Racing Australia vote cancelled
Tuesday's Racing Australia board meeting was cancelled at the last minute when Racing NSW CEO Peter V'Landys was unable to attend. The Board was set to vote on the new Black Type Guidelines, aka the use of a ratings system to determine Black Type rather than reinstate the Pattern Committee.
Between Racing NSW and Racing Victoria, they hold the majority of voting rights on the board with the other PRAs holding the balance of power if RNSW and RV don't agree. Racing Victoria is represented by Tim Eddy.
Peter V'Landys | Image courtesy of Racing NSW
Racing Queensland’s Graham Quirk, Rob Rorrison for Racing SA, Racing WA's Colin Holt and Canberra Racing Club director Les Boag who represents the Australian Capital Territory club, Thoroughbred Racing NT and Tasracing, make up the remainder of the Board. Rorrison is also Racing Australia’s delegate on the Asian Pattern Committee.
Esha needs scratching to make Moir field
Unbeaten 3-year-old filly Esha (Extreme Choice) is the first emergency for Saturday’s G1 AJ Moir Stakes. “Whether she gets a run or not Saturday, I think she’s a pretty nice filly and if she goes back to three-year-old grade in the Atlantic Jewel (on Saturday at The Valley) or the Cap D’Antibes at Flemington a week later, she is going to be competitive,” co-trainer Shane Nichols told racing.com.
Esha | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Belmont Gold Cup winner to run in Melbourne Cup
The Victoria Racing Club announced on Tuesday that G2 Belmont Gold Cup winner Parchment Party (USA) (Constitution {USA}) will run in the G1 Melbourne Cup and will be ridden by USA Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. “Some of his stats are quite unbelievable,” VRC chief racing officer Leigh Jordon told racenet.com.au.
“He's ridden over 6700 winners … his (prizemoney) earnings are over half a billion US. He's won Kentucky Derbies, won all the Triple Crown races, won more than 20 Breeder's Cup races. He truly is a legend of the sport, it is great to have him here riding in the Cup.”
Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup nominations
With the late nomination of Group 1 winner Pier (NZ) (Proisir), there remain 108 horses in the G1 Cox Plate as of Tuesday. The first round of nominations closed for the G1 Melbourne Cup with 120 horses entered, including 19 internationally trained runners. There are 142 horses in contention for the G1 Caulfield Cup.
Pallaton drops in class for Wednesday
Trainer Michael Freedman is hoping a drop in class for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting will restore some of 3-year-old colt Pallaton (Wootton Bassett {GB})’s confidence. “We thought we’d bring him back a grade and hopefully give him a good day out then onwards from there,” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au of the last start Listed Rosebud Stakes third placegetter.
Pallaton | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He’s wanting to do a few things wrong at the moment. The other day in a relatively slowly run Rosebud he got up on the bridle and over-travelled. I’ve brought him back to 1000 metres so we can try and get him doing things more the right way where he’s giving himself a chance to relax a bit. He has a really good turn of foot so when he over travels he blunts that acceleration he’s got.”
Moor moves to Queensland
Jockey Daniel Moor has announced he is moving from Victoria to Queensland. “I am shoving all-in and I'm not coming for a holiday. I'm certainly not coming up for a party lifestyle, I'm too old for that. I want people to know that I'm having a crack,” Moor told racenet.com.au.
“I'm under no illusions that I'm going to walk in and take over, I am willing to give it as long as it takes (to be a success in Queensland). I'm not going to be a fly-by-night type who gives it two weeks or a month and then goes home, that's not me. I'm super keen to make it work.
“Every jockey who has come to Queensland from Victoria has gone up and enjoyed life and they haven't gone home, hopefully I am one of them. I'd given it some thought for a while, the landscape in Victoria now is there are an awful lot of jockeys. My wife saw a change in me when I would get home and be exhausted or down, she said I had to make a shift.
“The travel and the workload hasn't dropped in Victoria, but the rides are dropping as they are getting spread around a lot more. I will ride Thedoctoroflove at Moonee Valley on Saturday and then come up to Queensland after that.”
