Daily News Wrap

Golden Slipper field released

The final field for the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes was released on Tuesday, with 16 runners and two emergencies. Two unbeaten colts, Rivellino (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and King Of Pop (Farnan), feature in the field as does G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Devil Night (Extreme Choice).

Chris Waller-trained colt Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the current favourite with the TAB at $4.60.

Winkers for Wodeton

Trainer Chris Waller will add winkers to G1 Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton for Saturday’s race. “We didn't go with the full blinkers, we've gone the winkers just to help him concentrate, probably more the second half of the race, not the first half, we want to switch him off and relax,” Waller told racenet.com.au.

“The winkers will help that and make him focus the last bit. Now he has had three races under his belt, we've learned he can be ridden that touch much conservative, put the handbrake on, and be able to finish off. We have done that in a couple of his track workouts, and they've been very good so we will ride him more conservative. He's had the three race starts, and comes into it well educated and very fit.”

NZB online yearling catalogue released

New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2025 National Online Yearling Sale catalogue of quality 102 lots is now available to view on Gavelhouse Plus.  “There have been many great, proven racing prospects that have come from this online session,” said NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones in a press release.

“It is also the last chance to purchase a horse eligible for the $3.5 million Karaka Millions Series, and with the 2-year-old race only nine months later, the Online Sale presents buyers with a distinct advantage. Just look at Daylight Robbery, and the thrill he gave his owners in the 2025 edition of the race. He’s a horse we’ll see plenty of in the future.”

Bidding opens on March 28 and closes on April 1.

Inglis HTBA yearling catalogue released

Inglis have released the catalogued for the 2025 HTBA Yearling Sale. “It’s rare that so late in the season will buyers have access to quality yearlings by the likes of Snitzel, Wootton Bassett, Dundeel etc, it really is a huge opportunity for trainers, agents and syndicators to fill their final yearling orders of 2025, with what is effectively their last chance to buy quality at a live auction,” Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch said in a press release.

“The HTBA Sale continually produces outstanding value for buyers who do the work, and this year’s catalogue is arguably as strong as it’s ever been.” There are 299 lots catalogued, with 243 (or 81 per cent of the catalogue) BOBS eligible while others are VOBIS and QTIS qualified.

Within The Law relaxed ahead of Slipper

Trainer Bjorn Baker almost overlooked 2-year-old filly Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}) as she was too relaxed. “She’s just so casual, and early days she was just doing everything okay,” Baker told racingnsw.com.au.

“We were debating whether we would even go to the trials with her, so she’s done a remarkable job to get there. She only did what was asked of her, and you didn’t see any amazing ability until race day.

“She had to win (the Sweet Embrace), and she won well that day, she’s forced her way into the race and I think she deserves her opportunity. Her last win was excellent, she had to do it the hard way by covering ground and hitting the line well. I know that her best furlong of the race will be the last furlong, and that’s the furlong that really does count in the Golden Slipper.”

She is one of seven last start winners in the field.

Plymouth to run in Rosehill Guineas

Trainer Glen Thompson will run 3-year-old gelding Plymouth (The Autumn Sun) in Saturday’s G1 Rosehill Guineas, as a test for that direction ahead of the G1 Australian Derby. “The reason we are going to Sydney, is to give him a run right-handed before the Derby to give him the experience of running that way,” the stable’s racing manger Anthony Feroce told racing.com.

“We've always had a high opinion of him. In the Australian Guineas, he should have finished closer, but he was held up at the wrong time in the straight. I don't think he will have a worry at the distance. If he runs well in the Rosehill Guineas, which is his trial before the Derby, he will then go straight into it.”

Imperatriz honoured with race on Cox Plate day

Moonee Valley Racing Club announced on Tuesday that they will honour Group 1 winner Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) with a race on Cox Plate day. “The existing Open 1000 metres handicap is the race that will be revamped in her name, with prize money increased from $150,000 to $200,000,” said the press release.

Queensland announce team for Apprentice series

Racing Queensland announced their team for the 2025 National Apprentice Race Series. Emily Lang will captain the team, with Rob Thorburn, Olivia Kendal, Cody Collis, and Jace McMurray, all vying to regain the title that Queensland won in 2023. “I’ve obviously been involved with the team for the past two years, and it was a great thrill the first year we were able to take it out and win the whole event,” Lang told racingqueensland.com.au.

