Windsor Park Stud statement on Schick family
Windsor Park Stud made the following statement on their social media on Tuesday following the tragic accident on Sunday which resulted in the death of 10-year-old Jimmy Schick and the hospitalisation of several other people. “The Schick family and Windsor Park team express their sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the outpouring of love, support and concern during this most difficult of times.
“In incredibly sad circumstances, the family kindly asks for privacy as they come to terms with the devastating loss of their dearly loved Jimmy.
“Rodney is receiving the best possible care from the dedicated team in the Intensive Care Unit at Waikato Hospital and further updates will be shared as information becomes available. He is in a stable condition with a long recovery expected. Oli is recovering well with support from the amazing team in the children’s ward.
“We appreciate everything that has been provided and sent to the family - we are well supported and catered for at this stage. Thank you for your understanding and support.”
She’s A Dealer aimed at Oaks
Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will take 3-year-old filly She’s A Dealer (NZ) (Ace High) to Sydney on the way to the G1 Queensland Oaks. “She will fly over to Sydney next Sunday and race on May 24 in a Benchmark 72 for 3-year-olds over 1800 metres,” Wellwood told Loveracing.nz.
She's A Dealer (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“If she can win or run very well, we hope to head up to Brisbane for the Queensland Oaks. That’s two weeks later so it’s the perfect progression for her. Obviously, the Oaks is a bit of a moving target to try and work out whether she’ll get in. It’s done on prizemoney and we don’t know what else will be there, but at this stage she’ll probably have to win to get in.” She has won two of her three starts.
Veight ready for Brisbane outings
The decision to geld Group 1 winner Veight (Grunt {NZ}) wasn’t easy but co-trainer Tony McEvoy hopes it’ll make him a better racehorse. “It wasn't an ideal decision to have to make, but we thought it was in the best interest of the horse,” McEvoy told racingqueensland.com.au.
Tony McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image is Everything
He will resume in Saturday’s G1 Doomben 10,000, then head to the G1 Kingsford-Smith Stakes before the G1 Stradbroke. “He's not as forward as I would hope, but the run will improve him. He's a very good horse, so he'll match it with them, provided he gets conditions to suit, but if the ground's wet, he'll struggle.”
Sunshine In Paris might train on
Fairway Thoroughbreds are contemplating setting their mare Sunshine In Paris (Invader) for their own The Everest slot next season. She runs in the G1 Doomben 10,000 on Saturday. “We will decide after the Doomben 10,000,” said John Camilleri.
Sunshine In Paris | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“But the feeling from Annabel and Rob (Archibald) is the mare is lightly-raced and she is going really well. At this stage, we would like to have another crack at The Everest so we are leaning towards going for another year.”
Beers follow Jenni north
The Brisbane Racing Club are pitching the G1 Doomben Cup as a clash between Horse Of The Year Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and local hero Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) and will shout the bar if either wins in 10 days time. “Antino's outstanding win in the Hollindale Stakes has generated enormous excitement ahead of the Doomben Cup on Saturday week,” BRC chief executive Karl deKroo told racenet.com.au.
“It sets up an epic clash between Antino, who as the state's reigning Horse of the Year is really the pride of Queensland, and one of the nation's most popular horses in Pride Of Jenni. We're thrilled to work with our great partners at XXXX to bring a bit of added fun to Doomben Cup Day and if either Antino or Pride Of Jenni wins, every adult on course will receive a free XXXX on us.
“It is a uniquely Queensland way to celebrate what should be an epic Doomben Cup and it is even more fitting given the great friendship between trainers Tony Gollan and Ciaron Maher. Both are exceptional horsemen and both love a beer.”
Ryan to step down as Domeland trainer
Sara Ryan will step down as head trainer for Domeland after six years with the company, and will set up as a public trainer. Head trainer for the last two and a half years, she won 50 races for Domeland including with Attractable (I Am Invincible) in the The Big Dance and Matcha Latte (Maurice {Jpn}) in the Provincial-Midway Championships Final. “Sara has been instrumental to Domeland's success on the racetrack over the past few seasons and I am grateful for the dedication she brought to the role,” Domeland's managing director King Cheng told racenet.com.au.
