A female jockey will win the Brisbane Premiership
But who? Angela Jones sits in the lead two wins ahead of Emily Lang, who will miss eight days after being suspended at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. Lang is apprenticed to Tony Gollan, while Jones is the main rider for the same stable. “I don't know who's going to win,” Gollan told racenet.com.au.
“They're both doing a good job for the stable and that's what is important for me. I'll be proud of whoever does win the premiership and we'll be there to support whoever doesn't win. It's a very exciting end to the season because this time of the year there's not a lot going on, it's off-season racing. To have something like this going on in the background, it adds a level of excitement.
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“They didn't get anything given to them in our stable, they've earned the rights they get. Both girls are there doing the work and they've done a great job all season. It's a shame there's only going to be one winner. They're both dear to the hearts of everyone in our stable and we're really proud of both girls. I guess it'll come down to who gets the rub of the green in these next few weeks.”
Archibald stable sets sights on Grafton carnival
With the Listed Ramornie Handicap on Wednesday and the Listed Grafton Cup on Thursday, the Annabel and Rob Archibald stable are setting a collection of horses from their stable for the pair of black type races. Midnight In Tokyo (Kobayashi) and Eye Of The Fire (Epaulette) head to the Ramornie, while four horses may take on the Listed Grafton Cup.
“Eye Of The Fire raced well below expectations first-up, we were expecting a bit more from him but he has come through the run fine. It was maybe a bit of a flat run for Midnight In Tokyo last start because her runs before that were quite good in some nice races. Possibly the ground was just a tough firm for her, I am not sure,” Rob Archibald told racenet.com.au.
Rob Archibald | Image courtesy of Annabel Neasham Racing
On the quartet nominated for the Grafton Cup, “We want to see what the track is like but if it's too firm, Don Diego De Vega would be a little query. Sir Chartwell will possibly go there as with Akrotiri and Little Mix but we just want to see what the ground is like before making up our mind.”
Waterhouse and Bott’s expensive imports set for Cup
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s two expensive imports Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) are getting into their G1 Melbourne Cup preparations. “Sir Delius is probably carrying forward a little bit more residual fitness off a Queensland campaign,” Bott told racing.com of the 1.3 million gns (AU$2.7 million) Tattersalls sale topper.
“We didn’t go too deep there; we just wanted to give him that one run. He had a nice break up there, but I think it was important going into a big spring campaign that he was able to have some form of racing preparation to go into it. So, there’s a lot to like about him, I think he learned plenty off that (Australian) debut run.
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Vauban, he’s had the benefit of having a full preparation here (in the autumn), having raced in Melbourne before, raced over the two miles previously, so he ticks a lot of boxes. It’s very early days as well (in his preparation) but he’s just going to have a nice build-up and sort of try and follow probably a traditional type of path through to the Cup.” Vauban was a $2 million private purchase by Australian Bloodstock.
Monday Scone double on Hickman’s mind
Trainer Greg Hickman has two nice runners at Scone on Monday, 2-year-old filly Vincetio (Astern) who was seventh on debut at her only start, and Anoint (The Autumn Sun). “I haven't got a clue (why she failed). I just think the occasion might have got to her. She looks a nice quiet filly but if you change her from her box to another box, she does get very upset. So I am hoping that's what it was and she's done well at home (since),” Hickman told racenet.com.au.
Ton for apprentice Bates
Apprentice jockey Logan Bates won his 100th race when he bagged a double at Caulfield on Saturday aboard Illyivy (Flying Artie) and Until Valhalla (Snitzel). “(Until Valhalla) gave me an unbelievable feel, Ciaron’s team, their big crew, have got her in super form,” Bates said.
“That’ll definitely put her value up, I think she’s fairly well bred. So, it’s good for the Mailbag Crew. They’ve supported me throughout, and I’m just glad to get another winner on this horse.”
Double for Mott as he returns from injury
Jockey Jamie Mott rode a double on Sunday at Bendigo, his first winners since having a month off with injury. He won on Glen Thompson-trained 2-year-old gelding Cannyworth (Written Tycoon) and Gavin Bedggood-trained Nimbustwothousand (Lonhro). “Back to 1100 after a freshen-up, drawn a good gate. I was confident he would handle the ground, and he got a nice run. He really finished the race off well. He’s had a good preparation – I think he can realistically win a town,” Mott said.
