Gai Waterhouse urges members to vote for no sale of Rosehill
In a statement on Thursday, legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse urged ATC members to vote against the sale of Rosehill racecourse. “Sydney racing cannot afford to lose Rosehill Gardens—a world-class venue that has been the beating heart of Australian racing for generations. To dismantle, such an institution without a realistic deliverable plan, an insult to the rich history and future of our sport.
“Worse still, the so-called $5 billion offer is a 15-year IOU with no guarantees on when or how the money will be paid. This reckless deal leaves the ATC exposed and will cripple its ability to fund racing infrastructure. How can the club plan for the future, when it doesn’t even know when it will be paid?
“The promise of a new venue is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. There was never a real intention to replace Rosehill. No land has been purchased, and by publicly announcing their supposed options, they have only driven up the price—an amateur mistake in any serious negotiation. A decision of this magnitude, impacting an industry that employs over 75,000 Australians, demands strategic planning, foresight, and genuine leadership—none of which have been demonstrated here.
“From the outset, this process has been riddled with secrecy and ambiguity. The resolutions put forward offer no genuine plan, no concrete offer, and no proper explanation. Transparency has been thrown out the window, and in its place, we see only incompetence.
Gai Waterhouse | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I urge the members of the Australian Turf Club to see this farcical proposal for what it is and to vote NO accordingly.”
Gold Coast Turf Club to fund helicopter transport
With the Gold Coast Turf Club’s Jewel meeting moved to clash with Eagle Farm on Saturday, the club is funding a helicopter to fly jockeys between the two meetings. “The Brisbane Racing Club and the Gold Coast Turf Club have got all the logistics sorted,” Racing Queensland acting chief executive Lachlan Murray told racenet.com.au.
“We have got one chopper landing at 2.30pm at Doomben to pick up jockeys, and that will take the first group of five jockeys. That chopper will return and take another group of jockeys from Brisbane to the Gold Coast at 3.45pm. The chopper will go back and forth on two occasions, and that gives more options to the jockeys depending on their riding schedule at Eagle Farm and the Gold Coast.
“Until scratchings are known, the actual bums on seats in the helicopter won't be known until closer to the time.” It is highly unusual for a state to host two metro meetings on the same day.
Idle Flyer set for Kembla Grange Classic
Trainer Matthew Smith thinks Idle Flyer (Dundeel {NZ}) can improve from her last start in Friday’s G3 Kembla Grange Classic. “She just got too far back, out of her ground, and then was wide, but she can bounce back on Friday,” Smith told racingnsw.com.au of her run in the G1 Surround Stakes.
Idle Flyer | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“The mile will be perfect. She will probably even go further. She has drawn a good gate and shouldn’t be back too far on Friday. We will see how she goes at 2000 metres, and that will give us a good idea if she can run further. I can’t fault her, her work has been great and she is spot on.” She holds a nomination for the G1 Australian Oaks.
Shinn to ride Alsephina in Coolmore Classic
Trainers Grant and Alana Williams are thrilled to book jockey Blake Shinn for Alsephina (Star Turn) in the G1 Coolmore Classic on Saturday. Anytime you can get him is a great because he is a gun, and he knows her really well. Once I get through to race day, I can relax and enjoy it because, you know if she is right, he will do the right thing,” Grant Williams told racenet.com.au.
“She got through the run really easily and we have been pretty happy with her since then. Her work on Saturday on the grass was good, and again on Tuesday. It's a perfect draw for her, so we are happy with that.”
Baker’s filly to use Magic Night for Slipper entry
Bjorn Baker will try to qualify 2-year-old filly Strada Varenna (Street Boss {USA}) for the G1 Golden Slipper through Saturday’s G3 Magic Night Stakes. “She’s definitely up to it, no concerns there. I think this is a stepping stone for her to go to bigger things,” jockey Jason Collett told racingnsw.com.au.
Strada Varenna | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“She’s got a heap of natural early speed and is very explosive from the gates. She got across that field easily. She was then able to control that race and sprint away, which was really encouraging because she’d been quick in her trials but hadn’t been let off the bridle yet.”
State Visit ready for Pago Pago
Ciaron Maher will use the G2 Pago Pago Stakes to qualify last-start debutant-winning 2-year-old colt State Visit (Wootton Bassett {GB}) for the G1 Golden Slipper. “He was very impressive in his first run,” Maher told racingnsw.com.au.
“He’s got a, big action and it’s quite a tight track. I thought he might have needed a little bit further to put it all together. But he showed his class and ended up winning that race quite easily. He’s an interesting horse, doing it all on raw ability at the moment, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s able to get away with it.”
Blinkers on for Ornos in Showdown
Trainer Danny O’Brien will add blinkers to 2-year-old colt Ornos (Toronado {Ire}) for Saturday’s The Showdown at Caulfield. “(The Showdown) has always been on the agenda, and he's just kept thriving as we've gone through each week since his first-up win,” O'Brien told racing.com.
