McGauran steps down as ATC Director
Following the appointment of Tim Hale as ATC Chairman, former Chair Peter McGauran has resigned from the Board of the Australian Turf Club, ahead of the scheduled end of his term in January 2026. McGauran has served as a Director since February 2022, including three years as Chairman.
Peter McGauran | Image courtesy of Australian Turf Club
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Hale thanked McGauran for his passion for the Club, and his leadership in helping to improve the ATC’s financial position and structure.
The timing and process for appointing a new Independent Director will be determined by the Minister for Racing.
Gollan wins Brisbane Trainers’ Premiership number 12
With 194 wins for the season, trainer Tony Gollan knows time has probably run out to reach 200, a mark never achieved by a Queensland trainer in one season. He has already won his 12th Brisbane trainers’ premiership, but can he reach that magical mark with only two days of racing left?
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’ve had too many seconds in the past few weeks and having Sunday’s Ipswich meeting abandoned hasn’t helped,” Gollan told racingqueensland.com.au. “We’re in the nervous 90’s but we’re probably a million to one to get there with only two meetings left. We’re only in five races at Doomben and there’s Ipswich on Thursday so mathematically we’re still a chance of reaching 200 but it’ll be very tough.”
Maher leads the Australian Trainers’ title
The Ciaron Maher stable has a massive lead on the Australian Trainers’ Premiership with 329.5 wins for the season. Chris Waller sits in second on 272, with Lindsay Park’s Hayes brothers in third with 252.5.
Snitzel colt to use Warwick Farm as a stepping stone
Trainer Matthew Smith thinks lightly raced rising 4-year-old entire Golden Straand (Snitzel) will use Warwick Farm on Wednesday as a stepping stone to something better. “He did things a lot better than in the start before. He’s getting there, he’s just got to learn his race craft and he’ll be fine,” Smith told racingnsw.com.au.
Matthew Smith | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“The depth of racing in Sydney is so competitive, especially in those 72s and 78s, and a horse needs to have above average ability to jump quickly in those grades. They’ve got to be smart in the way they race, they can’t be overdoing it, they’ve got to be travelling and know how to quicken up. He’s got the ability, the penny hasn’t quite dropped yet but I think he’ll get there.”
Owned by Gerry Harvey, Golden Straand is a winner and placed twice from three starts. He is a son of Listed winner Kryptelon (Falvelon).
Digital bargain to sign off in style
Trainer Tracey Bartley would love to see his mare Mabel (Dream Ahead {USA}) go out in style on Wednesday at Warwick Farm before she retires to stud. The 2019 Inglis Digital buy cost only $5000 and has earnings over $410,000 from her six wins. “She is racing well and deserves to win another race in her last couple of runs,” Bartley told racenet.com.au.
“She went well the other day. She just got held up a little bit. She looks bang on again. From barrier 1, she won't have to be right out the back. She should settle midfield. I imagine her settling fifth or sixth and hopefully they can get into the clear at the right time.”
Racing Victoria chasing Cup raiders
Racing Victoria's Paul Bloodworth outlined which trainers and horses they are targeting for this spring’s G1 Melbourne Cup. “I would say two trainers in Ireland expressed strong desire to come back, Willie Mullins and Joseph O'Brien,” Bloodworth said on RSN Racing Pulse.
“Joseph has got a horse called Al Riffa. He won the Curragh Cup when I was there a week or so ago, super-impressive. It was his first start past the mile-and-a-half, so it was a little bit of a test case to see whether he would get the trip and he did that really well.
“Sober is an OTI horse so you would expect that it would be coming here, and yes, it does have to pass the ballot. I think if he was to run a place in a Group 3 race over a mile-and-a-half or further he would be well and truly in the weights and be secure a run in the Melbourne Cup.
Paul Bloodworth | Image courtesy of Paul Bloodworth
“We've got a couple of horses that we are looking at from Japan for the Cups, probably the best of them is Chevalier Rose, which is trained by (Hisashi) Shimizu, who won the Caulfield Cup with Mer De Glace in 2019, so he knows Melbourne well. When I saw him in Japan a month or so ago, he was very keen to bring this horse.”
