Hale elected new ATC chair
Current vice-chair Tim Hale has been elected to the Australian Turf Club (ATC) Chair position after the board voted on Monday evening. Caroline Searcy was elected as the new vice-chair, replacing Hale. “The Board of Directors of the Australian Turf Club has this evening elected Tim Hale SC as Chairman,” an ATC statement read.
Tim Hale | Image courtesy of Tim Hale
“Mr Hale has served on the ATC Board since February 2021 and brings extensive legal expertise, governance experience and a long connection to racing.” Hale has been on the Board for 4.5 years and has been vice-chair since August 2022. Both Hale and Searcy were supporters of the decision to keep Rosehill racecourse, with outgoing chair Peter McGuaran driving the push to sell the famous landmark asset. A replacement for McGuaran on the board will need to be appointed by Racing Minister David Harris in a future process.
Domeland announces new trainer
Former Godolphin assistant trainer Nacim Dilmi will take over from Sara Ryan as the new private trainer for Domeland. “We're incredibly excited to welcome Nacim to the Domeland team. He brings world-class experience from Godolphin and will build on the strong foundation set by Sara over the last couple of years. We believe Nacim is the right person to guide our stable into its next chapter,” Domeland managing director King Cheng told racenet.com.au.
Dilmi spent eight years with Godolphin. “I've always wanted to be a trainer and with James Cummings going to Hong Kong, it was the right time for me to step up,” Dilmi said.
Nacim Dilmi | Image courtesy of Godolphin
“When Domeland rang me to offer me the job, it was really exciting. You always know when their horses are racing, and you can spot their red and yellow colours a mile away. I've been watching most of their runners and Domeland have some exciting horses that I'm looking forward to getting my hands on.”
Ryan trained over 50 winners for Domeland in her time there. “I'm incredibly grateful to Domeland for giving me the opportunity to launch my training career. It has been a rewarding journey, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter and new challenges ahead.”
Stradbroke winner to target The Everest
Lindsay Park-trained War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}, who won the G1 Stradbroke Handicap at his most recent start, will be aimed at the G1 The Everest. “At this stage the plan is to go to the Manikato first-up and try and get into The Everest,” co-trainer Ben Hayes told racing.com.
“There’s been a little bit of interest in him for The Everest which is good. Horses out of the Stradbroke have a very good record in the Everest. He arrived back from Queensland ten days ago and he looks fantastic.”
Torryburn announce first foal of season
Torryburn Stud announced that their first foal of the season was a Shinzo filly from Apamurra (USA) (Lonhro) born in July 21. Apamurra is the dam of four winners and is a half-sister to top broodmare Essaouira (Exceed And Excel), dam of Group 1 winners Astern and Alizee (Sepoy).
The Australian Stud Book rules state that this foal will be born in the 2025/26 season if “a horse 31 days old or less on 1 August will not be required to become a yearling on that day, provided the Australian Stud Book is satisfied it was born to a mare whose first covering in Australia was restricted to the covering season. It will increase its age by 1 year each 1 August thereafter.” This rule came into effect in 2001 to prevent foals born in July turning one when only a few days old and was implemented by the sixth keeper John Digby.
William Pike set for Australian jockeys’ title number 8
Western Australian jockey William Pike is headed towards his eighth Australian jockeys’ premiership title. He's currently on 161 ½ wins with Victoria’s Blake Shinn next on 156. He also has a 7 ½ win lead over Chris Parnham in the Perth Jockey’s Premiership, and a victory would give him his 15th title there.
“I’ve such a stop-start season, broken bones, broken wrist. A lot was happening in those regards. To still be able to come back and end on top of the premiership, I’m pretty lucky and pretty grateful,” Pike told racingwa.com.au.
William Pike | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“I don’t generally get to sit down and reflect, I generally don’t, but I think this season I’ll definitely take five minutes and reflect. I’m a bit prouder of myself this time around, previous times it’s been business as usual. This one means a lot, just because of the stop-start nature of it all. I did get lucky because Chris unfortunately got hurt as well, otherwise I think he would have run off with it. I was never in convention, then back in contention when Chris got hurt.”
Bullock leads NSW Jockeys’ Premiership
Jockey Aaron Bullock, with 119 winners, has a seven-win lead over Braith Nock in the NSW Jockeys’ Premiership. He also leads the NSW Country Jockeys’ Premiership with 99 wins, six ahead of Nick Heywood. His seven rides at Taree on Tuesday include debutant Lou Mary-trained 3-year-old gelding Blue Kingdom (Blue Point {Ire}).