“Sara's work has laid a strong foundation for the future. We're proud of what she's accomplished and excited about what's ahead for both her and Domeland. We remain fully committed to our private training model and will continue to have the same number of horses in training, operating from our dual locations (Kulnura and Wyong) on the Central Coast.”
Burn The Sky to debut for O’Shea/Charlton
Trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton will debut 2-year-old filly Burn The Sky (Zoustar) at Kensington on Wednesday, and she holds a nomination for the G1 JJ Atkins Plate. “She’s a big rangy filly, definitely her best days will be her 3-year-old season,” Charlton told racingnsw.com.au.
Burn The Sky as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“We had her in at Gosford but being a big filly on a tight turning track over 1200 metres we didn’t think was in her best interests and 1400 metres is a more than suitable kick off point for her. Her trials have been more than acceptable and we’re looking forward to getting her started in what looks a competitive race.”
Giga Kick to head to Brisbane
Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) has come through his third in the G1 Goodwood well and will head to the G1 Kingsford-Smith Stakes next. “He ate up last night and I took him to the beach this morning,” trainer Clayton Douglas told racing.com.
Clayton Douglas | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“His recovery post-race was good and I think he is where he needs to be for the Kingsford-Smith in a few weeks. You couldn't be unhappy with the horse, I thought he performed quite well … stepping up to 1300 metres will really suit too. I thought it was a really good run but just from the draw felt the barrier cost us, we had to get back to find cover and probably ended up too far back and that was probably telling in the end.”
Brian J Smith announces retirement
Brisbane trainer Brian J Smith will retire at the end of the season, with many locals paying tribute to the trainer. “He has a great mind and has a great memory. I love him to death and we will sadly miss him when he retires. He is always good for a joke and is a great bloke,” trainer Kelly Schweida told racingqueensland.com.au.
“It instantly brings a smile to my face when I think of BJ because he is very witty and always has a smart comment to make,” leading local hoop Cejay Graham said.
“He is a true horseman of racing and knows what he is talking about. If he tells you that your ride has a chance, you can guarantee that the horse will be spot on. If I was a young trainer, I would be picking his brain as he is a very knowledgeable man,” jockey Robbie Fradd said.
Among those he trained was globe travelling five-time Group 1 winner Balmerino (NZ) (Trictrac {Fr}) who was second in the G1 Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe, and G1 Australian Oaks winner Circles Of Gold (Marscay) who later went on to amazing broodmare success as the dam of Group 1 winners Elvstroem and Haradasun, as well as stakes placed Hveger (Danehill {USA}) who is the dam of Group 1 winners Highland Reel (Ire) and Cape Of Good Hope (Ire), as well as Group winners Idaho (Ire) and Nobel Prize (Ire), all by Galileo (Ire).
Around the nation: Tuesday’s highlights
Four meetings gave racing fans plenty to watch on Tuesday with jockey Ben Looker nabbing a treble at Taree. Pierata sired a double at Moe with 3-year-olds Big Big Knight and Sun Setting. At Rockhampton, Dundeel (NZ) sired a double with 3-year-olds Neptune Legend and Alfa Dundee.
VRC announces membership change
All Melbourne Cup winning trainers and jockeys will be given honourary life membership by the Victoria Racing Club, the club announced on Tuesday. “We're really excited about this announcement. We think it's a special thing and are delighted with the opportunity to be able to do this,” said VRC Chairman Neil Wilson.
“Trainers and jockeys that have won the Lexus Melbourne Cup will be awarded an honourary membership for the rest of their life. An honourary member is someone we recognise for their contribution to the club and in this case very much to the club but also to the greatest race in Australia.