Jamie Mott | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Cannyworth was having his third start and he’s bred on the Written Tycoon/Snitzel cross which continues to churn out winners. Purchased by Ballymore Stables, Paul Moroney Bloodstock and C Bruggeman for $120,000, Cannyworth graduated from Yulong’s draft at Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He is the first foal of Nuptials (Snitzel).
Snitzel enjoyed a treble as damsire at this meeting with Cannyworth, 3-year-old filly Delicate Lady (Inference), and Nisbustwothousand.
Boys Night Out wins Big Dance ticket
On Sunday, Matt Dunn-trained Boys Night Out (No Nay Never {USA}) won the South Grafton Cup to gain Big Dance entry. “This race is quite special,” Dunn's stable representative Holly Julius said.
“Cepheus won it last year and the year before and we've lost him and it gets a bit emotional when you talk about him. But we have to talk about this boy now, Boys Night Out. He has done such a fantastic job to hold onto that. He fits so hard and a credit to Jake (Bayliss), he kept his cool.”
Levendi’s first winner doubles it up
Patrick Kearney-trained 2-year-old gelding Tempt The Gods (Levendi), who is the first winner for his G1 Australian Derby winning first season sire, doubled it up with his second victory on Sunday at Kilmore to make it two in succession.
Sold by Broadmarsh Stud for $5000 at the Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale to CJG Racing and his trainer, Tempt The Gods is out of Hidden Charm (Reset), so he ought to keep improving at three.
Flying Artie is flying
After two winners on Saturday, including the G3 Sir John Monash Stakes winner In Flight, Flying Artie added another juvenile winner on Sunday at 2-year-old gelding Gozo who won at his second start for trainer Rob Heathcote.
Purchased by his trainer and Paul Willetts Bloodstock for $80,000, Gozo is a graduate of Newgate Farm’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft. He is the second foal of Stella Victoria (Foxwedge), who was a Listed winner in Queensland. Flying Artie stands at Blue Gum Farm for $11,000 including GST.
Gozo as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
I'm All The Talk sires double
I’m All The Talk sired a double at Kalgoorlie with 3-year-olds Leandanear and Gibraltar Gold. I'm All The Talk stood at Darling View Stud until his death in 2022. He also sired this season's G2 Karrakatta Plate winning juvenile Talkanco.
Waller pleased with Via Sistina’s return
Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) will return to defend her G1 Cox Plate crown. “She’s come back great. She’s had an amazing 12 months, and like her whole demeanour has changed. She’s a really imposing sort of horse and she just seems to have so much purpose about life now,” Waller told racing.com.
Via Sistina (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I’m not saying she’s better, but she just presents better, she looks great. I think mares take a long time to acclimatise and I think she’s finally acclimatised, which is great. Again, I stress it’s not going to say she’s going to be better but, gee, she has come back well. So she will just resume in the Winx Stakes, all going to plan. She’s still got to have two trials first.”
Retirement looms for Brian Smith
Trainer Brian ‘BJ’ Smith will retire at the end of the season. The 83-year-old was honoured at a lunch at Doomben on Saturday. “I'm nearly 84 and I've been everywhere around the world a couple of times but I just don't want to do it anymore,” Smith told racenet.com.au.
“I want to enjoy a bit of life where I don't have to wake up and worry about what work I need to do.” Smith is most famous for campaigning Balmerino (NZ) internationally, where he almost won the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
“It wasn't a fair dinkum race, my horse should've won. He won 12 months of the year, nowadays trainers set their horses for a race. But he won every month of the calendar year as a 3-year-old in New Zealand, Sydney and up here (in Brisbane). Fourteen wins in 12 months.”
Singapore Champion Trainer settles in well at Bendigo
Trainer Tim Fitzsimmons won the Singapore Trainer’s Premiership in his third season there, and now he’s training out of Bendigo with a strong strike of 10 wins from 45 starts. “Bendigo is a great place to train. The access to the grass is special and I couldn't want for more with the facilities at my property with a swimming pool, big boxes, walkers and inside and outside yards,” Fitzsimmons told racing.com.
“If someone told me six months ago I'd have this sort of success, I would have gladly taken it. It's how we train. We try and run them in the right races. I'm lucky I've got owners who leave me alone. We are happy with how it has gone. It's mainly been the horses from Singapore. It's worked out well and they are all running well. I've got to keep building on it.”
The stable includes ten horses who came back from Singapore with him. “It helped us have runners early, which has been great and now I'm waiting on the youngsters I've bought to come through, which I've been taking slowly. It's going to be a slow build. Hopefully we can attract some new owners. It's happening with enquiries and people getting on board.”
