ATC invite expressions of interest for Board position
The Australian Turf Club have opened an Expressions Of Interest process for individuals wishing to be considered for appointment as an independent director.
“The board of the ATC, a company limited by guarantee, comprises seven directors; four directors elected by ATC members and three independent directors appointed by the Minister for Gaming and Racing, the Hon David Harris MP, on the recommendation of a selection panel,” said the press release.
“In line with section 10 of the Australian Jockey and Sydney Turf Clubs Merger Act 2010, Minister Harris has approved the commencement of an EOI process to fill two vacant independent director roles.”
Magic Millions digital open for bidding
Group 1-placed mare Admiration Express (My Admiration) headlines the latest Magic Millions Digital Sale which is open for bidding and closes on Wednesday April 22. Admiration Express won four times, three at stakes level including the G3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes, Listed WA One Thousand Guineas, and G3 Strickland Stakes. She also placed in the G1 Northerly Stakes.
Admiration Express | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
The dam of R.Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Houtzen (I Am Invincible), Set To Unleash (Reset) is one of four unreserved offerings from Yarraman Park Stud. Houtzen is now at stud in America, where her son Greenwich Village (Quality Road) is a dual stakes winner.
Tom Kitten out of All Aged Stakes
Dual All Star Mile winner Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) has been scratched from the G1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, following an incident during barrier practice on Friday morning. The gelding had blinkers added to his gear ahead of Saturday and was wearing them when the incident happened.
Co-trainer Anthony Freedman has advised Racing NSW stewards that while no injury was sustained, the gelding would be scratched from the race.
Brisbourne pair set for Champagne
Trainer Ben Brisbourne can’t split his 2-year-old fillies Grinzinger Heart (Toronado {Ire}) and Salann (Shamus Award) ahead of Saturday’s G1 Champagne Stakes. “I can't really (split them). I can't remember them being put together at home and they have both their different paths to this race,” Brisbourne told racenet.com.au.
“It is nice that they are both ending up in their grand final race for some of my biggest supporters. They shouldn't get in each other’s way too much, one goes forward (Grinzinger Heart) and the other one (Salann) gets ridden back so may the best horse win. The only thing I would change going into it is (switching their draws).”
Royal Patronage bought by Darling View Thoroughbreds
Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will likely retire after the G1 All Aged Stakes to Darling View Thoroughbreds, who recently purchased the 7-year-old entire. Co-trainer Adrian Bott’s wife Jess has been putting him through his paces to fresh his mind ahead of Saturday’s run. “My wife has done a lot of work with him. A lot of flat work and dressage work,” Bott told racingandsports.com.au.
Royal Patronage (Fr) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“She is very good at that side of things and working with them. We've tried as much as we can to refresh his training and mindset and his approach to it all and he seems back having confidence in himself. So I can't take credit.
“His biggest runs in Australian have been first-up. Sometimes it is hard to go against that depth of field first-up, against some that are deep into their campaigns and have had the runs and are fitter. But you fall back and look at his record, and that's when he has performed really well and in that distance range as well. He can be effective.”
La Fracas home for Hareeba Stakes
After coming to Sydney hoping for rain, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable have sent La Fracas (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) back to Melbourne for Saturday’s Listed Hareeba Stakes. “We had him up in our Rosehill stable hoping for some moisture, and it seemed every time we were zigging, the rain was zagging,” Kent Jnr told racingandsports.com.au.
“First-up 1100 (metres), we went back from the gate, and he worked home well then second-up, he was the only horse all day to break 34 (seconds) last 600 (metres). He got a long way back and out wide in inferior ground.
“We had intentions of running him in the Hall Mark (Stakes on Saturday at Randwick), but it's very warm and sunny, so we thought the Hareeba looks a beautiful back-up plan. He's won at Mornington before, it's a toe in track and there is rain about and thankfully he's drawn a beautiful gate. He looks poised to run a very good race.”
Digital buy Corniche for Hareeba Stakes
Trainer Shawn Mathrick spent $85,000 to acquire former Godolphin galloper Corniche (Fastnet Rock) online, and he runs in Saturday’s Listed Hareeba Stakes. “We’ve got a couple of horses going okay, for a small barn, it's good. It's hard to get them, no one sends them to us, we need to catch and kill our own,” Mathrick told racenet.com.au.
Corniche | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“I spend 2-½ hours with him (every day), go to the beach, ice his legs. It's hard for a big barn to do that … he's eating good and working good, the work he did on Tuesday is the best he's worked for me, like a serious racehorse.”
