Queensland carnival extends World Pool coverage
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s World Pool debuted in Brisbane last year on Derby day and this year will be extended to cover the G1 Doomben 10,000, G1 Doomben Cup, and G1 Stradbroke meetings. “World Pool is the most powerful vehicle we have to showcase Queensland racing to a truly global audience,” Brisbane Racing Club CEO Karl deKroo said.
“This year, nine of our premier races will be beamed into more than 25 jurisdictions and viewed by millions of punters and racing fans worldwide. We're grateful to HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and his team for their ongoing support in elevating Stradbroke Season to the global stage through World Pool.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“Our partnership with the HKJC continues to grow, and we're proud to reach a major milestone with Doomben included in the World Pool schedule for the first time – a significant achievement for our club and our state. World Pool delivers enormous benefits through global wagering liquidity, unprecedented international exposure, and stronger collaboration between racing jurisdictions.”
Stradbroke mission for Pier
Trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley will take Group 1 winner Pier (NZ) (Proisir) to the G1 Stradbroke Handicap after his successful exhibition gallop on Wednesday. “I think I’m blowing a little bit more than he (Pier) is,” jockey Sam Weatherley told Loveracing.nz.
“It’s a heavy track out there and he doesn’t actually mind a bit of cut in the track, it’s good on his joints. I don’t think he could be going much better, he’s dragging me into his work and when he’s going well, that’s what he does. He’s the soundest he’s ever been, so we’ve got to strike while the iron’s hot.”
“Pier flies out on Sunday morning alongside Dark Destroyer, his first run will be Saturday-week at Doomben in the BRC Sprint,” Darryn Weatherley said. “That will be his first assignment, and all going well, he goes well enough to secure a spot in the Stradbroke.”
Know Thyself makes Scone Cup field
Know Thyself (The Autumn Sun) will attempt to make it five wins in succession in Friday’s Listed Scone Cup, having made it into the field. Trained by Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, he is 15th in the 16 horse field. His last few starts have included wins in The Coast, and the Country Championships Final.
Rubick sold to China
Rubick, the sire of multiple Group 1 winner Jacquinot and The Everest hero Yes Yes Yes, has been sold to continue his stallion career in China. He will be based with Huayu Horse Industry, which belongs to leading Chinese owner Huang Qing Cai.
Rubick | Standing at Swettenham Stud
A three-time winner for the Gerald Ryan stable, notably winning the G2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield, Rubick was retired to stand at Coolmore Australia in 2015, with Yes Yes Yes emerging from his very first crop. In 2021, the son of Encosta De Lago moved to Swettenham Stud, where he most recently stood for a fee of $27,500 in 2024.
Soft Love placed well for Denise’s Joy
Trainer Matt Laurie thinks 3-year-old filly Soft Love (Pierata) is well-placed for Saturday’s Listed Denise’s Joy Handicap. “We placed her moderately at the start of this prep and she won really well, when you think they are city class and you have to throw them in that class and see how they go,” Laurie told racingnsw.com.au.
Matt Laurie | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“She’s a nice filly, unbeaten, and scored a very stylish win at Caulfield. She won with authority so she’s on the way up. We’re just trying to chase some black type. If she can get the job done in something like this we can take her up to Queensland.”
Loch Eagle set for Scone Cup
Jockey Dylan Gibbons thinks it’s clever for trainer Kris Lees to resume with Loch Eagle (Lonhro) in Friday’s Listed Scone Cup. “I just think he’s an older horse now, he knows what his job is and running him over shorter trips is not going to be his go,” Gibbons told racingnsw.com.au.
Loch Eagle | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“I don’t mind what he’s doing at all. If you watch the trial you’ll see I gave him a pretty solid hit out because (Kris) had the plan to go to this race first-up. He trialled well enough to suggest he’s ready to rock and roll.”
Kingsford-Smith for Kimochi
Trainer Gary Portelli was pleased with the way Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) trialled on Tuesday and she’ll head to Brisbane for the G1 Kingsford-Smith Stakes in a fortnight where she’ll reunite with Craig Williams. “We just wanted her to be where she's comfortable early,” Portelli told racing.com.
Gary Portelli | Image courtesy of Portelli Racing
“It was just a tick-over trial before she goes to the Kingsford-Smith. She hit a bit of a flat spot as she straightened, I think the track is a bit choppy out there, but then once she got balanced up, she was good through the line. The 1300 metres I think will suit her (in the Kingsford-Smith), but we'll more than likely be riding her like we did at Caulfield next time. We'll be riding her quietly and trying for a bit of luck, rather than trying to look for a spot. We'll try to ease back into a spot next time, because it just didn't work the other day.”
