Terrible accident leaves McGovern with serious injuries
Queensland country jockey Shane McGovern may lose both his legs after a trackwork accident on Charters Towers on Wednesday. Reformist (Dissident), trained by McGovern’s wife Kim McGovern, collapsed during trackwork of a suspected aneurysm, landing on McGovern and trapping him underneath the horse, cutting off blood circulation to his legs.
He wasn’t discovered for several hours. “I thought ‘well, that's Shane, he'll just go off for a ride', which is what he does because the horse was supposed to be racing on Monday,” Kim told racenet.com.au on Friday.
“But I'm absolutely kicking myself, and it's a thing I will never forget. And then this ghoulish little arm comes up, and he says ‘I'm all right'. He was conscious but they've got him on high-powered drugs and he's hallucinating and then gets a bit hyperventilated. They knocked him back out into an induced coma, put the breathing tube back in to give his body a rest and they'll keep him like that for a couple of days.”
Australian Jockeys' Association health and safety officer Kevin Ring told racenet.com.au that McGovern was in Townsville Hospital. “He couldn't move his legs so that naturally affected his blood circulation and caused nerve damage as well, There's a possibility he may lose one or both legs,” Ring said.
Two jockeys, Jasper Franklin and Yvette Lewis, sustained minor injuries in separate falls at the Gold Coast trials on Wednesday, with Franklin to miss six weeks with a broken collarbone.
Idle Flyer can handle the pressure
Trainer Matt Smith is intrigued by the presence of Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in Saturday’s G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes, and thinks his mare Idle Flyer (Dundeel {NZ}) can handle the pressure. “I think she fits in with those mares, she’s that quality of mare, it’s just going to be interesting to see what happens with Pride Of Jenni,” Smith said.
Idle Flyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“You’ve got to handle the pressure of it. Can she soak up the pressure of what’s going to happen in the first half of the race? Is she ready for it? Seeing how she is I think she’s ready but you put them in the race and it’s a whole different story. If Pride Of Jenni wasn’t in there it’s a completely different race.”
Spain’s turn of foot key in Sydney Cup
Jockey Tommy Berry likes how Soul Of Spain (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) has a good turn of foot ahead of Saturday’s G1 Sydney Cup. “He’s one of those stayers with a turn of foot and there’s not many stayers in the race that has a turn of foot like him,” Berry told racingnsw.com.au.
Sould Of Spain (Ire) | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“We’re forced to probably ride a touch quieter from the alley, it’s a race with good pressure in it so when a few of them are putting up the white flag up at the end he’ll be the one hopefully just warming up. He gets in light at the weights and is getting up to a distance that is his go.”
Inglis Digital open for bidding
The Inglis Digital April (Early) Online Sale catalogue is now open for bidding with 551 lots on offer. The catalogue is headlined by 207 racehorses (89 race fillies), 186 broodmares, and 76 racehorse shares.
Shares in young stallions Jacquinot and Southport Tycoon will tempt breeders ahead of the season, while among the broodmares are Twist Tops (Beneteau), the dam of this season’s stakes winning 2-year-old Gin Twist (Home Affairs), and Group 3 winner Cool Passion (Not A Single Doubt) who is the dam of stakes winner Prestige Forever (Ole Kirk).
Hesket reduction added to Magic Millions Broodmares
Victorian based Hesket Thoroughbreds will offer 22 lots at the upcoming Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in an unreserved reduction sale. “We’re incredibly enthusiastic about the future of General Beau and what he's producing,” Hesket's David Moodie said.
“The quality we’re seeing from our young sire has given us real confidence in him, so we've made the decision to retain his foals and pregnancies, while reducing our broader Hesket broodmare band accordingly.
“This unreserved reduction is really about returning to our roots; going back to how we were breeding 30 years ago, focused on breeding to race, before the commercial pressures and rising costs in the industry shaped the current landscape.
“We'll be offering 22 mares through the National Sale as part of that process, and moving forward it’s about simplifying the operation, backing our judgement, and building around this young sire in a more sustainable and considered way.”
North Pacific filly to defy breeding in Oaks
Trainer Marc Chevalier thinks 3-year-old filly Stand My Ground (North Pacific) can defy her sprinter/miler pedigree in Saturday’s G1 Australian Oaks. “She has been pretty amazing so far and there is probably more to come from her as an older horse,” Chevalier told racenet.com.au.
“She is a big girl and she is still furnishing. Even though it might not look like it on pedigree, she has always felt like a stayer and looked like a stayer. She doesn't have a big turn of foot but she can run all day and I think she will run the 2400m on Saturday.
