Sun Worshipper to back up into Cup
Toowoomba trainer Matt Kropp will risk a seven day back up with Sun Worshipper (Sun City) into Saturday’s Listed Caloundra Cup. She was second last start in the Listed Gold Crown Stakes. “We were hoping to get away with the Gold Crown last Saturday, but she got a long way off them in a small field,” Kropp told racingqueensland.com.au.
“She picked them up quite well, but it took a fair bit of effort from her. She’s only a slight mare, but she’s tough and she’s pulled up well after the run. Her best win was in the Shoot Out when she backed up a week after running at Eagle Farm. She’s only put in one bad run this preparation when she failed in the (G3) Premier's Cup three starts back.
“Wally (Gleeson) and his sons bred her at their property they once owned at Chinchilla. They no longer own that property where they bred Rothfire, but they still have a few mares scattered around other properties. Sun Worshipper has a nice pedigree and comes from the same family as Lonhro and is now a four-time stakes placegetter.”
Dwyer’s Cote Atlantique to redeem himself
After a last start disappointment, Henry Dwyer-trained Cote Atlantique (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) is looking to redeem himself in Saturday’s Listed Glasshouse Handicap. “We don't know. He just put in a bad one. He didn't have a great run but he just raced a bit flat,” Dwyer told racenet.com.au.
Henry Dwyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We were going to tip him out then we thought we would freshen him up for this race. We trialled him the other morning with blinkers on and he trialled really well. He's not a genuine top-rater, he's just that level below, so we're trying to skirt around the edges and find those second-tier Group races, which will give him his chance. He's a genuine horse and the Sunshine Coast 1400m on the nice big track will be ideal.”
Hawkesbury announce new CEO
Hawkesbury Racing Club’s COO Lea Porteous has been awarded the CEO position, to replace retiring CEO James Heddo, the club announced on Wednesday. “I am pleased to announce Lea’s appointment as the Club’s new CEO and am looking forward to continuing to work with her as she puts her own stamp on the next phase of the Club’s growth and development,” Jo Moore, Hawkesbury Race Club's Administrator told racingnsw.com.au.
"She will be a familiar and trusted face for not only our staff but for all the Club’s, members, sponsors, trainers and industry participants.”
Heddo hopes to farewell his club with a winner as he part owns Squeezebox (Epaulette) who runs on Thursday. “I’ve raced horses with Squeezebox’s trainer Kim Waugh for more than 20 years. Kim has done a terrific job with Squeezebox, who is a great advertisement for racing fans wanting to get involved in horse ownership courtesy of tried horses being sold online,” Heddo said.
“Buying a sound tried horse who hadn’t had a lot of racing has offered a lot of fun for us. Squeezebox is very consistent, and is racing well.”
Accredited heads to Winter Stakes
Joe Pride-trained Accredited (All Too Hard) will be second-up in Saturday’s Listed Winter Stakes at Rosehill but he comes off a trial win. “He trialled brilliantly going into it and he’s had the trial since. He steps out to the 1400m, reasonable sort of draw, I would have thought he’d run really well,” Pride told racingnsw.com.au.
Accredited | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“I thought he was very disappointing (at Randwick) first-up, I was disappointed with his run. He was definitely in a place where you didn’t want to be out wide, I still thought he was a little bit disappointing, but he gets a chance to atone.”
Annual Members Day at Rosehill
The Australian Turf Club will celebrate their members on Saturday at Rosehill with their annual members' appreciation day. “Our Members are a vital part of the success of the ATC and its racedays, and Saturday is a chance to show in numbers that Membership is as important as ever,” Australian Turf Club CEO Steve McMahon said in a press release.
“It’s also an occasion for Members to bring family, friends and guests to the track to experience the live action of racing and the raceday atmosphere in premium facilities. TAB Everest Day will again be sold out so right now is an opportune time to renew or become a Member of the ATC to guarantee your place at Carnival racedays.”
ACT residents can join Kosciuszko sweep
The Canberra Racing Club, in partnership with Racing NSW, announced that ACT residents are now eligible to be in the sweepstakes for the Kosciuszko for the first time in 2026. “We are delighted that ACT residents will be able to participate in this year's $2m Kosciuszko and thank Racing NSW for embracing the idea,” Canberra Racing Club Chief Executive Darren Pearce told racingandsports.com.au.
Darren Pearce | Image courtesy of Thoroughbred Park
“The Kosciuszko is amongst Racing NSW's most innovative and important races of the year and offers the hardworking participants from the country their chance to shine on the biggest stage.
“Our trainers dream of winning this race and we are an important part of the NSW & ACT racing ecosystem so it's great that our members and community are now eligible to draw a winning ticket and potentially pick their local hero.”
Dirty Work juvenile wins before storm rolls in
At Murray Bridge on Wednesday, 2-year-old gelding Dirty Gold (Dirty Work), trained by Peter and Belinda Blanch, won the first on the card. Heavy rain caused the postponement of race two, which led to the abandonment of the meeting. “We had the horses out on the track for race two, obviously a heavy downpour, (there was) a lot of wind,” steward Michael Zarb said to racing.com.
