Daily News Wrap

Racing NSW announces $1.5 million fuel relief package

On Thursday night, Racing NSW released details of a fuel relief package designed to assist participants. “Developed with the NSW Trainers, Jockeys and Owners Associations, the package directly responds to the rising cost of fuel, including surcharges from suppliers which has been hitting the industry hard,” said the press release.

The package includes $100 per race starter payment, for all horses travelling less than 150km each way to a race meeting, and $200 for horses travelling more than 150km each way. It will also include a jockey travel allowance.

“We know costs across the board have surged, not just fuel prices, but the levy surcharges on top of them. People in this industry are doing it tough and we want to help. This package puts real money back in people’s pockets straight away. We’ll keep watching conditions and increase the funding if needed,” Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys AM said.

All measures start immediately and run until 31 May 2026, when they’ll be reviewed based on conditions at that time.

First winner for The Odyssey

First season sire The Odyssey celebrated his first winner when 2-year-old gelding Duke Of Albemarle won at Ipswich on debut for trainer Kelly Schweida. Duke Of Albemarle was a $65,000 purchase by Telemon Stud, who stand The Odyssey, from Infinity Thoroughbreds’ Magic Millions National Yearling Sale draft.

A son of Better Than Ready, The Odyssey won both the QTIS 2YO Jewel and QTIS 3YO Jewel as well as the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes.

Waller can’t split Australian Cup pair

Chris Waller refuses to choose between his G1 Australian Cup contenders Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) and Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn). “She showed in the spring she's up to Group 1 level and 2000 metres distance I'm excited about, it's the furthest we've had her over in Australia,” Waller told racenet.com.au of the G1 NZ Oaks winner.

“Birdman is in great form, he's learned to be a winner … even his first-up run, where he didn't win, he was very unlucky and stepping out to 2000 metres should be a positive. Both horses should get lovely runs (from good barriers), with Birdman confidence is the key and Leica Lucy, she's been there before and gets her chance in Australia.”

Zahra free to ride Tentyris

Jockey Mark Zahra had his whip suspension reduced on appeal which allows him to ride Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}) in Saturday week’s G1 TJ Smith Stakes. Zahra was set to serve from March 26 to March 31 after he pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge at Caulfield Heath on March 18, and this suspension was to follow on from April 1 to April 6, but his lawyer Tony Hannebery argued that he should serve the two penalties concurrently.

Travel suits Paradise Storm ahead of Roy Higgins

Trainer Henry Dwyer is gaining a reputation for being good at travelling horses, and his OTI-owned import Paradise Storm (Fr) (Masked Marvel {GB}) is proving that. He went to New Zealand where he won the G2 Auckland Cup over two miles, and now he’s back to the Listed Roy Higgins Stakes to secure a run in the G1 Melbourne Cup. “I don’t see why (he can’t win) – he’s in pretty good order,” Dwyer told racing.com.

“I reckon he’s bounced through that trip away pretty well; he had a really quiet week following it. And I know he won easily, but he didn’t have a hard run either. He was very strong through the line and pulled up really well initially from it. He spent the next week just going on the walker and out in the paddock in New Zealand. He arrived back here bucking and squealing – he’s a really tough horse. I think he’s in good order for Saturday.”

Statue of Payne unveiled at Flemington

Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne has been immortalised in a bronze sculpture at Flemington. Funded by philanthropist Lady Marigold Southey and created by sculptor Judith Leman, the sculpture was unveiled on Thursday.

“It's there forever now, what an amazing honour. An unbelievable privilege to be the fifth statue here at Flemington,” Payne told racenet.com.au. Leman also sculpted the Roy Higgins statue.

“Judith has done an amazing job, I stand there proud and resilient, I had to work very hard for it and I think that's what the statue really shows today. If young children are coming in here and it's the first thing they see, it helps them to dream big, all this work and effort has been worthwhile. Not in a million years do you think there's going to be a statue (of you) unveiled … huge thanks to Lady Southey for funding and making sure this happened.”

Cheap horse seeking Cup qualifier

Warrnambool trainer Joanne Mugavin will seek a ballot free slot in the G1 Melbourne Cup in Saturday’s Listed Roy Higgins Stakes with Bright Legend (Churchill {Ire}) who cost $2500 at an Inglis Digital sale in 2025. “We liked her breeding first and foremost,” Mugavin told racenet.com.au. The last start Listed Torney Cup (Moonee Valley Night Cup) winner has won four of her 23 starts.

“We were looking for a jumper and we watched a few of her replays and noticed that she hadn't been stepped out past a mile. We thought from her replays that she'd definitely get a trip so we purchased her.

“The next step after the Torney Night Cup was going to be the Roy Higgins if she performed well in that, so why not?”