“Unfortunately, last year a few things didn’t really go our way, and we didn’t have much luck and ended up coming in last, so obviously we can only get better from there. We’ve got a couple of new faces on the team this year that are quite good riders, so I think we’ve got quite a strong team and very good chance of bouncing back this year.”

Double for Dracarys at Mackay

Queensland sire Dracarys sired a double at Mackay on Tuesday, and enjoyed a second juvenile winner in the past few days. Juvenile filly Draggone Rouge won on debut at the Sunshine Coast on Friday night, and on Tuesday, 2-year-old gelding Hi Frank won at Mackay. Hi Frank was having his third start.

They were joined by 3-year-old filly Querida who also won at Mackay on Tuesday. Dracarys has four yearlings in the upcoming Magic Millions March Yearling Sale.

Excenia wins at Bendigo

Trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s juvenile filly Excenia (Exceed And Excel) won the first at Bendigo on Tuesday by 0.75l for jockey Michael Dee. It was her second start, having run 6th in the Listed VRC TAB Plate on debut. Purchased by Cambridge Stud, McEvoy Mitchell Racing, and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $250,000, Excenia was sold by Newgate Farm.

She is the first foal of G2 Euclase Stakes winner Xilong (Deep Field) who is a daughter of G3 Silver Shadow Stakes winner and Group 1-placed Pane In The Glass (Testa Rossa) from the family of successful sire Gold Brose.

Around the nation: Tuesday’s highlights

With three race meetings on Tuesday, there was a result for readers of the wrap as trainer Blake Ryan won the opener at Hawkesbury with Able Yellow (Justify {USA}) after being mentioned positively here yesterday. At Bendigo, Damian Lane rode a treble on 3-year-old filly Grinzinger Sun (The Autumn Sun), 3-year-old gelding The Grumpy Bear (Brutal {NZ}) and 3-year-old filly Baby Hazel (Extreme Choice).

Soft Love (Pierata), a 3-year-old filly, remained unbeaten in winning her second start at Bendigo. At Mackay, jockey Ashley Butler rode four winners on the seven race card including on 2-year-old gelding Hi Frank (Dracarys).

Former jockey German banned for decade

Jockey Lewis German has been given a 10-year disqualification by Victorian stewards. The Victorian Racing Tribunal issued the penalty on Tuesday for German’s part in an illegal betting scheme. “We are of the view that the appropriate penalty for this offence is a disqualification for a period of 10 years,” VRT chairman Judge John Bowman told racing.com.

“Charge 1 concerns your failure to report to the stewards that you were approached at the race meeting at Towong. You were asked not to ride a particular horse on its merits and were offered a substantial sum of money. You strongly rejected this offer but failed to report the matter to stewards. Stewards must be informed of behaviour such as this. You are suspended for a period of six months, with that penalty to be served wholly concurrently with the penalty in relation to Charge 4.

“Charge 2 concerns your failure to declare on your licence renewal application that you had two betting accounts in your name. This is also regrettable conduct that has the power to impede the work of stewards. You are suspended for three months to be served wholly concurrently with the penalties arising from Charge 4.”

Punter Noah Brash was given a 10-year ban in December 2024 for his role, while jockey valet Jacob Foltynowicz has also been warned off.

“Obviously, I am here today to plead my guilt. I feel that penalties that the stewards are pushing for are, in my opinion, ridiculous,” German said.

“I feel that as an apprentice jockey, it's the first part of your career and it's a learning curve. Everyone makes mistakes. I feel that Mr Brash had manipulated certain people extremely well to the point where I think that the stewards can't even see it. I have never profited from this whole scheme as they call it and none of the bets were actually mine so at the end off the day, I can't see how 15 years for Charge 4 is even relevant when people are getting three weeks for the same thing pretty much if people open their eyes. But that's my opinion.

“I am not here to tell a sad story. I am here to apologise to the racing community and to everyone who trusted in me. I feel like I let them down.”

Racing WA joins International Aftercare

Racing WA has become a member of International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR). “Joining IFAR is an important step in furthering Racing WA’s efforts to ensure racehorses receive the best possible care beyond their racing careers,” Racing WA Welfare Operations Manager Kay Fuller told racingwa.com.au.

