Daily News Wrap

ATC vs Racing NSW case judgement

The NSW Supreme Court has listed delivery of judgment in the Australian Turf Club’s challenge to Racing NSW for Wednesday at 9.45am, presenting a decision on one of the most closely watched governance disputes in NSW racing in recent years.

The case was argued over three days in late February and centres on the scope of Racing NSW’s power under the Thoroughbred Racing Act to appoint “an administrator to conduct the affairs of a race club”. At issue is how broadly that power operates in practice, particularly in the context of a member-owned club with a board accountable to its membership, and what limits the Act imposes on regulatory intervention.

The ATC contends the provision must be read with constraints so it does not operate as an open-ended replacement of a member-owned club’s board and corporate governance. Racing NSW contends the power must be given real operation within the statutory scheme, including in circumstances it says threaten the conduct and stability of racing.

The judgment is expected to provide guidance with implications beyond the ATC, given the administrator power applies across the NSW race club network and has been used previously.

Latest order for G1 Golden Slipper

The Australian Turf Club have updated the order of entry for the G1 Golden Slipper after the weekend’s racing. Saturday's G2 Reisling Stakes winner Chayan (I Am Invincible) and G2 Todman Stakes victor Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) both join Spicy Miss (Trapeze Artist), Stretan Ruler (Wild Ruler), and Campione D’Italia (Snitzel) on the exemption list.

G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Streisand (Magnus) leads the remainer by prizemoney earned, with Guest House (Home Affairs), Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Zambales (Pinatubo {Ire}) next in the order.

Closer To Free to trial on Tuesday

Trainer Danny O’Brien will trial last start G1 Blue Diamond Stakes-second Closer To Free (Street Boss {USA}) on Tuesday ahead of a crack at the G1 Golden Slipper.

“Unless the wheels fall off, he’ll be a late nomination. He arrived up there on Thursday night and Jamie Melham is making her way up to Sydney on Tuesday to partner him in a trial at Rosehill,” O’Brien told racing.com.

“We didn’t want to run him again (before the Slipper) and were just thinking four weeks between runs, he needed to have a little bit of work to be spot on for the Slipper. He’s only had two starts, and he might have a couple of more runs in him yet as he’s taking it all in his stride so far.”

Pago Pago option for Warwoven

Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven (Sword Of State) is currently 18th in the G1 Golden Slipper order with a field of 16 set to take their place. He would slip to 19th if Closer To Free (Street Boss {USA}) makes a late entry.

Baker is contemplating running the 2-year-old colt in Saturday’s G3 Pago Pago Stakes to get a lift in prizemoney and guarantee a start.

“I've nominated Warwoven and we will weigh up what we have to do,” Baker told racingandsports.com.au.

“I would prefer not to run in the Pago Pago but it is not the end of the world if we do start him on Saturday.” Meanwhile stablemate and now Group 1 winner Caballus (I Am Invincible) will be set for The Quokka after being selected by Ram Racing for their slot.

Seawright resigns from Racing Queensland

Jane Seawright resigned as a director on the Racing Queensland Board after a seven year term.

“It has been a privilege to contribute to the governance of an organisation that plays a crucial role in Queensland’s economy and regional communities. My focus has been on promoting transparency, disciplined decision-making, and building strong relationships with our racing clubs, which are vital to the industry’s sustainability,” Seawright said in a statement.

The structure of Racing Queensland and the board is likely to change in response to the McGrath Review whose findings were released in December with the potential for an expanded Board to reflect all three racing codes in the state.

Second crack at the Showdown for Brownes

Pakenham trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne won last year’s $1 million Showdown with McGaw (I Am Immortal) and have another bargain priced runner for this year with Lomu (I Am Immortal).

“We're going to take him to Caulfield on Tuesday for a gallop to see how he handles it and make a decision after that,” Emma-Lee Browne told racenet.com.au.

"We just wanted to give him a gallop on Tuesday to make sure he copes with going to Caulfield and things like that before we make a firm decision. He's a lovely horse. He's probably a bit bigger and built slightly differently to McGaw. He's probably a little bit more heavy set than he was.”

McGaw came into the Showdown having won on debut, while Lomu is unraced. Sparta Racing purchased Lomu for $10,000 from Stonehouse Thoroughbreds’ draft at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Yulong owned Autumn Glory to join Price Kent Racing

New Zealand trainer Roger James confirmed that Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) will join the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable. She is owned by Yulong.

“I've been told Autumn Glory will continue her race career in Australia,” James told racingandsports.com.au.

“I got a call from Mick Price at 5am your time to tell me Autumn Glory will be going to his stables. These things happen in racing.” Winner of the G2 Waikato Guineas, Autumn Glory ran second in both the G1 New Zealand Oaks and G1 New Zealand Derby.

“We are looking forward to having Autumn Glory in our Rosehill stables Wednesday week. She holds an entry for the Oaks at Randwick and we hope to get another run out of her,” Price said.

New winner for Tagaloa

Second season sire Tagaloa added winner number 27 when Bjorn Baker-trained 3-year-old filly Nafanua won at Cowra on Monday. Placed on debut in the spring, she was having her fourth start. Baker, along with Jim Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), purchased her from Twin Hills Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft for $15,000.

She is the fifth winner for Celtic Sea (Fastnet Rock) who is a winning half-sister to Group 3 winner Tony Nicconi (Nicconi).

New date and distance for Armidale Cup

The Armidale Jockey Club’s Cup hasn’t been run for 15 months after the committee made the decision to move it from December to this Friday.