Digital buy set for King Of The Mountain

Trainers Barry Lockwood and Emma-Jane Vincent think Battlefield (Deep Field) can win Friday’s King of the Mountain at Toowoomba. “He likes Toowoomba and hasn’t been beaten in two starts there,” Lockwood said of the $42,500 Inglis Digital purchase.

“He drew wide last time in the Gold Jewel, but his run was terrific, so we’ve got no issues with that. He’s going well so he should run a super race in Toowoomba. I think he’s looking for 1400 metres, but Emma-Jane and I have freshened him up for this.”

Racing NSW announce careers day

Racing NSW will hold a careers day in Scone for 20 keen participants wanting to know more about different career options in racing. “Racing NSW's Team Thoroughbred Training Academy will oversee the information day at Scone Racecourse and Scone College. The day will be conducted from 10am-3pm on Tuesday, 7th April 2026,” said the press release.

Bendigo track renovation complete

Bendigo Race Club have completed a $1 million renovation of their racing surface. “It was the first time in about 27 years that we've had anything done to the surface to that level,” Bendigo Jockey Club chief executive Paul Scullie told racenet.com.au.

“We didn't touch the profile of the course, we just redid the surface. We went through the process of topmaking, which takes all the root system out of the existing profile and replaces it. It's really invasive but not anything extreme that exposes the profile.

“We laid around 66,000 square metres of turf in what's known as maxi-rolls and that has probably got us back quicker than what you'd normally expect if you were seeding it or anything like that.”

Juvenile winner for Trapeze Artist

At Hawkesbury on Thursday, Jack Pilkington-trained 2-year-old colt Am I Dreaming (Trapeze Artist) won on debut in an open maiden against the older horses. Sold by Widden Stud as a weanling for $22,500, Am I Dreaming was pinhooked by Clarke & Crofte Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where Pilkington and Jamie Piggott Bloodstock purchased him for $35,000.

Am I Dreaming is the first winner for Alexandra Dreaming (Written Tycoon) who is a city winning half-sister to Group 3 winner Yattarna (Exceed And Excel).

Double for Toronado at Warrnambool

Thursday’s Warrnambool meeting saw a double for Toronado (Ire) with a pair of 3-year-olds. Henry Dwyer-trained She’s A Jett (NZ) won a maiden at her third start. Her trainer purchased her at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$240,000 from Trelawney Stud. Her dam, winning mare Joan’s A Jett (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Allez Wonder (Redoute’s Choice) and Group 3 winner Pretty Pins (NZ) (Pins).

In the next on the card, Tom Dabernig-trained Romantic Miss bolted home by five lengths to record her second career victory. It was her first time back at the track since running fourth in the G3 Blue Sapphire Stakes in the spring. She is a full sister to Listed winner Romantic Choice.

Stablemates set for G1 Manawatu Sires

Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have two runners in Saturday’s G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, being Excite (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and St Monica (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}). “Excite is a very nice horse and only had the one trial before he went to the races, so he’s just been finding his way,” Wellwood told Loveracing.nz.

“He continues to thrive, he’s a pretty exciting horse and while he will handle a wet track to some extent, we would rather see him on a good deck. Whatever we see from him this preparation, he’s going to be better as a 3-year-old.

“(St Monica) is quite immature and will definitely be better at three, but she has showed a lot of ability. She will relax and is quite push button, it’s quite hard to split our two but the colt is probably a bit bigger and stronger at this stage.”

Shum trains four-timer at Happy Valley

Trainer Danny Shum dominated Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting with a four wins, while jockey Hugh Bowman rode a treble. “It goes in roundabouts. You sort of have quiet periods, and you have good periods, and it was really special to win the Derby,” Bowman told scmp.com.

“I felt as though in the last month I’ve just had sort of one or two good rides a meeting, whereas I felt coming to this Wednesday night and the coming Sunday, I’ve got more rides that are capable of figuring in the finish. It’s a bit easier to get more focus for those days when you know in advance that they’re coming.” Bowman’s treble consisted of Motor (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), Beauty Viva (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Joyful Prosperity (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).

Shum trained Joyful Prosperity as well as Win Method (Written Tycoon), Without Compare (Brutal {NZ}) and My Day My Way (Overshare).

Disappointment for British Racing on betting levy

The British Horseracing Authority's chief executive Brant Dunshea has expressed his frustration that government ministers have determined there is to be no change in the rate of Levy. In a written statement Ian Murray, minister for creative industries, media and arts, said that due to the recent change in taxation in the gambling industry, “Government does not feel it is appropriate to pursue legislative changes to the rate of the horserace betting levy at this time.”

As a result, Dunshea has asked the government to look again at the introduction of affordability checks which he feels will fuel a rise in illegal betting. “It is disappointing that it has taken almost three years to determine there should be no change in the levy rate,” Dunshea said.

