Berry charged over misleading information
Racing NSW stewards have charged jockey Tommy Berry over giving them misleading information surrounding comments he made about suspended trainer John O’Shea. “Racing NSW Stewards have issued a charge against licensed jockey Tommy Berry for misleading evidence following an investigation conducted in relation to comments he made in a post-race interview at Warwick Farm on 3 June 2026,” a Racing NSW statement read.
Tommy Berry | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Trainer John O’Shea was given a four month ban on March 17 over comments he made to Racing NSW veterinarians Dr Claire Moore and Dr Carly Garling around the scratching of Bev’s Nine (Shalaa {Ire}). On June 3, Berry won on Tom Charlton-trained Hovland (Dundeel {NZ}) and made a comment to the press that suggested he’d been talking to O’Shea (who previously trained in partnership with Charlton).
These charges relate to the reasons Berry gave for phone calls he made with O’Shea, which he said were checking in with the suspended trainer’s mental health.
Gibbons hunting second stakes win
Jockey Andrew Gibbons has almost 1500 career victories but only one at black type, on Jerezana (Lonhro) in the 2011 Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton. He rides Kris Lees-trained Zaphod (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) in the Listed WJ McKell Cup at Rosehill on Saturday. “When I was younger (winning stakes races) was something I really wanted to achieve but as time has gone on the opportunities never really arose,” Gibbons told racingnsw.com.au.
“It’s not something that really bothers me but it is nice to get a chance in a race like this. If you’d asked me 10 years ago I’d be dying to get more black type on my CV but at the moment I’m happy when the opportunities come but don’t get overly concerned if they don’t.”
Andrew’s son Dylan Gibbons will be riding in Queensland on Saturday where he is booked for Kris Lees-trained Infancy (Wandjina) in the G1 Tatt’s Tiara. “I probably get more enjoyment out of watching Dylan win big races than if I was to do it myself. The success he’s had has been great for me. Hopefully he can go north and get a black type winner and I can get one down here.”
Corstens wants an end to early trackwork
President of the Australian Trainers' Association Troy Corstens believes a later start time for trackwork will help attract workers to the industry. “I know I’ve been banging on about it for probably 20 years, but we need to change,” Corstens told racing.com.
“Everyone sits back – ‘I can’t get staff, I can’t get track riders' – why would kids want to get up at 3AM, work their butts off all morning, and then go to the races all day? We’re racing later, we’ve got more twilight meetings, and I think it’s time we sat down and got real, instead of saying ‘that’s the way we’ve always done it.’ Let’s have a look? Maybe start a little bit later, and see if we can attract a few more people to come through.”
Troy Corstens | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Rosehill recently changed from 3.30am to 5am. “Peter Snowden shares the box with us (at Flemington). … In Sydney, they made them start at 5am instead of 3.30am. He came down not long ago, and I said – ‘how are you coping with the later starts, Pete?’ – and he said – ‘you know what, Troy? I actually love it.’ He said – 'It’s changed my life. I get a little bit longer to sleep, I get better staff – once you put it into play, it’s actually really good.’
“I reckon 6am would be ideal – first horse out at 6am. Our first horse goes out at 5.30am… we’ve got great staff – we’ve got people lining up to come in. But if our first horse went out at about 6am, I think it would be a much better lifestyle for everyone involved.”
Field presentation at TBA Next Gen
Thoroughbred Breeders’ Australia’s Next Gen members were joined by Newgate Farm’s Henry Field on Tuesday night to listen to the stud master discuss stallion acquisitions, the key traits he looks for in future stallions and the structure of stallion syndication.
Watch the session here.
Spokes appeals suspension
Jockey Raymond Spokes has appealed a two-month suspension after being found guilty of sexual harassment by Racing NSW stewards. Stewards handed down two charges under AR233(c) for sexual harassment.
The stewards' report states the comments were “in circumstances where a reasonable person would have anticipated the possibility that the female industry participant would be offended and/or humiliated and/or intimidated by such conduct.”
Mt Isa President hopes for Battle Of The Bush victory
President of the Mount Isa Race Club and hobby trainer Jay Morris will have Revolt (Russian Revolution) in Saturday’s Battle Of The Bush Final at Eagle Farm. The gelding has won ten of his 16 starts and is unbeaten for Morris. “It’s a country race, so we’re trying to keep it country by booking Bubba (Les Tilley),” Morris told racingqueensland.com.au.
“He’s drawn well and has got good tactical speed. His form on the turf isn’t super, but he’s in with a real chance. I’ve only got five horses in work as I’ve been a builder by trade for 31 years. I’ve been on the committee at Mount Isa since 2016 and I’ve been president for the last four years.”
Juvenile winner for Brazen Beau
With Wednesday’s Ballarat meeting transferred to the Synthetic track, it was Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained 2-year-old gelding Lift Net (Brazen Beau) who won a maiden against the older horses. He was having his second start.
Raced by Godolphin, Lift Net is the second winner for Seine Net (Street Cry {Ire}) who is a winning half-sister to Group 1 winner Alverta (Flying Spur), Group 3 winner Aerobatics (Exceed And Excel), Listed winner Revolte (French Deputy {USA}) and stakes placed Star Mystic (Flying Spur).
