Daily News Wrap

Voyage Bubble wins the Hong Kong triple crown

Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) has won Sunday’s G1 Champions and Chater Cup to complete the Hong Kong triple crown and become only the second horse in history to manage the difficult feat.

He took his record to 11 wins from 26 starts. The triple crown consists of the G1 Steward’s Cup over a mile in January, the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000 metres in February, and Sunday’s G1 Champions and Chater Cup over 2400 metres.

TTR will cover the win and the meeting in depth in tomorrow’s issue.

Schwarz: Thirty for Thirty

Rosemont Stud have announced Group 1 winner Schwarz at $38,500 including GST, but the first 30 mares booked will pay $33,000 including GST with their “Thirty for Thirty” introductory fee. “The Thirty for Thirty incentive is ultimately our way of reinforcing the Rosemont message of providing real, tangible value for willing breeders and not just ‘saying’ it,” said Rosemont Principal Anthony Mithen in a press release.

“Outside of shareholder entitlements, Schwarz won’t be asked to cover a huge amount of external mares. Strong breeder feedback has been to keep stallion numbers at respectable levels so with this in mind we certainly encourage breeders to be pro-active.

“Additionally, we want to celebrate the pending arrival of such a magnificent prospect. Interestingly, looking back at breed-shapers Northern Meteor and Redoute’s Choice - two stallions who heavily influence the pedigree of Schwarz - both retired at $30,000 so this incentive is also a nod to their enduring legacies.”

A small number of shares in Schwarz are also available.

Vale Jamie Searle

New Zealand journalist Jamie Searle has died. After having a stroke last February, he was diagnosed with cancer and died on Thursday. A journalist with the Southland Times, he covered all three codes for 34 years.

Inducted to the New Zealand Trotting Hall of Fame for his contribution as a journalist, in the early 2000s, he also ran Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page. “I was offered a job a racing reporter at the Southand Times in 1986 by the Racing Editor Don Wright,” Searle recalled in an earlier interview with racingnews.co.nz.

“I left the Southland Times in 2001. I set up the website Home Straight, focusing on Southland’s three racing codes. I closed the site down after seven months to look after Mum, who had cancer. I returned to my old job at the Southland Times in 2002.”

Rosehill votes on Tuesday

Online and postal votes closed on Sunday for Australian Turf Club members wanting to vote on the decision to sell Rosehill racecourse, with the Extraordinary General Meeting being held on Tuesday for members who want to vote in person.

Bosustow pays up for Kingsford-Smith

The connections of 3-year-old colt Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) have paid the $25,000 late entry fee for Saturday’s G1 Kingsford-Smith Stakes. “The plan is to pay up for the Kingsford Smith (Cup) and then assess from there what race best sets him up for the Stradbroke,” managing owners Anthony Mithen told racenet.com.au.

“His Gold Coast Guineas win showed he was right on track for the Stradbroke, it's just a matter of working out what race this Saturday is right for him. His trip to New Zealand in February for the Group 1 Sprint at weight-for-age really turned a boy into a man, it's been the making of him for sure.”

Zloties to retire after Tatt’s Tiara

Owner Pinecliff Racing will retire Zloties (Snitzel) to the broodmare paddock after the G1 Tatt’s Tiara in Queensland. “She jumps out on Monday at Cranbourne then she’ll fly to Brisbane on the 3rd of June and then runs in the Dane Ripper on Stradbroke (Handicap) day. That will then give her two weeks into the Tatt’s Tiara to finish things up,” said trainer Grahame Begg.

“Even though she got to 1600 metres, we feel she is a 1400 metre horse essentially. She’s had a nice freshen up and is geared up for that race (Tiara). We’re adopting the attitude that she’s five rising six and if you race her on another season, she is going to be a 7-year-old and so by the time she has a first foal to the races, she’ll be a 10-year-old.

“It wasn’t her fault she started her racing career late as she just wasn’t ready early on. She’s got a Group 2 win under her belt and a Group 1 would be a perfect way for her to finish off.”

VRC Directors meet the public at the bar

Victoria Racing Club CEO Kylie Rogers and chairman Neil Wilson, along with VRC directors Glenn Carmody, Allison Purdey and Sophie O'Kane, met with the public at The Emerald Hotel last Thursday to chat about issues facing the 34,000 members. “Events like last Thursday night clearly demonstrate how important our club is to our members, and we don't take that for granted,” Rogers told racenet.com.au on Sunday.

“We'll continue to engage in events just like this, where we listen and learn, and importantly build real relationships with our members who are our most important stakeholder.”

Melbourne Cup winning owner Nick Williams was in attendance. “That's what racing is about. You got to engage with your membership base and they're obviously doing that. It's a great idea, it really is, do it in a casual environment, have a drink with people rather than be formal.

