Vale Robbie Laing
Victorian trainer Robbie Laing died suddenly in his sleep on Saturday night at the age of 66. “On behalf of everyone at Racing Victoria and the wider Victorian racing industry, I would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Robbie’s family and friends on the shock news of his passing,” Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison said.
“Working with horses was indeed Robbie’s life and he enjoyed notable success over many decades, with arguably his biggest win coming in the 2013 Victoria Derby at Flemington with Polanski. Robbie’s sudden passing will be felt by many in our industry, in particular those who have worked and ridden for Robbie and owned horses that he’s trained. Our thoughts are also with them at this sad time.
“Robbie was an astute horseman who was widely respected for his training craft, in particular his ability with stayers and jumpers, often turning cheap purchases into feature race winners.”
His four Group 1 winners were Perfect Bliss (Sharp Edge {Ire}) in the 1983 Thousand Guineas who came in his third year of training, Pantani (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) in the 2002 SA Derby and 2004 Adelaide Cup, Roman Arch (Archway {Ire}) in the 2006 Australian Cup, and Polanski (Rakti {GB}) in the 2013 VRC Derby. He trained 1186 winners during his career.
Vale Michael Wallace
New Zealand’s Ardsley Stud announced the sad news that Michael Wallace, bloodstock agent, and son of Ardsley Stud’s Jim and Mary died on Saturday night. “It is with deep sadness we confirm the passing of Michael Wallace, son of Jim and Mary. Michael was a much loved father, son and brother. Family are requesting privacy,” said the press release.
Wallace worked as the China Horse Club’s Chief Operating Officer for eight years before leaving that role in 2021. He worked more recently as an independent bloodstock agent with Vinnie and Teresa Viola's St. Elias Stable in America, as well as Kuldeep Singh Rajput's Gandharvi Racing Stables. He worked closely for many years with top Sydney trainer Michael Freedman.
Wallace is survived by his wife, Kristi, and five children.
Lindsay Park chasing first Stradbroke win
Lindsay Park, under any of it’s training partnerships, have never won the G1 Stradbroke Handicap, but have two live chances heading into Saturday’s race with favourite War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}) and outsider Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) who will carry only 52.5kg. “I was quite happy with (Rise At Dawn)'s run on Saturday as he was racing at short of his best trip and was racing at weight-for-age against some of the best sprinters in Australia,” Ben Hayes told racenet.com.au.
“He sat in behind the speed, he held his run right to the line and looks to have pulled up well. He now drops a stack in weight so that's a huge thing. Fingers crossed, you can have the two favourites but you can still get beat, but to be honest I couldn't be happier with both of these horses.
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“Either one of them could win. The big boy (War Machine) is well. His last run was a perfect tune-up for the Straddy and he is a very progressive horse who gets in with 53kg. He's a horse who is a bit lazy in trackwork, like Mr Brightside, but he turns up race day.”
Lloyd looking for back-to-back Stradbrokes
Jockey Zac Lloyd won the G1 Stradbroke Handicap last year on Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) and this year will ride another 3-year-old in Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}). Jimmy Cassidy was the last jockey to achieve this feat. “Maybe the Fred Best run was just a little bit below what we expected, but we weren't too disappointed,” co-trainer Rob Archibald told racenet.com.au.
“He was a month between runs and the race was rescheduled and things were mucked around a little bit. He may have been just a touch underdone second-up, but he can certainly bounce back third-up in the Stradbroke. He gets into the Stradbroke with a nice weight (51.5kg) although it's all relative I suppose. Zac hasn't ridden him before, but he did win the Stradbroke last year and we are really happy to have him on.”
Joliestar to spell
Trainer Chris Waller confirmed on Sunday that Joliestar (Zoustar) would spell after winning Saturday's G1 Kingsford-Smith Stakes, rather than press on to the G1 Stradbroke on the upcoming weekend. “She won't have another run in Queensland, that's it, she's having a holiday and we will start planning for the spring,” Waller told Sky Racing Radio.
“James McDonald is adamant she should have gone close to winning The Everest last year. But I think it is on the short side of her distance range, she is probably better over 1300 or 1400 metres. It is a tricky race, The Everest, it is obviously the race everyone wants to win but you sacrifice a few other Group 1 races along the way. We will see how she is the next few days and work out a plan towards the spring.”
Three of her six wins have been at Group 1 level, with two Group 3 wins plus a maiden win on debut. She has earnings over $4.5 million and was purchased by Cambridge Stud for $950,000 from Segenhoe Stud’s 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling draft.
Levendi moves to Magnum Park for 2025
Tasmania’s Magnum Park announced on Sunday that G1 Australian Derby winner Levendi has moved from Motree and will stand for $7700 including GST in 2025. “His move to Magnum Park marks a new era not just for him and for us but for Tasmanian breeding,” said Magnum Park’s Alexis Beadman.
“We have bred and raised elite standardbred horses and our team knows what it takes to raise great athletes. It has all been very positive and encouraging. Breakers and trainers alike are saying that they are competitive horses who love to run and who are willing to learn. They have great attitudes; traits that align with what we are seeing on the farm.” Levendi’s oldest crop are 2-year-olds and he is a son of Pierro.
Fifth winner for Anders
First season sire Anders added his fifth winner when 2-year-old filly Daytona Diva won on debut at Hobart for trainer John Blacker who enjoyed the quinella with stable mate Bella Chinkara (Levendi).
Daytona Diva was a $40,000 purchase by Tanya Hanson at the Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale from Armidale Stud. She is the third foal and second winner for Step The Pedal (Elvstroem) who ran second in the G3 Vamos Stakes and Listed Mowbray Stakes, and won 10 of her 67 starts.