“He gets there as well as we can have him. He has raced very well at both starts. He was good at Bendigo. He probably just let the leader get a bit far away from him last start, but he ran a great last 400 metres and 200 metres. He's come through that run well.
Danny O’Brien | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He's going to wear a set of blinkers for the first time in The Showdown, which we think will be a good gear change for him. I think he's a really nice colt, and I think he'll be right in the finish of The Showdown.”
Racing Victoria’s veterinary team passed all 15 runners for The Showdown during their inspections on Thursday.
Satisfied Mugs ready for Jewel
Trainer Georgia Holt is planning a move south from Toowoomba and hopes her star 2-year-old colt, Satisfied Mugs (Invader) can play a part in Saturday’s QTIS Jewel. “One day, I’d love to train in the south,” Holt told racingqueensland.com.au.
“But, for the time being I’m busy with two boys, a six-year-old and a three-year-old. It’s a matter of picking the right time and if we do go I’d love to train at the Sunshine Coast as that’s where I came from when I used to work for Darryl Hansen.
“I ran fourth in this race last year with Time To Prophet, but he missed the start. (Satisfied Mugs) is a gun little horse, but whether he gets 1200 metres is still the big question mark. We think he’ll probably lead, and he’ll give them something to chase.” He has won three of his four starts.
Vauban to step out for Waterhouse and Bott
After a high-profile purchase last year following his second G1 Melbourne Cup failure, Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) is due to have his first start for new trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in Saturday's G3 Sky High Stakes at Rosehill. “I've been really pleased with everything we've seen from him at home in his work, the way he has conducted himself in his trials,” Bott told racing.com.
“He's had a couple of looks at the racetrack on raceday already through an exhibition gallop and also going out to have a walk around the mounting yard on one of the days earlier in the preparation. It all seems to be falling into place for him. He looks to have settled in really well, so I like what we're seeing initially and now he's got to take that to the races and see him under that raceday pressure.
Vauban (Fr) | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He's always going to be a bit excitable before the races, as plenty of the Europeans are coming down, the main thing is also him adapting to the Australian style of racing. He's probably had a different training regime down here in comparison to what he's done previously in his career.
“He's now racing where it's probably a little bit more tactical and that tactical speed is probably a bit more relevant and important, as opposed to some of the races he's been in previously in Europe. That's just the adjustments he's going to have to make now and that's probably the improvements we can see out of the back of his first preparation here.”
Emotional win for Wrathful
Previously trained by the late Sam Kavanagh, Wrathful (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) gave his connections an emotional win at Kensington on Thursday. Now trained by Chris Waller, the imported 5-year-old gelding has won four of his 12 starts.
“I am extremely proud to have trained Wrathful to victory today, and a special congratulations must go to Kelly Fawcett,” Waller wrote on his social media.
First winner for Time To Reign
Juvenile filly Timeless Grace (Time To Reign) won on debut at Wagga for trainer Luke Pepper, to become the first winner for her first season sire. Raced by Darby Racing, she wasn’t offered at auction, although her full brother sold at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $12,000 when bought by Japanoz Racing.
Timeless Grace is the third winner for Mornington Mist (Manhattan Rain), a winning half-sister to Listed winner Expansion (Foxwedge).
Around the nation: Thursday’s highlights
With Belmont in WA abandoned, there were five meetings across Australia on Thursday. At Kensington, 3-year-old filly Meridiana (NZ) (Preferment {NZ}) won on debut while I Am Invincible added a city double with 3-year-old filly Happy Bellie and Written In Code.
At Wagga, Luke Pepper trained a treble led by debutant filly Timeless Grace (Time To Reign), as well as Helluva Soiree (Hellbent) and Rippana (Pariah).
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Fast Track applications extended
Applications for the Thoroughbred Breeders Australia 2025 Fast Track program have been extended until midnight March 24. The program includes 12 months of working on a leading stud farm, learning from some of the best horse people in the world, while studying a Certificate III in Horse Breeding - a nationally recognised formal qualification.
Newcastle raises $45,000 for charity
Newcastle Racecourse International Women’s Day Event on March 7 raised $45,000 for charity. “We have raised a whopping $45,000 for our two local charities, Grow a Star and Jenny’s Place. An incredible effort and no doubt those funds will go to great use,” said Newcastle Racecourse CEO, Duane Dowell in a press release on Thursday.
“We would like to thank all who attended and make special mention to all our corporate sponsors; Hall & Wilcox, Prosperity Advisers, Matthews Jewellers, Newcastle BMW, LJ Hooker Dudley, Peoplefusion, NAB Newcastle and SV Partners for helping Newcastle Racecourse to create another successful IWD event."
Bluff Knoll’s unsung gelding
Local trainer Paul Hunter is happy for his 4-year-old gelding Almighty Class (Playing God) to go under the radar heading into Sunday’s The Bluff Knoll at Albany. “I don’t want to put too much hype on him,” Hunter told racingwa.com.au.