Moor hospitalised after fall
Jockey Daniel Moor fell from Moonraker (Zoustar) on the way to the start at Bendigo on Wednesday, and was transported to hospital with a hip injury. “After an incident on the way to the gates, Dan Moor is to be transported to hospital for scans. Complaining of hip pain,” the Victorian Jockeys' Association said in a statement.
Treble for Grylls on Wednesday
Jockey Craig Grylls rode a treble at Matamata on Wednesday aboard Stephen Marsh-trained Alacritous (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) and The Exponent (NZ) (Shocking {NZ}), and Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Viva Glam (NZ) (Savabeel). “It was a lovely ride by Craig, who continues to ride very positively, and a good effort by the filly (Viva Glam) in quite testing ground,” Walker told Loveracing.nz.
“She got through the ground well, which is really encouraging for this time of year, and the win should give her confidence going forward. She’s been a bit of a handful the whole way through, but she’s getting better now, mentally, as she matures.”
Around the nation: Wednesday’s highlights
With five meetings across Australia, it was South Australian jockey Jacob Opperman who achieved his 300 career wins with a double at Murray Bridge on Wednesday on I’m Permissible (Pariah) and Collated (Hualalai). At Kensington, Chris Waller had four winners with Kundabung (NZ) (Super Seth), Maori Chief (I Am Invincible), Rotagilla (All Too Hard), and Pippie Beach (Maurice {Jpn}).
At Ipswich, 2-year-old colt Guac On (Zousain) made it two wins in succession for trainer Kelly Schweida and he was the first leg of a treble for jockey Noel Callow who also won on Super Chilled (Churchill {Ire}) and Aldofito (Fastnet Rock).
In WA, King’s Legacy added his fifth winner with debutant 2-year-old filly In Confidence who won for trainer Dan Morton.
Asfoora to travel on May 29
Trainer Henry Dwyer will send Asfoora (Flying Artie) to England to defend her Royal Ascot crown. “We were hoping to get over there early May and give her a run at Chantilly three weeks out. At the time, I thought we needed to do that but after the Sangster she was a bit flat, so I thought we would probably be better off going in fresh anyway,” Dwyer told racing.com.
Henry Dwyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“That shouldn't be a worry, it's more so being here longer as the days are getting shorter and getting colder, where over there the days are getting longer and it's getting warmer so acclimatation-wise it is not as easy.
“But we are trying to rug her up here and keep the lights on at night and try and keep her as summery as possible. That plane leaves from Sydney too so she'll have to have a road trip to Sydney before she even starts the 40-hour trip over there so there's a bit going on.”
Super Photon arrives in Melbourne
Stephen Marsh-trained 3-year-old Super Photon (NZ) (Super Seth) has arrived in Melbourne for an Aussie tilt. “He’s going great and flew over this morning after he had galloped beautifully on Tuesday morning,” Marsh told Loveracing.nz.
Super Photon (NZ) | Image courtesy of Peter Rubey (Race Images)
“He’s on an open ticket over there, whether that be one run or two. We’ll just see how he runs and pulls up, there are a few options for him if we decide to push on. It looks a nice race for him on Saturday, obviously he has to carry 60kg, but he is back to 3-year-old company and with the right run he’ll be a real chance. He’s in very good form and only had the three runs this time in so it would have been a shame to put him out for a spell while he’s racing so well.”
Kelly thinks Rosehill sale is a good deal
Charles Kelly, brother of Newhaven Park Stud manager John Kelly, has written to several ATC members urging them to consider selling Rosehill racecourse, reported racenet.com.au. “I encourage you to read the ‘info', watch the videos and see what opportunities this could provide the industry as a whole,” Kelly wrote.
“My family has been involved in this amazing industry for over 80 years. We live, sleep, eat, think and drink racing. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. No racing jurisdiction has ever received this amount of capital anywhere in the world. I don't think it's something we should let pass on by, especially given the NSW Government is going to fully support the ATC and their plans.”
Derby relation tops Fasig-Tipton Digital at 280k
Ifurhappynuknowit (USA) (Bernardini {USA}), an unraced full-sister to Godolphin's late Crowned (USA), dam of last week's GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}), topped the Fasig-Tipton May Digital Sale, which closed late Tuesday afternoon. Consigned by Knowles Farm as hip 30, Ifurhappynuknowit sold for US$280,000 (AU$432,000) to Denali Stud, agent. She was sold with her colt by Vino Rosso (USA) at her side and is back in foal to two-time champion Elite Power (USA).
Overall, 98 horses changed hands during the May Digital sale for a total of US$3,786,000 ($5,852,346) and an average of US$38,632 ($58,739). The clearance rate for the sale, which included horses of racing age, racing and broodmare prospects, 2-year-olds in training, broodmares (including mares with foals at foot), and yearlings, held at 83%.
“It was very exciting to offer a horse like Ifurhappynuknowit fresh off a huge update,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “Timing is everything.”
