Daily News Wrap

Cool Archie subject to The Everest and stud offers

The offers to buy G1 JJ Atkins Plate winner Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) have begun, while owner Max Whitby believes his colt is a strong chance at being crowned Champion 2YO Colt. “We feel he has done enough to win that award,” Whitby told racenet.com.au.

“He's an outstanding colt, he's won from 1000 metres to 1600 metres, he's won dry and wet tracks – he's a beauty. Chris and I have been talking about The Everest, we are open to running him there. Cool Archie is such an exciting horse you have to look at everything. But we will just let the dust settle for now then see what some of the slot-holders are thinking.”

And as for those offers… “I've waited 20 years since Savabeel to race another top class colt and I've found one in his grandson, Cool Archie. It's incredible that Chris Munce won the Cox Plate on Savabeel for me and all these years later he's training Cool Archie. This colt will make a great stallion himself one day but first we have a lot to look forward to with him next season.”

Kitchwin Hills announce fee for Graff

Kitchwin Hill have announced that G2 Caulfield Sprint winner Graff will stand in 2025 for $9900 including GST. His first crop of juveniles are led by Group 2 placed city winner Grafterburners, as well as last weekend’s Listed placed Royal Chic. His four winners from his first crop have shown a “consistent propensity to savage the line. Perhaps a telling sign for breeders of what is to come with his 3-year-olds,” said Kitchwin Hills co-founder Steve Brown.

The son of Star Witness won $1.3 million and was unbeaten in two starts at two. He placed in the G1 Golden Rose behind The Autumn Sun and Zousain, and was twice fourth in Group 1 sprints against the older horses during the autumn of his 3-year-old season.

Gollan heads to Ascot to watch his horse

Trainer Tony Gollan jumped at the chance to buy shares in First Light Racing’s latest overseas acquisition Hey Tru Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), and now he’s off to Royal Ascot to watch him run. “We'll go to the sale on Monday, the races on Tuesday and then we run on Thursday so it's going to be a really good week,” Gollan told racenet.com.au.

I think there's 16 or 18 owners of the horse flying over so we'll spend a bit of time with the group involved.

“There's a bit of business to be done but no doubt we'll enjoy ourselves on the trip as well and that's what it's all about. When we purchased the horse and this was kind of the plan, I thought ‘gees this is wishful thinking here' but it's been fortuitous and now it's going to happen.

“I went to Royal Ascot seven years ago, just once for a look, and I must admit I was blown away by the spectacle of what it is over there. They only have seven races (each day) but the quality and just everything that goes with that carnival, it's pretty special. Just to be there and have a horse running, it's pretty cool.

“I'll have a bit of a look at him while I'm there. I'll be at the races on Thursday. Hopefully he runs well and we'll see what he does for the rest of his preparation in England and then we'll bring him back to Australia later in the year.”

Matahga to Listed Oaklands Plate next

Trainer Phillip Stokes will set 2-year-old colt Matahga (NZ) (Tivaci) for the Listed Oaklands Plate next. “He was very good on debut, he’s just a horse who takes a lot of riding to get through his gears, he’s a nice horse,” Kerrin Stokes told racingsa.com.au.

“He’s progressive, he’ll go to the Oaklands Plate next start.” Second on debut, he won nicely at Murray Bridge on Saturday.

Widdup pair might be split on Tuesday

Trainer Brad Widdup has two maidens running at Hawkesbury on Tuesday with Reverberates (Microphone) and Jump In The Line (Divine Prophet), but may split them to try and get them both a first win. “We’re thinking of splitting Reverberates and Jump In The Line to give them both good chances to break through this week,” Widdup’s wife Milissa told racingnsw.com.au.

“Possibly Reverberates will start at home, and Jump In The Line will go to Gosford on Thursday for a 1600m Provincial Maiden Plate. Both horses are close to wins.”

Monday’s moments

Bull Point sired a double at Tamworth on Monday with Great Point and Tavros. Choisir sired a double at Longreach with Lasting Promise and Deep Breath. Trainer Greg Connor won four of the six races at Alice Springs.

Rothfire set for spring

Trainer Rob Heathcote will set his warrior horse Rothfire (Rothesay) for the Melbourne spring after he ran seventh in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap on the weekend. “The good news is that Rothfire has pulled up fine and will go to the paddock now,” Heathcote told racenet.com.au.

“He's done his job. I mean his run was huge and unfortunately for him, the track was just too firm. He was charging to the line and then he just feels that track. As Craig said, he could feel him wanting to let down but he just couldn't. He'll have a break now and I'll have a very close study of available races.

“I'm not really sure what races I'll target but obviously there are plenty of Group 1s and he races well at Moonee Valley. I've now got to look at races with a bit of give in the ground.”

Memories of Cootamundra required

The committee of the Cootamundra Turf Club are asking for help from the public to compile history and memories at the track. “Next year is the 150th year since the Cootamundra Turf Club began operating, we are probably now one of the oldest in NSW still racing today. Our aim is to document those treasured memories of time gone by,” CTC's president Jeffrey Bristow told racingnsw.com.au.