Stand My Ground | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“With the widest gate this time, the plan will be to jump neutral and see what the pace is like but a couple of runners have winkers on for the first time so I am going to hope they try and go forward.”
Sapphire is a sounding board for Group 1 future
Jason Coyle-trained Catch The Glory (Zousain) was on the ballot for the G1 Galaxy and won the G3 Birthday Card Stakes on the same card instead. She heads to the G2 Sapphire Stakes on Saturday, ahead of a potential Group 1 aim in South Australia. “She’s won three out of her last four but they always seem to leave her a peg below the rest of them,” Coyle told racingnsw.com.au.
“The Galaxy was Plan A, we resorted to Plan B and the Sapphire was always going to be second-up. We’ll determine whether she goes up to Queensland or South Australia at this time of year but we’ll get through Saturday and work out what to do.”
Bassett Babe set for stakes challenge
Andrew Gluyas-trained 2-year-old filly Bassett Babe (Wootton Bassett {GB}) won her first two starts, then placed in the G3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes at Caulfield. She runs in Saturday’s Listed Redelva Stakes. “She travelled well, I was quite pleased with the way she got back, she's maintained weight and she's been very interested in her work,” Gluyas told racenet.com.au.
Bassett Babe as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I'm pleased with her. It (Caulfield) was a test that we were trying to give her, and I think she passed it quite well. The test for her this week is going back 100m to 1100m – now that she's had a few runs. But the draw (2) may offset that, I think she'll appreciate the give in the ground a bit on Saturday.”
Sheza Alibi’s owner looks towards Rockhampton
Owner Fred Noffke, famous for owning Group 1 winning 3-year-old filly Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrio {Jpn}), will run Kris Hansen-trained 2-year-old filly Ready Marea (Better Than Ready) in Saturday’s Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic at Rockhampton. “I was cheering (Sheza Alibi) home coming around the corner and I’ve always said she’s going to be the best sprinter in Australia,” Hansen told racingqueensland.com.au about the G1 Doncaster victory. He trained Sheza Alibi for the early part of her career.
“And, I still believe she’s going to be even better as a 4-year-old. I took her to Brisbane when she ran second to Autumn Boy then it was decided her future was in the south. I’ve got no problems with that and I’ve still got a couple of horses I train for Fred.”
On Ready Marea, “I’ve freshened her up since her last start and she’s back on track and should be very competitive.”
Chatauqua undergoes treatment for melanoma
Living Legends announced on Friday that retired Champion Sprinter Chautauqua (Encosta De Lago) has undergone surgery for melanoma. “(Chautauqua) has been receiving treatment for melanomas, which are quite common in grey horses. The good news is he’s responding really well and continuing to take everything in his stride,” said the press release.
“A big thank you to the team at University of Melbourne Werribee Equine Centre for their expert care. His treatment has included surgery to remove some of the larger melanomas, as well as targeted chemotherapy injections into others. He’s also now on a course of a new vaccine, representing one of the latest advances in melanoma management.
“We’d also like to recognise Living Legends’ veterinary nurse Molly Stewart, whose skill, dedication and calm approach to Sharky’s post-surgical care have been exceptional. She’s built a lovely rapport with him, which has made a real difference.”
Russian Revolution adds 2-year-old winner
On Friday at Tamworth, Todd Howlett-trained 2-year-old gelding Putinacall (Russian Revolution) won on debut. Bought by his trainer for a bargain $10,000 from Coolmore Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft, he is cleverly named.
Putinacall’s dam is You Rang (Sebring) who is a winning half-sister to Rise Of The Masses (Russian Revolution) and stakes placed Kundalini (I Am Invincible).
Dundeel juvenile winner at Geelong
Geelong’s Friday meeting saw the win of Phillip Stokes-trained 2-year-old colt Aragog (Dundeel {NZ}). The Yulong-owned colt was having his second start, and Yulong purchased him at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from Mullaglass Stud for $90,000.
Aragog is the third foal and second winner for stakes placed Pipiana (NZ) (Highly Recommended {NZ}) whose dam Enthusabelle (NZ) (Savabeel) is a full sister to Group 1 winner Irish Fling (NZ).
Flying Artie double at Murray Bridge
On Friday, Flying Artie sired a double at Murray Bridge. Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained 3-year-old filly Artistic Angel won her maiden by 1.7 lengths. She placed in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at her second start as a 2-year-old. Artistic Angel was purchased by her trainers for $60,000 from Cornerstone Stud’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale draft.