Hong Kong and Racing NSW steward exchange
Hong Kong steward Justin Ho is in NSW gaining experience as part of an exchange program between Hong Kong and Racing NSW. “Due to the set up in Hong Kong only Marc Van Gestel, the chairman, runs race meetings so the purpose is to be exposed to being in that chair. To run race meetings,” Ho told racingnsw.com.au.
“It helps the younger generation of officials in Hong Kong to be exposed to things we aren’t normally. Working a race meeting is something I enjoy but being in that chair is something different. There’s the added responsibility and it’s a challenge I enjoy. It’s something I want to do.” Racing NSW steward Liam Martin has already spent time in Hong Kong as part of this stewards’ exchange.
Brilliant weekend for Tilley
Jockey Les Tilley rode five winners at Toowoomba’s night meeting on Saturday, and added another on Sunday for good measure. “It was great. I was more shocked than stoked. It still hasn’t really sunk in to be honest,” Tilley told racingqueensland.com.au on Tuesday.
“I didn’t think I could ride five winners, I thought I could get three. Sweet Hesitation, Miss Mozambique and My Name Is - they were the three I thought I could win on.” He won on Sweet Hesitation (Dubious), Miss Mozambique (Astern), Decorative (Epaulette), Chinchilla Ahead (Power {GB}) and Prefer To Dance (NZ) (Preferment {NZ}) at Toowoomba and Seams Logical (Spirit Of Boom) at Warwick on Sunday.
BOBS nominations for 2-year-olds extended
Racing NSW have extended nominations for 2023 born eligible horses for the BOBS scheme until Friday September 5. The reason stated is “due to the volume of nominations yet to be processed, the closing date has been extended.”
Fierce Impact adds winner number three
Second season sire Fierce Impact (Jpn) added his third winner at Nowra on Tuesday when Matthew Smith-trained 3-year-old gelding Knight Of Rhodes won on debut over 1200 metres. Impressively, Fierce Impact’s first two winners were both stakes placed at two.
Knight Of Rhodes was sold by Rushton Park at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $31,000 to Fraser Auret Racing. He is the second winner for Suite Annie (Hotel Grand) who is a winning half-sister to Group 1 winner Buffering (Mossman).
Luke Musson-trained 3-year-old gelding Kool Kade (Frosted {USA}) also won at the Nowra meeting, and was having his sixth start.
Debut winner for Lucky Vega
Second season sire Lucky Vega (Ire) added his 8th Southern Hemisphere winner on Tuesday when Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained 3-year-old filly Nepo Baby won on debut at Scone. Nepo Baby was sold by Yulong Stud to Annabel Neasham Racing for $120,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the first foal of Future Force (Written Tycoon), a winning daughter of Group 2 winner Gregers (Commands).
Social Circle remains unbeaten
Proven sire Maurice (Jpn)’s 3-year-old filly Social Circle kept her unbeaten record winning at Scone on Tuesday for trainers Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich. Now two from two, Social Circle romped home by 3.86l for owners Arrowfield Stud.
A full sister to Group 2-placed Invinsible Tears, Social Circle is the fourth winner for Networking (Ger) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
Kingstar Farm sire Bull Point sired a double at Scone with Dreymon and Release Point.
Chateau Eze wins on debut for Fairway
Fairway Thoroughbreds bred and owned 3-year-old filly Chateau Eze (GB) (Frankel {GB}) won on debut at Benalla on Tuesday. The filly is bred to Southern Hemisphere time, being foaled in England on August 6, 2022. “It was a positive ride of Michael Dee’s and a great first-up win by the filly,” co-trainer Mark Walker said.
“We’d taught her to settle, relax, and hit the line at the trials, and great to have our first runner for John Camilleri and his famous colours, the breeder of Winx. She’s a Frankel filly, will continue to get better with more time, but it was exciting to see her win she way she did. John is one of the very best breeders in Australia, so it’s an honour to train a winner for him.”
