Daily News Wrap

Vale John Jeffs

Respected bloodstock agent John Jeffs died on Tuesday aged 83. He began his career in racing as secretary of the Cowra Jockey Club, moving to Sydney to work as the track manager at Rosehill. A five-year stint in Hong Kong as clerk of the course set him when he returned home to Australia to work as a bloodstock agent and sales advisor to many across the racing industry.

“JJ was a valued member of our organisation for almost 20 years, serving as Racecourse Manager across both the Sydney Turf Club and the Australian Jockey Club at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick. His contribution to our venues and to Sydney racing leaves a lasting legacy,” wrote the Australian Turf Club on social media.

Overpass hunts some history in Winterbottom

If Overpass (Vancouver) can win the G1 Winterbottom Stakes on November 29, he’ll be the first horse in history to win the race three years in succession. “He left on Monday night and I'd say, form and condition-wise, arguably heads over as good as he's ever been,” trainer Bjorn Baker told racenet.com.au.

“His effort to run fourth in The Everest was probably his best run in defeat and we've been really happy with him since, he did everything we wanted in his last trial. We've followed the same formula as we have the past two years with the run at The Everest meeting before heading over. I couldn't be happier with him. I thought his win in last year's Winterbottom was probably the best win of his career. The field might not have been the strongest but it was the way he had to do it from the outside barrier.”

Yeomans excited about first $1 million runner

Trainer Lucy Yeomans will have her first runner in a $1 million race since going out on her own a few months ago. She saddles up Jenni The Fox (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in The Meteorite on Saturday. “Jenni The Fox is a lovely, progressive mare,” Yeomans told racing.com.

“(Owner) Tony Ottobre and myself are very aware that they’re a bit more seasoned and probably a bit sharper than her, at this stage of her career, but she is progressive and we think she’ll give it a red-hot shake.” Jenni The Fox ran third in the G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes, but Yeomans had more to worry about with partner Blake Shinn sustaining a broken leg in a fall in the same race.

“I was watching my horse when I saw a little flash of red hit the ground and, in the moment – with the stress of it all – I wasn’t sure if it was Blake. I stopped watching Jenni The Fox, who ran a blinder and ran third, and sprinted out of the trainer’s room, out on to the track. Luckily, Jett Stanley scooped me up and took me out to where Blake was and then it was all systems go to try and get him comfortable.”

Inglis Digital closes on Wednesday

A share in Cool Aza Beel (NZ), the sire of G1 JJ Atkins Plate winner Cool Archie in his first crop, headlines the current Inglis Digital Sale which finishes on Wednesday. A 12-strong dispersal draft from Godolphin includes Group 2 winner Corniche (Fastnet Rock).

Among the racehorse shares are two 5% shares in 3-year-old colt Tempestuous (Extreme Choice) who was second on debut in the G3 Breeders’ Plate last season.

Bring five mates to National Thoroughbred Week

Thursday marks the beginning of National Thoroughbred Week, and there’s still plenty of time to bring five mates to an event. The event is a back-stage pass to horse racing, with events being held all over Australia and New Zealand giving the public an all access pass to visit a racing stable, stud farm, or vet clinic. Racing participants are encouraged to bring five mates, who are curious about racing, to showcase our industry to potential new fans.

Jolly’s outside hope in The Meteorite

Co-trainer Richard Jolly’s Klabel (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) will represent the Sheamus Mills Bloodstock slot in Saturday’s The Meteorite slot race. “We thank Sheamus Mills, who I haven't had a horse for, but I've known him through the sales, having chats with him here and there,” Jolly, who trains in partnership with daughter, Chantelle, told racenet.com.au of the $34 outsider.

“He had a slot available, we had a couple of horses lined up that fell away. He was looking at Aviatress but obviously we decided we were running in the mares race last Saturday rather than going down the Cranbourne path. I mentioned to him about Klabel, and after a few chats we secured the spot. It's a different scenario, but it's good to have a horse in it.” Klabel ran fifth in the Listed Fisher Stakes last start.

Radley moves to Lindsay Park

Talented apprentice jockey Jackson Radley will have his last ride in Tasmania for a while on Friday night before he moves to join the Hayes brothers at Lindsay Park. “I’m very excited about the move to Melbourne for Sienna (partner) and me. It’s a very good opportunity and I’m really looking forward to going up against some of the best riders in the world each week,” Radley told tasracing.com.au.

“It’s been in the works for a while. I was planning on heading over in winter this year, but I hadn’t ridden enough winners (80), so I had to put it off for a while.” He rides Wineglass Bay (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in Friday’s Listed Newmarket Handicap.

