Tom Reilly removed as CEO of Melbourne Racing Club
The Melbourne Racing Club announced on Monday that Tom Reilly has been removed as CEO. “Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Tom was only CEO for three months and when things don’t go as well as they should, it is best to pivot and move on,” MRC Chairman John Kanga said in a press statement.
Tom Reilly | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Everyone can be assured that we have put a management structure in place to ensure a smooth transition. I will spend substantial time at the Club as Chairman, as I did before Tom Reilly was appointed.
“I am pleased to announce that we have appointed Tanya Fullarton as Chief Operating Officer to work with me. Tanya has an excellent reputation and deep experience and relationships across the racing industry. She has in excess of 30 years commercial experience at a high level, with a skill set incorporating and including event management, business management, administration, marketing and sponsorship and has grown her management consultancy business over recent years to provide a series of important roles and services for corporate and racing clients.
“In my short time as MRC Chairman, we have successfully turned the Club around, restoring the confidence of members and industry participants and making common sense decisions. This was immediately implemented by me in the months after I was appointed last October.
“It included saving racing at Sandown, relocating the Caulfield racecourse mounting yard to its original position, reversing the proposal to build a wasteful new grandstand at Caulfield, entering an agreement to sell excess land next to Caulfield racecourse for $195 million to pay off debt incurred by the previous committee and generally improving management accountability and service to members, including important things like cheaper food and drink on course.
“Tanya and I, plus all of the MRC management team, will ensure this continues into the future. In that regard, I have recently acknowledged that our race tracks need to improve and have made it my priority to turn that around. Unfortunately, this is something we have inherited.
John Kanga | Image courtesy of Melbourne Racing Club
“We have engaged the manager of Pinecliff, regarded as Australia’s premier private training centre, as a consultant for the next few months to help us work out the best approach and protocols going forward and he has brought on board the best team of outside agronomists available to advise on turf and soil maintenance and management. I am confident this will result in significant improvement and ask that everyone is patient while this occurs.”
Queenslanders go head-to-head in JJ Atkins
Trainer Kelly Schweida thinks his 2-year-old colt Grafterburners (Graff) can turn the tables on Chris and Corey Munce-trained Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) in Saturday’s G1 JJ Atkins Plate. “The winner (Cool Archie) was too good on the day (in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce) and won easy and he deserves to be favourite in the JJ Atkins,” Schweida told racenet.com.au.
“But my horse has just had no luck the last two runs. And the jockey dropped the stick (whip) last time, which probably doesn't help on the heavy track we saw that day. I guess though, I can make all the excuses I like, but my horse still didn't win. But we definitely should have finished closer the other day.
Kelly Schweida | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“All you can do is win and that is what the Chris Munce horse has been doing. That horse definitely loves the wet but I think it goes good on the dry too. He's won four on the bounce, he's a good horse, and I don't know anyone who would be bagging a horse that keeps winning.
“As for my horse, I think he will run a mile but it's hard to say until he has a go. He just needs a cosy run rather than getting stuck out on a limb in his races like he has been.”
JJ Atkins could decide Champion First Season Sire
With only $300,000 separating Ole Kirk and Wootton Bassett {GB}) on the Champion First Season Sires’ Premiership, the $600,000 first prize in the G1 JJ Atkins Plate on Saturday could be the difference in which of the two sires takes out the victory.
Before final nominations on Wednesday, Ole Kirk has Aerodrome while Wootton Bassett is represented by Regulated Affair and Providence.
James McDonald booked for Rothfire
With Rothfire (Rothesay) emerging from an injury cloud ahead of this weekend’s G1 Stradbroke Handicap, trainer Rob Heathcote has booked jockey James McDonald to ride him, giving everyone confidence that the 7-year-old gelding will be fit. “Rothfire will of course have to pass the scrutiny of vets, but from what we saw this morning, he will,” Heathcote told racenet.com.au.
Rothfire | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“Rothfire was excellent this morning. He's done a lot of swimming and he still has to come through his Tuesday morning gallop well, but from what we saw this morning, nothing is beyond this warrior horse. He is one tough horse.”
Bourne heads to Europe to hunt more winners
Ciaron Maher’s Head of Bloodstock Will Bourne heads to Europe this week to chase down more prospects for the stable. “We've had relative success with the likes of Duke De Sessa, Light Infantry, Middle Earth, Circle Of Fire. It can really change the top end of your middle-distance horses by doing the work over there,” Bourne told racing.com.
Will Bourne | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I always keep an eye on racing over there and keep a hold on things. We might be trying to buy a horse out of the Epsom Derby … the Britannia or something like that. We bought Circle Of Fire out of the Queen's Vase, that's always an obvious race, it's a staying race that profiles their 3-year-olds, they're lightly raced horses. A race like that profiles perfectly for Australia. I try to keep an open mind, whether that be in Ireland, England or France, do the work everywhere and try and see what's available.”