The Autumn Sun juvenile wins on debut
Bjorn Baker took 2-year-old filly Isn’t She Autumn (The Autumn Sun) on Friday where she won on debut in an open age group maiden race, beating 3-year-old gelding Over The Limit (Anders) and 3-year-old filly Ocean Empress (Graff).
Baker and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) spent $160,000 on Isn’t She Autumn from Lime Country Thoroughbreds’ Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft. She is the first foal of Dream Ahead (USA) mare Little Stevie who is a half-sister to stakes placed Tell Me (Choisir).
Spirit Of Boom filly wins at Mackay
On Friday at Mackay, Tom Smith-trained 2-year-old filly Blessed Boom (Spirit Of Boom) won by one-third of a length over 1100 metres. She was having her third start.
Sold by Eureka Stud to Matthew Adams for $42,500, she came through the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale. Blessed Boom is the seventh winner for Blessed Anna (General Nediym) who is an unraced half-sister to Listed winner Zebulon (NZ) (All American).
Scott awarded Future Leaders scholarship
The 2026 NZTR McKenzie Future Leaders Scholarship was awarded to Maria Scott, daughter of trainer Andrew Scott. “Maria is a young lady that is very passionate about the industry,” Andrew Scott told Loveracing.nz.
“We need the next generation coming through and she has got a keen eye for racing. She was very excited and very grateful (to receive the scholarship). With children it’s great to see them coming through and taking the next stage in life. Hopefully she finds a good way forward.”
Wootton Bassett juvenile wins on debut
At Te Rapa’s Friday meeting, Te Akau Racing’s 2-year-old filly Timeless Beauty (Wootton Bassett {GB}) won on debut. She was a NZ$320,000 purchase by David Ellis from Landsdowne Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft.
She is one of three winners for winning mare Lady Iveagh (More Than Ready {USA}) who is a half-sister to Champion 3YO and multiple Group 1 winner Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice).
Frankel's Oxagon wins G3 Craven
In a renewal of Newmarket's G3 Craven Stakes robbed of a star turn in Hawk Mountain (Wootton Bassett) and of another of interest in Hankelow (Night Of Thunder) due to the quickening ground, it was Oxagon (Frankel) who benefitted under enterprising tactics.
Sent off the 7-4 second favourite due to the defections, last year's Champagne Stakes runner-up who was sporting first-time cheekpieces was sent straight to the front by Oisin Murphy and dictated to suit.
John Gosden is looking at the main event in just over two weeks' time. “After he won at Sandown last season, we had a high opinion of him and he probably let the race get away from him in Doncaster, was a tad disappointing in the Dewhurst and I then stupidly ran him in heavy ground at Doncaster,” he said. “He has trained well this year and I think the addition of cheekpieces has just focused his mind today.”
“He is one of those horses that things come easily to and he can be a little bit dreamy at home–he is always looking for low-flying seagulls,” he added. “Oisin feels it's an open Guineas and we should go for it. He is a nice horse and deserves to take his chance.”
Vale Donna Herrick
Donna Herrick, a beloved and enduring presence in the Southern California racing community and a pillar of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, passed away peacefully on Wednesday at the age of 97, surrounded by family.
Alongside her late husband Bill, Donna was deeply devoted to Thoroughbred racing for more than four decades. Together, they were not only passionate owners but also among Del Mar's most loyal patrons, maintaining a fifth-floor suite for more than 30 years and becoming fixtures of the seaside track each summer.
Their impact on the sport extended well beyond their presence. As owners, the Herricks campaigned several accomplished runners, including Grade II winners Magnum (Arg) and Nuclear Debate; and several Grade III winners including Robyn Dancer who was twice third in the Breeders' Cup. Magnum also delivered a memorable performance when finishing a thrilling second in the GI Santa Anita Handicap behind Lava Man.
Fasig-Tipton Digital now open
Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 143 offerings for its April Digital Sale, which includes a pair of broodmares closely related to Derby and Oaks contenders. Bidding is now open through Tuesday, April 21. “With more than 140 catalogued, up more than a third from last year's catalogue, the April Digital Sale catalogue shows the continued strength and popularity of our digital platform,” Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron said.
“Offerings include more than 65 horses of racing age, as well as stakes quality broodmare prospects, broodmares–including mares with foals at foot–more than 25 two-year-olds in training, and yearlings,” he added. “We're particularly excited to offer a pair of broodmares closely related to current Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders.”