New winner for Ole Kirk

Reigning Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk added a new winner when Kris Lees-trained 3-year-old filly Crathie Kirk won at Scone on Tuesday. The $180,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate was having her third start. She was sold by Vinery Stud to Bahen Bloodstock and Kris Lees Racing.

She is a half-sister to stakes placed Get Up Girl (No Nay Never {USA}) out of Group 2 winner Fursa (Hard Spun {USA}). Ole Kirk now has 25 winners led by five stakes winners.

Allegheny produces two winners at Scone

The broodmare Allegheny (I Am Invincible) who won three times all at Gosford in her own racing career produced two winners at Scone on Tuesday. Second season sire Anders sired 3-year-old filly Shenandoah River made it two wins in succession with a victory for trainers Brett and Georgie Cavanough.

The same training partnership and owner, Mr A Bragg, also enjoyed a win with Shenandoah River’s year older half-sister Cresta Run (Your Song). Cresta Run took her record to four wins from 12 starts with earnings over $100,000.

Proven sires on show at Kyneton

Tuesday’s Kyneton meeting saw several 3-year-olds by proven sires earn their first victory. They were Helioson (The Autumn Sun), Bold Bordeaux (Brazen Beau), Elonia (Written Tycoon) and Zoulette (Zoustar).

Lucky Sweynesse to take on Ka Ying Rising

Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse), fresh off a defeat in Japan, will resume in Sunday’s G2 Jockey Club Sprint, taking on Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}). “He had time to recover from Japan and it seems like he’s more relaxed. His trials have been good and he’s feeling good,” trainer Derek Leung told scmp.com.

“I’m happy with the horse. I think he can still hold his form and perform well. It’s hard to beat the Horse of the Year. That horse is just a different class, so we’re trying to have more options. We need to see on Sunday first.”

Buyers love Starman at the Goffs Foal Sale

Starman's meteoric rise through the first-season sire rankings led to the Tally-Ho Stud resident dominating proceedings on a red-hot opening day of the Goffs November Foal Sale when, as well as accounting for the €125,000 (AU$223,000) top lot, the young stallion was responsible for four of the top 10 most expensive horses sold on Monday.

The top lot (55), a colt consigned by Oghill House Stud, went the way of Brendan Holland, who also landed a Starman filly just three lots (52) previously from Summerhill Stables for €85,000 (AU$151,000). It was a brilliant day on the whole for Starman, whose fee has been set at €40,000 (AU$71,400) next year. Seven foals by the stallion sold for €535,000 (AU$972,000) and an average of €76,429 (AU$136,000), which was the most impressive figure posted by any stallion on Monday.

At close of play on Monday, the clearance rate stood at 80%. The €4,492,500 (AU$8 million) turnover represented a 16% rise while the average was up by 7% to €24,025 (AU$42,800) and the median also climbed by 11% to €20,000 (AU$35,700). A super start.

UK racing targets younger audience

Arena Racing Company (ARC) have launched a new all-weather series called Friday Night Live. The initiative has been created in partnership with Invades, the company behind many student racedays, and comprises five Friday evening fixtures, with the aim of attracting 18 to 25-year-old racegoers.

The 35 races will be broadcast live across both Sky Sports Racing and ITV Racing from January to March next year at Wolverhampton, Newcastle and Southwell – with the two first-named tracks hosting a pair of meetings each. ARC group director of commercial strategy, David Leyden Dunbar, said, “The Friday Night Live concept is unapologetically aimed at a new audience who may not have previously engaged with horseracing, and we plan to work with a roster of partners who share a common goal in reaching this audience.

“Together with the likes of Guinness, Carlsberg and our broadcast partners, the aim is to bring some of our Friday Night Live event activations to life. These are brands who understand the importance of engaging with the next generation of horseracing fans and what it takes to achieve this.”

Vale Jim Bernhard

Jim Bernhard, who along with his wife Dana, purchased the historic Pin Oak Stud in 2022, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, according to a statement on the website of his Bernhard Capital. He was 71.

The Bernhards made their entry into Thoroughbred race with the purchase of Geaux Rocket Ride, whom Jim acquired as a birthday present for his wife at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July sale. The colt would go on to win the GI Haskell Stakes and ran second in the GI Pacific Classic in 2023. The Bernhards also campaigned GI Saratoga Derby winner World Beater and GIII winners Parchment Party and Incredibolt.

Parchment Party won the Win and You're in G3 Belmont Gold Cup and ran in this spring's G1 Melbourne Cup.