Disqualification tightens Brisbane Jockeys' Premiership title race
Jockey Emily Lang has moved to 64 wins in the Brisbane Metro Jockeys' Premiership race, one behind Angela Jones, after Galifianakis (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) was promoted from second to first when the winner tested positive to cobalt. “Following its run on April 26, Dillian returned a positive to cobalt, above the threshold,” Queensland chief steward Josh Adams told racenet.com.au.
Emily Lang | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“Dillian has today been disqualified from that win. The training partnership (of Will and Peter Hulbert) was fined $5000 and their license was suspended for 12 months, with that suspension being wholly suspended for two years. We have already notified Jack Bruce that Galifianakis has got the win. It will give Emily Lang that extra win, so she is now only one behind Angela Jones.”
Whoever wins will become the first female jockey to win the title.
Reciprocal partnership announced with MRC and UK’s Jockey Club
The Melbourne Racing Club and The Jockey Club, who operate 15 racecourses in the UK, announced on Thursday that they’d signed a reciprocal deal for members. The arrangement will initially be in place from August 1 this year through to December 31, 2026. The MRC operates three of Victoria's leading racecourses – Caulfield, Mornington and Sandown – and hosts 80 race days annually, with 13 Group 1 races at Caulfield.
In return, MRC annual members will gain complimentary admission to any fixtures staged at Jockey Club Racecourses, including world-renowned events such as the Cheltenham Festival, Grand National Festival and four of the five British Classics, subject to availability. “We are very proud to strengthen our association with the Melbourne Racing Club with this new reciprocal membership access agreement,” Matthew Woolston, Assistant Racing and International Director at The Jockey Club, said in a press release.
“This exciting new association will see anyone who is an Annual Member at any of our 15 racecourses gain complimentary admission to any MRC fixture, thereby offering the chance to watch and be at the heart of some of the very best racing in the world, including one of Australia’s leading races - the Group 1 Caulfield Cup.
“MRC Annual Members will also gain complimentary admission to any of The Jockey Club’s 320 annual fixtures, handing Australian fans the perfect opportunity to sample some of the UK’s very best racing throughout the year.”
The two club had a prior relationship through several ballot free racing options. The winners of the G2 Jockey Club Stakes and G2 Princess of Wales's Stakes get a ballot free entry to the G1 Caulfield Cup, while the winner of the G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield earns an invitation, free entry and travel incentives to the G1 July Cup at Newmarket.
Maley’s tough test in Belmont Classic
Trainer Ashley Maley knows 3-year-old gelding Lano (Blue Point {Ire}) has a big task ahead in Saturday’s Listed Belmont Classic, but he’s won his last two in succession, and form often matters. “I’ve always had a big opinion of him. We didn’t give him enough of a break early in his career and it made him a bit sour,” Maley told racingwa.com.au.
“He’s quite a tough horse, you have to ask him for everything you get out of him, he’s a bit of an arrogant sort of customer. But he’s racing really well and racing really tough, he seems to be able to cop a bit of punishment in his run. He just finds the line, he’s just tough, he’s really tough. He’s showing that he will make the trip.”
Dunn working on first trainers' premiership
Trainer Matthew Dunn sits in second place on the NSW Country Trainers' Premiership, behind the Annabel and Rob Archibald team who have 69 qualifying wins to Dunn’s 64. “I didn't even know to be honest. I don't think we have won one before so it would cap off a good season,” Dunn told racenet.com.au.
“We've had a better season than what it looks because we've had 20-odd meetings cancelled up here this season so we should be well clear of them if those meetings had of gone ahead. It would be fantastic if we could (win the Premiership) but I don't think we've got enough time to get five, but hopefully, fingers crossed.
Matthew Dunn | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
“Where we're positioned, we are lucky that we've got access to a number of very good tracks on the Northern Rivers and we support those tracks as strongly as we possibly can. It would be great to have a stable full of city horses but we don't have that and the fact that we are able to place them so well and get through their grades, it is a real positive there for the stable.”
Brazen Beau’s Cherish Me nearing return
Trainer Ciaron Maher has set 2-year-old filly Cherish Me (Brazen Beau) for the G1 MRC Thousand Guineas on October 18, and she will resume on Saturday at Caulfield if the weather stays good. “She's still getting there … not quite there fitness wise,” Maher told racenet.com.au.