Vouris outlines plans at Entain
Incoming Entain CEO Andrew Vouris has outlined his goals for the company, including a discussion of various threats to racing’s income stream. “I've been really forthright in my communication to the team – I want us to win, yes, but not at all costs,” Vouris told racenet.com.au.
“We've got a hardworking and passionate workforce both here in Australia and New Zealand but there's always room for improvement and we're steadfast in our commitment to do that. With challenges comes opportunity.
“My prime focus is putting all our energy into connecting with our customers and stakeholders as best we can. At the core, punters want great products and competitive prices and that's our focus. Our integration of the New Zealand TAB in the past year or two has absorbed a lot of our resources but with that now complete, we can get back to innovation and growth which is a passion of mine.
Andrew Vouris | Image courtesy of Andrew Vouris
“At the end of the day we are a bookmaker – that's our business, bookmaking. When you over-complicate things and overextend yourself you can lose your way. The tax regime is a huge concern for the long-term sustainability of racing – that's been well documented. Offshore and emerging cryptocurrency casino operators are a major threat too. They are growing at exponential rates, and the foreign licensing isn't returning anything on the domestic front.
“Some of the financial projections of what's being spent in these offshore casino markets is frightening and should be alarming to Australian racing. Action really needs to come now.”
Twenty-five Equinox foals at JRHA sale
Japan's most prestigious bloodstock auction, the JRHA Select Sale, springs back to action with a session of yearlings on Monday, but what many observers will be waiting to see is the reception given to the first foals of world champion Equinox (Jpn). Twenty-five of his debut crop are set to sell on Tuesday.
Over the last decade, the growth in turnover has more than doubled, with the combined aggregate of 2015 of ¥13.1bn (AU$135.6 million) increasing year on year to the 2024 record of ¥28.9bn (AU$297.9 million). The difference in the number sold in those two years? Only two: 470 in 2015 and 472 last year.
On Saturday morning, Teruya Yoshida welcomed a group of visitors to his Shadai Farm and sounded a brief note of caution regarding the wider economic picture on the back of trade tariffs imposed on Japan.
Equinox (Jpn) | Image courtesy of Japan Racing Association
“I can't say there is a lot of confidence (in the market) because of President Trump,” he said. “We export a lot of automobiles to America and that trade has been damaged. But we have many people here for the sale – there are more lookers than last year – so I think we will be okay.”
Yoshida continued, “But in Japan Racing Association the betting has grown five per cent on last year, and in NAR (the National Association of Racing circuit, mainly on the dirt) it is up 10 per cent. Racing is so popular here. That means more people may come into ownership – the racing clubs (syndicates) are almost sold out.”
Vale Captain Barker
Captain Fred Barker, owner of the picturesque King Edward's Place Stud on the edge of the Downs near the Ridgeway, died recently at the age of 88.
Born into a world where hunting, racing and breeding were a way of life, horses were always at the core of Fred's being. He did just enough to survive his five years at Harrow and then spent several very happy years in the 11th Hussars, before taking over the running of King Edward's Place, which was once a discreet country retreat of Edward VII, as the name suggests, from his parents, 'Gar' and Nancy Barker in 1962, while in his mid 20s.
Ever the perfectionist, Fred worked hard to maintain the stud and with the help of his fellow former 11th Hussar, great friend and bloodstock agent, Johnnie Lewis, he spent a considerable amount of money on stallions, which he hoped would reinvigorate the stud and bring it the recognition it deserved.
Manacle was the stud's most successful stallion. He sired Moorestyle – British Horse of the Year, European Horse of the Year and champion sprinter in 1980 – and was later sold to Australia.
By the late 1980s, disillusioned with the racing industry and facing increasing head winds, as bloodstock became more expensive and it became ever harder to acquire commercial stallion prospects, Fred made the difficult decision to sell King Edward's Place. Sold to Allied Dunbar, it sadly disappeared off the map as a stud farm. “I was born in the house, so it was a very difficult decision to sell,” he said at the time.
Away from horses, Fred owned and operated the BEAS Helicopters company through the 1970s and loved his farming estate at Lushill, near Hannington, Wiltshire. Always one for an adventure, Fred memorably teamed up with Johnnie Lewis and another great friend and fellow 11th Hussar, David Dollar, to compete in the 1968 London to Sydney car rally, where despite not processing one iota of rally driving experience between them, they managed to win the amateur class.