Too Darn Hot (GB)’s Hotazhell (GB) might end up in the G1 Cox Plate. “There's a horse called Hotazhell, trained by Jessica Harrington, that's going to the Saratoga Derby, I think that's this weekend, which is a win-and-you're in race to the Ladbrokes Cox Plate,” Bloodworth said.
“Talking to Jessie and her racing manager, if he was to win that they would be very open to bringing the horse to the Cox Plate. … It's still a chance, should it win the Saratoga Derby.”
Van Der Hoven moves to Brisbane
Jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven is moving from Sydney to Brisbane to support the Annabel and Rob Archibald stable there. “I've always had it in the back of my mind to move up there if the right opportunity comes because I really like Brisbane,” Van Der Hoven told racenet.com.au.
“The weather and the atmosphere play a big part. It's more chilled and relaxed and there are nice tracks up there. I'm not a city boy. I grew up on a farm (in Reheboth, just south of Windhoek in Namibia) and I like the outdoors. And I like the water a lot.
“Annabel asked ‘would you ride for me up there?' and I said ‘yeah if you'll support me' and that started the whole thing. I'll try to do my best to be a city rider up here and try to get a few features if possible.”
Neindorf moves to Melbourne
Adelaide jockey Lachlan Neindorf announced his move to Melbourne on Tuesday. “I am making a move to Melbourne,. I've definitely sat down and sort of reflected on it (the season). So, we'll work our way up over here and hopefully things go well,” Neindorf told racingsa.com.au.
Lachlan Neindorf | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I kept it on a bit of a down low. I just wanted to sort a few things out, and obviously, I was focusing on finishing the season in Adelaide off strongly. But it was sort of always on the back burner and something my manager and I had spoken about, and I was happy to come across and test the waters here and have a red-hot crack at it.”
Wells on loan to Heathcote for three months
Tasmanian apprentice jockey Chloe Wells will begin a three-month loan with Brisbane trainer Rob Heathcote this week. During the recent National Apprentice Race Series, while representing Tasmania, she rode a winner for Heathcote on Teesandcees Apply (Divine Prophet). “I do not think this loan move would have happened without that winner,” Wells told racingqueensland.com.au.
“It was great to get that connection with Rob and he was brilliant to ride for that day, he put no pressure on me in that race and it worked out perfectly. He flagged it back then about me doing more riding for him in the future and I eventually chased him up to see if the offer still stood and here we are.” Wells is apprenticed to her grandfather Leon Wells in Tasmania.
Winner number 10 for King’s Legacy
Rockhampton’s meeting on Tuesday included the victory of 2-year-old filly Next Legacy (King’s Legacy) who became winner number 10 for her first season sire with an impressive 3.16l win. Trained by Aaron Beck, she placed at all her first three starts leading into Tuesday’s win.
Owned by her trainer, who purchased her for $1750 at the 2024 Inglis Digital February Sale, she is the fourth named foal and third winner for Dark Love (More Than Ready {USA}) who is a winning half-sister to Listed winner Cohort (Scenic {Ire}) and stakes placed pair of Dark Miss (More Than Ready {USA}) and Red Amber (Dylan Thomas {Ire}).
Maskiell forced to pay for safety equipment after fall
Jockey Jason Maskiell fell during an unofficial jumpout at Pakenham last week with paramedics paramedics cutting off his riding vest while stewards took his helmet for investigations following the incident. He sustained a broken wrist and punctured lung in the fall. But because jumpouts are not classed as official trials, Maskiell will have to pay to replace his own equipment.
“We're not covered for our gear riding in a jumpout. I'm covered for workers' comp and when I'm off, I get paid but my actual race gear, my vest and my helmet, I'll have to pay for. They said it was because it wasn't an official trial. The (Victorian authorities) said they didn't think I was covered for jumpouts, only official trials,” Maskiell told racenet.com.au.
Jason Maskiell | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I just would have thought it's exactly the same except we're not getting paid. I went for X-rays again on the lung and they're going to get back to me on Wednesday to see if it's improved. The wrist will be six weeks. They said both things will be six weeks. That means I rode the horse for free and I have to pay $1000 or whatever it is for my race gear, and I don't get the race ride anyway because I'm injured.”