“This membership allows us to stay at the forefront of global aftercare initiatives, exchange knowledge with industry leaders across the world and highlight the progress we’ve made here in Western Australia.”

Snazzytavi fights for life

Cambridge Stud’s Group 1-winning mare Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) has been fighting for survival for three weeks. “She remains at Matamata Vets where she has been for the last three or four weeks, and has had an acute episode of laminitis, which is a chronic condition,” Cambridge’s Chief Executive Officer Henry Plumptre told Loveracing.nz.

“They got on to it pretty quickly and engaged the services of a Kentucky vet, Scott Morrison, who is overseeing her rehab and she’s got a very good team at MVS looking after her. She’s got to the point now where she is out in a small paddock for six hours a day, and able to walk around and got specialists shoes on and casts on her front legs for support.

“She is bright and eating and drinking well and it’s now a case of waiting for the inflammation to disappear. What makes her a little bit different to a lot of horses that contract laminitis is that she has an amazing constitution, she’s very tough and her mental state is good. She is doing as well as she can possibly be, she’s very unlikely to return to a racecourse but she is obviously a very valuable breeding prospect.”

Snazzytavi has won nine of her 15 starts and nearly NZ$1 million, and her most recent start was a win in the G1 Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day. She has also won the 2024 G1 Livamol Classic.

Orman gains Derby ride

Jockey James Orman will ride Californiatotality (Zoustar) for Tony Cruz in this Sunday’s Hong Kong Derby, as he makes the most of his short term contract in the region. “It’s great news. I’m just excited to have a Derby ride, for one, and it’s great to have one that looks like he can be a good chance in the race if he can get circumstances to suit,” Orman told scmp.com.

“It looks like anything could win the race and I’m riding for a gun trainer, too, so I can’t wait. He looks like he should run the distance, so that’s a positive, and it looks a fairly open race.”

New stakes winner for American Pharoah in Japan

Advance Pharoah (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) became the 6th Japanese stakes winner for his sire with a 28-1 surprise in the Listed Coral Stakes.

A US$140,000 (AU$220,000) Keeneland September yearling graduate, he becomes the 49th Northern Hemisphere black-type winner for American Pharoah (58th worldwide stakes winner). Advance Pharoah is out of a half-sister to Grade 3 victress Devil By Design (USA) (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}), the dam of GI American Oaks winner Competitionofideas (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) and eight additional scorers.

Decoupling bill passed in Florida, will progress to next step

After nearly two hours of debate and testimony, Florida's House Commerce Committee on Monday passed bill HB 105, which would eliminate a requirement that Florida's two remaining racetracks hold races in order to offer alternative forms of gambling, such as slot machines, card rooms and casinos. The bill, sponsored by Republican Representative Adam Anderson is now positioned to go to the full house.

A similar bill has been filed in the Senate but has yet to be heard in committees.

“Today's vote in the House Commerce Committee was disappointing,” said Lonny Powell, CEO of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA), in a statement. “Let me be clear: The latest changes to HB 105 are not a compromise–they are designed to scuttle Florida's vital Thoroughbred industry. No matter how our opponents try to spin it, this bill decouples live racing from voter-approved gaming requirements. This means fewer races, fewer jobs, and fewer opportunities for the hardworking Floridians devoted to this industry, including the passionate horsemen and women from the farms and barns who testified today.

“If this bill passes, it will ripple across the entire state economy, gutting a major industry and sending Florida jobs and horses to other states and our dollars to Toronto. This industry has helped power Florida's economy for generations, and we must not allow bad special-interest policy to dismantle it.”

Several changes to the original bill were made, including a provision that the tracks must continue to race until 2030 if decoupling passes. If they intend to close the tracks they must give the state a three-year notice and that notice cannot be submitted until July 1, 2027.

Arqana March online sale released

Why Not Again (Fr), the first foal out of the dual Group 1 winner Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), is among the initial entries for the Arqana Online Sale scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 26. The 3-year-old daughter of Siyouni (Fr) finished fourth on her debut at Chantilly last month and is part of a dispersal by trainer Fabrice Chappet to dissolve a partnership.