“We're preparing a special representation of their memberships, there will be a membership badge that will recognise that they're an extra special member that has won the Lexus Melbourne Cup as a jockey or a trainer.
“There will be a special presentation and it follows on from last year when we put up honour boards that showed the winners from the very beginning of the first Melbourne Cup all the way right through to last year's Melbourne Cup when the words were actually inscribed on the day.”
$10 million Winx filly progressing
With Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) not debuting until June of her juvenile season, it seemed unlikely that we would see her daughter Quinceanera (Pierro) before then, and trainer Chris Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth agrees. “She's coming along nicely,” Duckworth told racing.com.
“She went to the barriers last week (for barrier education), so she's still learning her craft. Ben Cadden rides her most days, who obviously rode Winx (in trackwork). She galloped again this morning and she seems to be taking it all in her stride.
Quinceanera as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We haven't really put her under much pressure at all yet, so in terms of where she measures up, we're not to know but she has done everything that we've asked of her and that's all that we can ask for at this stage.
“Look, she obviously comes with the price tag, let alone the pedigree, so she won't be going to the trials unless she's absolutely right to trial and trial well. It's only the fair and right thing to do by her and by Winx herself. So we'll just take things along slowly.”
Autridge runners in memorial race
Trainer Stephen Autridge will have two runners in Wednesday’s Toby Autridge Memorial, honouring his late brother who died three years ago. “The first time we ran this race it was about the same date as his passing, but a changed date doesn’t matter, it’s great,” Autridge said.
“It’s good to have it at Matamata because everyone here knew him well. We’ll keep his name out there.” His runners are Afterglo (NZ) (Ardrossan) who won on debut last start, and Miriam (NZ) (Super Seth).
Dubai Honour confirmed for Hong Kong Group 1
Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai) will head to Hong Kong for the G1 Champions & Chater Cup where he faces potentially the biggest field in two decades, headlined by local star Voyage Bubble (Deep Field). G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup winner Bundle Award (Shamus Award) is in the nominations for Hong Kong's last Group 1 of the season, as is Hong Kong Derby winner Cap Ferrat (Snitzel).
Dubai Honour (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Badel backing Californiatotality
Jockey Alex Badel thinks Californiatotality (Zoustar) can transfer his Sha Tin form to Happy Valley on Wednesday night. “He ran a really good race at Sha Tin last time and finished off very strongly. That form looks strong and he ran well at the Valley in January on his only visit there this season,” Badel told scmp.com.
“He is only a 4-year-old so I think he can rate even higher yet – we have a nice draw to work with and he is on a lovely racing weight, too. It’s a competitive race but I’m expecting him to run a very big race.”
Charlie Fellowes to appeal French 1000 Guineas
Charlie Fellowes confirmed to The Sun on Monday that connections of Shes Perfect (Ire), first past the post in Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, plan to appeal her subsequent demotion by the stewards.
The daughter of Sioux Nation (USA) sparked jubilant scenes at ParisLongchamp when holding off Zarigana (GB) by a nose in Sunday's Classic, but that elation soon turned to despair for Fellowes and the almost 60 syndicate owners in attendance when the outcome of the stewards' enquiry was announced.
Speaking to the Nick Luck Daily Podcast on Monday, before later confirming his intention to appeal, Fellowes did not dispute the view of the stewards that Shes Perfect had caused interference to Zarigana when drifting left in the straight. Instead, the basis of any future appeal is likely to focus on the actions of jockey Mickael Barzalona, who appeared to strike Zarigana “12 times” with his hand after dropping his whip in the straight.
“One thing that I have a problem with, and that we will raise in an appeal, if it gets to that, is the way that Zarigana was ridden after the interference,” said Fellowes.
“In France, four hits is the limit, anything between five and nine is a ban and a fine, and anything over nine is disqualification. If they decide that the hand counts as hitting a horse, which I believe it does, then she should be disqualified. He wasn't slapping the horse down the neck to give it a pat and say well done. He was slapping it down the neck to get her to go faster and I don't believe that is allowed.
