Justice Kunc reserves judgement in ATC vs RNSW case
Three days of proceedings in at the NSW Supreme Court concluded on Monday in the case of the Australian Turf Club versus Racing New South Wales, with Justice Francois Kunc adjourning the hearing without making a judgement.
The case before the Supreme Court in December by the ATC, arguing that the PRA did not have the power to place the club under administration, as it sought to do after deeming the ATC's response to a Show Cause unsatisfactory. The PRA sought to appoint Morgan Kelly of Ernst and Young to the position of administrator.
At the time, the ATC received an injunction from the court pausing the administrator from stepping in, pending the outcome of the case. Barrister Scott Robertson SC, acting on behalf of the ATC, inferred that the ATC would likely seek a stay of proceedings pending appeal if Justice Kunc ruled in favour of Racing NSW. There is no set date for the judgement to be decided.
Latest Golden Slipper order of entry released
The Australian Turf Club have released the latest order of entry for the upcoming G1 Golden Slipper. Saturday’s G2 Silver Slipper winner Stretan Ruler (Wild Ruler) sits on top with a ballot exemption.
Stretan Ruler | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
In prizemoney order, the following horses make up the next five in the order; Streisand (Magnus), Guest House (Home Affairs), Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Spicy Miss (Trapeze Artist), and Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}).
Tempted vs Ole Dancer in Surround
Saturday’s G1 Surround Stakes will see Group 1 winner Ole Dancer (Ole Kirk) take on boom filly Tempted (Street Boss {USA}). “The good thing about my girl is she's going to be strong at the end of 1400, isn't she?,” Ole Dancer’s co-trainer Peter Moody told racingandsports.com.au.
Peter Moody | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I just hope we draw a barrier, that's the main thing. The other day we had to go back from seven, you don't want to have to go back from 10 or 12 and give (Tempted) a start. I'd rather be three in front of her on the turn than three behind her.”
Ole Dancer resumed with a second place in the Listed Desirable Stakes. “Had she had a run under her belt we would have rolled forward and sat outside her (Sass Appeal) and we would have beat it like we did with Apocalyptic (in the Guineas). But because she hadn't had the run, you've got to be mindful of where you're going and she ran enormous.”
Illegal betting is major threat
Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison has endorsed the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s call for global cooperation to combat illegal gambling. “It is a genuine threat in our part of the world … you're starting to see evidence of it on social media, all these unlicensed operators popping up,” Morrison told racenet.com.au.
“There's clear evidence of customers leaking into illegal offshore operators, maybe they're doing that unknowingly … being served up offers and promotions that look and feel, for all intents and purposes, like what they would get from any licenced operator.
“You're seeing the consumer leakage and unfortunately for those customers there are zero consumer protections, which unfortunately they only find out when they go to withdraw their funds, unfortunately it's too late.
“It's bad from our perspective because we're losing income, tax revenue, and it's clearly a lot more prevalent (now) than ever before.”
Aaron Morrison | Image copourtesy of Racing Victoria
Morrison also spoke on the need to engage with technology. “Other sports seem to be moving faster in leveraging technology and translating analytics into performance improvement and improving the fan experience.
“Racing has a lot of data and information, sometimes to the point of overload and confusion, and we need to get better at surfacing the key insights to drive engagement.
“There was an interesting insight around horse race times and records have barely changed in decades, whilst at the same time human athlete performance records have been improved exponentially thanks to data, training and other performance analysis and insights, and how horse racing has a real opportunity to see real improvement and change.”
Antino to dodge strong Sydney Group 1
Racenet reported on Monday that trainer Tony Gollan will send Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) south to Melbourne for the G1 All-Star Mile and skip this Saturday’s G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes where unbeaten mare Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) looks dominant.
Nominations extended for Australian Guineas
After only 12 nominations were entered for Saturday’s G1 Australian Guineas, Racing Victoria have extended the nomination period until Tuesday lunch time.
It will be the 40th anniversary of the race which was first run and won in 1986 by True Version, a son of Bletchingly. Notable winners including Champion Sires Zabeel (NZ) and Flying Spur, as well as gelded fan favourite Apache Cat (Lion Cavern {USA}) who has a new mate at Living Legends, a pony named Apache Kitten!
Successful sires Pins, Reset, Shamus Award, and Grunt (NZ) are all Australian Guineas winners, as are super race mares Mosheen (Fastnet Rock), Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice), and Mystic Journey (Needs Further). Recent winners who are now at stud include Southport Tycoon and Hitotsu.
Getta Good Feeling to kick off in sprint
Staying filly Getta Good Feeling (So You Think {NZ}) will resume in Saturday’s $1 million Inglis Sprint at Flemington. “There are not many options for her to kick off, but it's a nice starting point; 1200 metres down the straight at Flemington, it gets a good gallop into her and sets her up for the rest of the campaign,” trainer Danny O'Brien told racingandsports.com.au.
Getta Good Feeling | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She's obviously more effective at 1400 and a mile, but she's a preparation older now, she's sharper, her work so far has been very good and her trial Friday was very good. She seems to have come back in really good shape.”
QTIS Jewel qualifier is great opportunity
Only four horses are nominated for the QTIS 2YO Jewel qualifier over 1100 metres at Rockhampton on Tuesday including unbeaten filly Ready Marea (Better Than Ready) trained by Kris Hansen. “I was looking at sending her to Brisbane for a 2-year-old race but in the end, I decided to stay at home,” Hansen told racingqueensland.com.au.
