Asian Pattern Committee rejects RNSW upgrades
The Asian Pattern Committee has rejected Racing NSW’s application to have four races upgraded to Group 1 status. First reported on The Straight, it is understood that the Asian Pattern Committee voted against the motion at a meeting on Thursday evening.
The races requested were the Golden Eagle, Russell Balding Stakes, Premiere Stakes, and G2 Apollo Stakes. Racing Australia’s APC delegate, Racing SA chair Rob Rorrison, made no comment when contacted by The Straight.
Waller not worried about Group 1 clash
Trainer Chris Waller’s mares Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) will clash in Saturday’s G1 Makybe Diva Stakes. “I'm not worried about the two clashing, there's others in the race as well, of course. It's a good little field, six runners, makes it tricky but Aeliana, it's just an important steppingstone for her,” Waller told racing.com.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“(Aeliana) is well, she's obviously a year or two behind Via and she still needs to fill out, strengthen up, so it's just an important steppingstone for us finding her way. She went down the straight this morning, Damian Lane aboard, she loves it down there, she won the Carbine Club there. I'm very happy.”
And on Via Sistina. “She's well. Three weeks between runs, nice steppingstone through to the Turnbull and then to the Cox Plate. She galloped well at Rosehill. She's ready to go, she's come back in great shape.”
Long recovery ahead for Prebble
Jockey Tom Prebble faces a long recovery period after a fall at Warrnambool on Tuesday. The prognosis remains unclear with Prebble having successful surgery on his spine on Tuesday night. He has an injury to T5. “The surgery to stabilise his spine was successful and his doctors now advise he is on the road to recovery while the full extent of his injuries remains unclear,” Prebble’s parents, Brett Prebble and Maree Payne, said in a Racing Victoria press release.
"While we would like to provide more information to everyone at this time, the fact is the expert medical professionals treating Tom are not able to say what his outcome will be.”
The press release opened with Prebble’s parents expressing their thanks to all those who assisted him. “First, on Tom's behalf, we want to express our appreciation to the Racing Victoria raceday medical team who attended Tom within seconds of the fall.
Tom Prebble | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria Club
“We also want to thank the Ambulance Victoria crews who responded so quickly and professionally to the incident. We are indebted to the air transportation wing of Ambulance Victoria, who were responsible for transporting Tom from Warrnambool Racecourse to The Alfred hospital with such professionalism, care and compassion.
“We want to thank The Alfred hospital emergency department, every person in the surgical team and the incredible people in the intensive care unit where Tom remains today. Words cannot possibly express Tom's and our appreciation for your kindness, care, professionalism and support.
“Lastly, as Tom's parents, we would like to express our thanks to Matt Hyland from Victorian Jockeys Association, Lisa Stevens from VJA/RV Jockey Assistance Program, RV CMO Dr Ben Barresi and all at Racing Victoria for their unwavering support from the moment of his injury and we thank you all once again for your care and concern.”
Unbeaten Autumn Boy to step up in G3 Ming Dynasty
Jockey Jason Collett is thrilled to ride unbeaten Listed winning 3-year-old colt Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) for trainer Chris Waller in Saturday’s G3 Min Dynasty. “It wasn’t until I got on him I thought he might be pretty good, when I was going to the start I got a good feel but what he produced in the race I was very impressed with,” Collett told racingnsw.com.au.
“I really wanted to stick with him up in Queensland but obviously James rode him that day, I’m glad to be on him again. He’s much the same as when I won on him. I’ve galloped him again on Tuesday, he is what he is – a very nice horse. I think he’s very smart, he could be very good.”
McGaw to have a look at Flemington straight
Coming off a last start Group 3 third, Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained 3-year-old gelding McGaw (I Am Immortal) will have a look at Flemington’s straight in Saturday’s Listed Poseidon Stakes. “We trial at Pakenham a lot on the rise track and back straight, I'm hoping it's not too much of a problem but he's never seen anything like that,” Emma-Lee Browne told racenet.com.au.
McGaw | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“You never know until you're out there, do you? We were actually rapt with the run (last start). He probably did a little bit too much early … I thought he was really game to hang on. He's come on, a little question mark is we've never raced him two weeks apart, he was six weeks between his first run and The Showdown (last campaign) … he seems to be flying. He went home (after McNeil) and you'd think a hard run like that he would've left something but no he ate everything and been perfect since, we can't fault him.”