She is the first foal of unraced mare Antibes (Lonhro) who is a half-sister to Listed winner As Time Goes By (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Antibes has an Australian born Frankel (GB) yearling colt and missed to Home Affairs for this spring’s foaling.
Consistent Krackacan wins again
Darryl Johnston-trained 3-year-old gelding Krackacan (Wanted) continued his consistent record at Townsville’s meeting on Tuesday to record his third win from six starts, and he’s run second in the other three starts. He has earnings over $75,000 and is part owned by his trainer.
Krackacan is the first foal of seven-race winning mare Lingalonga Lass (Mossman) who has a Delago Deluxe yearling colt.
Vale Tony Dennis
New Zealand trainer Tony Dennis has died aged 86. Along with twin brother Ray and their younger siblings Martin and Joe, the Dennis brothers established a formidable training and breeding operation in the South Island for more than 60 years until their retirement from training at the end of last year. “It was unbelievable, they never had big numbers and achieved so much from the opposite end of the country to where the centre of it all is,” son Robert Dennis told Loveracing.nz.
“To continue to do it for decades was so impressive. Dad was a farmer first and for him, training and breeding was a hobby. It was pretty much a common-sense approach, combined with a stockman’s eye for a horse.” They bred Group 1 winners The Phantom (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}), The Phantom Chance (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}), The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who founded a dynasty, and current The Oaks stallion The Chosen One (NZ) among many others.
Lord Allen issues strong opening address
Lord Charles Allen has outlined his vision of turning British racing into “a modern commercial and cultural powerhouse” as he assumed his position as the new chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on Monday.
Allen, who also offered his backing for the cancellation of next Wednesday's racing in protest of proposed betting tax changes, believes that with the “right governance and ambition” the sport can realise its full potential.
In a statement, he said, “I am delighted the industry is coming together on September 10 to say 'Axe the Racing Tax'. It is an historic step to cancel all racing on this date, but this will help us to explain just how concerned we are for the sport on many levels.
Lord Charles Allen | Image courtesy of British Horseracing Authority
“Horse racing is a sport for everyone, not just for the few. There are 85,000 people dependent directly and indirectly on racing. The proposed changes would not only negatively impact many communities both rural and urban but would reduce our ability to be a world leader and the opportunity to have inward investment in the sector.
“Ensuring sustainable finances is essential if we are to support our participants, our workforce, our horses and our racecourses, and continue to engage our fans, owners, customers and the betting public.
“British racing is admired worldwide for its heritage, its quality, and the standards of integrity and welfare it upholds. My vision is not simply that we work to preserve this, but to develop British racing into a modern commercial and cultural powerhouse: a sport that commands attention on the global stage, attracts new audiences, inspires fans at home, supports its people, and continues to set the gold standard for the care of the horse.”
Lazzat headlines G1 Sprint Cup nominations
Following Monday's confirmation stage, French star Lazzat who ran second in last year’s Golden Eagle, July Cup heroine No Half Measures (Cable Bay) and the supplemented Sky Majesty (Blue Point) feature among 22 possible runners in Saturday's Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.
Jerome Reynier's Lazzat got the better of Japanese ace Satono Reve when striking Royal Ascot gold in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on his penultimate start.
No Half Measures reduced Richard Hughes to tears when providing the former leading jockey with his first top-level success as a trainer in Newmarket's July Cup and she will get the opportunity to prove that shock 66/1 victory was no fluke.
Soumillon to ride for O’Brien
Aidan O'Brien outlined plans for some of his stable stars at a Ballydoyle open morning on Monday where it was revealed that Minnie Hauk would chart a direct path to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Christophe Soumillon was likely to fill in for the injured Ryan Moore.
Aidan O'Brien | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
It was announced on Saturday that Moore will be sidelined for an indefinite period of time after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his femur.
Wayne Lordan is the yard's second rider, but he is currently due to be suspended for 10 days after the Goodwood stewards found him to have used his whip in the incorrect place aboard Prestige Stakes winner Precise.