“I think he’s had enough. He had a nice trial and a good blowout. It’s all been pretty good, and we’ll see what happens. He’s up against some smart horses, Rope Them In is a proper horse, and Snowdome is going a lot better, but I think he’s up to it.
Almighty Class | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“We don’t go into these sorts of races if we don’t think we are up to it. He’s at that level where they are the races he has to go in. You only get that rating for a reason. It’s a good race, and I’m happy to be a part of it.” Formerly trained by Hunter’s nephew, Mitchell Pateman, Almighty Class has three wins from 10 starts and hasn’t raced since November but won a trial recently.
Size double puts him ahead in Trainers' Premiership
John Size trained a double on Wednesday night at Happy Valley with Beauty Infinity (Toronado {Ire}) and Beauty Alliance (Starcraft {NZ}) to lead the Trainers' Premiership. “It was lovely, very good,” Size told scmp.com.
“Both horses did the job they were expected to, so that’s all we can hope for. We’ve had a good run the past couple of months and made up ground quickly, so we’ve enjoyed that and now we have to keep winning races to try and maintain our position.”
Purton to miss Hong Kong Derby
Jockey Zac Purton will miss the Hong Kong Derby as his broken toe hasn’t healed enough yet. “I ended up getting some more scans done, I got a second opinion and spoke to some other people in Australia as well,” Purton told scmp.com.
Zac Purton | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“Unfortunately, the union between the bones just hasn’t quite set enough at the moment. Although I feel like I could do it and I went and hopped on the equicizer and it doesn’t really worry me – I feel like I can put up with the pain – I keep getting told that if I was to try and put it under too much pressure at the moment, there’s a chance of it refracturing.
“If it was just up to me, I feel like I could get on a horse, ride, and get on with things, but when I look at the scans and listen to what they’re telling me, I understand. The last thing I want to do is refracture it and end up back where I was. For the sake of waiting one more week, I just have to suck it up.”
American racing records lowest fatalities since records began
The rate of fatal injury in equine athletes for 2024 was 1.11 per 1000 starts, the lowest rate since the creation of the Equine Injury Database (EID) back in 2009, according to the initial data analysis from the 16th year of reporting to the EID. Based on the 2024 data, 99.89 per cent of all flat racing starts at racetracks participating in the EID were completed without a fatality.
Analysis of the EID, released Wednesday by The Jockey Club, was provided by Dr Euan Bennett of the University of Glasgow and Professor Tim Parkin of the University of Bristol, who has been a consultant on the EID since its inception.
“It is remarkable and indeed gratifying to see the sustained improvement in these figures,” Parkin said. “It is a credit to all involved in the industry that such a significant improvement in the risk of fatal injury can be achieved off the back of the establishment of the EID and, of course, alongside lots of hard work from very many parties.”
US$1.1 million Good Magic filly tops Ocala breeze up sale
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training produced an additional two seven-figure juveniles during its second session on Wednesday, with a filly by Good Magic (USA) leading the way when selling for US$1.1 million (AU$1.7 million) to Sean Flanagan.
Lot 486 - Good Magic (USA) x Rose Mine (filly) | Image courtesy of Ocala Breeders' Sales
Through two of three sessions of the March sale, 269 horses have grossed US$39,588,000 (AU$62.7 million) for an average of US$147,167 (AU$233,000) and a median of US$70,000 (AU$111,000). Those numbers are down slightly from the end-of-session figures from last year's March sale.
Potential tariffs to have significant impact on Canadian industry
In anticipation of the 25 per cent blanket tariff on all Canadian goods entering the US expected to be enacted on April 2, the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) has issued an advisory to its members, aiming to provide some clarity to a fluctuating and often confusing situation.
Already this week, the US government enacted a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel and metal imports. “This could very well change at any moment, given whatever the will of the president is,” warned Tom Rooney, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), about the threatened 25 per cent blanket tariffs.
Tom Rooney | Image courtesy of National Thoroughbred Racing Association
“If it really is just to get people to the negotiation table to negotiate something, maybe we'll never see this. But as of right now, April 2 is the drop-dead date for when a tariff could have an impact on buying and selling horses,” Rooney added.
In response to the blanket tariffs, the Canadian government has threatened reciprocal tariffs against approximately US$30-billion worth of imported goods into Canada. The country has already retaliated against tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum imports.
“While the initial round of tariffs did not apply to pure-bred breeding and racing animals, including live horses, it is likely that future rounds may include such tariffs, mirroring those imposed by the US,” the CTHS wrote, about the reciprocal tariffs affecting imports into Canada.
Using information provided by the Canadian Ministry of Agriculture, Agri-Food Canada (which regulates policies and programs linked to Canada's agricultural industries) and the country's border broker network, the CTHS explained that the US tariffs would apply to pure-bred breeding and racehorses “each time they cross the border.”