“I like that horse, he went really well when I rode him in a barrier trial at Scone. They gave him another trial after that and he’s ready to go now. He’s drawn lovely in barrier three and he’ll run well,” Bullock told racingnsw.com.au.
Al Riffa promoted to Melbourne Cup second favourite
Joseph O’Brien-trained 5-year-old entire Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has firmed into second favourite for the 2025 G1 Melbourne Cup after winning the G2 Curragh Cup over 2800 metres on Saturday. “He was very relaxed and Dylan said he was a very easy ride over that trip,” stable representative Kevin Blake told local media.
“I'd say it's most likely that he'll go straight to the Irish St Leger from here. There is a possibility of the Pries Von Berlin he won last year but I'd say it's more likely he'll go straight to the Irish Leger. The Melbourne Cup is in the mind thereafter. We all know what comes with that but it's what we'd like to do, if we're allowed.”
Dandy Kid dies aged 28
Robbie Griffith confirmed that his former Group 3 winner Dandy Kid (Demus) has died aged 28. Winner of 19 of his 87 starts, including 15 races at Moonee Valley, Dandy Kid won his first four in succession including the Listed Vain Stakes at three, later adding the 2000 G3 Bletchingly Stakes. “He was an amazing horse to everyone,” Griffiths told racenet.com.au.
“To race for eight years, everything changed so much and there were weddings, kids and grandkids among the ownership group while he was racing. He retired to (Cloverdale) and lived there for the last 19 years of his life. He was beautiful and sound all the time he was enjoying retirement. He never needed the vets, just the stock-standard maintenance a horse needs.”
Maiden solo win for McLean
Gold Coast trainer Stephen McLean earned his debut win as a solo trainer with his first runner when O'caldino (Dundeel {NZ}) at Clifford Park on Saturday evening. He previously trained in partnership with Toby Edmonds. “I have been doing this since I was 14 or 15 and everyone has offered their advice or opinion and you take everything on board,” McLean told racingqueensland.com.au of the Archer Park owned horse. Archer Park consists of McLean’s father Mark and Chris Wessel.
Stephen McLean | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
“You take great satisfaction in actually piecing together everything they have all taught me and put it all together and make it work. It was more satisfying because of the colours the horse was wearing and that my partner Nicole, she looks after him, as well. I grew up in Bundaberg around Chris (Wessel) and his son Jarrod. Hopefully I can string a few wins together for them and get the ball rolling.
“You have got an itch and you need to scratch it. Every result that happens moving forward from now on and are based on decisions I make.”
Darryl ‘Digger' McLellan announces retirement
Jockey Darryl ‘Digger' McLellan has announced his retirement from the saddle, after continuing to struggle with a shoulder that was injured in a fall in 2011. “The shoulder has had enough. It's the same shoulder that forced me to retire last time,” McLellan told racenet.com.au.
“(My comeback) didn't go how I'd hoped but I still rode winners and I've very happy that I got to have a career as a jockey. I don't want to dwell on things and now it's time for the next chapter. Obviously winning my first Group 1 aboard Magic Of Money in The Galaxy and the Sydney Cup on Henderson Bay were big thrills. But the win that meant the most to be was winning the Newcastle Cup on Silent Impact in 2000. It was during the Olympics and it was a stand-alone Saturday meeting. I never saw more people at Newcastle than I did that day.”
Champion Sydney apprentice jockey in 1992/93, McLellan was a good lightweight jockey early in his career. “Lonhro and Saintly without a doubt were the best. I won the Warwick Stakes on Lonhro at three and I got to win a race aboard Saintly at Newcastle early in his career. I know what a good horse feels like. I consider myself lucky that I get to retire with some great memories.”
Super Seth debutant wins at Bathurst
Monday’s meeting at Bathurst was the location for the debutant victory of Bjorn Baker-trained 2-year-old filly Shirley’s Tribute (NZ) (Super Seth), winning by 1.37l over 1200 metres. She becomes the fourth winner from Super Seth’s second crop, which is led by Group 1 winner La Dorada (NZ). He has three Group 1 winners from his first crop of 3-year-olds.
Shirley’s Tribute was Bjorn Baker and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) for $225,000 from Waikato Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. She is the fourth winner from as many foals for Date Night (NZ) (Savabeel) who was Group 2-placed.
Spicy Baby wins at Moruya
Tassort sired a new juvenile winner at Moruya on Monday with the debut victory of 2-year-old filly Spice Baby. She is trained by Joseph Ible and is the second winner for Ice Baby (Stratum) who is a half-sister to stakes placed Encosta Tszyu (Encosta De Lago).
