Guest House not scared of Ka Ying Rising
Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) is currently $1.50 to defend his G1 The Everest crown, but G1 Golden Slipper winner Guest House (Home Affairs) isn’t afraid to take him on. Punters have installed him at $15.
“It depends what you do with Ka Ying Rising,” co-trainer Mick Price told racingandsports.com.au.
Mick Price | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“But it is a horse race and it might be wet. I don't think Ka Ying Rising is as good in the wet as he is on top of the ground. There are a few stallion-making races we have to pay attention to during the spring for Guest House. One is the Golden Rose, then there is The Everest and the other is the Coolmore Stud Stakes.”
Fangirl trials ahead of Kingsford-Smith
Chris Waller-trained Fangirl (Sebring) trialled at Rosehill on Monday ahead of her run in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup on May 30. She finished in fifth in a quiet outing with James McDonald aboard over 1030 metres.
Fangirl | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
She ran mid-field in the G1 All Aged Stakes, her only start this autumn, but the 7-year-old mare has been a great racemare for Ingham Racing with 12 wins and over $10 million in earnings.
Pride siblings run in stakes class
While Joe Pride-trained Private Eye (Al Maher) runs in Saturday’s G1 Doomben 10,000, his 3-year-old half-sister Confidentiality (Shalaa {Ire}) makes her stakes debut in Scone’s Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes.
“I think the track is going to be dry enough for Private Eye on Saturday and he's going really well,” Pride told racingandsports.com.au.
Joe Pride | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He's an amazing horse, he's so tough and competitive, and keeps coming up every preparation. His first-up run was very good and he then trialled really well last Friday. He's ready to go.
“Confidentiality is a promising filly improving with every run and the form around her is good. She will go to Scone for the fillies race along with Casserousse, another filly I have a lot of time for.”
Robertson-Smith to join Racing Victoria
On Monday, Racing Victoria announced the appointment of two highly credentialled veterinarians to lead its Veterinary Services team. Appointed as Chief Veterinary Officer is Dr Glenn Robertson-Smith, who boasts more than 40 years’ experience across specialist clinical practice, academia, and large-scale racing and regulatory environments.
Currently employed in Hong Kong, Dr Robertson-Smith will join Racing Victoria on August 10. Dr Stephanie Chapman has been appointed Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, and she has recently served as Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer at France Galop.
“We’re delighted to announce the appointments of Dr Glenn Robertson-Smith and Dr Stephanie Chapman to Racing Victoria and look forward to both joining us from overseas ahead of the Spring Racing Carnival,” said RV Executive General Manager – Integrity Services, Jamie Stier.
“The pair will provide great leadership to our hard-working Veterinary Services team who play a vital role in supporting and protecting the welfare of horses and compliance with the Rules every day.
“In making these announcements, I want to extend my thanks to all within our Veterinary Services team who have done a tremendous job during a period of leadership transition.”
KIDS Foundation fundraiser helps Holland family
Lucy Holland, wife of the late Dean Holland, is grateful for the assistance of the KIDS Foundation and their help over the last three years. Their annual fundraiser, Tour D’Horse, runs from May 11 to May 18 and the KIDS Foundation is run by CEO Dr Suzie O'Neill OAM who began it in 2021.
“They're like fairies (volunteers), there's somebody always there,” Holland told racenet.com.au.
Holland attended a KIDS Foundation equine therapy camp over summer. “It was the first time I've been next to a horse. I just couldn't stop crying next to it… was a bit overwhelming being next to the horse without the kids, next week might be a little bit (confronting for me). I'm still trying to see the calming effects in it (horses), but when the kids are around them they love being around them… they've got no other views of the horses.
“It's their only memory of their Dad so, I think next week will be quite nice for them, to be around the horses, I think as an adult you probably overthink things. I was never really that involved (in the horses and racing), it was Dean's work and when he came home it was family life, it was switch off time. We did go to some country meetings, where the kids could have fun, more for the kids, they used to go riding on Dean's saddle, on the back of his bag.”
The Tour d'Horse 2026 has raised more than $650,000 to date toward a $1 million target.
Rey Magnerio to spell
Robbie Griffiths-trained Rey Magnerio (Magnus) will spell and miss the Queensland carnival after pulling a hamstring.
“It just breaks my heart but if we don't look after him then we've got nothing,” Griffiths told racenet.com.au.
“He just tweaked a hamstring and there were some inflammatory markers in his blood system to say it was worrying him. It's hard to win any race like that, especially at Group 1 level, so we're going to send him for a rest.”
Mr Brightside to resume in the spring
Ten-time Group 1 winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) will be set for a spring campaign after coming through minor surgery well.