“They're in danger of setting a precedent here that they don't want. Nothing was said on the day and that's where I want clarification. I don't want clarification on the interference or anything like that. That is not going to get overturned. I agree that there was interference and I agree that the margin at the line was incredibly small. I don't have a problem with that. What I'm not sure about is the way that their filly was ridden from the moment Mickael dropped his stick to the winning line.”
South Africa’s Avontuur Estate closes
One of South Africa’s best stud farms Avontuur Estate announced they were closing this week, with fellow South African farm Ridgemont purchasing all their mares and progeny. “Yes, it’s the end of the road for the stud,” Bloodstock manager Pippa Mickleburgh told SAHorseracing.com when announcing the end of two decades at the helm.
“We had a great run, but it’s time now for a new chapter — for the horses and for me personally. The owners didn’t want a dispersal sale. It was important to them, and to me, that the horses go on in good hands — and Ridgemont is absolutely the right place for them.”
Among the many Group 1 winners bred by Avontuur Estate are dual Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle (Saf) (Greys Inn {USA}), while they stood breed-shaping sire Var (USA) who is the damsire of Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun). “Var changed everything. He wasn’t just fast — he stamped his foals, and you still see his impact now through his daughters. As a broodmare sire, he’ll still be shaping winners for the next 15 years.”
Avontuur Estate was set up by the late Tony Taberer. “Tony was ahead of his time. He knew the future was in the mares. At our peak, we had 25 to 27 top-class mares — and that’s how we kept punching above our weight.”
Shergar Cup teams announced
Leading jockeys from across the globe, including Hollie Doyle, Ryusei Sakai and Karis Teetan, will headline the 2025 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, with a new-look format also announced for the team event which takes places this year on Saturday, August 9.
Japanese jockey Sakai will be the star attraction in the newly-created Asia team. He is already a household name on the international scene through his partnership with the globe-trotting Forever Young, the world's highest-rated horse currently, and Shin Emperor. The Asia team replaces the Ladies team in the competition for 2025, recognising that female jockeys compete on a level playing field with their male counterparts.
Doyle, who will this year captain the Great Britain & Ireland team, said, “The Ladies team over the years has had great success, but the new changes that have been made, which include integrating the male and female jockeys on the same team, is a nice reminder that we as jockeys complete on a level playing field internationally.”
Ireland’s Rachael Blackmore retires
Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning rider Rachael Blackmore has announced her retirement from the saddle with immediate effect.
The 35-year-old made international headlines in 2021 when she teamed up with the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Times to win the world's greatest steeplechase at Aintree–the first woman to do so in the then-182-year history of the race.
In a statement, Blackmore said, “My days of being a jockey have come to an end. I feel the time is right. I'm sad but I'm also incredibly grateful for what my life has been for the past 16 years. I just feel so lucky, to have been legged up on the horses I have and to have experienced success I never even dreamt could be possible.”
Bill to simplify horse ownership in USA
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is actively supporting the Regulation Advancement for Capital Enhancement (RACE) Act of 2025, the organized announced in a press release Monday. Introduced by congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) earlier this month, the bill aims to simplify the registration process required by the Securities and Exchange Commission in order to allow more Americans to invest in the industry through fractional ownership of Thoroughbred racehorses.
“Thanks to companies like MyRacehorse, thousands of people across the country get to experience the excitement of owning a winning horse,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “Thoroughbred racing is America's best and oldest sport, and we need to encourage more people to get involved. We can't penalize individuals and companies interested in fractional participation due to excessive federal regulations. The RACE Act is one way we can ensure that more people can participate in the sport of racing. Fractional ownership models similar to MyRacehorse and others have only grown in popularity in the U.S., especially since last year's Preakness, and have been prevalent in other major racing hubs like Japan and Australia partially because they give fans who might not otherwise be able to own a racehorse another avenue to connect with the sport.”