In the next, David Jolly and Justin Potter-trained 3-year-old filly Heart Of The Med was impressive on debut, winning by 3.7 lengths. The Chase sold her at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $55,000 to her trainers. Her winning dam Audacious Heart (Fastnet Rock) has been to Zoustar twice since.
Ka Ying Rising still on top of the world
Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black) and Magnitude (Not This Time) have moved into a joint-fourth on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings after recent Group 1 victories. They sit at 122, equal to G1 Neom Turf Cup hero Royal Champion (Shamardal).
In the Osaka Hai, Croix Du Nord defeated Meisho Tabaru (Gold Ship) (120) and Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) (118). Magnitude's rating rose from 117 to 122 with his one-length victory over Forever Young (Real Steel) (123) in the G1 Dubai World Cup near the end of March.
Ka Ying Rising | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) (128) leads the table with Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) in second on 124. Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) (120) continued her winning streak with a victory in the G1 George Ryder Stakes. She is the highest rated filly or mare in the world at present.
Spywire joins The Quokka field
Ciaron Maher-trained Spywire (Trapeze Artist) has secured the second last slot in The Quokka on April 18. The 4-year-old gelding won the Country Discovery last start, and has won six of his 19 starts and over $1.6 million.
Juvenile winner for Ole Kirk
On Thursday night at Pakenham, Ole Kirk added a juvenile winner with Mark Walker-trained 2-year-old filly Wonderful Sky. She was having her second start having run second on debut. Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis purchased her for $290,000 from Newhaven Park Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
She is the second foal and second winner for Medic (Snitzel), a full sister to G1 Golden Slipper winner Estijaab and Group 3 winner Remarque.
Clerical error leads to six post-race disqualifications at Clare
Easter Saturday's Clare meeting was deemed to be at country-level, but the Racing Australia website mistakenly displayed provincial-level claims for apprentice jockeys in the first two races, with six horses affected overall. All six horses were later disqualified, including the two winners of the first two races, being See Ya Later Baby (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) and Woodstock (Starspangledbanner).
See Ya Later Baby’s jockey Isaac Sit incorrectly weighed out with a 3kg provincial claim instead of his 2kg country claim. Matthew Chadwick on Woodstock carried a 2kg claim instead of the correct 1.5 kg. “Racing SA determined that it will not withhold payment of any prizemoney from the owner(s), trainer, or apprentice of the horses disqualified by the Stewards,” a statement from Racing SA said.
“The owners, trainers and jockeys of horses who were disqualified will be paid prizemoney by Racing SA based on the original placings in the next stakemoney payment cycle. Racing SA reached this position in consideration of all the circumstances, including that the error in the allowances claims was not attributable to the apprentices, nor the owners and trainers of the horses, who all acted in good faith.
“Racing SA understands the unacceptable impact this inadvertent error has had on affected parties and thanks them for their patience during the subsequent period of investigation. Racing SA has undertaken a review of the systems and processes currently in place, and immediate process improvements have been implemented to ensure this error is avoided in the future.”
Cavalieri retired to Hill 'n' Dale
Speedway Stables' undefeated Cavalieri (Nyquist) has been retired from racing, with John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farm acquiring a majority share in the Grade I winner.
“She was a perfect five for five, an amazing talent and an alpha female, who thrilled us, each and every time she waltzed past her competition,” said Speedway's Peter Fluor. “In light of the fact she has nothing more to prove race wise, it was considered appropriate timing to breed her. It has been a pleasure to be part of her journey and we want to thank everyone associated with her, notably Bob Baffert, who trained her to the minute, that contributed to her tremendous success.”
Sikura added, “We are always seeking to purchase elite broodmares to elevate our band and Cavalieri was a wonderful racemare, an undefeated Grade I winner by leading sire Nyquist. She is a supreme physical who was never challenged on the racetrack. These types of mares are rare, and I appreciate Speedway Stables selling us a majority interest and becoming our partners. They are such a high-class operation, and will retain an interest in her breeding career. We will decide mating plans shortly.”
Nilsson resigns as Svensk Galopp CEO
Bjorn Nilsson, CEO of Svensk Galopp, will step down from his post on Friday, July 31, the organisation announced on Thursday. Nilsson will have served in the post for approximately two years.
Bjorn Nilsson | Image courtesy of Svensk Galopp
“It has been an intense couple of years, during which we've carried out a major reorganisation and put our finances in order,” said Nilsson. “The role has required plenty of engagement with numerous stakeholders and, now that we've clear control of future challenges, it feels right to hand the baton to someone who can bring fresh energy.”
A search for a new Svensk Galopp CEO will now begin. The announcement comes shortly after Sweden's season got underway with a race day at Bro Park last weekend.
