TBA recognises gravity of Pattern situation
The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) sent an email to industry participants on Monday with regards to the current discussions around the Pattern Committee. “Many of you will have seen recent reporting and commentary regarding the Pattern and the application of black-type guidelines in Australia. TBA recognises the gravity of the current situation for breeders, and we want to reassure you that we are actively engaged with the organisations currently charged with administering the system,” said the email.
“Over recent weeks, we have been in regular discussions with the key players involved, emphasising the importance of a clear and well-functioning national Pattern for the benefit of Australian breeders and the wider industry. The current uncertainty highlights the need for clear processes, transparent communication, strong governance and oversight arrangements that give all stakeholders confidence that decisions are being made in the long-term interests of the industry.
“This includes ensuring the Pattern operates in a way that is consistent with the internationally recognised guidelines overseen by the Asian Pattern Committee (APC), while still allowing for the nuance needed to reflect the unique characteristics of Australia’s highly regarded and idiosyncratic racing and breeding landscape, including races of historic, traditional or cultural importance.
“TBA also believes there is merit in exploring an independent, industry-wide structure to support this work and help ensure the Pattern is managed in a way that reflects the long-term interests of all participants.
“TBA’s focus is on helping the industry move towards a practical and constructive resolution as quickly as possible. Breeders, owners, sales companies and international buyers all rely on a system that is transparent, credible and free from unnecessary disruption, and which supports long-term confidence and investment across the industry. We will continue to encourage the cooperation needed to achieve that.”
Rosehill under a query with hot weather
Racing NSW issued a statement on Monday with regards to the hot weather forecast for this weekend. “Due to the forecast of extreme heat for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday (December 6) Racing NSW will constantly monitor the conditions to determine if the meeting proceeds as scheduled, with a final decision to be made before acceptances are taken on Wednesday (December 3),” said the statement.
“Should the current forecast remain in place (partly cloudy and 41 degrees), it is likely the meeting will be pushed back a day and run on Sunday (December 7).”
Rey Magnerio to stay out west for Gold Rush
Trainer Robbie Griffiths confirmed on Monday that Rey Magnerio (Magnus) will stay in Perth for the $1.3 million Gold Rush in a fortnight. He ran third in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes behind Libertad (Russian Revolution) and Overpass (Vancouver) on Saturday. “On race day, we thought we'd just take him home, but you never make decisions on race day,” Griffiths told racing.com.
Robbie Griffiths | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Yesterday morning he went down to the beach and he just came back bright as a button and got straight into his tucker, his gums are good and he's pulled up fantastic.
“We thought, 'Well, we're there, let's try him at 1400 metres while he's got fresh legs and in form'. He's only had the three runs this time. If he runs 1400 metres well, it opens up avenues for him down the track and if he doesn't, we know we'll just program him as a sprinter going forward.
“But he could be better over this than the sprint distances, you never know until you try. He's never had the opportunity over 1400 metres, there's just always been a better sprint race for him… it's the right time to have a go.”
Gosford Guineas target for Snitzel filly
Trainer Richard Litt will target the Listed Gosford Guineas with impressive Canterbury winning 3-year-old filly Caffe Florian (Snitzel). “She's an extremely, extremely exciting filly. We've been very patient with her knowing the talent she has and haven't wanted to press the button too early,” Litt told racenet.com.au.
“She's a lovely filly that most importantly keeps improving and in another six months you'll see close to the finished product. The Gosford Guineas is a big leap in quality but as it stands that's the aim for her right now. Whether she goes straight into that or has another run at Canterbury in a fortnight first, I haven't fully decided yet.”
Richard Litt | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
She was purchased by Galletta Constructions at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $400,000 from Arrowfield Stud. Caffe Florian is a half-sister to Group 3 winner and young sire Anders, and to Listed winner Ostraka (Pariah).
Her dam, Madam Andree (War Emblem {USA}) is one of only 124 foals by enigmatic G1 Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem who spent eight years at stud in Japan. “We know he is fertile, but he has no interest in mares,” said Dr. Nubuo Tsunoda of his career. He was eventually gelded and retired to Living Legends in America where he died in 2020, aged 21. He sired nine stakes winners led by G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies winner Robe Tissage (Jpn).
Racing Victoria announce new scratching fees
On Monday, Racing Victoria announced that a new scratching fee model will commence on February 1. “The new fee structure applies for professional flat races (excluding Group and Listed races) and jumps races and brings Victoria into line with the model in other states where fees are structured around the declaration of a rider,” said the statement.
“A new standard scratching fee of $274.25 (ex GST) will mirror the current riding fee that RV is required to pay to the declared rider on a scratched horse. This scratching fee is lower than that applied for the majority of professional races in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
“The current 50% discount for scratchings lodged prior to 4pm on the day before a race meeting will conclude on 31 January 2026. Instead, a discounted fee of $100 (ex GST) will apply when a horse is scratched prior to the declaration of a rider. The new scratching fee structure has been implemented following consultation with all stakeholder groups, including through the industry’s Racing Forum.”
Waller domination on Wednesday
Race 2 for maidens at Warwick Farm on Wednesday is a Chris Waller-trained affair with 9 of the 13 runners from the stable. Of them, 3-year-old filly Pink Persuasion (Written Tycoon) ran second last start and has placed in both her outings. Botanist (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is also coming into the race with a last start second. Salt Spray (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) is on debut for the Waller stable.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Too Darn Hot filly wins on debut
Too Darn Hot (GB) is having a great run with unbeaten filly Hot And High winning at Listed level on Saturday in Perth. On Monday, Danielle Seib-trained 3-year-old filly Voltage Lass won on debut at the Sapphire Coast.