Blue Point filly wins on debut
At Wyong, Bjorn Baker-trained 2-year-old filly Sapphire Rose (Blue Point {Ire}) won on debut over 1100 metres. Part-owned by MyRacehorse, she was a $200,000 purchase by MyRacehorse, Baker and Belmont Bloodstock from Bhima Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
From the second crop of Blue Point, she is the fifth foal and third winner for Rocket Commander (Court Command) who won the G3 Wenona Girl Handicap.
Big day for Bates and Purcell at Swan Hill
Sunday’s Swan Hill meeting was dominated by jockey Declan Bates and trainer Aaron Purcell. The pair combined to win a treble with Bates adding a fourth win for good measure. They won the Swan Hill Cup with Dashing (Magnus), as well as winning with Wisaka (Tavistock {NZ}) and Brave Action (Brave Smash {Jpn}). Bates also won on Henry Dwyer-trained Em Sixty (Smart Missile).
“Super tough – Linda set a good gallop on Not Usual Glorious, Dec always travelled well,” Purcell said of Dashing's win.
“He came under pressure before the turn, and he really had to fight, and he fought all the way to the line. Tough effort. We had four runners today, three have run so far and they’ve all won. I would’ve been happy with one winner. It’s a great day.”
Sire doubles on Sunday
On Sunday, Hellbent sired a double at the Sapphire Coast in NSW with Loafer and Johntialjo. Capitalist sired a double at the Sunshine Coast with Private Equity and Air We Go. Needs Further sired a double at Hobart with Just A Needs and Carnelian Rock.
Payne’s HTBA purchases to run on Monday
Trainer David Payne only bought two yearlings at the Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale last year, and the 2-year-old fillies, Cosmonaut (Cosmic Force) and Funky Tilda (Hellbent), will run on Monday at Canterbury. Cosmonaut has run third and fourth in her two starts and runs in the first on the card, while Funky Tilda is on debut and runs in the second.
“Funky Tilda is quite well bred. She's by Hellbent who is doing well out of a quite a nice damline. She will need a race. She'll have that run then she'll most probably go to the paddock. She is still a bit of a baby but just from what she has shown me in work, she'll most probably run 1600 metres.”
The Black Cloud resumes on Monday
Trainer Joe Pride is seeking some confidence for The Black Cloud (Shamus Award) who resumes at Canterbury on Monday. “She needs to find some winning form again,” Pride told racingnsw.com.au.
“She’s kind of gone into the wilderness a little bit since winter last year when she won that race at Flemington, we haven’t seen the best of her since then. I can’t work it out, that’s why we are coming back to benchmark grade. She’s been disappointing so hopefully she can turn it back around again.”
The Black Cloud | Image courtesy of Sportpix
The Black Cloud hasn’t raced since early March when seventh in the G3 Wenona Girl Stakes. She has won four of her 11 starts and over $330,000.
Journalism to Travers
The only horse to run in all three legs of this year’s Triple Crown, Journalism (USA) (Curlin {USA}) will head to the G1 Travers Stakes next. “We will get him home,” trainer Michael McCarthy said, “feed him some carrots and maybe come back here in August (for the Grade I Travers).
“I am very pleased with my horse's effort. I could not be prouder of him. You would have to think that a horse of (Sovereignty's) calibre gets five weeks between races … I just thought our horse ran very well.”
Strong wagering for Belmont, two Grade 1s moved due to weather
The 12-race Belmont Stakes Day card, highlighted by Sovereignty (USA) (Into Mischief {USA})’s victory in the G1 Belmont Stakes, generated all-sources handle of US$101,861,883 (AU$156 million) with a paid attendance of 46,243, NYRA announced in a press release Saturday evening.
Originally a 14-race card, heavy rain in the Saratoga Springs region Friday and Saturday forced all races off the turf and canceled both the G1 Jaipur (Race 9), a “Win and You're In” for the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint; and the G1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan (Race 12).
That pair of Grade I's will instead be run on Sunday, June 8 to close out the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
Wathan Racing buys Flora of Bermuda
The latest addition to a burgeoning Royal Ascot team for Wathnan Racing is the Andrew Balding-trained Flora Of Bermuda (Ire). The 4-year-old daughter of Dark Angel (Ire), winner of last season's G3 Summer Stakes, has been purchased privately from Bermuda Racing Limited and holds entries for both Group 1 sprints at the royal meeting as well as the July Cup.
“We were impressed with her comeback run in the Duke Of York, and it looks as if she can hold her own against the very best,” said Richard Brown, advisor to Wathnan Racing.
“Andrew and his team have done a fine job with her, campaigning her with great consistency in the highest class. With luck, one of these big ones will fall her way. She certainly won't fail for lack of courage.”
Trio of Group winners added to Goffs
The French Group 3 winners Rafale Design (Ire) (Starspangledbanner), Monteille (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) and Woodshauna (Fr) (Wooded {Ire}) are among 11 further entries for the Goffs London Sale on Monday, June 16.
Earlier this week, Goffs announced the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) as a headline act for the eve-of-Royal Ascot auction. Stallion shares in Arc winner and Cartier Horse of the Year Ace Impact (Ire) and group sire Hello Youmzain (Fr) are also included in the catalogued lots.
Vale Buddy Keegan
Francis X. “Buddy” Keegan, Jr., a New Jersey Racing Commissioner since 2006 and a breeder/owner who raced horses in the state since 1963, passed away on Thursday, June 5. He was 86.
In addition to being a long-serving commissioner on the New Jersey Racing Commission, Keegan was president of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, president of the New Jersey Horsemen's Association and was a patron of Monmouth Hunt.
