose first foal is G3 Mufhasa Stakes-placed Irish Legacy (I Am Invincible).
Heart And Spirit set for Jewel
Stuart Kendrick has backed Heart And Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) to show her talent in Saturday’s QTIS 3YO Jewel. “She is a really nice little filly Heart And Spirit,” Kendrick told racingqueensland.com.au.
“She unfortunately missed the Prelude last month because she had a cut on her leg and we had to miss that. She had a jump-out since then and will get there for the 3-year-old.”
Quokka slot for Rope Them In
Trainer Steve Wolfe has gained a slot in The Quokka for his The Bluff Knoll runner Rope Them In (Playing God). The Bluff Knoll runs at Albany on Sunday. “It’s very exciting for us and we’re privileged to have the Tabtouch slot,” Wolfe told racingwa.com.au.
“They rang about four weeks ago when we were sniffing around and didn’t get a lot of interest. We were pretty lucky Tabtouch picked our horse, they had several choices and it was pretty much finalised last week. It’s great for Albany and it’s great to be able to represent the slot and town with a good horse, I hope he can do us proud.”
Rope Them In | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Engelbrecht-Bresges calls for review of HKIS
Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges will conduct a review of the Hong Kong International Sale after the sale results were ‘disappointing’ with the average purchase price dropping 9 per cent. “I’m especially disappointed about the number of horses who had to be withdrawn. This is a number which, in my view, needs a complete review,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges.
Six of the 21 lots were withdrawn. “When you look statistically, you would have to expect that 25 per cent, maybe 30 per cent, will not make it. But we are way beyond that, so you have to factor in the whole chain – is it from the buying, do we always buy the right pedigrees, what is the preparation?
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“With the (Privately Purchased) PP bonuses, some people say ‘I would have bought at the auction before but I pay now maybe even HK$1 million more, I buy a PP and I get another HK$1.5 million’.
“There was not enough depth (of buyers) because a lot of times there was not a really strong underbidder. So that is a demand issue besides a supply issue. We normally have a lot of mainland buyers. This year we had only one, so we have to look at everything.
The market has changed and when the market changes, you have to see if what you do is still the right thing to do and you have to think how you put a value proposition there. So, it’s one thing when you get the withdrawal of horses, which definitely makes it not very sustainable, but the other one is to step back and say how the market has changed. You need to make an analysis and see what you do.”
Talents Ambition aiming for Derby run
Trainer Mark Newnham’s 4-year-old gelding Talents Ambition (Into Mischief {USA}) runs at Happy Valley on Wednesday in a last attempt to make the Hong Kong Derby field. “He does need some more points to get into the Derby – they’re telling me 80 might not be good enough to get him into the Derby,” Newnham told scmp.com.
Talents Ambition | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He was beaten less than three lengths in the Classic Mile, he didn’t get a start in the Classic Cup and he was in the wrong position – ridden too close – (when seventh in a Class Three 2000-metre race last start), so this is our last chance to improve his rating. He seems to draw those regularly but he’s a backmarker. There doesn’t look to be a lot of pace in that race on first look but he’ll go back anyway because that’s how he’s got to be ridden.
“I think he’s easily capable on the turf and he deserves his chance to give himself the opportunity to run in the Derby.”
Keeneland Director Amy Gregory retires
The longtime Director of Communications at Keeneland, Amy Gregory, has announced her retirement from the Kentucky icon effective June 1, the track shared via press release Monday afternoon. “It's been a privilege to serve Keeneland for nearly 20 years and to work in this wonderful sport throughout my 45-year career,” Gregory said.
“Being part of this amazing Keeneland team was my dream job, and I'm proud of my contributions to Keeneland's legacy and its leadership position in the Thoroughbred industry. Racing has always been my passion, and I'm so grateful for my many friends and colleagues, the incredible opportunities that have come my way and the lifelong memories I have made.”
Flood Zone joins Wathnan’s Dubai team
G3 Gotham Stakes winner Flood Zone (USA) (Frosted {USA}) will reportedly be routed to the April 5 G2 UAE Derby at Meydan, according to a post on X from DRF's Marcus Hersh. Trainer Brad Cox had also been considering the March 29 GI Florida Derby and the April 5 G2 Wood Memorial Stakes for Flood Zone, who made his first start for the Cox barn in the Gotham after he was purchased privately by Wathnan Racing.
Flood Zone (USA) | Image courtesy of Kentucky Derby
Included on Wathnan's team for the April 5 Dubai World Cup card is another private purchase in Cagliostro (USA) (Upstart {USA}), who is a candidate for the G2 Godolphin Mile, and recent GI Santa Anita Handicap third Hit Show (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}), whose connections have accepted an invitation to the G1 Dubai World Cup.