She was sold by Coolmore Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Seib Racing and Champions Thoroughbreds for $50,000. Voltage Lass is the second winner for Countercurrent (Hinchinbrook) who has an yearling filly by The Autumn Sun. Countercurrrent is a winning half-sister to stakes-placed Australia Day (Sebring).
Racing SA announce data expansion
Racing SA announced on Monday that they are expanding its partnership with leading technology provider tripleSdata to include provincial racecourses, Balaklava and Strathalbyn. “The expansion of our coverage with tripleSdata will create greater engagement of South Australian racing for punters, owners, television viewers and the broader industry,” said Racing SA CEO Nick Bawden.
Nick Bawden | Image courtesy of Ministry of Sports
“The data obtained is provided on Racing SA’s website and is a valued tool for punters and participants, which all helps in driving wagering turnover on SA racing. The sectional timing data is also integrated into the broadcast of SA racing on Sky Channel and racing.com.”
Capitalist colt wins on debut after delayed start
Queensland 3-year-old colt Da Snoop Dog (Capitalist) lived up to his hype with a debut win on Friday evening. “He is a horse that has always shown us a lot of ability all the way through as a 2-year-old,” trainer Simon Foster told racingqueensland.com.au on Monday.
“Obviously he has had a lot of issues and it has been a long road back for him. There is a lot of credit that needs to go to a lot of people, not just myself. The vets at Crown Equine are probably sick of me ringing them every second day about him, just double checking him and going over things.
“He has been in work for three months this horse, just slowly building him up. The blokes in the horse with me, they have been patient. They have let me have my way, which makes my job easier.” He won two trials as a juvenile, including beating Listed winner Hi Barbie (I Am Invincible), but has had several bone chip surgeries since then.
Karaka Million aim for Home Affairs juvenile
Kinnaid (Home Affairs) who won on debut on Sunday will be aimed at the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO. “It was a really good performance to stick his head out and win in a close finish and he showed plenty of grit and determination,” trainer Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson, told Loveracing.nz.
Kinnaid | Image courtesy of Race Images
“He was left in front a little bit soon in the straight, and was a touch green at his first start, but he knuckled down strongly when the other horse arrived up alongside. He’ll take a lot of improvement from the race and trip away, and I think that after a short freshen-up, he’ll keep furnishing into an even better young horse. There is plenty of upside with him.
“The family has invariably left horses that win over much more distance and as older horses, but he has shown precocity and natural talent to be able to race and win as a 2-year-old and there is a lot more scope to come. He’s eligible for the Karaka Millions 2YO in January at Ellerslie, and that will be our aim.”
Two Grade 1 winners in two days for broodmare
Continuing the powerful run during Del Mar's closing weekend of racing, trainer Chad Brown and Juddmonte once again held the winning card in the day's feature, taking Sunday's G1 Matriarch Stakes with Segesta (Ghostzapper), a half-sister to Saturday's G1 Hollywood Derby winner, Salamis (Speightstown).
In a Grade 1 double for dam Antonoe (First Defence), an elite-level winner in her own right, Segesta is the second at Del Mar that weekend behind her aforementioned half-brother Salamis. After those two, the mare has a juvenile filly named Directive (Gun Runner) as well as a yearling full sister to Salamis. She was barren after her breeding to Munnings for 2025, and she visited Justify for 2026. During her racing career, Antonoe claimed the hardware in the G3 Prix d'Aumale and hit the board in the G1 Diana Stakes.
“She deserved to win this race,” said Brown's assistant, Jose Hernandez. “She's been knocking on the door so many times. She trained so well here. A nice, nice filly. The first part (of the race) was a little quick but you can take her back and (Prat) got her in a good position.”
Jockeys stage a walkout at Aqueduct
The New York jockey colony refused to ride after Sunday's first race at Aqueduct because of a number of recent problems they have said they were having with NYRA management. The latest incident occurred around the time of the first race when the jockeys learned that NYRA Assistant Clerk of Scales Brian Pochman was told to leave work and go home after he balked at additional duties that NYRA had asked him to do. Pochman was not fired.
“I have never seen such disrespect to a jockey colony and the people who work in the jocks' room,” said Kendrick Carmouche, who is the representative to the Jockey's Guild during the winter months when John Velazquez is typically riding elsewhere.
“NYRA has been going through the process of drafting standard operating procedures for all of its racing officials,” NYRA Senior Vice President, Racing and Operations Andrew Offerman said. “Documents have been worked on over the course of time, not only with the input of those officials but with the input of the stewards, as well and other individuals in the racing department. There have been recent modifications that included the written recording of the weights in a program as a backup to the electronic scale system that is used.
“There was concern (Sunday) on the part of the assistant clerk of scales when it came to taking on this duty. He was asked to take the day off and we put a substitute person in that position. My understanding, at least after I was called down to the room after the first race, was that this was part of a list of things that the riders had brought up, a lot of which, in my opinion, were issues that had nothing to do with today and were previously discussed and settled.”
Offerman said that NYRA plans to sit down on Monday and talk to the jockeys and Guild representatives to try to iron things out. “That's our full expectation, that we will be able to race on Thursday,” Offerman said.