“A lot of people don't like asking questions in forums, every Tom, Dick and Harry got their chance to ask what they wanted and they were moving around the room, I think it's a bloody good idea.”

Two Derby runners for Brown

Trainer Cliff Brown has two runners in Saturday’s G1 Queensland Derby with Scintillante (NZ) (Savabeel) and Rogan (NZ) (Super Seth). “Both are in good form, and I think they will be suited by the 2400 metres,” Brown told racing.com.

“I thought Scintillante’s Derby run was excellent (fourth) and he’ll be improved for having a run over that distance. Billy Egan was happy with him, and he stays on. It was a bit of a stop-start race, and he closed off late.”

Around the nation: Sunday’s highlights

With Nowra abandoned, there remained eight meetings across Australia on Sunday. At Gunnedah, 2-year-old filly Josephine (Headwater) won on debut for trainer Todd Howlett who purchased her for $50,000 from Davali Thoroughbreds’ Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft.

At the Sunshine Coast, 2-year-old filly Smexy (Pierata) won at her second start for trainer Natalia McCall who purchased her for $45,000 from Murrulla Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft. In Tasmania at Hobart both Toorak Toff and Alpine Eagle sired doubles and jockey Anthony Darmanin rode a treble. Apprentice Sharni Webster rode at treble at WA’s Roebourne meeting.

Injured rider update

Apprentice Violet Soulsby fell at Wagga on Saturday, and Racing NSW issued the following update on Sunday. “Violet is currently in hospital and scans revealed some fractures in her lower back. The fractures will heal naturally and Violet will either be admitted to a ward shortly or be sent home.”

Heavy track form for Newcastle

Trainer Allan Kehoe has three wet trackers ready for Newcastle’s delayed Monday meeting in Dreamdeel (Dundeel {NZ}), One Kind (Sebring Sun) and 2-year-old filly The Rookie (Pierro). “Every campaign (Dreamdeel) turns up and does a good job,” Kehoe told racenet.com.au.

“He might put in a couple of shockers when he's had enough but you put him away to refresh and he goes again. If you take away the Newcastle run the start before where he had a bit of bad luck and we probably gassed him from the wide gate, his other three runs this preparation have been right on the mark.”

Asfoora vulnerable for Royal Ascot defence

Trainer Henry Dwyer is worried about timing for Asfoora (Flying Artie)’s defence of her Royal Ascot title. “Last year we saw a huge improvement from Haydock (4th in a Group 2) to Ascot … we're not really going to get that opportunity this year (racing two weeks after arrival) so we're going in as we are and she probably keeps improving after that,” Dwyer told racenet.com.au.

“Last year we went over and thought the Nunthorpe at York in late August was going to be her race and I think we cooked her a bit by that stage, she had a big preparation. This year with the later start for her … maybe that will be her peak this time and I think that's the right race for her, the right track for her, and acclimatization wise it would make sense she's better by then.

“I'm looking at that, we used Goodwood as a lead-up to York last year, she probably should've won at Goodwood, she was a bit unlucky not to, so that's on the radar again, and then off to York. Whatever happens after that is a bonus.”

Major potential tax break for horse owners in USA

The 1,116-page bill the House passed early Thursday morning could have a profound effect on the horse racing industry. Currently, horse owners can only write off 40 percent of the cost of a race horse once it enters service. Under the Trump bill, the write-off, known as bonus deprecation, will be 100 per cent for five years. With the bill now headed to the Senate, there is some speculation that the 100 percent deduction will be made permanent.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased bonus deprecation to 100 per cent until 2023, when it then would be phased down to 80 per cent. Each year it phases down an additional 20 per cent until it becomes completely phased out in 2027. Currently, it is at 40 per cent. The person now buying a yearling for $1 million can write off the entire $1 million if the bill becomes law, rather than just $400,000.

“Basically, bonus depreciation gives you the right to write off the entire thing, the entire amount,” horse owner and equine tax specialist Len Green told TDN.

“No matter when you buy it during the year, even, no matter whether you pay for it or not, as long as you take title to it. So that was great. Everybody was going absolutely crazy, and then they say, wait a second, this is too good. So you can't get it through Congress that way. You got to say, every year it drops by 20 per cent, so the first year you can write off a hundred percent. Second year you write off 80 per cent. Third year you can write off 60 per cent, then 40 per cent, then 20 per cent, and then you can't use it anymore. But okay, Mr. Donald comes along and says, you know what? Let's go back to where we were in the beginning and give you a hundred percent.”

The bill must still pass the Senate, which could make some changes. One that is being floated around Capital Hill is to make the 100 per cent bonus depreciation permanent.