Cherish Me | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We had a high opinion of her from the first time she went to the races … she's got good ability. She'll keep furnishing. If we think she could stretch out, timing wise it (Thousand Guineas) would work for her.”
Collett versus Llyod in Sydney
Jockeys Jason Collett and Zac Lloyd are equal second with 67 wins apiece in the Sydney Jockeys' Premiership, well behind leader James McDonald who has 83 wins. “Now that the opportunity is there, definitely I do want to finish second,” Collett told racingnsw.com.au.
“Early on you’re just trying to win as many races and do the best you can and that leads to where we are now. There’s not much more I can do than what I have been doing to achieve it, and what will be will be.”
Berkeley Square to keep improving as distance extends
Trainer Dan O’Sullivan thinks Berkeley Square (Territories {Ire}) will keep improving with each run this season. He resumed in the Listed Winter Championship Series Final and runs at Caufield on Saturday over a mile. “His first-up run was satisfactory but once he drew barrier one, we were pretty much out of the fight,” O'Sullivan told racing.com.
Berkeley Square | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“That's not his go to be drawn inside like that and we've only drawn barrier three on Saturday, so we'll have to think about how we ride him. He's in fantastic order. He looks good and his work has been really good, he's just got to get out to his right trip on his right track. It might take getting to 2000 metres for him to be at his best now.”
Snowden’s Nazwah ready for Randwick
Peter Snowden-trained 2-year-old filly Nazwah (Capitalist) will be tested at Randwick on Saturday ahead of next season. “She was a hot little pocket rocket early days but she seems to have settled right down, especially the last four or five weeks,” Snowden told racingnsw.com.au.
Peter Snowden | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’s really changed and come of age. It’s coming through in her work and her whole attitude in the stable too, she’s more relaxed and eating better. She does her work not so intensely. She looks a picture so there’s no reason not to run. It’s a great family, she has a really good pedigree. She’ll probably have a little breather after Saturday but she’s sure to poke her head up somewhere through the spring carnival.” A daughter of Group 3 winner Najoom (Northern Meteor), making her a half-sister to Group 1 winner Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) and Listed winner Najmaty (I Am Invincible), Nazwah was a winner on debut last start.
Trio of 2-year-olds win at Northam
Farnan added winner number 13 when Luke Fernie-trained filly Romance Calling won the second on the card at Northam, and set off a treble of victories for juveniles at the track on Thursday. Simon Miller-trained gelding Champagne Crusader (Universal Ruler) and Daniel and Ben Pearce-trained gelding Sherpa Express (Blue Point {Ire}) won the next two events.
Romance Calling was a $25,000 purchase from Tyreel Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft by Belhus Racing. Champagne Crusader was purchased by his trainer for $30,000 from Namerik Thoroughbreds’ Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft, and Sherpa Express is a homebred for Oakland Park Stud.
Azarax wins on debut at Wyong
Wyong’s Thursday meeting saw the debutant juvenile gelding Azarax (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) win over 1300 metres for trainers John O'Shea and Tom Charlton. He becomes Hello Youmzain’s eighth Southern Hemisphere winner. Sold by Curraghmore at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$190,000 to Laurel Oak Bloodstock, John O’Shea Racing and James Bester Bloodstock, he is the third foal and second winner for Sunny Rose (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who is a winning full sister to Group 1 winner Tavago (NZ).
Pride Of Dubai sired a double at the meeting with Burj and Dubai Warrior.
Rothesay juvenile wins at Cairns
At Cairns on Thursday, Scott Cooper-trained 2-year-old filly Gem Of Scots (Rothesay) won against the older maidens over 950 metres and was having her third start, having run second last start. Sold by Kynoch Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale for $16,000, she was bought by Scott and Fiona Green. She is the second foal of Rotindy (Court Command) who is a winning half-sister to stakes placed Gem Of Scotland (Rothesay).
Webster chasing hometown Cup win
Apprentice jockey Bailey Webster hopes Captain Rogers (Flying Artie) can win Saturday’s Roebourne Cup to give him a hometown victory. The iconic red-dirt track at Roebourne is a half-hour drive from his hometown of Karratha in the Pilbara region. “It would mean everything to me if I could get a winner in front of all of them,” Bailey told racingwa.com.au. Captain Rogers was fourth in the Derby Cup last start with Webster aboard.