The price of success has impacted on the market, however. “The tried market in Europe has gone up say 15 per cent and then the dollar's shifted 10 per cent, so everything's feeling expensive … it is getting very difficult.”
Q22 decision on Benagil to be made soon
Trainer Glen Thompson will decide on Wednesday if he will run his Group 1-winning filly Benagil (Manhattan Rain) in the Q22 on Saturday after she ran a luckless third in the G1 Queensland Oaks. “I'll make a decision on Wednesday morning. She's licked the bin out ever since the Oaks and seemed nice and bright this morning (Monday),” Thompson told racenet.com.au.
Benagil | Image courtesy of Racing SA
“I always had in the back of my mind that if she won (the Oaks) then I'd look at running her in the Q22. She should've won so I guess there's no reason not to give her a chance and I don't think it's an overly strong year for it (the Q22). Even Mark (Zahra) said she should've won by a length or two. It's frustrating because they're hard races to win and she'll never get another chance in an Oaks again.
“She just needs to give us a sign that she doesn't need to back up. She was going to go for a break this week but one more week isn't going to hurt.”
Townsville’s new stable complex opens
Cluden Park’s new stable block with 100 stables opened on the weekend. The $10 million project includes ancillary services such as feed rooms, wash down bays and horse walkers, as well as road access and sealed parking. “Racing in the Townsville region is growing at a rapid rate, and this on-course stabling will ensure the Townsville Turf Club is able to accommodate more trainers and horses than ever before,” Minister for Racing Tim Mander told racingqueensland.com.au.
“The Crisafulli Government is proud to support the racing industry, with $7.8 million contributed to this project that supported more than 50 full-time jobs. Cluden Park will soon take centre stage as part of the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, with the Townsville Cup and Cleveland Bay feature races on August 9 set to attract interest from across the state.”
Maurice juvenile wins at Mornington
Lindsay Park’s great season with 2-year-olds continued on Monday when filly Ethereum Girl (Maurice {Jpn}) won at Mornington at her second start. Purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from Glenbeigh Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $275,000, Ethereum Girl moved to Lindsay Park before her first trial.
A half-sister to Listed-winning 3-year-old filly Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard), Ethereum Girl is the third foal and third winner for Moonchild (Charge Forward) from the family of Group 2 winner Wild Rain (Manhattan Rain).
Monday’s magic moments
Chris Waller trained a treble at Canterbury with 2-year-old colt Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun), 3-year-old gelding Barbray (Zoustar) and 3-year-old filly Mia Ballerina (Cosmic Force). Zoustar sired a double at the meeting with his other winner being 2-year-old filly Pillow Fight.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Apprentice Jett Newman rode a treble at Grafton, on Matt Dunn-trained pair of Texas Fireball (Zoustar) and 3-year-old gelding Vice Regis (Dundeel {NZ}), and on Ray Dart-trained Justice Served (Justify {USA}).
Railway Stakes for Luvnwar
Trainer Michael Grantham is plotting a pathway towards the G1 Railway Stakes for Luvnwar (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) after she won on Saturday at Pinjarra. “Really happy with the two starts she’s had this time in,” co-owner Liam Peters told racingwa.com.au.
“She looks like an absolute weapon and Michael’s had her right on point for these last two runs. All eyes are looking to the carnival.
“It’s nice to have the option of dropping back to those mare races, but I think the mile is her sweet spot. It would be the top goal to go there. She’ll go for a little break now and freshen up for the carnival.”
New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' statement on Wallace
President of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Rich Hill’s John Thompson, shared a statement on the recent death of bloodstock agent Michael Wallace. “After he completed the international scholarship, there was a requirement that he worked on a New Zealand stud farm,” Thompson told Loveracing.nz.
“He did a breeding season here and handled the stallions, that particular year we had Bertolini who had just sired the winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes from his first crop. We were inundated and were only allowed to serve 150 mares, we could have served 250, and Michael spent an extremely busy season with us.
John Thompson | Image courtesy of Rich Hill Stud
“He was a very capable horseman and went on to bigger and better things and we always caught up at the sales. As President of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, on behalf of the industry, I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family.”
Eustace hits 30-win milestone
Trainer David Eustace enjoyed win number 30 on Sunday night at Sha Tin in his first season in the region. The win by Light Years Charm (Rubick) earned a PP bonus of HK$1.5 million too, taking his earnings over HK$7.6 million (AU$1.5 million). “Happy with how (the season) has gone so far. They’ve raced well and consistently and the team at home are doing a great job. We’ll try and round the season out well,” Eustace told hkjc.com.
“(Light Years Charm) will definitely appreciate a break and I hope he’ll get better next season. He’s doing nothing wrong at the moment. He’s obviously going to have to continue to improve, but hopefully he can. It’s hard to know what the ceiling is. He’s only four and he’s a big, raw horse. It would be wrong for me to put targets on his back. We’ll see how far he gets.”