“He’s in good order, the champ, and he’s about to start pre-season,” JD Hayes told racing.com.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s recovered beautifully from surgery and enjoyed a very quiet autumn. We can’t fault him and he’s about to embark on his spring preparation. He’s got a fair amount of weight on him as he’s been in a nice, green paddock.
“He’s had 48 starts… when you go through his record, it’s quite phenomenal; he’s only finished worse than fifth once in his life and that was over in Hong Kong. He’s been a model of consistency.
“It will be easy to tell if he’s no longer interested in being a racehorse, but his tenacity and the way that he’s working, he’s as genuine as the day is long, and we’re expecting another good spring from the champ. Although he’s rising nine, he didn’t really start racing until he was four, so we think he’s still got a fair bit of life left in him.”
Hazzard Review expansion petition submitted
The Racing Reform Group have collated a petition signed by 782 industry participants and this was submitted to parliament by Shadow Minister for Racing Dave Layzell last Thursday. The petition is asking for the Hazzard Review to be expanded to look at the funding model in NSW. The timing gives Racing Minister David Harris until June 9 to respond.
Queensland offer $1 million in bonuses
Racing Queensland announced that two $500,000 bonuses are on offer for the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, sponsored by Great Northern beer. One will be awarded to the horse who wins all four Cups, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns, while the other will go to the horse who wins all four sprint races being the Rockhampton Newmarket, Mackay Newmarket, Cleveland Bay, and Cairns Newmarket. If any horse manages three of the four, they will receive a $250,000 bonus.
“Great Northern is thrilled to partner with our valued Central and North Queensland race clubs in Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns to provide the opportunity to win $1 million thanks to the new Great Northern Crowns Bonus,” Great Northern State Manager Ian Giles told racingqueensland.com.au.
“Great Northern is an iconic beverage in Queensland and we hope to be raising a glass of Queensland’s favourite beer to a local participant in August who takes out one of the bonuses on offer."
Fast Network set for Japan
Trainer Dennis Yip will spell Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) and set him for Japan’s G1 Sprinter’s Stakes in September.
“I think he needs a rest because he’s had some hard races and a long season,” Yip told scmp.com.
“Maybe now he will rest and then early next season, we will try to find an overseas race – Japan maybe. We’re still thinking about it.” He is twice Group 1-placed this season behind Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}).
Derby winner to take on Romantic Warrior
Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) won’t have it all his own way in Hong Kong’s final Group 1 of the season, the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup on May 24. Francis Lui will pit Hong Kong Derby winner Cap Ferrat (Snitzel) against the world’s richest racehorse.
“He ran very well (in the G1 Champions Mile). Of course, it’s going be tough against Romantic Warrior,” Lui told scmp.com.
Lapotheose remains unbeaten
Sunday's G2 Camille Pissarro Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary looked as strong a renewal as there has been in recent years and despite her odds, there was no fluke in the success of Lapotheose (Wootton Bassett).
Kept to the provinces before this acid test, Riviera Equine and Maurice Lagasse's homebred had come from a narrow win in the Listed Prix Caravelle at Toulouse last month, where she had extended her unbeaten tally but was in considerably deeper here.
“We are extremely excited and obviously she is progressing,” the owners' representative Marc de Chambure said of the winner, who was the only member of this line-up not entered in the Prix de Diane. “She only won a Listed by a head last time and now she's a Group 2 winner which is fantastic. I am a great fan of Jean-Claude Rouget and that was typical of his style, to do the job in the provinces and then come to Paris for the big one and Lapotheose has done that.”
Barberot added, “We came here via the side roads to avoid battles and run without pressure and she has improved with each run. The Diane isn't certain, because she's a filly who has not finished developing physically. She goes on all ground and still has to put on more weight, so she could be a filly for the autumn.”
Growth Equity to target Belmont Stakes
Klaravich Stable's Growth Equity (Nyquist) exited his two-length victory in the G3 Peter Pan Stakes on Saturday in fine shape and the June 6 G1 Belmont Stakes remains a possible next target for the bay colt.
“He looks good so far,” trainer Chad Brown said of Growth Equity's status Sunday morning. “That was a nice step forward. I was glad to see him handle two turns. I thought that he ran well. I think the runner-up is a nice horse. So, that was a nice, positive move forward. No immediate plans yet, but I was very pleased with the race.”
The Peter Pan is the traditional New York prep for the G1 Belmont Stakes, to be held over 10 furlongs at Saratoga Race Course this year. The New York Racing Association has waived entry and starting fees to the Belmont Stakes for the first three finishers of the Peter Pan.