“To be able to ride at Roebourne and in the Cup is probably the most exciting thing I’ve ever done. There’s a certain level of pressure on my back because it’s my hometown, but it’s good pressure. I find it fun. After I rode the first winner (at Roebourne), I felt invincible and then I won again in the second and it was a really good day.
Bailey Webster | Image courtesy of Racing WA
“It was a great moment for my confidence, being a young rider. You build from your own experiences and riding winners like that really brings you up. Racing helps bring the towns to life. It’s great for small businesses and a huge thing to be a part of and I’m happy to be involved.”
Tony Furness hopes to emulate father in Ryder Stakes
Dairy farmer and part-time trainer Tony Furness’s father Bert won the Listed Ryder Stakes with High Saint (NZ) (Patron Saint {GB}) in 1977 and Tony hopes to emulate him with 2-year-old Reconvene (NZ) (Derryn) on Saturday. “Dad won the race 50-odd years ago, I was 14 or 15 back then. I won a couple of trials on the horse myself, but I think Bob Skelton was a wee bit better than me. He wasn’t a bad little horse, he went on to win the Foxbridge (Plate) after that,” Furness told Loveracing.nz.
“(Reconvene) made up a lot of ground on him (Spandeedo). He wasn’t copping the track as good as I thought he would, but every track is different, and he got through it still. He is a neat little horse. He is quiet and travels by himself. He is a dream horse really.
“I milk cows, so I do one or two. I have been a bit lucky to train a few for Dan Myers, who is just up the road from me. I have trained three for Dan and they have all won, we have had a bit of fun. (Reconvene) will be going out (to spell after the Ryder) as I have got all my cows coming in, so I am getting busy.”
Brian Acheson buys into Monceaux
Irishman Brian Acheson has acquired a minor stake in French farm Ecurie des Monceaux. The news was confirmed by Monceaux's Henri Bozo to Jour De Galop on Wednesday evening.
A prominent NH owner under the Robcour banner, Acheson has now handed Bozo more financial firepower to continue the French Flat nursery's consigning dominance at the upcoming Arqana August Yearling Sale. Monceaux has led the vendor table for each of the past 13 years.
Henri Bozo | Image courtesy of Jour De Galop
“I am delighted to have a new partner on board, a successful entrepreneur with dynamic ideas who will strengthen our team,” Bozo told the JDG.
Ten nations represented in Shergar Cup
The 2025 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup will feature jockeys from 10 different countries, with Katie Davis, Delphine Santiago and Joanna Mason completing the line up for the team event which takes place at Ascot on Saturday, August 9.
French-born Santiago joins captain Per-Anders Graberg (Sweden) and Dario Di Tocco (Italy) in team Europe, while Mason completes the team from Great Britain and Ireland which also features captain Hollie Doyle and Robbie Dolan.
Meanwhile, Davis, who was born in Idaho in the USA, will compete in the Shergar Cup for the first time as part of the Rest of the World team, alongside captain Karis Teetan (Mauritius) and Hugh Bowman (Australia). Davis starred in the Netflix series Race for the Crown and has ridden around the world, including in the International Jockeys Challenge in Saudi Arabia.
Track superintendent claims being fired over reporting to HISA
Thistledown Racino in Ohio fired its track superintendent on Monday, and management at the Cleveland-area track has brought in outside racing surface consultants and is working with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) in the aftermath of four lost days of racing and training this week because of escalating safety concerns with the dirt surface.
But Sean Wright, who was only on the superintendent's job four months before his abrupt termination July 21, told TDN in a Wednesday phone interview that Thistledown's troubles on its one-mile dirt oval extend beyond the graphic images that have circulated on social media this week showing fist-sized rocks that were allegedly picked up from the track by jockeys and horsemen on Monday and Tuesday.
“Monday, when I told the stewards and when I told the HISA official that's on the grounds that I do not feel comfortable guaranteeing the safety of that racetrack because I don't want to break any more horses down, that's when I was called upstairs and subsequently let go,” Wright said.
“I believe I was let go because of (being) a whistleblower,” Wright said. “They even mentioned during our meeting that it was not my place to go to the stewards or HISA. Well you know what? It was damn sure my place to go to the stewards or HISA.
“When I reported what I saw on that racetrack, that's my professional obligation. And it's not only my professional obligation, I take a lot of pride. I've been in this business for 45 years. My family's been in this business for over 100 years. I rode. I trained. These guys mean something to me. These horses mean something to me. That's what I'm here for.”