“We were probably a bit lucky that no one really got injured. We went and walked the track, there's a lot of surface water at various sections, the 50m, 150m and 200m mark. It's not safe enough to continue and we went down that track. It (radar) doesn't look good going forward, so we are probably better off doing it now rather than wasting everyone's time.”
Dirty Gold was purchased by his trainers for $20,000 from Little Hills Pastoral Co’s draft at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. He is the first foal of Exalted Gold (Hussonet {USA}) who won eight races.
Juvenile winner for Awesome Rock
At Belmont on Wednesday, Simon A Miller-trained 2-year-old filly Rockin’ Serenity (Awesome Rock) won on debut by 1.4 lengths. She is the second foal of Swift Serenity (Epaulette) whose first foal is winning 3-year-old gelding Swift Talker (I’m All The Talk).
Swift Serenity is a winning half-sister to Listed winner How’s The Serenity (Magnus).
Haigh announced as Entain Managing Director
Entain have announced that Chris Haigh will step into the role of New Zealand managing director. “While the two countries are so similar in many ways, they are at very different stages as gambling marketplaces,” Haigh told nzherald.co.nz.
“We have already seen some huge changes in that space in New Zealand in the last few years since we came on board here and have more changes, like online casino licences, coming in the New Zealand market.
“So while we will still have the full knowledge and resources of the huge international business that is Entain behind us, this role has been created to make sure we have a focus on New Zealand and its unique challenges and strengths.”
Chris Ward has been appointed as Australia managing director and both will report to Entain Australia and New Zealand CEO Andrew Vouris.
White Robe Lodge celebrates 70 years
New Zealand’s White Robe Lodge celebrated their 70th anniversary this week. “I suppose you could say we’ve come a long way,” founder Brian Anderton said.
“To begin with I leased little bits of land around the place before I got the chance to buy a small block in Wingatui. In the early 1980s we bought the bottom half of the North Taieri property when we were still at Wingatui, then we added the top place when it became available.
They stood Champion Sires Noble Bijou (USA) and Mellay (GB), and currently stand Ancient Spirit (Ger) and Alflaila (GB).
Tasmania thrilled with current apprentices
Tasmania won their first National Apprentice Race Series this season, and recently, their apprentices have been performing on the mainland. “I’m really proud of all their achievements, and you take a lot of personal pride because you have a lot to do with them,” Tasmanian Apprentice Jockey Program Manager Stephen Maskiell told tasracing.com.au.
Taylor Johnstone graduated as a senior rider this weekend with 200 wins and Jackson Radley and Jabez Johnstone have been riding well in Victoria. “Not many apprentices head to Victoria and have success, so for those young men to do what they’re doing, it just shows their skill and how bright the future is. For all of our riders interstate, I’m not surprised to see them having success because they all have an unbelievable work ethic.”
Calandagan and Ombudsman set to clash in Juddmonte International
Chief executive William Derby is thrilled with the quality of the entries for the Group 1 races staged at York's Ebor Festival in August, with defending champion Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) and 2024 runner-up Calandagan (Gleneagles) featuring among 30 horses in contention for the £1.5 million (AU$2.88 million) Juddmonte International.
“To have the defending champion is always good,” Derby said of Ombudsman's intended return to the Knavesmire. “Some organisations have him as currently the highest-rated horse in the world, so that is very exciting after what he did at Ascot.
“There are other amazing horses in there and it will be interesting to see if Constitution River heads our way after Sandown this weekend for the richest race we've ever staged.
“The possibility of Calandagan again, after he forced City Of Troy into breaking the track record in 2024, means the Juddmonte International is shaping up to be a cracker.”
Asfoora entered into Nunthorpe
Last year's G1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner Asfoora (Flying Artie) is a notable contender for Australian trainer Henry Dwyer among 36 entries, along with Japanese raider Satono Reve, who recently suffered a narrow defeat in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot for the second year in a row. The son of Lord Kanaloa is also one of 47 entries for the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes, which was run as a Group 1 for the first time in 2025.
Asfoora | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Bacio is there for Wesley Ward, who came so close with Lady Aurelia,” CEO William Derby said. “Asfoora is returning for her defence and Satono Reve is in both the Nunthorpe and City Of York after running an amazing race at Ascot, so I'm really excited about that. Ponntos is in there from the Czech Republic, Francis-Henri Graffard has some entries, too.”
Long Pour tops Fasig-Tipton Digital
The June Digital Sale on Fasig-Tipton Digital closed Tuesday evening with gross sales of US$4,167,000 (AU$6 million) for 198 horses sold. The clearance rate was 80%.
Sullivan Lane Stable went to US$190,000 (AU$275,000) to secure the sale-topping Long Pour (Hip 2), a New York-bred colt by Tom's d'Etat, which was consigned as a horse of racing age by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Long Pour entered the sale off a win in state-bred allowance company on June 7 in which he recorded a career-high 89 Beyer.
“I've always been a big believer that clearance rate is a strong sign of a healthy market and I think today's results reflect that,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “We went 15 for 17 on broodmares with foals and I continue to believe that is going to be a big market in the future. Horses of racing age and racing/broodmare prospects were strong and that isn't surprising at this time of year.”