Arc de Triomphe to be opened to geldings
The board of France Galop has “overwhelmingly approved” a vote to allow geldings to run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, a move which will require ratification by the European Pattern Committee. The news was first reported by Jour de Galop.
Run for a total of €5 million, the Arc is the most valuable race in Europe and is one of the few Group 1 contests outside the Classics which is restricted to colts, fillies and mares. With some high-profile geldings currently in training in Europe, notably Calandagan, the top-rated horse in the world in 2025, there have been increasing calls for France Galop to open up its world-renowned weight-for-age race. Entries have already been taken for this year's Arc but the rule change will likely be in place from 2027.
A statement released by France Galop on Tuesday read, “Following yesterday's meeting of the France Galop Board of Directors, the Board overwhelmingly approved a proposal from President Guillaume de Saint-Seine to allow geldings to compete in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
“This landmark decision marks a new step in France Galop's ambition to establish the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as the undisputed global benchmark in Flat racing. By expanding the field of eligible runners, France Galop is pursuing a clear objective: to strengthen the sporting contest, increase the event's appeal and make it an even more compelling spectacle at the heart of its 'sportainment' strategy.
“The aim is to offer spectators at ParisLongchamp and television viewers around the world a simple but powerful promise: the opportunity to see, without exception, the world's best 3-year-olds and older horses compete over flat racing's most prestigious distance, 2400 metres.”
The statement from France Galop concluded, “As with the decision taken during Edouard de Rothschild's presidency to shorten the distance of the Prix du Jockey Club, the full effects of this change will only be seen over time. The proposal must now be approved by the European Pattern Committee, which is expected to review it in the first quarter of 2027.”
Community Fund grant helps history project
The Racing WA Community Fund has granted $5000 to assist the Carnarvon Heritage Group put together a history of the Carnarvon Race Club, one of WA’s oldest clubs dating back to 1883. A new exhibition will be housed in the Barry Scott OAM Gallery. “This exhibition brings together two stories that are deeply intertwined in our region – Carnarvon’s rich heritage and its long standing connection to racing,” Carnarvon Heritage Group Chairperson Dudley Maslen told racingwa.com.au.
“This gallery helps tell a story in a way that connects our community with its deep history steeped in racing.” The display features a jockey statue, historic photographs of the racecourse and local identities, along with vintage trophies and a collection of racing memorabilia.
Irish Derby hope looking good for Joseph O’Brien
Joseph O'Brien says he is confident that James J Braddock (Zarak) will give Epsom conqueror Christmas Day (Camelot) more than something to think about as the pair face off again in the G1 Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday.
The Leopardstown Derby Trial winner threatened to boil over pre-race on the Surrey Downs but performed admirably to finish third, beaten 5.25 lengths by Christmas Day, who provided Aidan O'Brien with his 12th win in the Epsom Classic.
Joseph O'Brien | Image courtesy of Goffs
Fresh from saddling five winners at Royal Ascot last week, the Ballydoyle handler's son Joseph will this weekend bid for a fourth Irish Derby success, having won the race twice as a jockey for his father aboard Camelot (2012) and Australia (2014) before claiming his first Classic win as a trainer with Latrobe in 2018.
Wesley Ward's Bacio rated 120p by Timeform
With a Timeform rating of 120p, the Wesley Ward-trained Bacio (Maclean's Music) has been rated higher than last week's Royal Ascot Group 1 winners Mission Central (119) and Venetian Sun (113), such was the impression he created in winning Friday's Palace of Holyroodhouse by nearly four lengths.
It was the best performance produced in a handicap at Royal Ascot last week as Bacio made a mockery of a BHA mark of 100, while a performance rating of 120 is on a par with that achieved by Almeraq and Satono Reve when filling the first two places in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
The G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York is reportedly now under consideration for the three-year-old Bacio. For context, the average Timeform performance rating of the last five winners of the Nunthorpe is 120.6, so he is already close to the level required to win a typical renewal, while the small 'p' attached to his rating denotes that he is likely to progress further.
Tom Ryan launches Front Row Club
Tom Ryan has launched Front Row Club to build on the success of managing SF Racing since 2018. Ryan said Front Row Club will continue managing the racing stable for longtime partners, including Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet, Mrs. Dianne Bashor, and others, while also welcoming new participants such as the Albaugh family.
Tom Ryan | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Our ownership group has been together for nearly a decade, and our business model, primary owners, and trainer Bob Baffert will continue unchanged,” Ryan said.
“Our goal remains to compete at the highest level of U.S. racing,” Ryan said. “Front Row Club will continue our proven model of selecting yearlings and managing our racing stable with the utmost rigor and discipline.”
Ryan added that longtime bloodstock advisor Donato Lanni will continue to head the partnership's yearling selection team, while Bob Baffert and Brittany Russell will oversee the stable as trainers.
Under the new structure, SF Racing will continue its ownership and management involvement with the partnership's current crop of 3-year-olds and older horses, while Front Row Club will assume management responsibilities for its 2-year-olds and future acquisitions.