Exosphere sired a double at this meeting with Giza and Princeton.
Racing Queensland change trial rules
Racing Queensland announced on Monday that Local Rule LR33(2) will become effective on August 1, 2025. This rule means that all unraced horses must trial prior to racing. Previously in Queensland, and up to the end of this season, this was only mandatory for horses making their debut in a metropolitan race.
BOBS Sire Guide released
Racing NSW announced on Monday that the annual BOBS sire guide has been released. The 22-page magazine lists the 90 stallions which have been nominated for BOBS, together with photographs and pedigrees. It is available by contacting Racing NSW.
Inaugural Selangor Mile won by Lucky Magic
Lucky Magic (NZ) (Mendelssohn {USA}) has won the inuagural Selangor Mile in Malaysia. "I always knew Lucky Magic could win the Selangor Mile,” trainer HY Cheng told nzb.co.nz. “I promised the owner the win and I am just so happy my expectation is proven correct. He will many Cups, for sure.”
A NZ$35,000 purchase by B Kwok from Prima Park's Karaka 2022 draft, he was later knocked down for NZ$75,000 to his trainer when prepared by Prima Park for their 2022 Ready to Run Sale draft.
Waikato Guineas winner set for spring Group 1s
Rising 4-year-old Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci), who won the G2 Waikato Guineas and was second in the R-Listed Karaka Millions 3YO Classic, will be set for the New Zealand spring trio of Group 1s. “He’s had two months off and his runs were well-spaced, his form line was fantastic,” Shaune Ritchie, who trains in partnership with Colm Murray, told Loveracing.nz.
Tuxedo (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“He’s been back in work for quite some time and had a couple of run alongs already, so we’ll hit the first two weight-for-age races. He was always a relatively strong horse and now he’s a powerhouse, he looks more like a sprinter-miler than a stayer. He put on about 45kg during the eight weeks he was out.”
Diego Velazquez set for Group 1 targets
Putting an unplaced seasonal debut effort at Royal Ascot behind him on Sunday, Ballydoyle's Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) proved that the seven-furlong trip of The Curragh's G2 Romanised Minstrel Stakes was well within his repertoire.
“He had to be withdrawn from the Amethyst Stakes after getting upset in the stalls and that upset his Ascot plan. Then I wasn't confident enough to tell Ryan to ride him as forward as he would have liked in the Queen Anne, because he hadn't had a run and they only walked the first half of the race so it was a non-event really,” Aidan O’Brien said.
“We knew he would come forward a lot from then to today and he did well to win today over seven. He's a brave horse and Ryan gave him a good ride, as a mile is probably his trip. He's a very well-made horse–powerful, strong and a great walker. Physically as a specimen, he's a tank really. We'll go back up to a mile now for the Sussex or the Jacques le Marois, something like that. He'll have no problem getting back up to nine furlongs or a mile and a quarter at the end of the season.”
Third Group winner for Starman
Isaac Souede and Simon Munir's Green Sense (Ire) (Starman {GB}) bounced back in style to defeat her male peers and secure a breakthrough success in Sunday's G2 Goffs Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly.
“She's a really good filly, she is very easy to ride and she won well,” said winning rider Maxime Guyon. “My instructions were to follow and then use her turn of foot. We were unsure how she would handle the track as the going is soft today, but she handled it without any problems. It's not easy going against the colts, even with the weight allowance, but she did it well and is good enough to win a Group 1.” The winner retains a G1 Prix Morny nomination.
More Than Ready features in G2 Canadian Stakes quinella
Charles Fipke's Ready for Shirl (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}) hadn't visited the winner's circle since January, however, she found the right time to mark her return, collecting her first taste of black-type in the process, in Sunday's GII Canadian Stakes at Woodbine.
Favoured Gimme a Nother (SAf) (Gimmethegreenlight) soon went to the front, slowing the pace to a modest :24.60 and :49.37 as Ready for Shirl set up shop about three lengths behind in the early stages of the nine-furlong test. Given some solid encouragement down the long straight, Gimme a Nother remained tough, however, Ready for Shirl drew closer with each stride, catching the front runner in the final jump to eke out the win. Gimmethegreenlight is a son of More Than Ready (USA).
“I remember saying her last work, it was as good as she's ever worked for me,” said dual Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield. “She's carrying more weight than she's ever carried before, and since her last race, she's put weight on. I've always had problems keeping weight on this filly, so she was indicating that she's rounding into a really nice filly now.”