Light Years Charm won at his second start in Australia when named Bretsal, and has three wins in Hong Kong, his last two in succession. He was purchased by S Taylor for $3750 at the Inglis HTBA Sale in 2022 from Amarina Farm.
Double for Wong at Sha Tin
Britney Wong enjoyed a double at Sha Tin on Sunday night, to go with a double last weekend at the same track, aboard Cheval Valiant (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and Ruby Sailing (Starspangledbanner). “(Cheval Valiant) was my first win and I know him very well,” Wong told scmp.com.
“Thank you to Mr Whyte for putting me back on because I had to chase this ride, actually, and I’m happy that everything has gone well today and I have had another win. I’m very happy.”
Goliath back on top in France
Returning to domestic duty after his Far Eastern ventures, last year's King George hero Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) cruised to a welcome facile win in Sunday's G3 La Coupe at ParisLongchamp. Sauntering to the front from the outset under Christophe Soumillon, the 9-10 favourite only had to stretch inside the last two furlongs to dispatch the filly Grand Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by 1.75 lengths.
“We decided not to fight with him and let him be comfortable and when he's like that he's very good,” trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said of Resolute Bloodstock and Philip Baron Von Ullmann's flagbearer, who had run a rare tame race in the G1 QEII Cup in April. “He can quicken off any pace, he just needs to be relaxed as he is a horse that can be very tense. That's why he ran so poorly at Sha Tin, so I'm very happy and we can re-start with him. This race will do him good and I have to discuss with the entourage, but we will target the big races again.”
Colin Keane is Juddmonte’s number one
Colin Keane has accepted the role of retained rider for Juddmonte Farms, The Irish Field reported on Sunday.
Keane, who was crowned Ireland's champion Flat jockey for a sixth time in 2024, has been based with County Meath trainer Ger Lyons for much of his career, an association which has already yielded plenty of big-race success in the familiar Juddmonte silks with horses such as Siskin (USA), winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2020, and Babouche (GB), who was successful in last year's G1 Phoenix Stakes.
Last month Keane and Juddmonte won the Irish 2,000 Guineas together for the second time when he received the call up to ride the John and Thady Gosden-trained Field Of Gold (Ire). That son of Kingman (GB) is one of many top-class talents he will now be associated with in his new role, along with G1 Lockinge Stakes hero Lead Artist (GB), exciting older mare Kalpana (GB) and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Jonquil (GB), among others.
Another group winner for Wootton Bassett
Fast but not quite fast enough for six furlongs, Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was back in his comfort zone on Sunday and back in the winner's enclosure at the end of ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Paul de Moussac. Let loose from the outset of the seven-furlong G1 Prix Jean Prat prep by Aurelien Lemaitre, the 19-10 favourite who was fourth in Chantilly's G3 Prix Texanita speed test last month relished the opportunity to dominate from an early point.
“I can't wait to see him in the Jean Prat next time,” trainer Christopher Head said. “He's showing that he's not a sprinter or a miler, he's in between. He can also do well in soft ground and he keeps surprising us–these Wootton Bassetts are really incredible.”
Lady Charlotte on track for Oaks
The hitherto unbeaten Andreas Wohler trainee Lady Charlotte (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) leapt to head of the ante-post betting market for August's G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) after producing a determined effort to prevail in Sunday's G3 Diana-Trial over 10 furlongs at Hoppegarten.
“She most definitely relished the soft going and the step up in trip,” said winning jockey Adrie de Vries. “On good going it might have been more difficult for us, but she really is a great filly and 2000 metres is the minimum trip for her. She only ever does as much as necessary and, as long as she keeps doing that, we can keep dreaming.”
First stakes winner for Sottsass
Fabrice Chappet trainee Safia (Fr) (Sottsass {Fr}), a debut scorer at ParisLongchamp in October, bounced back off a fifth in a hot renewal of April's G3 Prix de la Grotte to secure a career high in Sunday's Listed Prix Melisande at ParisLongchamp. Safia becomes the first stakes winner for her sire, who now stands at the Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan.
“She's a very nice filly who won well first time out in October and she won again first time out this year,” said trainer Fabrice Chappet. “We knew from the start she would have no problem staying a mile-and-a-quarter. We skipped the (G1 Poule d'Essai des) Pouliches because going one mile on fast ground against the best fillies would have been tough. She could now go for the G3 Prix de Psyche at Deauville.”
Godolphin’s East Avenue beats three others in Grade 3
Godolphin homebred East Avenue (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) got back to winning ways with a gutsy wire-to-wire victory in the GIII Matt Winn Stakes Sunday at Churchill Downs. Facing just three rivals, the 7-5 favourite stepped right out to the early lead, maintaining a half-length advantage to the wire.
“I think the distance today was right in his wheelhouse. He's a gutsy horse when he makes the lead like he did today. I was very impressed how he battled back against Burnham Square, who came up to his inside, and Coal Battle on his outside,” said winning trainer Brendan Walsh.