There is a long running dispute between the trainers and jockeys over the jump out pay issue.
WA country jockey title goes to Parnham
Jockey Kate Parnham has won this season’s WA Country Racing Association’s Leading Jockey title. Married to trainer Aaron Pateman, Kate took four years off to have a family. “Definitely thrilled,” Pateman told racingwa.com.au.
“It’s something I didn’t expect to happen so soon after a comeback. It’s great. It was a bit hard early but both kids are older. I’m lucky to have family support to look after the girls when Aaron and I are both racing. If Aaron’s home he has the girls and it’s a good support system we have going. We’re loving it and it’s all working out. Aaron has always been a great father, and I’ve never had to ask him to do more than he already does.”
Te Akau win South Island trainers' premiership
In their first full season in Christchurch, Te Akau’s South Island base recorded 45 wins from permanent stable residents, giving them their first South Island Trainers' Premiership. “It is a great pleasure. We have got a great team of staff down here, they work really hard all year round. We don’t quieten down a lot over winter with the poly, so there are some long, cold days and they keep going for us,” said assistant trainer Hunter Durrant.
Hunter Durrant | Image courtesy of Race Images
“It is approaching 18 months of a full-time stable down here for us. It has taken a while to get systems and everything into place to be able to create a good environment down here for the horses, and we have got a pretty good system now. They come in and they settle in really well, and I think that is a key to it when they come down here.
“Captured By Love winning the Group 1 (New Zealand 1000 Guineas) was up there, also Mehzebeen winning both the Metropolitan and New Zealand Cup was pretty special.”
Prognosis retired to stud
G1 Cox Plate runner-up Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) has injured a sesamoid ligament and will be retired to stud. “After finishing second in the Hong Kong G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in April, he had been ridden in preparation for his comeback, but swelling was observed in his right front leg and examination revealed inflammation in the sesamoid ligament,” a statement read by trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida said.
Prognosis (Jpn) | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“After considering the need for a long period of rest and the risk of recurrence, the decision was made to retire him. Discussions are underway with the aim of him becoming a breeding stallion in the future.”
Lord Allen to begin at BHA in September
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced that Lord Allen of Kensington will start work in his post as chair of racing's regulators from September 1.
The Labour peer was due to take up the role on June 2, but his tenure was delayed as the BHA said he wished to “continue meeting stakeholders to better inform his vision for the sport”.
The BHA board currently has an independent chair, four independent directors and four member-nominated directors – two from the racecourses and two nominated by the sport's participants – but Lord Allen wants to change that arrangement.
Following a meeting in London on Monday, where the BHA board met to discuss Lord Allen's response to the submissions of stakeholders regarding proposed governance changes, it was agreed that work should now start towards the establishment of a single independent board of directors, which will oversee a single BHA executive led by a CEO.
Lord Allen | Image courtesy of BHA
Lord Allen said, “I am delighted we have agreed to a process towards a new independent BHA board and I look forward to formally starting in September. Horse racing has a strong future. There is work to do, but I am in no doubt as to the passion and commitment of the many thousands of people who make up our industry.”
David Jones, chair of the BHA's Nominations Committee and interim BHA chair, added, “The BHA Board has made clear its commitment to pressing ahead with the establishment of an independent Board of Directors. We look forward to working with Lord Allen to support the industry as it takes this important step forward towards a strong future.”
German 1000 Guineas winner on Tatts Online
This year's G2 German 1,000 Guineas winner Lady Ilze (Territories {Ire}) will be offered by Tattersalls Online in a pop-up sale scheduled to get underway at 3pm on Monday, August 4. Bidding will then close at 3pm the following day.
Formerly trained in Poland by Krzysztof Ziemianski, Lady Ilze won three of her five starts as a 2-year-old, before being transferred to the care of leading German trainer Andreas Wöhler.
Following a fourth-place finish in the G3 Schwarzgold-Rennen on debut for her new yard, she then produced a career-best effort at Dusseldorf to win the German 1,000 Guineas by a length from D'Ores Et Deja. Last seen finishing fourth in the G1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, she will be offered with a Timeform rating of 107.