“Help us to discover our history, that is my request to the Cootamundra community.”

Go West scheme extended to November

Racing Queensland will extend the Go West Scheme out to November. The scheme assists jockeys with the cost of transport to tracks in regional areas. “Those amendments, which were initially in place until July 1, have been extended to November 30, 2025. The scheme subsidises up to four flights (to a maximum of $800 each) to each Non-TAB and TAB race meeting in the North West region,” said the statement at racingqueensland.com.au.

“Venues include Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Richmond, Hughenden, Corfield, Stamford, McKinlay and Winton. To be eligible for the subsidy, a jockey must have a minimum of three rides confirmed for the race meeting at jockey declarations.”

Fiore second in WA Jockeys’ Premiership

The win in the last at Kalgoorlie on Sunday aboard Peter Fernie-trained Feuding (Shooting To Win) took jockey Lucy Fiore to 123.5 wins for the season, just ahead of Chris Parnham on 123 who is currently out with an injury. Local jockey William Pike is leading the WA Jockey’s Premiership on 140.5. Blake Shinn leads the Australian table on 150. “I cannot complain, it’s been going absolutely super,” Fiore told racingwa.com.au.

“The whole season I’ve been getting a lot of support. A lot of nice horses for a lot of nice trainers. It’s been a very enjoyable season.”

Two milestones for Hemi

Central Districts jockey Leah Hemi ticked off two career milestones over the weekend, bringing up her 300th career win and number 50 for the season with a double on Knock Off (NZ) (Fabulous {NZ}) and Identikit (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) on Saturday, before heading to the South Island for Sunday’s racing where she rode a treble on La Evita (NZ) (Puccini {NZ}), The Entertainer (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) and On The Rivet (NZ) (Sweet Orange {USA}). “I quickly drove home from Wanganui, changed a few things and flew from Palmy to Christchurch on Saturday evening,” Hemi told Loveracing.nz.

“I stay with my friend Krystal Williams, she’s a trainer down there, then I drove to Oamaru on Sunday morning. I really did like the book of rides I had on both days, especially with La Evita, and she really impressed me. She was a maidener three starts ago, and now she’s gone bang-bang-bang. I did expect to get at least two across the two days, but to get five was pretty lucky.

“I didn’t really think about it until I was about 30-20 wins away, and I thought, ‘we’re getting quite close to the 300’. Over the last couple of months I have been trying to get there, and then getting 50 in a season as well. I was hoping to have my best season this year, so to get to 50 was pretty cool.”

Ruling Court versus Field Of Gold at Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot's Tuesday fields have been confirmed, with the key contest on the opening fixture being the 2,000 Guineas rematch between Godolphin's Ruling Court (USA) (Justify {USA}) and Juddmonte's Field Of Gold (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the seven-strong G1 St James's Palace Stakes. The sons of Justify (USA) and Kingman (GB) will be met by Wootton Bassett (GB)'s G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Henri Matisse (Ire) from Ballydoyle.

Gallery: Notable horses set for Royal Ascot

In the opening G1 Queen Anne Stakes, the field of 11 features all the four main protagonists of the G1 Lockinge Stakes, with Lead Artist (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) set to re-oppose alongside Yulong Investments' triple Grade I winner Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Marcstown's G1 Prix d'Ispahan runner-up Sardinian Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

The other Group 1 contest is the King Charles III Stakes, where the cast of 23 sprinters include last year's winner Asfoora (Flying Artie), Coolmore's G1 Al Quoz Sprint heroine Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Lord Lloyd Webber and Arthur Mitchell's G2 Temple Stakes scorer Mgheera (GB) (Zoustar) in a female-dominated tussle for the five-furlong prize. Riverstone Lodge’s new shuttle stallion Starlust (GB) (Zoustar) also runs.

New artwork on display in London for Royal Ascot

A new work of art commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's last winner at Royal Ascot will be unveiled on Monday, June 16. The painting is by Nichola Eddery, artist in residence at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket, and goes on display at the Osborne Studio Gallery in London on the eve of Royal Ascot 2025.

Titled 'The Sport of Kings and Queens', the painting depicts jockey James Doyle in the royal silks that he wore to victory on Tactical in 2020, the late Queen's 24th and final winner at the Royal meeting. The exhibit lasts until Saturday, July 5.

Eddery, a daughter of former champion jockey Pat Eddery, said, “James Doyle very kindly came and posed for me on the equicizer at the National Horse Racing Museum wearing the royal colours. I was able to loan a number cloth from Ascot Racecourse and the number 14 was carried by Tactical when winning the Windsor Castle Stakes. It also symbolises the current King's birthday, the 14th of November.

“The painting is a homage to Royal Ascot as a whole and I wanted to include the history by using one of the early depictions of Ascot Racecourse, so I chose a famous piece by 19th century artist James Pollard called 'Ascot Heath Races' as the backdrop.”