New winner for Cool Aza Beel
Second season sire Cool Aza Beel (NZ) added his sixth winner when Tony Ball-trained 3-year-old gelding Cool Az Aletta won at his third start at Tuncurry’s Friday meeting. Purchased by his trainer for $1000 at the April 2025 Inglis Digital Sale, Cool Az Aletta took his earnings to over $18,000.
He is the first winner for winning mare Bartoletta (Starspangledbanner).
Cool Az Aletta as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Wootton Bassett 3-year-old wins on debut in New Zealand
Trainer Andrew Forsman’s 3-year-old gelding Quondo (Wootton Bassett {GB}) won on debut at Friday’s Matamata meeting. Passed in at both the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, he is raced by The Sunlight Trust.
A half-brother to Group 2-placed Latino Blend (NZ) (Hinchinbrook), Quondo is the fifth winner from as many runners for Group 2-placed Lazumba (Sebring).
Quondo as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Nicconi and Dabernig combine at Geelong
The first at Geelong on Friday was won by Tom Dabernig-trained 3-year-old gelding Oliveanotherday (Nicconi) who was having his second start, having run second on debut. He is the first foal of Olive (All Too Hard) who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Stirling Grove (Mossman).
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained 3-year-old colt Decanted (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) also won a maiden at the meeting, and he had run second at both his prior starts. A NZ$70,000 purchase by his trainers from Pertab Racing’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft, he is out of winning mare Lay Off (NZ) (Savabeel).
Intention’s plans depend on Saturday
Mike Breslin-trained Group 2-winning 3-year-old filly Intention (NZ) (Bivouac)’s long term plans depend on how she runs in Saturday’s Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes. “This race has been on the cards since she came back into work with the Gold Trail Stakes moved from Hawke’s Bay to Ellerslie,” Breslin told Loveracing.nz.
Intention (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
“I decided to give her this trip to Christchurch and it’s a defining race for her as to which direction we take through the spring. If she copes with the trip and races well, then she has a good eight weeks before she has to go back down for the 1000 Guineas.”
QRIC pleased with progress in first year
A year since Kim Kelly became the deputy commissioner at the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, he is pleased with the progress being made. “From the outside looking in, it seemed to me that there were trust and confidence issues in QRIC as the regulator of the three codes across the state,” Kelly told racenet.com.au.
“Ultimately, I think it's up to the individual to take a position on whether that has improved. But I am comfortable, with self reflection, that there has been an increase in that level of trust and confidence. I am comfortable that QRIC is in a better position, as a trusted regulator, than it was possibly a year ago.
“There is still work to do. But the level of stakeholder engagement is good, whether that be industry participants, licensed persons, clubs, club officials and members of the press. That is an extension of the whole confidence and trust piece. If there is a regular engagement with racing people, they will know that they are being heard.”
Big weekend coming for St Mark’s Basilica
Fresh from Thursday's Group-race breakthrough with G2 May Hill Stakes heroine Aylin, the St Mark's Basilica bandwagon looks set to roll on through this weekend, with the first-season sire set to be represented by big-race runners everywhere from Doncaster to Woodbine.
Thesecretadversary, the first black-type winner for his sire in last month's Listed Churchill Stakes at Tipperary, is set to line up in Saturday's GI Summer Stakes over in Canada for Fozzy Stack.
St Mark's Basilica (Fr) | Standing at Coolmore
Diamond Necklace will put her unbeaten record on the line in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown, the scene of her sire's final Group 1 success in the Irish Champion Stakes on this very weekend. The blue-blooded filly, who fetched a sale-topping €1.7 million (AU$3 million) at Arqana last August, showed more than a bit of top-class potential when making a winning debut at the Curragh last month.
And then there's Cape Ashizuri who, whilst perhaps under the radar amongst St Mark's Basilica's 13 first-crop winners to date, shouldn't be underestimated when he steps up markedly in grade for Saturday's G2 Champagne Stakes on Town Moor.
Three Grade 1 runners for Appleby in Canada
Charlie Appleby says it's not easy to come over to North America and win major stakes, even though he makes it look that way. On Saturday at Woodbine, Appleby will send out three horses, all of them in Grade I competition, and each one looks to have an excellent chance. Wild Desert (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) will go in the GI Summer Stakes for 2-year-old colts, Dance ToThe Music (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will run in the GI Natalma Stakes, and dual Group 1 winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will run in the G1 Woodbine Mile.
Charlie Appleby | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We have sent the right horses to Woodbine to be competitive and we have had a lot of luck there,” Appleby said. “They have to ship there first and foremost and you hope they get there in good condition and that they adapt to the surroundings. Because of all the traveling we do, we feel like we've been choosing the right horses because we've seen it so much of late.”