“Previously over 1900 metres and run in December, the Cup now fits in perfectly as a lead-up to the Muswellbrook Cup a fortnight later,” Michael Timbrell, General Manager of the Armidale Jockey Club, told racingnsw.com.au.

“This was not an easy decision for the committee, but times have changed and the Club bit the bullet. The 1400 metres is our best starting point with a 400-metre straight run to the first turn and each horse gets a chance to find their position.

“It also makes more sense over 1400 metres as a qualifier for the ($3m) Big Dance and we get to start 14 horses instead of a maximum of 12 from the 1900 metres.”

WA firefighters benefit from grant

A $3000 grant from the Racing WA Community Fund is a welcome boost for rural firefighters in the Pilbara region of WA.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Racing WA and the Community Fund for investing back into the communities where they operate,” Dampier Volunteer Fire and Rescue volunteer firefighter James Howarth told racingwa.com.au.

“The grant from Racing WA will help us strengthen our capabilities, improving safety for our volunteers and helping us better protect the towns and communities we respond to across the Pilbara.”

Tasracing open applications for Welfare grants

Tasracing have opened the applications for the Racing Animal Welfare (RAW) Grants Program 2026-27. With $100,000 available, the funding is available across three categories.

“Animal Health Research – up to $20,000 for projects promoting health care and welfare for racing animals.

“Facilities and Equipment – up to $10,000 for projects improving facilities or equipment that directly impact animal welfare, and Initiatives to Enhance Animal Welfare – up to $5,000 for projects contributing to enhanced animal welfare standards.”

Only Tasmanian-based registered Not-for-Profit, Charity, Business, or Sole Traders with an ABN or ACN are eligible to apply.

The Kiwi second placed Belle Cheval heads to Sydney

Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) who ran second to Well Written (Written Tycoon) in Saturday’s R. Listed The Kiwi will head to Sydney for the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes.

“She was so close to what would have been a dream result, but we’re still thrilled with her, so proud of our wonderful filly,” co-owner/breeder David Archer told Loveracing.nz.

“I had a good talk with Mark (Walker) yesterday and he was pleased to tell me she pulled up as if she hadn’t had a race. That being the case, and subject to everything going to plan in the meantime, she will be flown to Sydney and run in the Vinery, which looks ideal as a fillies’ Group 1 over 2000 metres.

“That will be it for this season, she won’t be going to the (ATC) Oaks, and the most likely plan then will be to head down to the Mornington Peninsula for a spell with a view to a spring campaign in Victoria.

“As much as we would like to start her in the first Group 1s of the spring back here, the risk of wet tracks at that stage of the season in New Zealand makes Melbourne a more attractive target.”

Charlatan filly adds Kentucky Oaks points

She rolled into the lane with all the momentum and Forced Entry (Charlatan) carried it right to her first black-type win in the G3 Santa Ysabel Stakes. Out to set the pace again, they were never able to reel her back in, and Forced Entry cantered home to win easily by 7.25 lengths.

Stepping up into black-type, and graded, company for the first time here, the betting public gave the Bob Baffert filly a 5-2 chance to extend the conditioner's dominant streak in the race and she didn't disappoint.

Baffert now claims six consecutive victories in the Santa Ysabel, and 11 overall in the race. Forced Entry earns 50 Kentucky Oaks points here, and currently sits in fifth on the leaderboard. Forced Entry is the first black-type winner for her dam, a multiple stakes-placed mare on the Florida circuit named Violent Times (Violence).

More debate on Aftercare issue

By Bill Finley, TDN

It is, of course, a good thing, that the subjects of aftercare and slaughter are being so widely debated, with influential owners like Mike Repole and Aron Wellman all but demanding that the industry come together and solve the problem.

Good for Cummings. Good for Repole. Owner John Stewart and his family have also lent their hand to the aftercare cause and have been a positive force when it comes to keeping horses out of the slaughter pipeline.

But here is what I just don't get: Why is it that the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act never seems to enter into the conversation, which has never been louder?

The bill prohibits a person from knowingly slaughtering an equine for human consumption or shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption. There are no equine slaughterhouses in the U.S., but that hasn't stopped people from putting all breeds of horses onto a truck and shipping them to slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico.

That's the key to this bill. If “killer” buyers are kept from sending horses across our borders to slaughterhouses they will be encountering an insurmountable roadblock that they won't be able to get around. Passage of the SAFE Act would make a huge difference and go a long way toward solving a problem that the industry continues to fumble. It's a no-brainer

Yet, the SAFE Act continues to be caught in legislative limbo. Put another way, it's going nowhere. Chris Heyde, a Washington, D.C. lobbyist who has dedicated his career to animal welfare issues, said he has been working on versions of the SAFE Act since 2001. The first SAFE Act was introduced in the 113th congress way back in 2013 and the bill has been introduced in nearly every congressional session for the last decade. But it has never gotten across the finish line.

Slaughter in the U.S. is effectively banned due to the absence of USDA funding for inspectors for slaughterhouses, a direct result of Heyde's prior work.

Though the conversation has gotten needlessly vitriolic, it's good that so many people are talking about the aftercare issue and how the industry can come up with funding mechanisms that will finally put an end to this problem. No Thoroughbred (or any horse, for that matter) should ever end up being abused, neglected, abandoned or slaughtered. That is indisputable.

But that the SAFE Act barely gets mentioned is mystifying. It needs to be a major focus when it comes to the efforts to end slaughter and protect all Thoroughbreds, and it just isn't. There are a lot of very wealthy and influential people who are part of this industry. There are surely a lot of people in the industry who have political connections. It's time for them to step up.