“It was a very good win against older horses and I knew she had the ability to take them on. Her opposition doesn’t look too strong this time so she should be hard to beat again. But, she’ll need to win and win convincingly to run in the QTIS Jewel Final and if she does, she’ll definitely go south. Her main aim is the Capricornia Yearling Sale race here, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Tamworth’s juvenile showcase
On Monday, Tamworth held a juvenile showcase event with the winner being Troy O'Neile-trained 2-year-old filly Tricia’s Rainbow (Gold Standard) who just nabbed Gregory Hickman-trained gelding Blocker (Pierata) by a nose.
Tricia’s Rainbow is the second foal of unraced Milly Amelia (Dream Ahead {USA}) who had a Portland Sky colt in 2025.
Jim Chadwick inducted into WA Hall Of Fame
Best known as a greyhound caller, former jockey Jim Chadwick was inducted into West Australia’s Racing Hall Of Fame this weekend. “As a globe-trotting jockey who rode in Australia, Singapore and Mauritius, Chadwick never imagined his racing life would ultimately go to the dogs. Yet through a deep love for greyhounds and the people around them, that is exactly where he has carved out his later-life career, spanning the best part of three decades,” said the press release.
“Approaching 90 years of age, Chadwick still works trackside as an announcer at Cannington, a remarkable testament to his enduring commitment to the sport.
“Chadwick began calling greyhound racing on Perth radio station 6IX in the early 1970s and soon became a broadcaster across all three racing codes, calling harness racing on Friday nights, the gallops on Saturday afternoons and the greyhounds on Saturday nights. His television career included presenting sport segments on news bulletins, as well as appearances on World of Sport, Track Time & The Racing Game, Chaddie’s Tips and GWN’s Racing Tips.
“In 2012, Chadwick was recognised for his service to the industry when he received the Gerry O’Keefe Achievement Award, acknowledging his outstanding contribution since the earliest days of the WA greyhound racing industry.”
Ohope Wins crowned NZB Filly Of The Year
Saturday’s G1 New Zealand Oaks victory has secured the 2025-26 NZB Filly of the Year Series win for Yulong’s Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}). Ohope Wins was bred by Gartshore Bloodstock, who raced her through the first four starts, and then she was purchased by Yulong Investments. She picked up 28 points in the series.
Fellow Yulong owned filly Well Written (Written Tycoon) came in equal second alongside Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) both with 20 points each.
Moreira approved for Hong Kong
Jockey Joao Moreira has been approved for a Hong Kong licence for the final three months of the season and will be the retained stable rider for Caspar Fownes. “Who wouldn’t be happy with a superstar like him coming for the rest of the season?” Fownes told scmp.com.
“I’m so happy – happy with the club, happy with Jo and more than anything, I’m sure the fans and the owners will be looking forward to him coming back. It’s going to be exciting, it’s going to be fun.”
Houtzen’s son wins again
Greenwich Village (Quality Road) with Juan Hernandez aboard timed things just right to get his head down at the wire in a tight finish in Sunday's Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita. Sent off the 8-5 choice after a first-time turf score in the 6.5 furlong Baffle Stakes at this venue on January 25, Greenwich Village was asked for more and responded as he swung out four to five paths wide turning for home.
Taking dead aim at the game pacesetter down the lane, Greenwich Village closed with every stride and put his head down just in time to edge Medici (Into Mischief) with a fast-closing Iriseach (Ubettabelieveit {Ire}) grabbing third.
Greenwich Village, the third foal out of a multiple group winning mare in Australia, Houtzen (I Am Invincible), has a juvenile brother by Charlatan and a yearling brother by Not This Time.
Costa Nova defends G1 February Stakes title
Another dreary February day, another G1 February Stakes victory for Costa Nova (Lord Kanaloa). One of the rare Japanese Group 1 dirt races, the 1600 metre contest has now been won twice in consecutive years by three horses, with Copano Rickey (Gold Allure) saluting in 2014 and 2015 and Café Pharoah (American Pharoah) equaling that feat in 2021 and 2022. The race is a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in the autumn.
“I am happy to have won the first Group 1 of this season with Costa Nova with whom I've partnered for some time. He broke nicely and we were able to relax during the trip behind Wilson Tesoro. I had great response from the horse as soon as I shifted him to the outside for the stretch drive and, from then on, he was extremely strong up to the wire,” said Christophe Lemaire.
Could we see Constitution Hill in the Cup?
Owner Michael Buckley is dreaming big regarding Flat targets for Constitution Hill (Blue Bresil), after the 9-year-old trotted up an imperious winner at Southwell on Friday. Although Buckley and trainer Nicky Henderson have yet to make a decision on the gelding's Champion Hurdle participation, several big Flat targets are being discussed at the moment. The two-mile G1 Melbourne Cup is under consideration.
Buckley told Nick Luck on Racing TV's Luck On Sunday programme, “I did say to Nicky 'can we agree on one thing, whatever we decide about Cheltenham, let's for the rest of this year concentrate on a Flat campaign'.
“For me, if he doesn't run [in the Champion Hurdle], I don't see him running over hurdles again this year – that's 2026. But if he ran and let's say he fell – and God forbid he does that – he would never run over hurdles again ever. If he ran and won it would be a hell of a swansong (over obstacles) and it would put a few demons to bed for me, I've got to say.
“I think the horse should be running around about the end of August or beginning of September, either in the Ebor [at York], or there's a race at Goodwood, or in the Irish St Leger, with a view to going to Melbourne. If you were asking me what I'd like to do, that is what I'd like to aim at.”