Katherine Sheridan, Tattersalls Online sales manager, said, “Tattersalls is delighted to be entrusted with the sale of German Classic winner Lady Ilze. Offering a filly of her quality on our online platform is a testament to the confidence placed in Tattersalls Online and its success. It is a privilege to present her to the market and she is sure to attract global interest.
“We are also excited to be collaborating with Klaus Eulenberger and the team at BBAG, with whom we have a strong relationship. The joint venture opens new opportunities for our online platform and will be a key focus of future growth in the sale of German-based horses.”
Goffs Orby book 2 catalogue released
“It truly is one you cannot afford to miss,” Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby said of Orby Book 2 as the catalogue for the two-day sale was published on Monday, featuring 433 yearlings to be offered on Wednesday, October 1 and Thursday, October 2.
Every yearling in Orby Book 2 is eligible for the Two Million Series, with its €2 million (AU$3.6 million) prize fund being divided equally between Europe's richest two-year-old contest – the €1 million (AU$1.8 million) Goffs Million – and €1 million of €50,000 (AU$88,000) bonuses across a diverse programme of 2-year-old races in Ireland and the UK.
Henry Beeby | Image courtesy of Goffs
“Orby Book 2 could be described as one of the hidden gems of the sales season, representing exceptional value and opportunity for buyers, and we celebrated some unforgettable success stories for our buyers throughout 2025 that originated at Book 2,” said Beeby.
“As with Orby Book 1, we emphasised quality in our Book 2 inspections and slightly reduced numbers to offer buyers a deliberately tighter catalogue of classy commercial yearlings. With the sale concluding a day earlier than usual, following feedback from clients with commitments later in the week, we urge buyers to include the entire sale in their plans. It truly is one you cannot afford to miss.”
Thistledown problems continue
After a couple of lost training days last week because of escalating safety concerns with the dirt surface, racing resumed Monday at Thistledown, but another tragedy was not far behind. In the first race of the day, the 5-year-old mare Tayyara (USA) (Khozan {USA}) broke down and had to be euthanized. Thistledown canceled the remainder of the eight-race card.
According to a Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority (HISA) spokesperson, HISA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Lazarus asked Thistledown to cancel after the first race and they agreed to do so. She also asked them to conduct an investigation and be prepared to discuss the results with her so that they can agree on next steps.”
The track was shut down for training as track officials looked to correct whatever problems there may have been. They resumed training on Saturday and Monday's card was the first day back for racing.
It has been a tumultuous week for the Cleveland area track. On July 21, Thistledown fired its track superintendent, Sean Wright, and brought in outside racing surface consultants and began working with HISA. Images began to circulate on social media showing fist-sized rocks that were allegedly picked up from the track by jockeys and horsemen on Monday and Tuesday. Wright told the TDN's TD Thornton that he was fired for being a whistleblower because he took his concerns to HISA and the track stewards.
Holliday and Jones elected Jockey Club stewards
Marc Holliday and Bret Jones have been elected as stewards, according to a Jockey Club release Monday. Additionally, William M. Lear Jr. was re-elected Secretary.
The remaining stewards are Stuart S. Janney III (chair), Ian D. Highet (treasurer), William S. Farish Jr. (vice chair), Louis A. Cella, Everett Dobson, Gary Fenton, Terry Finley, David O'Farrell, and Vincent Viola.
Holliday, a member of The Jockey Club since 2022, was elected chairman of the board of directors of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) in December 2021. In his capacity as chairman, Holliday oversees the design and development of the new Belmont Park scheduled to open in 2026. Appointed to the NYRA board in 2014, Holliday has chaired the NYRA Equine Safety Committee since 2015. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of SL Green Realty Corp, which is New York City's largest owner of office properties. An owner and breeder, Holliday operates Blue Devil Racing Stable.
Jones, a member of The Jockey Club since 2023, is the president of Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky. A 2004 graduate of the University of the South (Sewanee) and an alumnus of the Irish National Stud Breeding Course, he has been an official member of the Airdrie Stud team since 2006. Jones has served on the Breeders' Cup board of directors since 2011 and was recently named to the board of directors of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. He also sits on the Keeneland Advisory Board as well as the board of trustees for the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Foundation. He formerly served as a commissioner on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission from 2016 to 2020.