“Throughout protracted negotiations British horseracing engaged with the government in good faith, including providing clear evidence of a substantial – and growing – g ap between our costs of providing the sport and the return we receive from betting.

“Following the BHA's lobbying campaign, the government in its last Budget recognised the vital cultural, social and economic importance of horse racing by not imposing an increase in betting duties on the sport.

“In its pre-Budget advice to the Treasury, the DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) also warned that 'unless a carve-out for racing was accompanied by an increase in the Horserace Betting Levy…racing would be unlikely to feel any benefit'.

“Today's WMS (Written Ministerial Statement) leaves unexplained why, only a few months after the Budget, the DCMS now believes there is no need to change the levy rate.”

Nice draw for Forever Young in Cup

Reigning Japanese Horse of the Year Forever Young (Real Steel) will break from stall 6 under Ryusei Sakai in a field of nine for Saturday's G1 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who drew the gate number during the post-position ceremony at Meydan Racecourse on Wednesday morning, said, “I wanted middle to outer, so I'm pleased.”

Last year, Forever Young could manage only third in the Dubai World Cup behind Hit Show (Candy Ride), who is drawn alongside Forever Young in gate 5 as he tries to emulate Thunder Snow (2018 and 2019) as a dual winner of the race.

Flying Start grad Kelly joins Baroda Stud

Baroda Stud Consigning has announced the appointment of Sarah Kelly as bloodstock and marketing executive ahead of the upcoming sales season.

A graduate of the University of Limerick with a degree in Equine Science, Kelly holds a Certificate in Thoroughbred Breeding Management from the Irish National Stud, where she was awarded both the Veterinary Award and a Certificate of Distinction. Her skillset includes a Diploma in PR and Marketing Communications, further strengthening her knowledge across both bloodstock and communications.

Kelly joins the County Kildare-based operation following her participation in the Godolphin Flying Start programme (2022-2024), where she gained extensive international experience across Ireland, Australia, the United States, the UK and the UAE. Her industry experience also includes time with international operations such as Spendthrift Farm, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and George Boughey Racing.

“I am delighted to be joining the team at Baroda,” said Kelly. “Having previously worked with the organisation, I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and am excited by this new opportunity. I look forward to working closely with the team to support their clients, breeders and clients alike.”

Constitution Hill wins again, but no Cup trip

Former jumper Constitution Hill drew the crowds to Kempton on Wednesday evening and left them thoroughly satisfied with another easy win on his Flat renaissance.

“He's a gentleman,” jockey Ryan Moore said of the 9-year-old who bar jumping frailties would by now have been a legend in the other sphere. “He moved well and I think there's a bit more improvement to come from him. We'll know more about him in his next run, but he's very comfortable at twelve [furlongs].”

Trainer Nicky Henderson added, “Ryan said he's enjoying himself a lot and that's great for us. He's not a slow old jumper by any means and he has been here before Cheltenham so knows his way around here. He seemed to handle the sharp track and he's pretty adaptable.” He also confirmed that a trip to the G1 Melbourne Cup would not be happening.

Canadian Hall Of Fame trainer Attfield to retire

Roger Attfield, 86, a member of both the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the United States National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, is retiring from training after a 54-year career, although he plans to remain involved in the sport as an owner, breeder and consultant.

Attfield enjoyed much of his success on the Ontario circuit, where he won the Sovereign for Outstanding Canadian Trainer eight times and conditioned six Canadian Horses of the Year and three Canadian Triple Crown winners. He also trained during winters in Florida.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I have decided to retire from training,” Attfield said in a prepared statement. “Having hung my first shingle up when only 17, as a rider and trainer of horses, I feel that 69 years later is a pretty good number of innings.

“All of my life I have always been a hands-on trainer and now at 86 I can no longer ride out on my pony with sets, and [am] unable to safely inspect them in stalls,” Attfield said. “Both of these things always helped me understand my horses' needs, mentally and physically, to get the very best from them. No longer being able to perform these duties properly, it's time to say 'Hasta la vista!'”

Vale Francisco “Paco” Mena

Former Southern California jockey and “King of the Bullring” Francisco “Paco” Mena died last week in Rosarito, Mexico where family members said he had been living. He was 78.

“He just recently decided he wanted to live on his own. He got a nice little place by the ocean in Rosarito,” Mena's brother, former jockey Guillermo Mena said.

Born in 1947 in Jalisco, Mexico, Mena started riding in Southern California in the mid-1970s. He soon established himself as the “King of the Bullring” at Pomona where he was once the all-time winningest jockey. Mena's leading mounts included Grade I winners First Albert and Landcaper, and California-bred graded stakes winner Double Discount and Scherando.

Perhaps most notably, Mena was also the regular rider of Telly's Pop, a popular colt in the 1970s who was owned in partnership by actor Telly Savalas and producer/director Howard Koch.